Lachie’s AFL Round 17 Preview: GWS Giants vs Hawthorn Hawks | Betting Tips

This match may not be a huge blockbuster, but it promises to be an interesting encounter considering the positions of both teams. The GWS Giants are heavy favorites against the Hawthorn Hawks, who, despite being lowly ranked, can be a dangerous opponent.

Both teams are currently outside the top 8, with the Giants sitting in 11th place and the Hawks in 16th. However, the Giants have been making a serious push for a September finals berth with an impressive performance over the past month. They secured a big win at home against the Dockers and caused an upset by defeating the flag contenders, the Demons, last week in the Northern Territory.

On the other hand, the Hawks are part of the lower tier of teams in the 2023 season. They have been disappointed with their recent efforts against other bottom-tier sides such as the GC Suns and Blues, where they suffered heavy defeats.

Considering these factors, it is understandable why the Giants are strong favorites heading into this game. However, I believe there is value in considering the Hawks with the line. Despite their recent results, the Hawks still possess the ability to be a dangerous team. The gap between the two sides may not be as wide as it seems, especially if the Hawks perform at their best. They have shown their capability by comfortably beating the premiership-contending Lions, and it’s reasonable to expect a strong effort from them. It’s worth mentioning that earlier in the year, these two teams played a tightly contested match.

While the Giants always provide a good effort and rarely suffer heavy defeats, their overall team class, apart from a few players, may not be enough to comfortably cover a line of nearly 6 goals.

Therefore, I anticipate a closely fought contest and would recommend backing the Hawks +35.5.