AFL Round 19 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends, Analysis for Week Ahead

The Western Bulldogs' hopes of resurrecting their AFL premiership defense may rest on how they fare in Round 19's match of the week against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Dogs and the Bombers are only separated by percentages heading into the final five weeks of the season, with Essendon holding on to eighth place and the Bulldogs back in 10th.

While their 2017 campaign has never really got going, the Dogs are still in the hunt after back-to-back wins over Carlton and Gold Coast over the past fortnight. They are yet to win three matches in a row this season and are listed at $2 AUD to beat the Bombers, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

Last year's wooden-spoon winners are $1.82 to get a crucial victory here and claim their fourth victory in a row, something they haven't done since their controversial 2013 season when they were kicked out of the finals because of the peptides scandal.

Outside of that match, it looks a fairly clear-cut round, with the other eight games having a line of greater than 14 points.

Friday night's clash at the MCG between Hawthorn and Sydney is one of the most intriguing of the round, given the Swans have won 10 of their past 11, with their only defeat in that time coming against the Hawks in Round 10.

Hawthorn won that game at massive odds of $7 and are again outsiders in this one at $2.80, with Sydney at $1.45 as they set sail for a position inside the top four.

Out-of-form North Melbourne will look to continue one of football's greatest hoodoos when they host Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday afternoon.

North may have lost seven straight matches but have not been beaten by Melbourne in 11 years, a winning streak of 16 which includes a 14-point win over the Dees in Round 9 this year.

In spite of that, Melbourne go into this match as $1.44 favourites with the Kangaroos outsiders at $2.80. North have won 12 of 14 games at the venue, including a thrilling five-point triumph over the Demons early last year.

Greater Western Sydney's premiership credentials have been firmly questioned in recent weeks, with the Giants having only had one win in their past six matches, against lowly Brisbane.

The Giants have a relatively straightforward clash this week against Fremantle at Spotless Stadium where they start $1.14 favourites with the Dockers at $5.75.

Port Adelaide lost their spot in the top four last week, but they are favoured to bounce back from that defeat when they face a struggling St Kilda at Adelaide Oval. The Power are $1.24 with the Saints at $4.10 and with a 30.5-point head start at the line.

Richmond vaulted Power into the top four this week and are $1.32 to continue their winning ways when they travel to Metricon Stadium to face Gold Coast, who are $3.40.

Also on Saturday night, Geelong take on Carlton at Etihad, a match the Cats are $1.24 to win, with the Blues the $4.10 outsiders.

Top-placed Adelaide can consolidate their dominant position when they travel to the MCG to face Collingwood. The Crows have already won twice at the home of football this year and are $1.36 to make it a hat-trick with the Magpies at $3.15.

The most lopsided game of the round is expected to be the final match at Subiaco between West Coast and Brisbane.

The Eagles may have been the punter's biggest enemy in 2017, but they start at $1.10 in this one, with Brisbane at $7 having not won at this ground since 2010.