We take a look at Thursday nights (5/9/2019) AFL Finals Week 1 match which is between the West Coast Eagles and the Essendon Bombers. View the odds and teams for both sides as well as our Tips and Bets for the match.
When: Thursday, 5th September at 8:10PM
Where: Optus Stadium
Bet ?: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
For the Bombers, the bye week presents an opportunity to rest up ahead of their first finals appearance since 2017.
For West Coast, the bye week presents a chance to regroup following last week’s horror performance against Hawthorn.
Adam Simpson’s side lost by 38-points to the Hawks in what was West Coast’s most concerning performance of the season. The Eagles, a team with two of the AFL’s Top 10 leading goal scorers, struggled to move the ball forward as Hawthorn’s defensive zones caused chaos.
The Bombers have a lot less to worry about on the ground despite losing by 11-points to Collingwood last week. Instead, Essendon’s biggest concerns come in the form of injury, as the Dons will be hoping Dyson Heppell, Jake Stringer, Cale Hooker, and the recently injured Michael Hurley are all good to go on Thursday night.
With the casualty ward growing, it’s no surprise to find the Bombers listed at a wide price on the road. The Bombers lost by 35-points to the Eagles in Perth back in Round 14, adding to their ho-hum 3-3 interstate record this season.
For the Eagles, the return of Nic Naitanui is still unclear, but even without their star ruckmen, West Coast should prove too strong for an out of form Bombers side.
Say what you will about the Eagles’ loss to the Hawks, but the week off might be just what West Coast needs. For all their troubles getting the ball inside 50 last week, the Eagles should find opportunities easy to come by against a Bombers side allowing the fourth-most inside 50 entries this season.
Odds:
Tip: West Coast Eagles at $1.21
Value Tip: First Goal Scorer: Joshua J. Kennedy at $7.50
Teams:
EAGLES
B: Hurn, Barrass, Schoefield
HB: Sheppard, McGovern, Jetta
C: Sheed, Redden, Gaff
HF: Rioli, Darling, Masten
F: Cripps, Kennedy, Ryan
FOLL: Naitanui, Yeo, Shuey
I/C: Waterman, Hickey, Nelson, Hutchings
EMG: Duggan, Vardy, Cameron, Ah Chee
IN: Schoefield, Naitanui, Hutchings
OUT: Allen (injured), Duggan, Petruccelle
BOMBERS
B: Saad, Hooker, Francis
HB: McKenna, Hurley, Redman
C: McGrath, Merrett, Parish
HF: Stringer, McKernan, Ambrose
F: McDonald-Tipungwuti, Brown, Fantasia
FOLL: Bellchambers, Shiel, Heppell
I/C: Laverde, Langford, Snelling, Ham
EMG: Jok, Clarke, Hartley, Ridley
IN: Hooker, Fantasia, Heppell, Snelling, Stringer
OUT: Hartley, Jok, Begley, Clarke, Gleeson (injured)
*Odds correct at time of posting. Subject to change