Week 1 of the AFL’s Doug Nicholls Round and there are mouthwatering match-ups at every turn.

From a Thursday night blockbuster between two top four sides, Gold Coast and Hawthorn, to an equally intriguing clash between the Tigers and Roos.

Check out our Round 10 preview below.

After a couple of lacklustre primetime fixtures, Thursday night footy is back with a bang as the Gold Coast Suns take on Hawthorn at TIO Stadium.

Darwin has become a fortress for the Suns since 2022 and they made seven in a row when holding off the Dogs by 10 points last weekend.

David Swallow is set to return from injury as they attempt to cement their spot in the top four.

As for the Hawks, it’s bulk changes ahead of their trip to the Top End with Jarman Impey, Jack Gunston, Luke Breust, Lloyd Meek and Henry Hustwaite all staying in Melbourne.

Tom Barrass and Jack Scrimshaw will strengthen the Hawks’ back six, but it’s hard to go against the current run the Suns are experiencing at their home away from home.

Tip: Gold Coast Suns To Win 1-39 @ $2.25

As far as home ground advantages go, the Blues might want to stay in Victoria this weekend.

Having won 20 of their past 22 home matches against Carlton, Sydney ($1.64) are favoured to resurrect their season in Friday night’s clash.

Despite dropping to 3-6 after an eight-point loss to the Bombers last week, Dean Cox will be reminding his chargers they could kick-start their path to finals against a team who has won just one game at the SCG since 2012.

Similarly, Michael Voss will be buoyant of his team’s chances, with Harry McKay (19 disposals and 3 marks) leading the Blues to a 15-point triumph over the Saints and their fourth win from five outings.

Blake Acres (shoulder) and Lachie Cowan (hamstring) will both be sidelined, but favourite son Sam Docherty is waiting in the wings.

Tip: Harry McKay 3+ Goals @ $2.65

Kayo subscribers, eat your heart out.

Two of the most in-form teams in the competition will lock horns when Collingwood hosts Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The Magpies bounced back from their loss to Geelong with an impressive victory over Fremantle in the west, running out 14-point winners without Scott Pendlebury, Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek and Brayden Maynard.

Craig McRae will need to find an answer to the dominance of Riley Thilthorpe, however, with Darcy Moore sidelined due to a shoulder injury.

Having lost their previous four games against the Pies by less than a goal, the Crows will be looking to take advantage of Collingwood’s depleted backline and make their case for a top four spot.

With one of the healthiest lists in the AFL, expect Adelaide to push the Magpies again in this one.

Tip: Adelaide (+12.5) To Cover @ $1.90

Port Adelaide’s season could potentially be on the line this weekend as they prepare to host Geelong at Adelaide Oval.

With the fight for top eight spots so tough, the Power needs to ensure they continue tick off their home games.

Willie Rioli is available to play after serving a one-match suspension, but a replacement will need to be found for defender Kane Farrell (knee) who is set to miss at least the next month.

The Cats will be wounded following another home loss to the Giants but could welcome back as many as four players: Tom Stewart, Jack Henry, Rhys Stanley and Lawson Humphries.

The Cats don’t mind playing at the Adelaide Oval and could make it seven wins from 11 outings.

Tip: Bailey Smith Anytime Goal Kicker @ $2.10

Another blockbuster game for different reasons, both GWS and Fremantle will be looking to maintain touch with the top eight when they clash at ENGIE Stadium.

The Giants returned to form in a big way with a four-point win over the Cats in G-Town on the back of seven match-winning goals from Jesse Hogan.

On the other hand, Fremantle suffered their fifth loss of the season by going down to the Pies at Optus Stadium.

The Sean Darcy-Luke Jackson ruck dilemma might be taken out of their hands with Darcy jarring his knee last week, but it will likely matter little as the Giants look to retain their unbeaten run against the Purple Haze at home.

Tip: GWS Giants To Win 1-39 @ $2.10

What were we saying about the feast for Kayo subscribers?

Another intriguing match-up as the Bulldogs look to bounce back against the Bombers at Marvel Stadium.

Having won three in a row, the Bulldogs were unable to break the Suns’ stranglehold on TIO Stadium and went down by 10 points.

The Bombers overcame a season-ending knee injury to Lewis Hayes and secured an eight-point win over Sydney, making it four wins from their past five games.

Despite the strong form, the Bombers are still rank outsiders for this one, with punters expecting the Bulldogs to make it nine in a row at Marvel.

Tip: Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs) 25+ Disposals @ $1.75

Will the Kangaroos ever win again?

Clarko’s men went painfully close to claiming their second victory of the season before the all-too-familiar skill errors ensured a 71-71 draw with Brisbane.

The result follows losses to Essendon (3) and Port Adelaide (9), totaling just 12 points.

As for the never-going-to-win-a-game-in-2025 Tigers, they claimed their third victory of the year when they held on by two points against the Eagles.

The market expects the Roos to bounce back at $1.58, with the Tigers one of only two teams to hold a losing record against them since 2022.

Tip: Richmond To Win @ $2.35

What happened to Brisbane?

The reigning premiers and ladder-leaders lowered their colours with a drawn game against the embattled Kangaroos last weekend for just their second non-win of the year.

Dayne Zorko (39 disposals) did his utmost to keep his side in it, but Lachie Neale could be in for a monster outing against the Dees after being held to just 17 touches – his second lowest of the season.

The Dees snapped a three-game winning streak with a 35-point loss to Hawthorn, but could welcome back both Jake Lever and Harrison Petty.

While the underdog has won five of the last six matches between Brisbane and Melbourne, we can’t throw our support behind the Dees at the Gabba.

Tip: Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions) 30+ Disposals @ $2.00

The Saints will be looking to keep their finals hopes alive when they travel to face the 0-9 West Coast Eagles.

A 15-point loss to the Blues made it four losses from five outings for Ross Lyon’s men, as they slipped to 12^th on the ladder with a 4-5 record.

Losing Dougal Howard (hamstring) is a huge out for the Saints down back, considering they’ve given up the sixth-most points against this season.

The Eagles will likely welcome back both Jeremy McGovern and Oscar Allen in a massive boost for the cellar-dwellers.

It might not be enough, however, with the Saints having a lot more to play for.

Tip: Total Points Under 169.5 @ $1.88

2024

After starting the season 7-0, the Cats are sitting on back-to-back losses, heading into another tough matchup in the nation’s far North.

The Suns love Darwin and they’re arguably at their best, suited to the hot and sticky climate, proving it again last week against the Kangaroos.

Geelong was punished in the centre stoppages, unable to combat Port Adelaide’s quick inside 50 transitions, left accountable by Port’s strong leading patterns.

They got their contest game rolling which switched things back on their terms, but the damage was done early.

The Suns are building the core of their squad week by week, and the balance of speed, contest bulls, and tall and small forward combos continue to improve.

Still, the issue stands with the Suns that they can’t beat big teams when it matters.

In Darwin, the predictability of this game is near impossible, with the Cats never playing there before, the Suns should have the ground advantage, however the Cats definitely have the class advantage.

The key for Geelong is to play extremely contested, one-on-one defensively and exploit the lack of contested marks in the Suns game, a stat they sit last in the competition in.

The Gold Coast leads the league in average turnovers per game and they can’t continue to let teams kill them in transition.

Cats class should be able to get them back on track.

Tip: Geelong to win by 1-39 @ $2.35

The game of the round by a comfortable stretch, this is one of the Blues biggest tests so far and on the Swans fortress, it’s no easy task.

The Swans are in red-hot form with their only loss unexpectedly against the Tigers, but otherwise, they’ve been able to capitalise and execute in patches, which wins them games.

However it’s hard to say that they’ve been perfect, they are beatable, which was proven last week when the Dockers simply kicked themselves out of it because the entries inside 50 do come.

