Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide AFL tips & odds – June 9, 2023

Bulldogs v Power AFL predictions & best bets

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide R13 preview

The Western Bulldogs will be hoping to arrest a two-game slide when they host the in-form Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium for a Friday night AFL blockbuster.

After building some nice momentum, the Bulldogs are proving costly for punters having dropped successive games to the Suns and Cats when sent in as favourite. Luke Beveridge’s squad won most of the key numbers against the Cats, including disposals, inside 50s, clearances, contested possessions, and contested marks. They were wasteful in front of goal, though, booting 10.15 and thus allowing Geelong to steal the victory.

The Dogs cling to seventh spot on the ladder but are pursued by a large group of chasers including the Crows, Suns, and Dockers, who are all a mere four points behind. They will need to extract more from key forwards Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who combined for a paltry 2.4 against the Cats.

The Port Adelaide Power continued their hot form in round 12 with an easy 55-point win over the Hawks. The lead blew out to 88 points during the third term, before Hawthorn added some respectability to the scoreline with a series of late goals. In contrast to the Dogs, Port are kicking at goal with accurate precision and returned 23.13 for their efforts against the Hawks.

Ken Hinkley’s side ranks only 15th in the league for disposals this season but second for inside 50s, suggesting a high level of efficiency compared to the rest of the AFL. A run of nine wins sees them sit second on the ladder, eight points clear of the third-placed Demons and building toward September action.

Bulldogs v Power AFL R13 betting strategy

The best AFL bookmakers are loth to split these sides and are offering coin-flip odds. The line has been set at a skinny 2.5 points in favour of the Power. If the game was being played at Adelaide Oval, Port’s quote would be significantly shorter and the line would be closer to 20 points. It is hard to imagine the Bulldog forwards will again kick so poorly, and this appears a high-scoring affair, so we are tipping overs on the total points line.

Key matchup: Daniel v Butters

Caleb Daniel vs Zak Butters

Bulldogs midfielder Caleb Daniel was the best on ground against the Cats with 35 disposals, six marks, five tackles, three clearances, and one goal. The diminutive playmaker is enjoying a big jump in all his key numbers in 2023 having played all 12 rounds. His work alongside Tom Liberatore and Marcus Bontempelli could prove decisive in this tight matchup.

Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters continues to impress at every opportunity and currently sits on the third line of Brownlow Medal betting with most online bookies. The 22-year-old is averaging 27.3 disposals, 2.9 tackles, and 4.2 clearances per game in 2023. He made another huge contribution in his side’s win over the Hawks, returning 129 AFL Fantasy points – the highest of any player on the field. Butters will get a chance to run against some of the competition’s best midfielders here.

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