GWS v Western Bulldogs Preview, Engie Stadium

GWS opened the season in scary fashion, rising to early premiership favouritism. But the
Giants have dropped three of their last four games in a surprising slump. Josh Kelly and
Lachie Ash will be sidelined for up to six weeks after the pair both hurt their calf in last
Saturday’s defeat to Essendon. But Adam Kingsley’s team should be fired up by returning
home to the Sydney Showgrounds for the first time in eight weeks. There is no better
opponent to test themselves against than one of their biggest rivals, with the Western
Bulldogs coming off a brutal demolition of Richmond.

TIP: GWS by 21 points, Toby Greene to kick three or more goals

The Bulldogs completely blew the Giants off the park back in Round 1 with an 81-point thrashing, setting a massive physical tone for their season. However, returning home to Engie Stadium gives GWS a heavily needed structural advantage to steady their campaign. Marcus Bontempelli’s dominant form remains a major headache for the Giants’ midfield, but playing in Sydney usually forces a much tighter, contested brand of footy. Looking closely at the current AFL betting odds, the bookmakers are expecting a high-scoring blowout, making the headstart margin look wider than expected. Our AFL Expert Tips favor a much closer, low-scoring scrap this time around.