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Welcome to our Geelong v Essendon betting tips, predictions and odds analysis ahead of their AFL round 16 clash at GMBHA Stadium on Friday night.
The Cats are a $1.24 favourite to win this encounter, with Essendon priced at $4.10 to cause a boilover. The line has been set at 24.5, which will have Bombers fans salivating.
Geelong is coming off the back of a 44-point shellacking at the hands of Brisbane, with their midfield outpointed and their forward line quelled, but outside of this performance the fifth-placed Cats have been strong in 2021.
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Essendon has shocked many with their rapid improvement, with a host of youngsters emerging in Ben Rutten’s first season in charge. Last outing they pushed flag favourite Melbourne all the way, eventually losing by 11 points.
The 11th-placed Bombers are a game outside the eight and probably need to win this clash to be a live chance for finals, although they have very winnable games against Adelaide and North Melbourne in the fortnight after this.
The Cats decided against sweeping changes to the team that was badly beaten, with Gryan Miers included after a layoff with a fractured leg and Rhys Stanley coming back in to replace rested ruckman Esava Ratugolea. Tagger Mark O’Connor is out injured while out-of-form veteran Shaun Higgins is given a break. They decided against calling up Quinton Narkle who has seemed unlucky at times this season after being dropped from the senior line-up.
Essendon has been hit harder by the injury stick and are unlikely to regain much talent this week, although smooth moving midfielder Dylan Shiel is rapidly progressing in his comeback from a knee injury.
Continue reading for our free Geelong v Essendon betting tips and winner prediction for their AFL round 16 clash, from 7.50pm on Friday, July 2.
Start: | 7.50pm AEST, July 2 |
Venue: | GMHBA Stadium, Geelong |
Head-to-head odds: | Geelong ($1.24) v Essendon ($4.10) |
Line betting: | Geelong -24.5 ($1.90) v Essendon +24.5 ($1.90) |
Premiership odds: | Geelong $6; Essendon $81 |
Our AFL betting expert has assessed the markets and found some value Geelong v Essendon tips:
Last week Gary Rohan did his best impersonation of the Gary Rohan that used to play for Sydney and Cats fans will be hoping this was a momentary lapse. Rohan has kicked 23 goals this season, just two less than Jeremy Cameron, and has proven the ideal foil for his more heralded teammates. We’re willing to give him another shot here to kick 2+ goals in what is looming as a tough night for the big forwards. He is paying $2.20 to kick 2+ goals.
Darcy Parish has emerged as a gun in 2021 after a slow start to his career, with the prolific midfielder making bank for punters. Parish does not attract a tag yet, with opposition teams preferring to put work into the silky-skilled and equally prolific Zac Merrett. We think pairing this two up, into a Geelong win, is as safe a same game multi you will find. This bet is paying $2.47 with Unibet.
Geelong will respond to their disappointing performance against Brisbane and they will be willing to mark it down as an aberration. They probably missed Mitch Duncan more than many expected and that could force a rethink on Patrick Dangerfield’s best role. There is plenty of time for the Cats to rediscover their mojo before September and they will be a little bit too experienced for the Dons here. Our final Geelong v Essendon prediction? Cats by 19 points.
Subscription TV: Foxtel; streaming/IPTV: Kayo; Free-to-air: Channel 7
All of the best Australian bookmakers will offer markets on the AFL.
The game starts at 7:50pm AEST, July 2, 2021.
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