Sydney midfielder Chad Warner will be ready to explode in his second game from injury with 25-plus disposals in his sight against Essendon on Saturday night.
It's line season in the AFL with The Sporting News' experts backing several to cover including Geelong, GWS, Brisbane and St Kilda.
The Sporting News gives you the best betting tips for Round 20.
Odds courtesy of Bluebet.
Last week, we scored six of our nine predictions with Steele Sidebottom 20-plus disposals, Brisbane, Carlton and GWS at the line, plus Richmond 1-39 coming through strong and Melbourne-Adelaide margin under 24.5.
MORE: AFL Injury List 2023
Carlton (9th) vs Collingwood (1st) best bet
Collingwood escaped with a two-point win over Port Adelaide last week, and again face an in-form side in arch-rivals Carlton.
While the ladder position might not suggest so, these teams are closer in ability than one might think.
After a poor start to the season, Carlton has won five-straight games by over 50 points, including a massive win over the Power.
It should be another close one of Collingwood, with tensions flaring and finals on the line for the Blues.
Triple Margin II Any other result (both teams to win under 24.5 points) - $1.95
- Bryn Wakefield
Geelong (8th) vs Fremantle (15th) best bet
Despite a loss on the road to Brisbane, the Cats have been purring at GMHBA for most of the season.
The Dockers cannot make the finals and were limp in a five-goal loss at home to Sydney last week.
Expect Geelong to cover their line quite easily against a Fremantle side that will struggle, especially after they thrashed Essendon at the venue two weeks ago.
Geelong -45.5 points - $1.85
- Kieran Francis
Western Bulldogs (5th) vs GWS (7th) best bet
The Western Bulldogs have a great record at Mars Stadium, Ballarat, but GWS should still challenge them.
The Giants are in red-hot form, winning their last six matches behind the inspired performances of Toby Greene and Josh Kelly.
GWS has been given a +11.5 line which is an attractive margin.
GWS +11.5 points - $1.90
- Bryn Wakefield
Gold Coast (14th) vs Brisbane (3rd) best best
After beating St Kilda, the Suns crashed down to earth with a comprehensive defeat to the Giants.
The line is quite low in this game. Even though Brisbane are the away side, it isn't a difficult journey down the highway to the Gold Coast.
The Lions should comfortably cover the line - particular as the Suns season was effectively ended last week.
Brisbane - 20.5 points - $1.95
- Kieran Francis
Essendon (11th) vs Sydney (12th) best bet
Essendon’s last two performances have been less than inspiring, although Sydney isn’t fairing much better.
With home-ground Marvel Stadium a factor, it’s difficult to differentiate these two teams.
The Swans will, however, have midfielder Chad Warner playing in his second game back from a calf injury.
The 22-year-old averages 24.9 disposals, and after settling back into the side last week, should regain his reputation as Sydney’s best ball-winner.
Chad Warner 25+ disposals - $1.95
- Bryn Wakefield
Adelaide (13th) vs Port Adelaide (2nd) best bet
It’s the Showdown, where anything can happen. Although, without small forwards Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele, nor key defender Nick Murray, Adelaide will struggle to pull an upset.
That leaves the door open for Luke Pedlar, another of Adelaide’s prolific small forwards, to steal the show.
Pedlar averages 1.2 goals per game and should be able to snag a pair of majors against Port Adelaide, who have a poor record containing ground-level forwards.
Alternatively, you could opt for the safe one-goal option at $1.60.
Luke Pedlar 2+ Total Goals - $3.00
- Bryn Wakefield
Hawthorn (16th) vs St Kilda (6th) best bet
St Kilda need to win to keep their finals charge alive but they lost the reverse fixture of this contest earlier this season.
The Saints have lost four of their last six games, with their two wins coming against lowly West Coast and North Melbourne.
Surely the Saints can lift, with their season on line, and cover the line, which is quite low considering ladder positions.
Hawthorn are capable but they are only playing for pride.
St Kilda -4.5 points - $1.90
- Kieran Francis
Richmond (10th) vs Melbourne (4th) best bet
Richmond took a narrow one-point win over Hawthorn last week, and is starting to look past its best footy.
Melbourne at the MCG is a big task, and although the Tigers may keep it competitive, it should be a regulation victory for the Demons.
The last two Melbourne victories came against Brisbane and Adelaide, both under a goal margin.
Melbourne Margin (1 - 39) - $2.20
- Bryn Wakefield
West Coast (18th) vs North Melbourne (17th) best bet
The battle of the bottom two in the west - with neither side winning since the opening stages of the season.
North Melbourne are slight favourites but expect to West Coast to lift, like they did against St Kilda a few weeks back.
It will be a hard-fought battle with the margin likely to be small.
Triple Margin II Any other result (both teams to win under 24.5 points) - $1.72
- Kieran Francis