The Blues bounced back massively against the Demons, kicking the first six goals to set them up, even with the Demons late surge.

It is easy to forget this was last year’s Elimination Final matchup, where it was the Blues fast start that again did the work for them when the Swans came back late.

So even though the Blues struggle with fast offensive teams, they do know how to shut down the Swans.

It’s the Cripps, Kennedy, Hewett contested style against the Swans Gulden, Warner, Heeney get and go uncontested style.

Typically the Blues fare well early in these games at the SCG but fall off late, so if the Swans get off to a quick start it could be over even earlier.

With a big Swans crowd at the SCG on Friday night, it should be a cracking contest, but the speed the Swans produce at home is draining and should get them home.

Tip: Sydney to win by 1-24 @ $3.30

The hot Pies are well and truly in stock at the moment and if there was ever a do-or-die clash the Crows wanted to play in, this is the worst one.

Collingwood has not lost since Round 2, back against the Saints, and whilst they still aren’t playing their best footy, they’ve cultivated back their quick and electric energy that keeps the ball moving.

The Crows sit a game and a half out of the top eight, and will  be playing catch-up for a while if they’re any chance of closing the gap by the end of the year.

Both teams play a limited defensive style, punishing off turnover and putting the jets on through the corridor, generating quick inside 50 entries.

The Crows have lacked in goal efficiency this year, and whilst they were capitalising against the Lions, away from home they can’t afford to be wasteful.

The one area of advantage the Crows have is at the stoppages, sitting second in the lead for stoppage clearances, they should win the inside 50 entries.

The Crows got a big away scalp against the Blues a month ago, so maybe the tables are starting to turn, but a full Pies crowd at the G’ says otherwise.

Tip: Collingwood to win by 1-39 @ $2.15

The Giants are under quite a bit of pressure heading into this clash, losing three of their last four games, they’re being found out more than they’d probably like.

The Dogs are a walking mystery, and it’s not often that a team can win by 100 points and still be considered as rated outside the top eight.

This week produces yet another challenge against a top team, and there is quite a lot to lose for both, with another Dogs loss pushing them further away from the eight, and a loss for the Giants taking them away from the top four.

The Giants started strong against the Bombers, capitalising on turnover and finding avenues into the corridor to penetrate inside 50, but were shut down when the Bombers closed off their space.

The Bulldogs did it comfortably against Richmond, although quite a different task at hand, with a big emphasis needing to be placed on defensive pressure.

The Dogs have conceded 109, 95, 96, 95, and 98 in their five losses, which is their glaring issue, even whilst dominating most stats by the end of the game.

They’re coming up against a dangerous mix of talls and smalls, and whilst they might break even in the midfield, how will they limit the Giants inside 50 efficiency, which they sit second in for marks inside 50 per game.

When the Bulldogs start crumbling, it can go downhill quickly, and with a pretty poor pressure performance the week prior from the Giants, they’ll be raring to turn their form around.

Tip: Giants to win by 1-39 @ $2.10

The Saints have hit rock bottom quite early, which could be a good thing as they’re not incapable of turning their season around, although it’s a long shot from here.

The Dockers let themselves down with poor kicking, which put the game to bed at halftime against the Swans, and they’ll be out to prove their form hasn’t died off again.

St Kilda’s execution in transition isn’t impactful to generate scoring opportunities and they sit bottom six for inside 50s per game, and bottom four for scoring efficiency, which isn’t a good mix.

The Dockers struggled to shut down the Swans speed and directional switch-ups in transition, which gave them clear looks at goal that placed pressure on the Dockers risk taking early.

St Kilda does have an advantage in the tackling game, and their pressure is quite consistent, especially between the archs.

Defensive pressure in the forward half is key for the Saints, who too often let the ball get out easily and are constantly chasing in transition.

The Dockers struggle with their contested game, but if they can get their running and uncontested game going in transition, the Saints suffer too many breakdowns per game to kick a winning score.

Tip: Fremantle to win by 1-24 @ $3.50

From premiership highs to 100-point belting lows, the Tigers have experienced the full range of football emotions in the last five years.

But even still, the Lions would do anything to be in their position, still struggling to savour what has been an underwhelming 2024.

They probably walked away the unofficial winners against the Crows, as two points in Adelaide are better than what most walk away with.

Richmond is the walking wounded, and if there was any hope of competitiveness early in the year, it’s disappeared for at least the next month as they fight their ongoing injury battles.

The loss of Sam Banks and Maurice Rioli Jr. doesn’t help soften the blow, but if they’re at least able to bring pressure, it creates some evenness in the contest.

But it’s first in stoppage clearances versus last in the league, so it’s going to take an ultra-sound defensive effort for the Lions to pull off a miracle.

Similar to the North Melbourne game, it’s an opportunity for the Lions to get some confidence back in their system.

Real tough luck for the Yellow and Black.

Tip: Brisbane to cover the line (-43.5) @ $1.90

The Bombers have established themselves as a genuine finals contender after their big win against the Giants, and with a pretty cruisy fixture ahead, they’ve set themselves up well.

The Roos have been handed talent, but continue to head backwards, which can’t all be attributed to the youth, but their experienced players aren’t standing up.

It’s the energy and shutdown pressure the Bombers have brought to the table that gets them on a roll, and they’ve learned in the first few months how to absorb the pressure and not get completely run over.

The Roos are lacking any tactical execution and there’s still a heavy reliance on the forwards to score, as the midfielders get easily exploited on turnover and can’t push up too high.

Essendon’s smaller forward line continues to perform and the ability to keep the leading patterns circulating gives first chance at the drop of the ball and at least an opportunity to force a stoppage.

These teams played two games last year where Essendon won both by less than two goals, so the Roos can match up relatively well.

Ultimately, too many problems for North, and unless their midfielders stand up offensively they’ll get hurt quickly.

Tip: Essendon to win by 40+ and Essendon 1st Quarter First Team to Score

The Power needed a statement victory to dust off the negativity around their big game presence, and it was certainly a statement made against the Cats in Geelong.

The Hawks are starting to find some form again, with back-to-back wins and a better understanding of their ball movement.

The reality is the Hawks are still very far off competing for finals and they’re coming up against a Power side stacked in the midfield, and with a forward line that will cause them too many issues.

The Hawks however are a generally efficient side, sitting in the top five in the competition, but they’re let down by general execution in transition and shot execution.

Port has no trouble generating inside 50s with their quick midfield, and their stoppage craft causes immediate chaos to give their forwards consistent looks.

The Power lead the league for marks inside 50, and the inexperience of the Hawks backline might prove costly.

Back at home and with no real pressure on the Power, this usually plays out comfortably.

Tip: Port Adelaide to cover the line in the first half (-15.5) @ $1.88

The Eagles were sent back to last year with their loss to the Pies, but in fairness, they showed some fight in the second half.

They’re coming up against a fired-up Melbourne side, who let their guard slip and showed some vulnerability against the Blues.

It starts in the middle for the Eagles, who are really up for a challenge having to combat Petracca, Oliver, and Viney who will be extra bullish this week.

A big task at hand for Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass, and Liam Duggan who will look to bring a lot of crash and bash inside 50 to mitigate the impact of Melbourne’s crafty forward line.

The Eagles lack pressure, and it seems an easy task for the Dees, who themselves provide the pressure into the late stages of the fourth quarter.

Travelling to Perth is no easy task, but the Dees haven’t lost at Optus Stadium since 2020, so they’re comfortable on the ground that similarly mirrors the MCG.

A big opportunity for both teams to bounce back, but the Dees class and contested game should outlast the Eagles.

Tip: Melbourne to win both halves @ $1.80

2022

Another quality nine-game slate headlines Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

The Blues and the Swans kick things off on Friday with almost even money on offer, followed by a fascinating game between the Dogs and the Suns on Saturday, and of course, the Dreamtime at the ‘G game between Richmond and Essendon.

