Once again we saw some upsets in round 3 most with the Western Bulldogs getting off the mark against Essendon and the Eagles turning over Geelong over in Western Australia. Elsewhere it was the Swans who took the honours in the all Sydney match up when they narrowly defeated GWS. Continue reading for our AFL Round 4 2018 Preview and Tips.
Last Weeks AFL Tips - Betting Man
Mixed bag this week with 9 correct from 20 but we did have a couple of good price tips salute to limit the damage.
Never put all your eggs in the same basket, the Bombers suffered a shock defeat and our tips suffered as both out best bets went down.
Last Weeks AFL Tips
Bold Price Indicates Best Bet Selection
Red Price Indicates Winning Selection
| Match Winner | Total Margin | Match Winner | Total Margin |
Carlton @ 2.72
| Carlton 1-24 @ 4.00
| GWS Giants @ 2.24
| GWS Giants 1-24 @ 3.60
|
Port Adelaide @ 1.06
| Port Adelaide 25+ @ 1.25
| Adelaide @ 1.24
| Adelaide 25+ @ 1.91
|
Melbourne @ 1.29
| Melbourne 25+ @ 1.91
| Hawthorn @ 2.55
| Hawthorn 1-24 @ 3.75
|
Fremantle @ 1.46
| Fremantle 25+ @ 2.25
| Essendon @ 1.42
| Essendon 25+ @ 2.25
|
West Coast @ 2.25
| West Coast @ 3.60
| ||
Match Winner Best Bet |  | Total Points Best Bet | |
| Multi Bet Round 1 - Essendon, Adelaide, Fremantle, GWS | |||
AFL Tips Round 4 2018
Prices Courtesy of Sportsbet
FRIDAY 13TH APRIL 2018
Adelaide 1.15 v Collingwood 5.50
TIP - Margin Adelaide 25+ @ 1.57
The Crows made it back to back wins in round three easily dispatching the Saints 104-55 after another second half blitz saw them pull away in a game that was in the balance at half time.
Eddie Betts got his season underway finishing with figures of 3.2 and Adelaide will need similar performances from their dynamic small forward if they are to reproduce the results from last season.
Collingwood put their first points on the board in 2018 when they defeated Carlton by 24 points thanks to Josh Thomas scoring 5.0 with Steele Sidebottom putting in a superb display kicking three goals and picking up 34 disposals.
The pies will be happy with their first win but they still have a lot to do in regards containing the better teams and that will be the telling point for them.
Verdict - The Crows are back firing after their first round headache and they should have too much across the park for the Pies.
SATURDAY 14TH APRIL 2018
GWS Giants 1.13 v Fremantle 6.05
TIP - Margin Giants 25+ @ 1.57 - BEST BET
After winning their first two games of the season GWS suffered their first defeat of 2018 last week losing against the Swans 103-87 in a good old fashioned ding dong battle.
The lead changed several times early on but the Giants faded badly in the second half as the Swans pushed for the win. GWS will be hoping to get back to winning ways here to maintain their solid start to the season.
Fremantle made it back to back wins last week after their poor first round performance against Port Adelaide and have put themselves in the mix early on.
The Dockers looked to have things under control after a solid first quarter against the Suns but they were pegged back in the second quarter and found themselves behind early in the second half but the Dockers regrouped and took charge of the game thereafter and pulled away.
Verdict - GWS at home should have too much for the Dockers and should win with something to spare on the scoreboard.
Richmond 1.06 v Brisbane 9.20
TIP - Margin Richmond 25+ @ 1.30
Richmond bounced back from their loss against the Crows in round two defeating the Hawks 102-89 in round 3 in a game that they always had the edge after a solid start saw them take a lead into each quarter.
After building a solid lead the Tigers did fall away in the last quarter and the Hawks took advantage but the damage was already done and the Tigers were never in danger.
The Lions once again showed that they have a young talented team in round 3 in their game against unbeaten Port Adelaide but once again they lacked the experience necessary to take advantage and come away with the win.
The third quarter was the telling point as the Lions conceded seven goals and although they fought back in the final quarter the deficit was just too much for them to claw back.
Verdict - Should be a Tigers win and they should win comfortably but the Lions if they put their best foot forward could make things interesting.
Western Bulldogs 2.72 v Sydney 1.46 - BEST BET
TIP - Margin Swans 25+ @ 2.30
After losing their opening two matches by a total of 133 points the Bulldogs surprisingly turned things around last week when they defeated the Bombers 104-84.
The Bulldogs started well and took a slight advantage into the second quarter and managed to mirror their opposition for the rest of the match taking a much needed four points.
