Western Bulldogs v Essendon betting tips, prediction and odds; AFL EF Preview 29/8

Welcome to our Western Bulldogs v Essendon betting tips, prediction and odds update for their AFL elimination final at the University of Tasmania on Sunday. 

With Victoria having surpassed 200 days in covid lockdown and tensions growing by the day, AFL fans are set for another blow with it seemingly unlikely games will be played at the MCG during the finals. 

This means the Bulldogs vs Essendon clash will be played at the Hobart venue, the second game for the weekend in Tasmania, with a 50% crowd. 

The Bombers won the only encounter this season between the two clubs by 13 points, with this clash coming in round 21 and highlighted by a seven goal haul to Peter Wright. 

The Bulldogs, since this loss have dropped another two games and head into the finals on the back of a three game losing streak, that saw them drop from being in minor premiership contention to missing a double chance. They have also lost consistent spearhead Josh Bruce to a serious knee injury.  

Australian online bookmakers appear to have thrown this form-line out the window though, installing the Bulldogs $1.51 favourites, with the Bombers outsiders at $2.57. The $1.90 line is is sitting at 10.5.

Western Bulldogs will go into the clash unchanged with last week’s medi-sub Josh Schache omitted from the line-up after going unused. 

The Bombers have included Jye Caldwell and Marty Gleeson for this contest, which will be Aaron Francis’ 50th game. Dylan Clarke, Nick Hind and Nik Cox go out of the line-up. Hind’s loss is a devastating blow, with the defender remarkably rubbed out for picking up his dinner, which was then declared a tier 2 exposure site.

Continue reading for our free Bulldogs v Essendon tips and winner prediction for their AFL elimination final on Sunday afternoon. 

Start:	3:20pm AEST, August 29
Venue:	University of Tasmania, Hobart
Head-to-head odds:	Western Bulldogs ($1.51) v Essendon ($2.57)
Line betting:	Bulldogs -10.5 ($1.90) v Essendon +10.5 ($1.90)
Premiership odds:	Melbourne $3.80; Brisbane $6

Bulldogs v Essendon tips

Our AFL betting expert has examined the markets and found some value Western Bulldogs v Essendon tips: 

Western Bulldogs v Essendon prediction 29/8

The Bulldogs have clearly been stronger than the Bombers throughout the home and away season, but have hit the skids in their last matches before the finals. We have very little faith they can kick enough goals to beat the Bombers here, with their ball movement not giving their forwards enough opportunities. There is really no reason the Bombers can’t win this game, other than the fact they haven’t been successful for so long. We think we will stick to the exotics in this contest. Our final Western Bulldogs v Essendon prediction? Bulldogs by two points. 

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