Blowouts and upsets were aplenty last week, and we’re confident we’ve found a few winners in our 2022 AFL Round 10 Preview below!

The Blues and the Swans meet with similar goals in mind at Marvel: consolidating a spot in the eight.

Carlton extended its winning streak to three last week with a comfortable 30-point victory over GWS, while the Swans snapped a two-game skid with their own beatdown over Essendon.

The market heading into Friday’s 4^th v 5^th clash continues to fluctuate, which isn’t a surprise considering how evenly matched these two sides are.

Both sides currently rank top five in goals per game, while on the flip side, neither team has been giving up a stack of points either.

This is one of those coin flip games that could easily be decided by less than a goal, but the Swans should walk away winners if they can apply pressure like they did last week on the Bombers.

Sydney has been one of the top tackling teams in the competition, an area that has been a problem for the Blues at times.

With Harry McKay also missing in the Carlton forward line, the price on offer for the Swans is worth rolling the dice on.

Tip: Back the Swans to Win @ $1.82

It’s amazing what a few wins can do.

Port looked dead and buried a month ago, only to string together four consecutive wins over West Coast, St Kilda, the Dogs, and North Melbourne.

If the Power were to make finals it would be one of the greatest turnarounds in the history of the game, but things are about to get turned up a notch this week in Geelong.

There’s nothing scarier than a hungry Cats outfit, particularly on the back of a loss like last week’s defeat to the Saints.

Geelong largely deserved to win that game after dominating the first half, but their defensive efforts in the third quarter left a lot to be desired.

A return GMHBA is just what the doctor ordered, a ground the Power haven’t won at since 2007.

Tom Hawkins tends to kick a bag whenever the Cats are at home – and based on the stats, Geelong should have no shortage of inside 50 chances against a Port back-line that has struggled all season.

Tip: Back Geelong to Cover the Line (-18.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Suns take a trip to Ballarat on Saturday looking to extend their winning streak to three in a row.

Gold Coast has been the talk of the town on the back of last week’s big win over Fremantle, a game that was highlighted by a four-goal bag from Mabior Chol in very wet conditions.

Stuart Dew’s side is now in the conversation for a finals berth, but they’ll have to go through a Dogs outfit with similar aspirations.

Luke Beveridge’s men took another step to turning their season around with a win over Collingwood last week, and they’ll feel pretty good heading to their home away from home knowing they’ve won eight of their last nine against the Suns.

Only 11 points separated these two sides when they met last July though, and with the Gold Coast playing with confidence, it wouldn’t be surprising if this one turns out equally as close.

Injuries have been at the forefront of the Dogs’ season so far, while the same old goal-kicking woes were still present last week.

Playing in Ballarat is tough, but if the Suns can continue to dominate the clearances and also make the most of their opportunities inside 50, they’ll be a real chance at keeping this close.

Tip: Back the Suns to Cover the Line (+16.5 Points) @ $1.90

Top plays bottom on Saturday afternoon when reigning premiers Melbourne head to Marvel to face wooden spoon favourites North.

The Dees cruised to their 16^th straight win last week against West Coast in Perth, while the Roos were on the receiving end of another 60+ point belting at the hands of Port Adelaide.

North is set to receive a boost with Jy Simpkin returning to the side, but his inclusion alone won’t be enough to see the Shinboners over the line.

The Roos are out of sorts on and off the field, and one look at the stats paints a grim picture against the benchmark team of the competition.

North ranks bottom in just about every major category, and you only have to take a look at the last time these two sides met to get a feel for this one.

Melbourne walked away comfortable 40-point winners this time last year, making the Dees at the line the only worthwhile play.

Tip: Back Melbourne to Cover the Line (-68.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Crows remain in Adelaide looking to bounce back from last week’s 36-point belting against Brisbane.

Adelaide played a strong first quarter before being over-run by the Lions’ dominant forward line, a worrying sign heading into this week’s clash against a St Kilda side flying high.

The Saints recorded what could be a season-defining win last week over Geelong, a result that largely boiled down to an impressive “championship quarter” in the third term led by Paddy Ryder.

Head-to-head, the Crows have actually fared better with four wins from their last five games against the Saints, but this still looks a big challenge for Matthew Nicks’ side based on the numbers.

Not only do the Saints average more scoring shots and more marks inside 50s than the Crows, but they’ve also been one of the toughest teams to score against through the first nine rounds.

Typically, this is the kind of game the St Kilda of old would lose. But with a chance to further prove themselves as legit finals contenders, the Saints should find a way to get it done.

Tip: Back the Saints to Cover the Line (-18.5 Points) @ $1.90

Dreamtime at the ‘G is always a special occasion on the footy calendar, and this year’s clash between the Tigers and Bombers should be no exception.

The Dons have again found themselves in the headlines all week on the back of last week’s 58-point thumping against the Swans.

A clear lack of effort and basic execution was present yet again, a disappointing performance for a side that seemed to have regained some confidence after a strong fourth quarter to defeat Hawthorn a week earlier.

As for Richmond, it’s all systems go.

The Tigers have rattled off three in a row after defeating the Hawks themselves last week, and there seems to be no stopping full-forward Tom Lynch on the way to the Coleman Medal.

The Bombers did show some fight on the big stage on ANZAC Day last month, but this an entirely different challenge against a Richmond team that is starting to resemble the days of old.

With Ben Rutten on the hot seat and the playing group in disrepute, this shapes as another tough week for Essendon supporters.

Tip: Back Richmond to Cover the Line (-24.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Mark McVeigh era gets underway at GWS on Sunday following Leon Cameron’s shock in-season resignation last week.

The Giants were well-backed heading into last week’s clash against Carlton, but aside from a late first-half fight back, it was another disappointing day out for the men in orange.

Disappointment might be the operative word to describe West Coast’s season.

The Eagles slumped to their fifth straight loss of 60 points or more last week against Melbourne, and it’s no surprise to find a healthy 40-point line on offer in favour of the Giants.

Things are only about to get tougher for Adam Simpson with Josh Kennedy ruled out with a knee injury.

Goals have been a problem at both ends of the ground for West Coast this year, and although GWS has hardly been setting the world on fire, they are still a dangerous team up forward with Toby Greene and Harry Himmelberg taking charge.

It’s difficult to feel confident in either team right now, but with the Eagles down on personnel and basic confidence, the Giants should pick up their third win of the season.

Tip: Back GWS 1-39 @ $2.45

Lions head coach Chris Fagan will be stressing the importance of starting this week’s game on time.

Brisbane trailed the Crows at half-time last week before roaring home to a 36-point victory, their eighth win of the season.

Charlie Cameron and Lachie Neale were enormous down the stretch, but a similar slow start could prove costly against a feisty Hawthorn team that typically plays its best footy down in Tassie.

The Hawks have now lost four in a row, but last week’s scoreline against Richmond really didn’t do them justice.

Hawthorn pushed the Tigers for most of the game, even trimming the margin to 10 points with a few minutes to play.

Unfortunately, the loss hurt in more ways than one with key forward Jack Gunston suffering another injury setback that looks likely to cost him multiple weeks.

On paper, the Hawks could really put a scare into Brisbane, but the Lions should win if they can take full advantage of Hawthorn’s undermanned ruck.

Brisbane has been one of the best teams around the stoppages this year, while they’ve also held Hawthorn’s number winning four of their last six meetings.

Tip: Back the Lions to Cover the Line (-23.5 Points) @ $2.00

The Dockers and Pies meet with different goals in mind on Sunday.

Fremantle perhaps suffered the biggest upset of Round 9 last week against the Suns as Justin Longmuir’s side failed to find points in the slippery conditions at Metricon.

The Dockers still find themselves sitting third on the ladder, but they can’t afford another slip-up if they hope to hang in the top four picture for the rest of the year.

