Hawthorn v Sydney betting tips and prediction
William Demamp
Hawthorn is in the box seat to defeat an injury-hit Sydney in their AFL round 2 clash at the MCG on Thursday night.
The Hawks are paying 1.48 to defeat the Swans (2.65) after their 62-point victory over Essendon squared their season ledger at 1-1, after losing to GWS in Opening round.
MORE: AFL round 2 odds and analysis
The Swans sit atop the AFL ladder but have lost their best player Errol Gulden to a serious shoulder injury, with the playmaker set for four months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery. They are also likely to be without Isaac Heeney for the Hawks clash with a minor hamstring, but he is listed as a test.
They will be buoyed by their form after eclipsing reigning premier Brisbane by 44 points, although Chris Fagan’s team is undermanned currently, with several of their stars suffering short or mid-term injuries. The Swans, with Charlie Curnow in tow, are a different team this year and will push for the top eight.
The Hawks have a relatively fit list after their bruise free contest against Essendon, with the Swans set to provide a much sterner challenge, even without their star pair. The Hawks will consider Harry Morrison and Finn Maginness, who were both dropped after Opening Round, while Aidan Shubert kicked four goals in the VFL practice match against Port Melbourne.
Continue reading for our free Hawthorn v Sydney betting tips and winner prediction for their AFL round 2 clash.
Hawthorn v Sydney betting tips
Our AFL betting expert has assessed the markets an found some value Hawthorn v Sydney tips:
Callum Mills 25+ possessions
The Swans are going to need to bolster their engine room without Gulden and possibly Heeney, and Mills looms as a logical man to step into the middle. They might go younger, but either way, Mills will be in contention to get 25+, at the juicy odds of 2.25.
Jack Ginnivan 2+ goals
Ginnivan has been quiet to start the season but his fellow small Nick Watson has covered for him, with a dynamic start to the season. Ginni has been doing some good work off the field, but we need him to deliver for us here at 2.70to kick 2+ goals.
Total match points under 174.5
These two teams have got some electric forwards that can kick big bags, but do tend to have a defence first mentality. This might seem like an odd statement given the Hawks massive score against Essendon, but they will struggle to kick that many against a miserly Swans backline. We’re confident the total match points will be under 174.5 here, especially with some weather on the radar. This is paying 1.90 with Australian betting sites.
Hawks v Swans prediction
The Hawks have all of their key players – barring Will Day – in their line-up and they are playing at home, which means they deserve their favouritism, even before the Swans injuries are factored in. Hawthorn were great against Essendon, but were outpointed by a classy GWS team in Opening Round. This clash will give us a much clearer indication of how the Hawks are travelling. We’re also particularly looking forward to the Curnow v Tom Barrass battle, which could shape this game. Our final Hawthorn v Sydney prediction? Hawks by 14 points.
