Sportsbet Blog

Footy Tips are finally back with Round one to take place over four big days, starting Thursday evening. Like many I have been itching for the real season to start and I will be glued to the TV all weekend.

Each week I will give you my tips and the reason I think that each team will win. Be sure to check back each Wednesday evening or subscribe to the blog here.

Best Bet of Round 1

My best bet this week is to jump on Essendon early to make the finals at 2.50 with Sportsbet. It’s very likely to shorten in price later in the year so the earlier you get on the better the return.

Sportsbet are offering new customers a massive $200 free bet bundle that would be great for this weeks bet of the week. See the Sportsbet site here for more info on this offer.

Don’t forget to join the 2010 Million Dollar Footy Tipping. Checkout our tipping review or to join see the Sportsbet site here.

Carlton V Richmond Thursday night at the MCG

Odds: Carlton 1.32  Richmond 3.50

Tip: Carlton

Finally the season will kick of Thursday night. I expect Carlton to have to much class in the midfield for Richmond with Judd, Murphy, Gibbs & Co ready to run a muck. Reiwoldt will need to kick a big bag if Richmond have any chance.

My prediction is the Blues by 38 points

Geelong V St Kilda Friday night at the MCG

Odds: Geelong 2.15  St Kilda 1.70

Tip: St Kilda

St Kilda cant wait for footy to get started after a troubled off season off the field.

Geelong meanwhile will be out to prove that they can win against the top sides without Gary Ablett.

The match up in the midfield will determine who gets the points here with the likes of Selwood, Bartell & Corey up against Hayes, Dal Santo & Montagna. This should be a cracker of a game, match of the round for mine.

Saints by 15 points

Collingwood V Port Adelaide Saturday at Etihad Stadium

Odds: Collingwood 1.08  Port Adelaide 8.00

Tip: Collingwood

The pies should continue there red hot form from playing in 3 Grand Finals in there past 6 games even without skipper Nick Maxwell.

I can’t see Port Adelaide troubling the pies too much in this one and expect Collingwood to have a big win and top the ladder after Round 1.

Pies by 60 points

Adelaide V Hawthorn Saturday night at AAMI Stadium

Odds: Adelaide 1.97  Hawthorn 1.83

Tip: Hawthorn

In recent years the Hawks have not traveled well to Adelaide but the hunger for a fast start to the season this year should serve them well.

With the Crows missing Tippet up forward and the loss of Nathan Bock to the Gold Coast I can see the Hawks talls up forward proving to strong and sneaking over the line.

Hawks by 14 points

Brisbane V Fremantle Saturday night at the Gabba

Odds: Brisbane 2.25  Fremantle 1.65

Tip: Fremantle

The Lions looked very out of sorts during the pre season and even with their older bodies back in the team with Brown, Black & Power I still see Fremantle being too strong up in Brisbane with Sandilands to dominate in the ruck and give the dockers midfielders first use of the pill.

Freo by 26 points

Essendon V Western Bulldogs Sunday at Etihad Stadium

Odds: Essendon 2.35  Western Bulldogs 1.60

Tip: Western Bulldogs

A lot has been said about the Bombers potential this year with new coaches Hird & “Bomber” Thompson and they will be tested from round one by the doggies.

Both teams go into the game with something to prove, the Bombers want to show that they belong up the top half of the ladder and the dogs to prove that they still belong there. I can see this being a very close match, the dogs for me by a whisker.

Bulldogs by 5 points

Melbourne V Sydney Sunday at the MCG

Odds: Melbourne 1.65  Sydney 2.25

Tip: Melbourne

The Demons need to show a bit more this year after suprising some people last year with 8 wins. Last time these 2 teams met at the MCG Melbourne thrashed Sydney by 73 points.

I don’t expect the margin to be this large this time around but I can’t see the oldest team in the competition the Swans getting up for new coach John Longmire.

Melbourne by 40 points

West Coast V North Melbourne Sunday at Patersons Stadium

Odds: West Coast 1.65  North Melbourne 2.25

Tip: West Coast

2011 doesn’t look good for either the Eagles or the Kangaroos but one team will at least get away to a winning start to the season.

The Kangaroos have a lot of injuries to start 2011 and without big men Drew Petrie (suspended) and David Hale (with Hawthorn) I can’t see them being able to stay with the rotating ruckmen of Cox and Natnui for West Coast.

The Eagles by 16 points

*See Round 1 2011 Tips Here

 

Round one of the 2010 AFL season is upon us and footy tipping will be very tough this year with the gap between the top four clubs shortening in what could be a very interesting year. Once again the team at Sportsbet Blog will give you our expert tips for every round this year along with a few good betting tips along the way.

It’s always hard to tip round 1 as so much can change during the off season but luckily I predict a fairly straight forward round.

The game of round 1 is defiantly the Western Bulldogs V Collingwood. Both teams have recruited well over the summer with the Bulldogs picking up the “Big Bad” Barry Hall who has shown what the year could bring booting 7 fine goals last week in the NAB Cup grand final. Collingwood had picked up ex St Kilda captain Luke Ball who has impressed in the preseason games and star ruckman Darren Jolly who at his 3rd club has be chosen in the Pies leadership group this year. It will be interesting how the new players go this week and should make for a very interesting game.