As for the Pies, this is another important game as far as their top eight bid is concerned.

Collingwood’s loss to the Dogs has left them sitting four points adrift, but they’ll take plenty of confidence into this game knowing their last three meetings against Freo have been decided by two goals or less.

That said, the Pies have lost all three of those games, and there are some big concerns for the Maggies when it comes to winning the clearances and contested ball.

Defensively, the Dockers have been one of the toughest teams to score against this season, posing further problems for a Collingwood forward line that is far from full strength.

Given the conditions last week, Fremantle has probably earned a mulligan as they return home looking to make a statement.

Tip: Back the Dockers to Cover the Line (-25.5 Points) @ $2.00

2021

Ten weeks of footy are almost in the books and we are still no closer to determining a true premiership favourite.

Very little separates the Bulldogs, Dees, and Tigers atop our Premiership market, but we might gain a clearer understanding this week with a top-eight blockbuster scheduled between Brisbane and Richmond at the Gabba on Friday.

The Dogs also prepare for an intriguing clash against the Saints at Marvel on Saturday, followed by an equally important game between 7^th and 9^th when West Coast meets GWS in Sydney.

For our thoughts on all nine games this weekend, be sure to read our 2021 AFL Round 10 Preview below!

A rematch of last year’s Qualifying Final gets us started this week between the Lions and the Tigers from the Gabba.

Brisbane polished off the eventual premiers by 15 points last October, and as the market suggests, they might just make it two in a row if recent form is anything to go by.

After a slow start to the season, Chris Fagan’s side has adjusted beautifully to win five on the trot after demolishing the Suns last week in the Q-Clash.

Not to be outdone, the Tigers also come in high on confidence after maintaining their spot in the eight with a come-from-behind win over GWS.

Brisbane has re-established its dominance at home recently with blowout wins over Essendon, Fremantle, and Port Adelaide, but the Tigers do look a little hard done by here at the line.

Up until their Round 10 loss last year, the Tigers had the wood over the Lions with 15 consecutive wins dating back to 2011.

The Lions should win this game with a much healthier midfield and a forward line that is firing on all cylinders, but after a couple of sloppy fourth quarters in recent weeks, the Tigers look a good bet for a sneaky backdoor cover.

Tip: Back Richmond to Cover the Line (+16.5 Points) @ $1.90

Carlton’s season still has a pulse sitting just four points adrift from ninth, but they’ll need to ensure they take care of business this week against an out of sorts Hawthorn side hungry to make amends for last week’s embarrassment.

The Hawks gifted North Melbourne its first win of the season despite leading by four goals at the end of the first term.

Hawthorn’s backline fell apart in the second half under an enormous amount of pressure from the Roos – a strategy the Blues will likely look to employ this week with Harry McKay currently leading the Coleman chase.

Despite what the scoreboard suggests, the Blues can also feel good about their performance last week against the undefeated Dees.

Carlton gave Melbourne a scare at various stages throughout the first half, and they should be able to capitalize this week against a Hawthorn side that has allowed the second-most goals in the league.

You can never discount Alastair Clarkson pulling a rabbit out of his hat following a loss like last week, but with a steady 5-4 record at the line this year, the Blues look a good bet to remain in the finals mix.

Tip: Back Carlton to Cover the Line (-21.5 Points) @ $1.90

Things are only about to get worse for the Suns after losing by 73 points last week in the Q-Clash against the Lions.

Stuart Dew’s side now takes the unenviable trip to Geelong to face the Cats, a team the Gold Coast has defeated only twice in 12 attempts.

You could argue the Cats would have lost last week’s game if St Kilda had kicked straight, but even so, Geelong still showed why they are a serious premiership threat with a four-goal final term to put the game to bed.

The Suns have lost by an average margin of 42 points against top eight sides this season, and when you combine that with the fact they lost by 37 to Geelong at GMHBA last year, things only look worse.

The Cats are a perfect 6-0 as the home favourite against the Suns, so the line here is probably the safest play.

Tip: Back Geelong to Cover the Line (-42.5 Points) @ $1.90

Melbourne has a fantastic opportunity to extend its winning streak to 10 against a Crows team that has fallen into an absolute heap recently.

After looking a sneaky finals contender earlier in the year, Adelaide has gone on to lose five straight games – the last three of which have come by double-digit margins.

The Dees, meanwhile, continue to prove they are no joke with another gutsy win over Carlton last week by 26 points.

Simon Goodwin’s side flexed its muscle with another dominant display through the midfield, while the pressure applied also forced the Blues into a number of costly mistakes down the stretch.

Adelaide has been hampered by injuries all season and this does shape as another long and difficult day.

Not only did the Crows struggle mightily for possession last week against West Coast, they were also horrible in front of goal kicking 11 goals and 10 behinds.

Similar struggles won’t go over well against a Dees side looking to maintain its form heading into a Round 11 blockbuster against the Dogs.

After winning by 49 points when they met last year, this should be another comfortable day at the office for Melbourne.

Tip: Back Melbourne to Cover the Line (-34.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Dogs have bounced back nicely from their loss to Richmond three weeks ago with two impressive wins over Carlton and Port Adelaide in succession.

After leading by a single point at halftime, Luke Beveridge’s side dug deep last week to withstand a late surge from the Power in what was another impressive display from Aaron Naughton and Marcus Bontempelli.

Not surprisingly, the win has left the bookies (and punters) with tremendous confidence in the Dogs heading into this week’s rematch of the 2020 Elimination Final.

These two sides played out an absolute classic last year at the Gabba with the Saints emerging victorious by three points, but after a long first half to the season that has featured many basic skill errors and trouble in front of goal, it’s hard to have much faith in Brett Ratten’s side.

The Dogs have been one of the toughest teams to score against this year and they will only be helped out by the fact they are a perfect 4-0 at Marvel this year.

With a big game against the Dees ahead next Friday, the Bulldogs should be out to make a statement.

Tip: Back the Dogs 1-39 @ $2.00

The Dockers finally head back to Perth this week for an intriguing clash against the Swans.

Freo has endured a rough couple of games on the road against Brisbane and Essendon since their thumping in the Western Derby three weeks ago, but they should feel slightly confident heading into this one knowing they’ve won their last two games against Sydney at Optus.

A win for the Swans could also prove massive as they find themselves tied on points with the Cats, Lions, Power, and Eagles on the ladder, but their 2-5 record as the underdog against Freo is worth factoring in.

As the market suggests, this is a bit of a coin flip, so you might be better off sticking with the Total.

The last two games between these clubs have resulted in less than 105 points, which leaves Saturday’s number looking a little high.

Tip: Under the Total

The Giants face another massive test after failing to shut the door on Richmond last week.

GWS allowed a three-goal half-time lead to slip through its fingertips in the dying stages, a performance Leon Cameron will be hoping his side can build on with a backlog of teams vying for a spot in the eight.

Returning home should help the Giants greatly this week, particularly against a West Coast team that remains questionable at best away from home.

That said, the Eagles have held the Giants in check over the last few years winning each of their last four meetings.

Aside from the Bulldogs, West Coast has been one of the best scoring sides in the competition this year, and the fact they rank second in goals scored is obviously a worrying sign for a Giants team that simply ran out of gas last week.

You could really make a strong case for either of these two sides, but West Coast does look to have an edge with a 3-1 record as the away underdog against the Giants.

If this one turns into anything like a shootout, you also have to favour West Coast’s dominant forward line to come out on top.

Tip: Back West Coast to Win @ $2.00

The Power will be looking to bounce back from last week’s shock loss against the Dogs when they meet a desperate Collingwood side at the ‘G on Sunday.

A late surge wasn’t enough to erase the damage done in the third term last week against the Bulldogs, but the good news is Port has typically been one of the safest bets to atone for a previous loss over the last 12 months.

