Brisbane v Western Bulldogs

Friday, July 18 – 7:40 PM AEST – Venue: Gabba

The Bulldogs are outside the top 8, so this is a must win game for them. Bontempelli is on fire and the tall timber up forward in Darcy and Naughton will help, but they need to sure up their leaky defence. Brisbane are moving the ball quickly and giving their forwards excellent opportunities to score goals. Dunkley, Neale and Zorko are on fire and will be key players again.

Brisbane will be keen to win to help them ensure a top 4 spot in the finals.

Brisbane by 21 points

The air’s been buzzing around the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs clash, and it’s easy to see why paying attention to form can sharpen your AFL Betting Tips game. Back in April, during Gather Round, Brisbane staged one of their most memorable comebacks turning a slow first half into a dominant second half to beat the Dogs by 21 points. That victory, fuelled by Eric Hipwood’s kicking flare and a reinvigorated midfield, has since become a blueprint for their consistency.

Fast-forward to July and Round 19 again saw Brisbane edge out the Dogs, this time with an 86–76 result at the Gabba. What stood out was not just the final margin, but how the Lions seemed to seize control whenever it got tight an important detail for anyone making AFL Predictions based on momentum and mental toughness.

Across the season, Brisbane has looked like one of the safest bets among top contenders. They’ve clocked up wins with strong backlines and clever in-game adjustments and that’s reflected in their ladder position, sitting firmly among the top teams.

On the flip side, while the Western Bulldogs have had moments of brilliance like the individual fireworks in their late-season surge, especially Aaron Naughton’s five-goal burst and clutch work from Joel Freijah and Ed Richards they’ve been plagued by lapses in consistency. Their defense, though occasionally exciting, hasn’t been reliable enough to close out key games, leaving their finals hopes hanging by a thread.

So, where does that leave us for AFL Tips? When Brisbane takes on teams mid to lower on the ladder, their form and structure often tilt the scale in their favor. The Dogs, while capable of explosive performances, feel too variable especially under pressure. Those looking for a prediction might lean towards the Lions, trusting their season-long stability and finals-grade composure.

Still, if the Dogs can reignite that spark from moments like their MCG thunder, they’re never out of it which makes any matchup with them unpredictable in its own right. But if you’re chunking out AFL Betting Tips, the safer road seems to follow the Lions unless you’re chasing a surprise.