Derby Heat and Home Ground Heroes: Round 20 Breakdown
We are hitting the business end of the season and Round 20 is serving up some absolute crackers for the punters. If you are looking for AFL Round 20 2024 tips, the theme this week is home ground advantage and the desperate scramble for a top eight spot.
Starting on the Gold Coast, the Suns hosting the Brisbane Lions is the pick of the bunch for value. While the Lions are purring, the Suns remain undefeated at People First Stadium this year. The conditions in Carrara on a Saturday night are notoriously greasy, which often brings the best teams back to the pack. Expect Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell to thrive in the phone booth and keep that home streak alive. For those building AFL multi bets, the Suns as home underdogs is a massive lever to pull.
In the West, the Derby usually throws up some fire but Fremantle looks worlds ahead of the West Coast Eagles right now. Josh Treacy has become one of the most dangerous aerial threats in the league and the Eagles lack the defensive depth to stop both him and Jye Amiss. The Dockers' midfield, led by Serong and Brayshaw, should provide a silver service that leads to a comfortable margin.
Collingwood finds itself in a position where wins aren't enough, they need percentage. Facing Richmond at the MCG is the perfect opportunity. The Tigers have struggled to maintain any defensive structure lately, and the Magpies will be looking to exploit that for the full 120 minutes. It is a similar story for the Geelong Cats against North Melbourne. Chris Scott has reinvented Tom Stewart as a roaming midfielder, and the Roos will likely have no answer for his intercepting and play-making ability from the center bounce.
Rounding out your Round 20 betting tips, keep an eye on Hawthorn. Their transition play is the fastest in the competition, and they should be able to burn an Adelaide Crows side that often gets caught ball-watching when the leather turns over. The Hawks are playing with a confidence that makes them a dangerous prospect for anyone outside the top four. Whether you are playing it safe or chasing a big collect, Round 20 offers plenty of angles for the smart punter.