Ken Hinkley’s side has played to a perfect 6-0 record head-to-head and a 4-2 record at the line during that time frame, so there’s plenty to suggest the Power are one of the safest bets of the weekend.

As far as the actual games go though, it’s fair to say the Power have the edge where it matters most: up forward.

A clear lack of forward targets cost Collingwood dearly last week in the loss to Sydney, while the back line also struggled to keep the likes of Issac Heeney and Buddy Franklin off the board.

Port’s forward line is just as good, if not better than the Swans’, so it’s hard to fade the favourites in this instance.

Tip: Back Port Adelaide to Cover the Line (-19.5 Points) @ $1.90

It almost feels as though Essendon’s season is already over, but one look at the ladder suggests the Bombers are very much in the thick of things.

Last week’s thrilling seven-point win over Fremantle has left the Dons sitting just eight points away from a spot in the top eight, and they look to have a great opportunity to close that gap against North on Sunday.

Of course, that isn’t to say this game is a guarantee.

As Hawthorn found out the hard way last week, this injury-riddled Kangaroos side is still very dangerous when things start to go their way.

North applied a tremendous amount of pressure from half-time onwards to suffocate the life out of Hawthorn, and if they can replicate that performance this week, they should go a long way to at least keeping this game close.

As far as recent history goes the Bombers have owned North’s number with five consecutive wins dating back to 2016.

Even so, this line looks a little long for two of the most unpredictable teams in the competition, so take North to put up a fight.

Tip: Back North Melbourne to Cover the Line (+19.5 Points) @ $1.90

2020

The AFL remains in fast forward mode for another week as Round 10 gets underway on Monday night with Port Adelaide taking on the Bulldogs at the Adelaide Oval.

The game of the round follows on Tuesday between Richmond and the Lions from Metricon, with a must-win game rounding things out on Friday between the Bombers and Giants.

It’s back-to-back, non-stop footy, so if you don’t have time to do the form, we’ve got you covered with our 2020 AFL Round 10 Preview below.

The Dogs were the victim of a 41-point mauling at the hands of the Tigers last week and they aren’t about to find things any easier during Monday’s trip to the Adelaide Oval.

Ken Hinkley’s side responded to their blowout loss to the Saints in Round 8 with a big win over the Dees last week on the Gold Coast.

The Power have had only three days to prepare for this game, but they should feel good about themselves knowing they’ll have 30,000+ fans in attendance.

With that said, the Bulldogs do look a live chance based on their slight rest advantage and the fact they beat the Power at home last year.

The absence of Matt Suckling and Jackson Trengove is of concern, but things balance out a little with Brad Ebert missing for Port.

Throw in the fact the Dogs have covered in six of their last eight games as the underdog, and you have a pretty safe looking line bet.

Tip: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (+14.5 Points) @ $2.00

The Tigers bounced back with a win last week against the Bulldogs to edge their way a little closer to the top four.

Richmond comes into Tuesday’s game with a full six days of rest under their belt, but with several key names still missing, it’s no real surprise to find the Tigers as the slight underdogs in the market.

The Lions, meanwhile, are building themselves a nice little win streak after demolishing the Bombers by 63-point last Friday night.

Brisbane’s pressure around the ball was extremely impressive and if they can limit Richmond to long kicks down the line, much like they did against the Dons, they should go a long way towards winning this.

Both sides came out of their Round 9 games unscathed, so there’s every chance this one turns into a thriller – unlike their previous meeting in last year’s Qualifying Final.

With Dusty Martin returning to form last week and the Tigers holding a perfect 5-0 record at the line in their last five games at Metricon, take Richmond with some minor insurance.

Tip: Back Richmond to Cover the Line (+1.5 Points) @ $2.00

Geelong put up a fight in their nine-point loss to West Coast last week and head coach Chris Scott will be hoping his side can build on that performance when they face North on Wednesday night.

The Cats are in real danger of now slipping out of the eight now, but as the market suggests, they should have no trouble bouncing back against one of the league’s worst sides.

To their credit, the Roos got a much-needed win on the board last week against the hapless Crows, but their recent record against Geelong suggests another one isn’t exactly imminent.

North has lost each of their last five games against Geelong dating back to 2015, four of which have come by 20-points or more.

Despite recent efforts, the Cats remain 6-1 on the back of a previous loss over the last calendar year.

The long flight from Perth and short turnaround is a big query though, so don’t be surprised if the Cats only just squeak this one out.

Tip: Back Geelong 1-39 @ $1.82

The Dees are one of several teams looking to bounce-back this week and they have a great opportunity to do so against the winless Crows.

After a spirited fourth quarter against Brisbane a week earlier, the Dees turned in a complete no-show last Thursday kicking only one goal in the first half in the loss to Port Adelaide.

The Crows were also on the receiving end of a blowout in their 69-point defeat at the hands of North Melbourne.

Only two points separated these two sides when they met last year in the Northern Territory, but you don’t have to be a genius to workout that a lot has changed since then.

Melbourne has won three of their last five meetings against the Crows and the stats also suggest the Dees should get the job done.

Simon Goodwin’s men are averaging nearly two goals more a game than Adelaide and nearly 10 more inside 50s.

With all that in mind, the Dees 1-39 is probably the safest play.

Tip: Back Melbourne 1-39 @ $1.85

Collingwood’s fall from grace continued last week in their loss to Fremantle as they now face an uphill battle to rejoin the eight.

The Swans, meanwhile, continued their rollercoaster ride last week in a 53-point thumping at the hands of St Kilda.

Sydney are a difficult side to get a read on this season, but after putting in three big performances against the Bombers, Tigers and Hawks earlier in the year, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to watch the Swans make a game of this.

Seven points or less have separated these two sides in their last three meetings and there is plenty of value on either side to win by a small margin.

With Collingwood flying from Perth and the Swans still battling injuries, it might be worth just sitting on the fence.

Tip: Either Team to Win By Less Than 15.5 Points @ $2.40

The Suns find themselves with plenty of work left to do after suffering back-to-back losses.

Gold Coast turned up for the fight in the first half last week against GWS, right before the Giants put their foot down in a decisive 26-point victory.

Stuart Dew’s side appears more than capable of causing a few more upsets going forward, but it’s difficult to see one coming on Thursday against the third-placed Saints.

St Kilda has now won three games in a row over the Crows, Port and Swans to move within a stone’s throw of the Lions and Power on the table.

A win this week would really make truly interesting, but the Saints won’t hold particularly fond memories of playing the Suns following three consecutive thrillers over the last two seasons.

Less than a goal has separated these two sides during that time frame, and while the Saints have won all three, they must ensure they don’t overlook the Suns this week.

Fortunately, the bookies have done just that by offering up a double-digit line, one the Suns have shown no trouble covering against St Kilda over the last two seasons.

Tip: Back the Suns to Cover the Line (+10.5 Points) @ $2.00

This is a real line in the sand game for these two clubs as they continue to shuffle in and out of the eight.

GWS kept their season alive last week in their big win over the Suns, a result that has left them sitting seventh on the ladder at time of publish.

Another slip up could see the Giants fall back down to 11^th depending on results, a fate the Bombers are also looking to avoid.

Essendon was embarrassed on the primetime stage last week against the Lions in a forgettable 63-point loss.

The ball movement and pressure that we’ve come to expect from Essendon just wasn’t there last week, making the Dons a very tough side for punters to trust over the remainder of the season.

On the plus side for the Bombers, they do have a little more experience playing on the Metricon surface over the Giants.

The Dons have also won four of their last six games on the back of a loss, so take the Bombers to at least it close this time.

Tip: Back Essendon to Cover the Line (+11.5 Points) @ $2.00

2019

The favourites came through last week to provide a little more clarity in what has so far been a chaotic season.

