Gold Coast v Collingwood betting tips and prediction

Welcome to our Gold Coast v Collingwood betting tips and winner prediction for their AFL round 18 clash at Peoples First Stadium on Friday night.

The ladder leading Magpies are a $1.75 favourite to defeat the Suns $2.10 with Australian betting sites, but several notable stars, including Nick Daicos have been unable to train this week because of illness. The line has been set at 4.5 points. 

The Magpies have rattled off nine successive wins since they lost to Geelong in round eight and they have almost certainly stitched up their top two spot, with a 10-point gap on second-placed Brisbane. 

They will be boosted by the inclusion of hard-working forward Lachie Shultz who has missed the last month with a hamstring injury, while veteran Steele Sidebottom (illness) will also return and youngster Ed Allan will be considered. 

The seventh-placed Suns have defeated Melbourne and Essendon in successive weeks, but lost to finals contenders GWS, Geelong and Fremantle in the weeks leading up to these wins. 

Captain and Brownlow Medal fancy Noah Anderson and talented defender Joel Jeffrey were outstanding against the Bombers, while Ben King (four goals) and Ethan Reid (three goals) were prominent up forward. 

The Suns will include captain Jarrod Witts against his former club, after he was rested for their win over Essendon, while vice captain Sam Collins faces a fitness test, but is likely to resume after a calf injury. 

Continue reading for our free Gold Coast v Collingwood betting tips and winner prediction. 

Gold Coast v Collingwood odds and details

Start:	Friday, 7.40pm AEST, July 11
Venue:	People First Stadium, Gold Coast
Head-to-head odds:	Suns ($2.10) v Magpies ($1.75)
Line betting:	Gold Coast +4.5 ($1.88) vs Collingwood -4.5 ($1.88)
Premiership odds:	Gold Coast $26; Collngwood $3.75

Gold Coast v Collingwood betting tips

Our AFL betting expert has assessed the odds and found some value Collingwood v Gold Coast tips: 

Bailey Humphrey 2+ goals

The Magpies are exceptionally well organised down back and it’s always hard for the big guys to kick goals on the Gold Coast, even though it is expected to be dry on Friday night. Humphrey has emerged as the player many suspected he might become in the last few months. He kicked two goals last week and we think if they are to beat the Magpies he needs to hit the scoreboard here. He is paying $2.35 to kick 2+ goals. 

Matt Rowell 20+ possessions

Rowell reportedly spurned the Magpies’ efforts to get him to return to Victoria and he will be keen to show them what they missed out on. Rowell won’t be tagged, although he will almost certainly have to contend with tackling machine Ned Long, Scott Pendlebury or Steele Sidebottom sitting on him at the stoppages. He’s good enough, but just hasn’t shown it often enough in the big moments. We think Rowell is primed for a big one here, against a Magpies team hit by illness. 

Jamie Elliott 3+ goals 

The veteran Magpie has been in career-best form this season, with his smarts second to none in the forward line. Elliott has loved having the extra marking power up forward, with Tim Membrey and Dan McStay allowing him to play on defenders more his size. But as shown by the drubbing he gave Mitch McGovern last week, he can beat anyone. He is paying $2.65 to kick 3+ goals. 

Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood prediction

The Suns are primed to cause an upset; they’re playing at home, the Magpies have had illness sweep the club and they have a deep list packed full of talent. The Magpies also have several questions they need to answer, including whether Long and Tom Mitchell can play together in September. While it would be foolish to write the Magpies off, given they are two and a half games clear on the top of the AFL ladder, we are seeing red flags everywhere ahead of Friday night. But having said that, the Suns keep falling over at key hurdles, which means we won’t be taking a straight-up winner in our bets, rather we’ll look to the “tri-bet” markets. Our final Suns v Magpies prediction? Collingwood by 1 point.