Western Bulldogs vs Essendon AFL betting tips – Round 7, 2022

With these two teams falling well short of expectations so far in the 2022 AFL season, the round seven clash between the Western Bulldogs and Essendon Bombers at Marvel Stadium this Sunday is shaping as a must-win for both sides.

The Bulldogs are capable of playing great football, but this was not demonstrated in their round six loss to the Adelaide Crows. Something is missing in 2022, and the Dogs are 2-4 and due for a healthy dose of momentum. They have had a few injuries but are performing well below market expectations. They face the scary prospect of the season just slipping away after internal hopes had them pegged as flag contenders. Pressure is building on the Dogs to fulfil their potential and climb into the top eight.

The Bombers were brave on Easter Monday and matched the Magpies across the park. They hit the lead late in the third quarter and if it wasn’t for some freakishly accurate Collingwood goalkicking, they might have pinched the victory. The game was played at a frenetic pace worthy of a final in front of 85,000 screaming fans, and even neutral observers were impressed by the spectacle. The Bombers are 1-5 though, their only win coming against the Crows, and need to start turning competitive efforts into victories.

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Key matchup: Stefan Martin vs Sam Draper

Topline Bulldog ruckman Tim English is unavailable for selection again for this encounter, so the hit-out duties will likely fall to second-stringer Stefan Martin with help from third-stringer Jordan Sweet. Essendon ruckman Sam Draper put up an enormous performance against the Pies. The prodigious 23-year-old was everywhere, winning hit-outs, scooping the ball at ground level, and almost lifted his team to victory. Most rucks don’t master the craft until much later in their career, and Draper looks like something special. Martin will need to be at his best, and if he isn’t, we expect Draper to dominate the ruck battle.

Western Bulldogs vs Essendon betting strategy

The line has been set around 17.5 points, which seems a fair assessment. Backers of both teams will feel comfortable that their side will be safely protected by that margin. The likelihood of a Bulldogs bounce back to form is factored into their relatively short price. The problem with backing teams with poor winning records is their inconsistency. Will the Dogs finally hit their straps? Can the Bombers replicate their promising effort from round six? We’re sticking with the Dogs here, but not at the line. We’ll back them at the 1-39 margin.

Western Bulldogs vs Essendon same-game multi tips

For value hunters we’ll link the Dogs 1-39 with Robbie McComb as an anytime goalkicker. This straightforward multi will return $3.29 on Ladbrokes. McComb was quiet against the Crows in a low-scoring game but should be able to hit the scoreboard in what promises to be a more free-flowing affair.

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