Up until this point, the ladder was a guessing game, but we’re finally starting to get a feel for who might be the contenders and who might be the pretenders moving forward.

This weekend mightn’t be the most exciting, but there’s still a pair of Saturday and Sunday blockbusters to look forward to.

We’ve done all the form and analysis, and our complete 2019 AFL Round 10 Preview can be found below.

Nathan Buckley posed a question to his side following a close shave against Carlton, and as expected, the Pies responded with a convincing 41-point win over St. Kilda.

Collingwood never really looked threatened despite leading by only two goals at half time. The Pies raced away to boot six in the final term, extending their winning streak to six ahead of Friday nights trip to the SCG.

Sydney have also gone on a run of late stringing together a pair of wins to improve to 14^th on the ladder. Last week’s five-point win over North Melbourne in Tasmania got the job done, but there’s still plenty to be desired from John Longmire’s side.

These two played only once last year, and just like last week, it was another close call for the Swans. Sydney survived by two-points at home to the Pies, largely due to a whopping six-goal bag from Buddy Franklin.

The superstar forward is set to miss his fifth-straight game this weekend with a hamstring injury, but that’s not the only reason the Swans find themselves as serious outsiders at home.

Sydney are currently 3-4 straight-up as the home favourite over the last 12 months, while their 4-4 record as the home favourite against Collingwood isn’t quite so convincing either.

The Pies have been unlucky with injuries in recent weeks, but the good news is Mason Cox is ready to return on Friday. Having to choose between the likes of Cox, Ben Reid and Brody Mihocek is a good problem to have if you’re Buckley, and one that should see the Pies win easily.

Tip: Back Collingwood 1-39 @ $2.06

It’s only Round 10, but this feels like a vitally important game if the Hawks hold any hopes of playing finals this year.

Alastair Clarkson’s side went down by 36-points to the Tigers last week in a game dominated by Dustin Martin. The Hawks now head home to their Tasmanian fortress in Launceston, but as we saw last month against Carlton, the brown and gold are still vulnerable down south.

Port haven’t had long to celebrate rejoining the top eight, but their 38-point win over the Suns last week at least keeps critics at bay for another week.

Unfortunately for the Power, they too drew the short straw when they visited the Hawks in Tassie last year. Ken Hinkley’s side lost by three-points in a Round 11 thriller – extending the Power’s record in Tasmania to 0-4.

The Hawks have opened as the favourites with home-field advantage this week, and it’s certainly hard to look past their 4-1 record in this scenario against the Power. Even so, Port are 2-0 as the line underdog against the Hawks, and with Ben McEvoy under some doubt with an ankle injury, the Power look good value to win the ruck contest and more importantly, the game.

Tip: Back the Power to Cover the Line (+4.5 Points) @ $1.90

With nothing but bragging rights on the line, this should be a fascinating battle between two sides desperate to make up for last week’s shortcomings.

Full credit to the Dogs, they took it to the Cats for the better part of three quarters down in Geelong. One quick look at the stat sheet shows just how close Luke Beveridge’s side came to causing an upset, but unfortunately the Dogs’ lack of fourth quarter composure cost them six goals in the final term.

The Roos can also relate to losing a close game after falling by five-points to the Swans in Tasmania last week. North dominated the disposal and inside 50 counts by a wide margin, but their wayward efforts in front of goal cost them in the end.

Looking forward, this game should turn out to be equally as close if recent history is anything to go by. The last four encounters between these two sides have been decided by 10-points or less, including last year’s pair of nail-biters at Marvel Stadium.

The bookies seem to have sided with the Dogs, but North have shown a lot of fight over the last three weeks. The Roos also challenged the Cats a fortnight ago, but unfortunately their 1-6 record as the away underdog makes them tough to back.

Instead, ride with the Points market here. These two sides rank Top 10 in behinds this season, and given their woes in front of goal over the last month, back the Under.

Tip: Under 169.5 Total Points @ $1.87

It’s not only a battle of the birds, it’s also a battle between sixth and seventh.

The Eagles continue to put wins on the board, but that’s about all you can say after last week’s underwhelming 16-point win over the Demons.

Adelaide, on the other hand, fought gallantly up in Brisbane only to walk away with a one-point loss. The Crows still look like one of the teams to beat in this year’s competition, but they’ll need to turn up ready for the fight if they wish to make good on their 2-2 record at home this year.

The Crows came away on top the last time these sides met at Adelaide Oval in 2018. It was a narrow 10-point win, but Taylor Walker’s three-goal bag meant the difference between winning and losing.

West Coast can win this game if they match Adelaide’s speedy forwards, but it’s certainly hard to back against the Crows’ 6-4 record following a loss.

Adelaide can rest easy knowing they’ve allowed the fewest goals to opposing teams this year, and with a 7-4 record as the favourite over the last 12 months, back Adelaide to get the job done in another close one.

Tip: Back the Crows 1-39 @ $2.06

A 44-point win over the Bulldogs was enough to keep the Cats four points clear atop the table for another week.

Geelong survived a first half scare to race away with six goals in the final quarter at The Cattery, but the win didn’t come without a loss as Patrick Dangerfield could miss this week’s trip to the Gold Coast with an ankle injury.

Dangerfield’s absence will come as welcome news to the Suns after losing their fifth straight game last weekend. Stuart Dew deserves praise for his efforts with this young side, but Gold Coast’s 38-point belting at the hands of the Power is worrying ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the premiership favourites.

Since their inception in 2011, the Suns are 2-3 at home against the Cats. Geelong won by 85-points at Metricon last season before defeating the Gold Coast by 102-points at Simonds in Round 23.

With all that in mind, it’s no surprise to see the Cats at a very slim price. Geelong are 4-3 as the away favourite over the last 12 months and 3-2 on the road against the Suns.

If they wish to extend their winning streak to six however, Chris Scott’s side needs to ensure they treat this Suns team with respect. Despite winning comfortably in the end, the Cats kept things interesting in the first half against both North Melbourne and the Bulldogs in recent weeks. If they start out slow at Metricon, the Gold Coast’s strong 2-1 record as the line underdog could be a nice play.

Tip: Back the Suns to Cover the Line (+33.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Tigers pounced all over the Hawks last week in a win that reminded everyone just how special Dustin Martin can be.

Richmond’s 36-point victory was capped off by Dusty’s 37 disposal, two-goal performance, but really, the pressure from Damien Hardwick’s side was the real story as the Tigers rewound the clock to their 2016 best.

Essendon also had plenty to celebrate last week as they fought hard for a gutsy seven-point win over the Dockers at Marvel. The Bombers were electric through the midfield and around the stoppages, while Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti once again chipped in with a handy three-goal bag.

This game should have plenty of feel about it on Saturday, although it is worth noting the Tigers have enjoyed the better part of this match up over the last five years.

Richmond have won eight straight over the Dons dating back to 2014, but if this game is anything like last year’s Round 22 thriller, we should be in for a real treat.

One of the telling signs of Richmond’s season has been their lack of composure through the midfield. Injuries certainly haven’t helped, but the fact the Tigers lead the competition in opponent disposals is a telling sign.

For Essendon, keeping it clean through the middle of the ground could prove the difference between winning or losing. The Bombers also rank fifth in clearances, so if their superior forward line can challenge Richmond’s depleted back line, Essendon look a real chance at an upset.

Tip: Back the Bombers To Win @ $2.80

It’s another big week for Simon Goodwin’s side as the Dees look to make up for last week’s disappointment against the Eagles in Perth.

Melbourne looked well on their way to seeking revenge for last year’s Prelim Final loss, right before the defence was caught napping in the final quarter allowing the Eagles to race away with six game-winning goals.

