AFL Round 12 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends, Analysis for Week Ahead

Western Bulldogs can effectively put an end to Sydney's finals ambitions when the two 2016 grand finalists meet at the SCG in Thursday's Round 12 opener.

The Bulldogs are in sixth place in the table at 6-4 after a solid start to their Premiership defense and can deal a considerable blow to Sydney's stuttering season, with the Swans battling on at 3-7.

Somehow, the Swans are $1.81 AUD favourites for this match, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, despite having lost their past four against the Dogs, including two matches at this ground.

The Bulldogs are $2 with a 3.5-point line in their favor having weathered a late challenge from Sydney in Round 2 before winning by 23 points, one more than their margin over the Swans in last year's Grand Final.

That's expected to be the closest game of the weekend, with only one other game—Saturday's clash between Hawthorn and the Gold Coast at the MCG—with a single-figure line.

Again, the favoured team—in this case Hawthorn at $1.62—were beaten by their opponent earlier in the season. The Hawks were humiliated by 86 points at Metricon Stadium in Round 3, but the Suns are 7.5-point outsiders here at $2.30.

That's the only time the Suns have beaten the Hawks in nine matches between the two, and their two clashes at this ground have seen Hawthorn win by an average of 45 points.

Adelaide are expected to bounce back from last week's loss to Geelong when they host St Kilda on Friday night. The Crows are $1.18 with a better than 10-goal average winning margin at home this season. The Saints, who have lost their past six against the Crows by an average of 57 points, are $4.95 outsiders.

The upset of the round looms on Saturday night when Brisbane host Fremantle as $3.40 outsiders. The Lions may have just one win for the season, but they have had the week off coming up against a Dockers side off a six-day back-up from a defeat to Collingwood at Subiaco.

The Dockers, who are $1.32, have lost their way in the past fortnight, and while they still sit within the eight, the sense is that they are vulnerable to a second-half-of-the-season slump. They have, however, won their past four in Brisbane, including an 83-point victory here on this weekend last year.

Port Adelaide will look to consolidate their spot in the top eight when they travel to Melbourne to face Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Port are $1.48 favourites but will be wary of their first match at Docklands in nearly 12 months, while the Bombers are $2.65, having won just two of their past 17 at their home ground, the most recent being a win over West Coast in Round 9.

Greater Western Sydney moved top of the ladder for the first time in their history last week and can stay there with a win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The Giants are $1.11, the shortest price favourite of the round, with the Blues at $5.10.

The round concludes with the traditional Queen's Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood at the MCG. Both teams are just a game outside the eight and desperately need a win.

Melbourne are $1.55 favourites having won their past three against the Magpies, including a 46-point win in this match last year. Collingwood, who have a host of injuries, are $2.46 outsiders.