AFL Round 17 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends, Analysis for Week Ahead

The two in-form teams in the AFL, Sydney Swans and St Kilda, put their winning streaks on the line in Round 17 when they play GWS Giants and Essendon, respectively, in crucial matches.

The GWS-Sydney rivalry is emerging as one of the strongest on field in the AFL, with the Giants having won the past three Battles of the Bridge, including a comprehensive qualifying final win last year.

They go into Saturday's clash at Spotless Stadium as $1.78 AUD favorites, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, but with a few questions over them after they remarkably drew their past two games against Geelong and Hawthorn.

The season-long injury crisis looks to be taking a bit of a toll on the league's newest club, who have been under par in recent weeks. They are set to get back Steve Johnson and Toby Greene for this match, according to Jon Ralph of the Herald Sun.

The Swans are attempting the greatest season comeback in AFL history having lost their first six and having now won eight of their past nine to snatch a place in the eight. They have considerable momentum behind them, and a victory in this match at odds of $2.05 would be massive for them.

St Kilda have also rebuilt their season, with four straight wins culminating in last week's 67-point thumping of Richmond. The Saints haven't won five straight in six years, but the oddsmakers think they can do that against the Bombers, with odds of $1.70 for a win.

Essendon are $2.15 to get themselves back in the fight for the eight having bounced back to form with a comprehensive win over Collingwood last week.

Saturday's Geelong Cats vs. Hawthorn match is likely to be one of the more low-key renewals of their rivalry in some years. The Cats beat the Hawks by 86 points earlier this year and are coming off a big win over Brisbane Lions last week. They are $1.44 on the betting lines, with Hawthorn at $2.80, as they mark Luke Hodge's 300th game after the club legend announced his intended retirement this week.

The tightest match of the round is expected to be between Gold Coast Suns and Collingwood at Metricon Stadium, Queensland, on Saturday afternoon. Both these teams were easily beaten last week, and the market doesn't know what to make of them, with the Suns slight favorites at $1.85 and the Magpies at $1.95.

There's been much speculation about North Melbourne coach Brad Scott's future this week after the Kangaroos lost their fifth game by under a goal this year against Fremantle.

The second-from-bottom Roos are the second-longest priced team of the round, at $4.95 when they face Port Adelaide ($1.18) in Adelaide on Saturday afternoon.

Melbourne host Adelaide Crows in Darwin on Saturday night in what looms as a danger match for the top-placed Crows. They have never played an AFL game in the Top End before but go into this match as $1.39 favorites. Melbourne, who upset Adelaide by 41 points just two months ago, are $3 outsiders.

Richmond received a massive reality check last week against St Kilda, but they get a chance to bounce back when they host bottom-placed Brisbane at Etihad Stadium. Those lining up to take the $1.16 bet on the Tigers should be wary of the Lions, who caused a massive upset at the same venue in the same timeslot two weeks ago, beating Essendon. They are $5.30 to repeat the dose here.

In the remaining games, the Western Bulldogs are $1.56 favorites to get their season back facing in the right direction when they play Carlton ($2.45), while West Coast Eagles are $1.47 favorites to win the Western Derby against Fremantle ($2.70).