Sitting third on the ladder, the Giants aren’t quite so desperate for a win, but they’ll certainly be hoping to put an end to their abysmal 2-16 record at the MCG this weekend. The Giants pummeled Carlton by 93-points last week to earn their sixth win of the year, but after last fortnight’s poor performance against the Hawks in Melbourne, there are still plenty of questions left to be answered.

Aside from snapping their MCG hoodoo though, the Giants will also be hoping to make up for their 45-point loss at the hands of the Demons last year. GWS have defeated Melbourne only once in five games so far, but the bookies still seem to be in all-in on the Giants.

It might sound simple, but GWS need to kick straight to win this game. Wayward shots in front of goal cost the Giants against the Hawks, and if they can somehow weather the Demons pressure through the midfield, there shouldn’t be any excuses for Leon Cameron’s side not to walk away with the points.

The Giants are 4-1 as the away favourite against the line over the last 12 months, so back GWS to make a statement and win comfortably.

Tip: Back the Giants to Cover the Line (-11.5 Points) @ $1.90

How fitting that these two clubs meet on Sunday.

The Blues have made headlines for all the wrong reasons after last week’s capitulation against the Giants.

The 93-point margin tells the full story, and as a result, fans are left questioning not only the leadership and belief of the players, but also head coach Brendon Bolton, who finds himself on a fiery hot seat.

After a fast start to the season that at one stage saw the Saints inside the top four, St. Kilda have crashed back down to earth suffering four straight losses.

There were plenty of positives to take away from last week’s loss to Collingwood, but that’s been the story for Alan Richardson’s side over the last 18 months: strong signs, but very little to show for it.

St. Kilda own four straight wins over Carlton, so that should leave the Saints feeling confident this weekend. With very little value on offer head-to-head though, unfortunately St. Kilda’s poor 1-3 record as the line favourite makes them tough to back this weekend in a game that could very well see the Blues respond to a week of criticism.

Tip: No Bet

Brisbane’s one-point win over the Crows at home last week was enough to vault the Lions back inside the top four, but the jury is still out on whether Chris Fagan’s side are a legitimate premiership contender.

This week’s trip to Fremantle should tell us a lot about the Lions resolve, and if it’s anything like last year’s Round 15 win at Optus Stadium, we might receive a pretty firm answer.

Fremantle weren’t disgraced last week against the Bombers losing by only seven-points in Melbourne, but the loss was enough to bump the Dockers down to ninth on the ladder four points shy of Port Adelaide.

Ross Lyon’s side don’t exactly stand out on the stat sheet, but they have been one of the better defensive sides in the competition this year. The Dockers have allowed the third-fewest goals ahead of only the Cats and Crows, which could make life interesting this week for a Lions side that ranks fourth in goals scored.

The bookies appear to have the market bang on for this game, and really, it’s a bit of a coin toss. The Lions are 3-5 as the away underdog over the last 12 months, but their 3-1 record as the line underdog against the Dockers is pretty convincing.

Fremantle, meanwhile, are 6-8 on the back of a loss, and considering the Dockers allowed Daniel McStay to boot three goals in last year’s match – the exact margin the big man booted last week against the Crows – take the Lions to keep it close on the road.

Tip: Back the Lions to Cover the Line (+4.5 Points) @ $1.90

2018

The West Coast Eagles went to the top of the AFL Ladder, the Brisbane Lions won a game and the Carlton Football Club hit a new low – it all happened in the AFL last weekend.

West Coast face another tough challenge against Hawthorn in another massive game on Sunday night, while Richmond will have the chance to return to winning form when they take on the struggling St Kilda.

Throw in a host of other big games and we are set for a simply outstanding weekend of action and our complete 2018 AFL Round 10 tips can be found below!

Collingwood returned to winning form with a comfortable victory over St Kilda last weekend and they will start this clash as clear favourites.

The Magpies have generally won when they have been expected to this season and they have won eight of their past ten games as home favourites, while they are 6-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Western Bulldogs kicked only two goals in their defeat at the hands of the Adelaide Crows last weekend and their four wins this season have come against the four sides that currently sit below them on the AFL ladder.

They have lost their past five games as away underdogs and have failed to cover the line in any of these defeats, but they have won their past five games against Collingwood.

Collingwood really should be able to end their losing streak against the Western Bulldogs and they can cover the line in the process.

Back Collingwood To Cover The Line (-17.5 Points)

Richmond had their winning run ended by the West Coast Eagles last weekend, but they will still go into this game with St Kilda as dominant favourites.

The Tigers have been able to turn the MCG into a genuine fortress and they have won their past 13 matches at the venue, which includes a big win over St Kilda in the final round of the regular season last year.

Richmond have won 15 of their past 18 games as favourites and they have covered the line in 12 of these wins.

St Kilda suffered yet another defeat when they went down to Collingwood last weekend and they are now genuine wooden spoon contenders.

They have won only one of their past 14 games as underdogs and they are a simply shocking 3-11 against the line in this scenario.

This could really get ugly for the struggling Saints and Richmond are more than capable of covering the hefty line of 44.5 points.

Back Richmond To Cover The Line (-44.5 Points)

The Brisbane Lions recorded their first win of the season last weekend, but they face another tough assignment against Sydney on Saturday.

Sydney made it two wins on the trot with a very comfortable win over Fremantle and they have won their past 11 games against the Lions – they have not lost to their rivals since 2009.

The Swans have won six of their past eight games as away favourites and they have covered the line in five of their wins in this scenario.

Brisbane have proven they are capable of scoring points and they could hardly have been more impressive offensively against Hawthorn.

The Lions have now won three of their past eight games as home underdogs and they are 5-3 against the line in this situation.

Backing the Over in the Total Points betting market in games involving the Lions this season has been a highly profitable betting play and the line of 177.5 points doe not look like enough.

Back Over 177.5 Points

There are plenty of short-priced favourites in the AFL this weekend and Geelong are the shortest of the lot.

The Cats produced their worst performance of the season to date to go down to Essendon last weekend and they are a side that rarely lose two games on the trot – they have done so only once over the past 12 months.

Geelong have won only four of their past seven games as home favourites and they are a poor 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

Carlton were one of the few sides that had a worse weekend than Geelong.

They conceded 25 goals and suffered an 109 point loss at the hands of Melbourne – only a week after finally recording their first win of the season.

It is almost impossible to back Carlton with any real confidence and they have won only one of their past nine games as away underdogs, while they have also been a losing play against the line in this scenario.

There is little doubt that Geelong should return to winning form, but there is no value at their current price and this is a game I’m happy to stay out of from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

It is fair to say that there has rarely been more pressure on Greater Western Sydney heading into a single game of football.

The Giants have lost three games on the trot in fairly lacklustre fashion and they will officially be in a slump if they fail to beat Essendon this weekend.

Greater Western Sydney have won eight of their past 10 games as home favourites, but they are a very poor 3-7 against the line in this situation.

Essendon ended their own losing streak with an upset win over Geelong last weekend and they need to keep winning if they are going to get their season back on track.

The Bombers have won two of their past seven games as away underdogs for a clear loss, but they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

Essendon are a better side than their current record suggests and it would not surprise if they are able to give the Giants a genuine scare this weekend.

Back Essendon To Cover The Line (+16.5 Points)

The West Coast Eagles are now the outright competition leaders and they are favourites to make it nine wins on the trot when they take on Hawthorn this weekend.

West Coast have now proven that they are the real deal and this will be a test of the character as it could be easy to produce a flat effort after such a big win over the defending premiers.

They have won three of their past four games as away favourites, but they are only 1-3 against the line in this situation.

Hawthorn head into this clash on the back of a poor loss at the hands of the Brisbane Lions and they have now slipped outside the top eight.

Backing Hawthorn as underdogs has been a profitable betting play over the past 12 months and they have won three of their past five games as home underdogs, while they are 4-1 against the line in this scenario.

It would not surprise to see West Coast produce a flat performance this weekend and Hawthorn are good value to come away with an upset win.

