AFL Preview: Hawks v Giants

Hawthorn v GWS
Saturday 1:45pm
at University of Tasmania Stadium

The resurgent Hawks face their toughest test when premiership front-runners Greater Western Sydney come to town.

Form
Hawthorn are up to 13th on the ladder with a 6-8 record following back-to-back wins over Adelaide and Collingwood. The Hawks have conceded less than 100 points in their last eight games. Hawthorn rank 15th in both scoring and defence. The Hawks enter this off their second highest score of the season, posting 118 against Collingwood.

Greater Western Sydney lead the league with a 10-3-1 record following a dramatic draw against Geelong. The Giants have played in six single-digit margin games in their last nine matches. GWS have lost just one of their last seven games. The Giants rank third in scoring while they rate fifth defensively.

Stats That Matter

– The Giants have won the last two matches against the Hawks.
– GWS have covered 4 of the 5 all-time matches against Hawthorn.
– The Hawks have failed to cover their last six at Launceston.
– GWS covered their only match in Launceston.
– The Hawks have covered just 4 of their last 18 day games.
– The Giants have covered 8 of their last 11 day games.
– GWS have covered 6 of their last 8 interstate games.
– The under is 5-0 when the Giants are favoured by more than two goals interstate in day games.
– The under is 3-0 when the Hawks are an outsider of more than two goals in day games.
– The under is 14-5 when the Hawks are an outsider since 2012.
– GWS are 32-15 ATS after scoring 70 points or fewer.

Betting Data
2017 Line: Hawthorn 5-9, Greater Western Sydney 6-8
2017 Over-Under: Hawthorn 3-11, Greater Western Sydney 8-6

What To Expect
Very keen to bet both the Giants minus and the under in this one. The Giants are a much better team than the Hawks and will appreciate playing a looser defence after a shutdown Geelong team. The Giants have an excellent record against the Hawks and travel as well as anyone while Launceston has been ugly of late for the Hawks.

How It’s Shaping Up
Greater Western Sydney by 44

Recommended Bet
GWS -13.5 ($1.91)

Player Markets
Tom Mitchell is absolutely bombproof, arguably the biggest fantasy star in the AFL. Mitchell has hit 130-plus in five of his last eight.

Recommended Bet
Tom Mitchell 130+ Fantasy Points ($2.25)