AFL Round 15 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends, Analysis for Week Ahead

What do we make of the 2017 AFL season? While there were only two upsets last week, just three of the favorites beat the line as we endured four games decided by less than a goal.

Round 15 sees four games with a line shorter than a goal, while the match of the round sees third-placed Geelong Cats travel to Spotless Stadium to play first-placed Greater Western Sydney Giants on Saturday night.

The Giants are $1.36 AUD to win that game, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, with Geelong enduring an injury crisis at the moment with a major doubt over skipper Joel Selwood, who was knocked out in the opening minutes of last week's win over Fremantle.

Geelong are $3.15, the longest price they have been in a match for two years, but have only lost to the Giants on one previous occasion, in Canberra early last year.

That match is expected to have a major bearing on the top four, as is the clash between Port Adelaide and Richmond at the same time at Adelaide Oval.

The fourth-placed Power are $1.33 having won three of their past four against the Tigers, while Richmond are $3.35 having suffered their biggest defeat of the season when they were beaten by Adelaide at this venue earlier in the year.

Friday night's match at the MCG pits the two in-form teams of the competition. Melbourne have won their past four matches, including a stirring last-minute win in Perth last week, and go in as $1.80 favorites against the resurgent Sydney Swans.

Sydney have won six of their past seven and had their own late drama when they prevailed with a goal after the siren against Essendon last week.

The oddsmakers are having a hard time sorting this one out, with Melbourne the $1.80 favorites despite having not beaten Sydney since 2010. The Swans are $2.01.

The Western Bulldogs, like the Swans, won by just a point last week and need to continue to build momentum when they face West Coast Eagles at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

This is a battle of the AFL's two least predictable teams, but the punters have made the Bulldogs $1.45 favorites on account of their home ground advantage. The Eagles are $2.75.

Second-place Adelaide Crows are also in Melbourne on Saturday, taking on Carlton at the MCG. The Crows were stunned by Hawthorn last week but are backed to rebound here at $1.30 with the Blues at $3.55.

North Melbourne go into Saturday's clash against Gold Coast Suns as slight outsiders ($1.97) having lost their fourth game by under a kick last week. The Roos did beat the Suns by 13 points earlier this year, but the expectation is that the Suns can turn that around on their home turf. Gold Coast are $1.84, but that price could change depending on whether Gary Ablett plays.

Collingwood's clash against Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday afternoon looms as an important one for the Pies. They are $1.80 having beaten the Hawks by 18 points six weeks ago, with Hawthorn $2.02.

Fremantle ($1.75) host St Kilda ($2.08) at Subiaco on Sunday evening in a match that is important for both teams as the Saints sit in eighth and just four points clear of the Dockers in 12th.

The other game sees Essendon as a short-price favorite ($1.10) when they host Brisbane Lions ($7.00) at Etihad Stadium.