Gold Coast Suns vs Carlton Blues Predictions and Betting Tips

🏈 AFL Round 23 Match Preview

⏰ 19 August 2023 - 14.10 AEST

🏟 Stadium - Heritage Bank Stadium

Aussie Rules fans are gearing up for an exciting match as the Gold Coast Suns host the Carlton Blues in an upcoming AFL fixture. This highly anticipated clash is set to entertain on 19 August 2023 at 2:10pm AEST.

In the lead-up to gameday, AusBetSites has aggregated betting odds from Picklebet Australia and 3 different sportsbooks across 37 markets. The current odds have installed the visiting Blues as favorites at 1.51 against the Suns. But with home-field advantage, Gold Coast will be eager to score an upset on their home deck.

The Gold Coast Suns take on the in-form Carlton Blues in a Round 23 AFL clash that will shape the finals spots. While the Suns are out of contention at 15th with 9 wins, the surging Blues have charged to 5th spot after winning 8 straight.

Carlton capped their sizzling run by upsetting Melbourne by 4 points last week, their third victory over a top-4 team during the streak. Despite missing key players, the Blues have been the competition's premier offensive and defensive side over this period. Patrick Cripps led the way against the Demons, while Nic Newman and George Hewitt were prolific.

The Suns will need big outputs from Sam Flanders, Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell to challenge Carlton's midfield. Gold Coast has won its last 2 home games over top-8 sides. But with the AFL's leading goal kicker Charlie Curnow up forward, the Blues should prove too strong. Carlton's finals charge is set to continue with a hard-fought win on the road.

Gold Coast Suns vs Carlton Blues Head-to-Head

Over the last 3 years, the Gold Coast Suns and Carlton Blues have faced each other 4 times. In their recent head-to-head meetings, the clubs have split results with 2 wins apiece. Out of the 4 games played between Gold Coast and Carlton during this period, the head-to-head record is dead even. With each team earning 2 victories in their last 4 matches, this has been a tightly-contested modern rivalry when these sides meet. Heading into this clash, the Suns and Blues have an identical head-to-head record to draw from over the past few seasons. With the teams splitting their most recent contests, this shapes as an intriguing matchup between two clubs trying to build consistency.

Overall, Carlton's red-hot form shows clear superiority over the inconsistent Suns. However, Gold Coast has proven capable of rising to the occasion as underdogs on home turf.

Gold Coast Suns Performance

🟩🟥🟩🟥🟥 The Gold Coast Suns come into this match with inconsistent form in their past 5 games, recording 2 wins against 3 losses. The victories showed the Suns can still compete with and topple good teams on their day. However, three defeats highlighted Gold Coast's issues with sustaining performance week-to-week. The Suns have struggled to maintain momentum during this up-and-down stretch.

Carlton Blues Performance

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 In contrast, the Carlton Blues are flying high, currently riding a 5-game winning streak. This dominant run displays Carlton's tenacity and quality across the board. With 5 consecutive victories under their belt, the Blues have built tremendous momentum coming into this clash with the Suns. Their flawless record over the past month demonstrates Carlton are gelling at precisely the right time as they push for finals.

📋 Players to watch:

• Patrick Cripps has recorded 25+ disposals in 4 of his past 7 matches, with 24 in 2 others.
• Noah Anderson has averaged 30.5 disposals in his last 3 games against Carlton.
• Sam Flanders has had 25+ disposals in 6 of his past 8 matches.
• Nic Newman has averaged 32 disposals over the last 3 rounds.
• Charlie Curnow has kicked 70 goals this AFL season.

These stats highlight some in-form players and key matchups to watch. Prolific ball-winners like Cripps, Anderson and Newman should find plenty of possessions. Meanwhile, Curnow has been a dominant goalkicker this year. Flanders will aim to maintain his recent good form. With talent on both sides, this looms as a tantalizing battle between two rising clubs.

⚡ Match Facts:

• Gold Coast has won two of the past three meetings between these clubs.
• The Suns sit 15th on the ladder while the Blues are 5th.
• Carlton has won its last 8 straight matches. Gold Coast has won 3 of its past 9.
• These sides last played in Round 14, which marked the start of Carlton's current 8-game winning run.

These points highlight that while the Suns have recently had success against the Blues, Carlton has hit extraordinary form since last facing Gold Coast. The Blues' lengthy winning streak has propelled them up the ladder, while the Suns continue to languish. However, Gold Coast has proven it can topple Carlton on its day.

💡 Match Prediction:

The prediction factors in Carlton's strong recent form but a close battle on the Suns' home ground. The Blues could kick around 13 goals to reach the low 90s point mark. Meanwhile, Gold Coast's attack should see them put up 12+ goals to end up in the low 80s. The 7-point expected margin fits with Carlton winning 91-83 in a tight, high-scoring affair. Of course, the actual score could end up being a bit different in either direction. But based on the data given, a reasonable prediction is Suns 83 - Blues 91, with Carlton continuing their push for the top 4.

Despite Carlton's red-hot form, the bookmakers predict a close contest between the Suns and Blues. The odds give Carlton a 57.1% chance of winning compared to 42.9% for Gold Coast. At fair odds, the Blues are favorites at $1.75 while the Suns are at $2.33. Carlton's stellar 8-game winning streak makes them clear picks, but Gold Coast's home-ground advantage keeps this tight.

The Blues are tipped to continue their push for finals by beating the Suns at Metricon Stadium, forecasted to win by 7 points or more. However, the Suns have proven capable of upsets on their home deck this season. It shapes as an intriguing clash between two evenly-matched teams.

Gold Coast Suns vs Carlton Blues Score Prediction: Suns 83 - 91 Blues