Sydney after suffering a surprising defeat in round 2 at home against Port bounced back to winning ways in round three defeating the Giants after a close affair eventually running out 103-87 winners.
A much needed victory for the Swans and their aspirations of a top four finish this season and they can build on the result and take confidence going forward.
Verdict - Although the Bulldogs were much improved last week the Swans are very consistent and hard to beat home or away to preference has to be for them.
North Melbourne 1.61 v Carlton 2.34
TIP - Margin Carlton 1-24 @ 4.00
North Melbourne although losing their third round match against the Demons will take many positives from the game after pushing their rivals for three quarters.
With the game in the balance going into the final term the Kangaroo's couldn't maintain their pace and the Demons pulled away for the win.
Carlton after their promising effort in defeat in round one find themselves win-less after three games after putting in two sub par efforts in recent weeks.
Round 3 saw the Blues come up against the Pies who were also searching for their first points of the season but Carlton after another good start fell asleep and a lack luster second term cost them any chance they had of winning.
Verdict - I think both these teams are evenly matched and the result is a coin toss depending on which team gets off to the best start, Carlton have blasted out of the blocks a couple of times this season and if they do the same here then they may well hold on.
West Coast 1.13 v Gold Coast 6.05
TIP - Margin West Coast 25+ @ 1.45
After a solid away performance in round 2 the Eagles found themselves back on home soil and up against the Cats in round 3 and they made the home ground advantage count in a game that could have gone either way in the final term.
The first half saw the Eagles blow out to a 5+ goal lead but the Cats rallied in the third term scoring six unanswered goals to take a slender lead into the final term. The Eagles dug deep in the final term and produced a superb display of attacking football to take the game and a very valuable four points.
Gold Coast after winning their opening two games of the season suffered their first defeat last week when they lost at home against Fremantle 96-68.
The Suns will be disappointed with their effort throughout the game but overall they will be happy with their start to 2018.
Verdict - The Eagles have played well in all three games this season and at home should have too much for the Suns, comfortable win for the Eagles predicted.
SUNDAY 15TH APRIL 2018
Essendon 2.20 v Port Adelaide 1.68
TIP - Margin Port Adelaide 1-24 @ 3.40
What is going on down at Essendon?? After a dynamic first round effort great things were expected from the young Bombers squad but their two loses thereafter have been very poor efforts indeed and question's have to be answered as to why the sub par efforts have come about.
The Bombers lost 104-83 against the Bulldogs, a team that had suffered two huge defeats in their opening games and efforts like this will be not be acceptable by the Bombers coaches and fans. Time to go back to the drawing board for the Bombers and examine their last two efforts and try to put a finger on what is going wrong.
Port Adelaide made it three from three in 2018 last week but they were made to work for their four points by a Lions team that just wouldn't go away.
The Power would have expected to win this game by a wide margin so questions will be asked regarding the performance especially after looking so good the first two weeks.
Verdict - You cannot tip a team that is so inconsistent against a team that boasts a 100% record this season so it has to be the Power but it may be a close one.
Hawthorn 2.03 v Melbourne 1.79
TIP - Margin Hawthorn 1-24 @ 3.75
Hawthorn suffered their first loss of 2018 in round 3 when they went down to the reigning champions Richmond 102-89 after a slow start.
The Hawks fought back well in the last quarter but it was not enough as the Tigers had already built a sizable lead. Hawthorn have not yet shown us this season that they are top four material but they have shown enough to suggest they are not far off the pace.
Melbourne made it back to back wins last week defeating defeating the Kangaroo's comfortably after suffering a hard to take loss in round one against the Cats.
The game finished 123-86 after the Demons powered away in the last quarter showing that they are ready for the fight this season.
Verdict - Should be a close game with both teams hoping for the win, preference is for the Hawks but it really could go either way.
Geelong 1.23 v St Kilda 4.20
TIP - Margin Geelong 25+ @ 1.62
Geelong suffered their second loss of the season in round 3 when they were beaten by the Eagles 95-80 after a poor last term saw them concede seven goals.
The Cats could have won all three this season but in the same respect they could have and should have lost the first game so where they stand in the pecking order is to be seen.
St Kilda were never in their round 3 match against the Crows after the opening term and faded badly in the second half with the game eventually finishing 104-55.
Two losses on the trot now for the Saints and a run of hard games to come in the next few weeks doesn't bode well for their chances of a top eight finish this season.
Verdict - Should be a comfortable home win for the Cats unless the Saints can up their efforts.
AFL Tips Round 4 2018 Multi-bet - Sydney, Port Adelaide, Geelong