Don’t forget to join the 2010 Million Dollar Footy Tipping. Checkout our tipping review or to join see the Sportsbet site here. They also give you up to $200 worth of free bets just for joining!

Best Bet for Round 1

This week I like Adelaide for the straight win. With odds of $1.78 at Sportsbet, I think there plenty of value to be had especially against the weaker Freo side.

Richmond V Carlton Thursday Night at the MCG

Tip: Carlton

Carlton: $1.45

Richmond: $2.80

The season opener should see Carlton get a early win on the board. Richmond looks like they may have another tough year starting at round one.

They will be without the important Jake King after being suspended during a NAB Challenge match against Collingwood last week (why get worked up in a preseason game!). Also the one and only Ben Cousins who isn’t 100% after being admitted to the hospital with gastric inflammation will not at his best.

Geelong V Essendon Friday Night at the MCG

Tip: Geelong

Geelong: $1.23

Essendon: $4.25

The Cats should roll the Bombers on Friday night. Essendon will have to make up for Leroy Jetta (Hand Injury) and Michael Hurley (Club Suspended) both will be out with Hurley to miss the first 3 rounds after a drunken incident in the Grand Final week last year.

Geelong should be at full strength and will be out to start off on a good note after a early drop out from the NAB Cup.

Melbourne V Hawthorn Saturday at the MCG

Tip: Hawthorn

Melbourne: $5.20

Hawthorn: $1.16

Unfortunately it could be history repeating itself for the Hawks with numerous injuries leading into the season proper. They should be able to hold Melbourne off this week but will take alot of perseverance from the Hawthorn midfield.

The Hawks will be without Buddy Franklin, Cyril Rioli, Simon Taylor (long term) and clouds of doubt over Jarryd Roughhead  and Glen Moss who will be 50/50 to play. Wayde Skipper has also been rubbed out for six to eight weeks with a damaged hamstring.

That being said I think they will regroup and beat Melbourne who are still in rebuilding stages.

Sydney V St Kilda Saturday Night at ANZ Stadium

Tip: St Kilda

Sydney: $2.70

St Kilda: $1.48

The Saints play well against Sydney and have a good record at ANZ Stadium. Last year (round 1) St Kilda kept Sydney goalless for 2 quarters of footy at ANZ stadium to run out 15 point winners in a low scoring game.

It will be interesting if the Saints will bounce back to their normal 2009 self after a lackluster NAB Cup series winning 2 games by a point (one of them against Sydney) and getting thrashed by the Bulldogs in the final.

The game will be won in Sydney’s forward line. With two of their top 5 goal kickers from last year in Hall and Jolly leaving the Swans players like Jesse White will have to step up and try and break the usually solid Saints back line.

Brisbane Lions V West Coast Saturday Night at the GABBA

Tip: Brisbane Lions

Brisbane: $1.36

West Coast: $3.20

The Lions, with their new look team and new “Paddle Pop Lion” logo will be one to watch this year if they can stick to the game plans and gel together. Brisbane now boast the most powerful forward line with Brendan Fevola and Jonathon Brown which should see them easily take care of West Coast at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Players like defender Josh Drummond and Justin Sherman have both had great preseasons and will be ones to watch.

Port Adelaide V North Melbourne Sunday at AMMI Stadium

Tip: Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide: $1.45

North Melbourne: $2.80

After an impressive NAB Cup campaign I expect big things from Port this year starting with the Kangaroos on Sunday.

Port impressed in their narrow loss to the Bulldogs a few weeks ago with Daniel Motlop and Justin Westhoff the shining light. They were on top of the Bulldogs for 90% of the game and if they can replicate the flare they played with they should run out easy victors over North Melbourne who will be with out Cruize Garlett, Majak Daw, Levi Greenwood and Ed Lower.

Western Bulldogs V Collingwood Sunday at Etihad Stadium

Tip: Western Bulldogs

Western Bulldogs: $1.64

Collingwood: $2.30

This weeks match of the round will attract a massive crowd and should be a great contest. Both teams are expected to do well this year and Collingwood will be out to knock off the NAB Cup winners and get off to a positive start.

I don’t think they can do it. The Bulldogs now have Barry Hall, the goto man and my Coleman Medal winner prediction. They look to be a near perfect side with the run through the middle and strength and height at either end. My prediction is for the Bulldogs to win by around 28 points.

Keep an eye out for Luke Ball for the Pies, he will be out to impress with his new club. He has racked up the possessions and kicked a few goals in the preseason cup.

Fremantle V Adelaide Sunday at Subiaco Oval

Tip: Adelaide

Fremantle: $2.00

Adelaide: $1.83

Adelaide haven’t had the best start into round one with numerous injuries to their senior players. Vince, McLeod, Burton, Edward, Thompson, Maric and Sellar have all had limited match time over the last few weeks but all are expect to play against Freo on Sunday afternoon.

I really can’t see where Freo could win this match, they are a young side who are still growing and will struggle with the skills of the Crows side. Good luck to coach Mark Harvey in what could be his last year at Freo with his contract running out at the end of the year.