Back Hawthorn To Win @ $2.25

This is arguably the biggest game of the weekend and a huge test for the Melbourne Football Club.

Melbourne have now recorded four wins on the trot and they go into this clash on the back of a massive win over Carlton.

Adelaide are easily the toughest test that Melbourne have faced since they lost to Richmond, but the Demons will still start this clash as favourites.

Melbourne have won ten of their past 14 games as favourites and they are 7-7 against the line in this scenario.

The Crows continue to struggle with injury problems, but they were still able to tough out a win over the Western Bulldogs last weekend and they remain inside the top four.

Adelaide have thrown in some poor performances at times this season, but they are still a side with plenty of quality and it is tough to see how they will go into this clash as underdogs.

The pressure is on Melbourne and this hasn’t been a position in which they have thrived in recent seasons.

Back Adelaide To Win @ $2

There is not a great deal between these two sides in betting.

Fremantle were no match for Sydney last weekend, but they will still go into this clash with North Melbourne as clear favourites.

The Dockers have won their past three games as home favourites and they have covered the line in each of these wins – they continue to be a side that the market does get right most weeks.

North Melbourne produced another excellent performance to beat Greater Western Sydney last weekend, but producing those sort of efforts week in, week out has proven to be a problem for the Kangaroos.

Winning away from has is another issue for North Melbourne and they have won only two of their past nine games as away underdogs, while they haven’t beaten Fremantle in Perth since 2014.

Backing Fremantle as favourites continues to be a profitable play and they can account for an inconsistent North Melbourne this weekend.

Back Fremantle To Cover The Line (-2.5 Points)

2017

The 2017 AFL season continues to be highlighted by unpredictability and we are set for another exciting weekend of football.

The round gets underway with a crucial Thursday night clash between Geelong and Port Adelaide and continues until a Sunday afternoon blockbuster between the West Coast Eagles and the GWS Giants.

We have analysed every game in what should be a competitive weekend of football and our complete AFL Round 10 tips can be found below.

Geelong ended their losing streak with a win over the Western Bulldogs and they will go into this clash as narrow favourites.

It was a happy return to Simonds Stadium for Geelong last weekend, but they face another challenge against Port Adelaide and they are a team that have failed to thrive as the punter’s elect.

Geelong have won seven of their past ten games as home favourites for a narrow loss and they are a particularly poor 3-7 against the line in this scenario.

Port Adelaide head into this clash fresh after a week off and they will be looking to build on what has been a decent start to the season.

The Power have won two of their past four games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they have often saved their best performances for the toughest competition in the AFL.

There is not as much between these two sides as the current betting market suggests and Port Adelaide are genuine value to record an upset victory.

Back Port Adelaide To Win @ $2.30

The rivalry between the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn is one of the fiercest in the AFL and this is a crucial game for both sides.

Sydney have bounced back from their slow start to the season to win three games on the trot and they will start this clash as clear favourites.

While the Swans have played well in recent weeks, they are still a tough side to trust from a betting standpoint and they have won only seven of their past 13 games as home favourites for a clear loss.

Hawthorn let slip a big lead to go down to Collingwood last weekend and they continue to be a side with plenty of issues.

The Hawks have won two of their past five games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they are 3-2 against the line in this scenario.

I really don’t think that there is as much between these two sides as the current betting market suggests and the Hawks are a great bet to cover the line with a start of 29.5 points.

Back Hawthorn To Beat The Line (+29.5 Points)

The Western Bulldogs continue to struggle for consistency, but they will still start this clash with St Kilda as clear favourites.

The Bulldogs head into this clash on the back of defeats at the hands of West Coast and Geelong and they are yet to string together a solid four quarter performance this season.

They have won 11 of their past 15 games as favourites, but they are an extremely poor 4-11 against the line in this scenario.

St Kilda had their winning run ended by the Sydney Swans and they face another tough challenge against the Western Bulldogs this weekend.

The Saints have won seven of their past 14 games as underdogs for a big profit and they are 8-6 against the line when giving away a start.

Taking on the Western Bulldogs has proven to be a profitable play so far this season and St Kilda are more than capable of giving them a scare on Saturday afternoon.

Back St Kilda To Beat The Line (+13.5 Points)

Melbourne have taken their home game to TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs and they will start this clash as clear favourites.

The Demons continue to struggle for consistency and they were most disappointing against North Melbourne last weekend.

Melbourne have won only five of their past ten games as favourites and they are a poor 3-7 against the line when giving away a start.

Gold Coast went into the bye on the back of a shocking performance against Port Adelaide in China and they are another side that can’t string together solid performances.

The Suns have won only two of their past 15 games as underdogs and they are 7-8 against the line in this scenario.

Melbourne and the Gold Coast are both very tough to trust from a betting perspective and I am more than happy to stay out of this game.

No Bet

It has been a tough month for Richmond, but they will still go into this clash with Essendon as narrow favourites.

Losing three games in a row by less than a goal is heart-breaking in its own right and the manner of their past two defeats at the hands of Fremantle and GWS has to be mentally draining for a football side.

Richmond have won seven of their past eight games as favourites and there is no doubt they have played better football than Essendon this season, but it will be interesting to see how they do bounce back.

Essendon made it two impressive wins on the trot with a comprehensive defeat of the West Coast Eagles and they now find themselves just outside of the top eight.

The Bombers have won six of their past 19 games as underdogs for a narrow loss, but they are 11-8 against the line in this scenario.

This really is a huge game for Richmond and I’m banking on them getting their season back on track with a confidence building win.

Back Richmond To Win @ $1.85

Adelaide ended their losing streak with a comfortable win over the Brisbane Lions and they are clear favourites to make it back-to-back wins this weekend.

The Crows have won eight of their past ten games as home favourites and they are more impressively 7-3 against the line in this scenario.

Fremantle came from behind to beat Carlton last weekend and they have now won six of their past seven games.

The Dockers have now won two of their past nine games as away underdogs, but they remain a very poor 2-7 against the line in this situation.

Adelaide are one of the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend in the AFL and it is easy to see why, if they perform at anywhere near their best they should be able to cover the line comfortably.

Back Adelaide To Beat The Line (-34.5 Points)

Collingwood recorded one of their best wins of the season against Hawthorn last weekend and they will go into this clash as dominant favourites.

The Magpies are one of a number of teams in the AFL that have struggled for consistency this season, but they have proven to be a profitable betting play against the line as home favourites and there was plenty to like about the character they showed against Hawthorn.

2017 continues to be a serious struggle for the Brisbane Lions and they suffered another heavy defeat at the hands of the Adelaide Crows last weekend.

Brisbane have won only two of their past 11 games as away underdogs, but they are a profitable 7-4 against the line in this scenario.

Collingwood go into this clash as deserving favourites, but it is difficult to get them as short as their current quote and the market looks to have got this game just about right.

No Bet

North Melbourne go into this clash as clear favourites and they have the chance to make it four wins from their past five games.

North Melbourne produced one of their best efforts of the season to date to beat Melbourne last weekend and they really should be able to win again this weekend.

In saying that North Melbourne have been a tough side to trust from a betting standpoint – The Kangaroos have won only four of their past seven games as favourites and they are 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

Carlton led early against Fremantle before they fell in a hole late and scoring points continues to be an issue for the Navy Blues.

Carlton have proven to be a profitable betting play as underdogs over the past 12 months and they have covered the line in ten of their past 18 games when receiving a start.

The Blues have the defensive toughness to trouble a North Melbourne outfit that can be a touch flakey mentally and they are good value to record an upset win at their current price of $2.85.

Back Carlton To Win @ $2.85

This is easily the match of the round in the AFL.

The West Coast Eagles produced another shocking performance in Melbourne to go down to Essendon, but they will still go into this clash with the Giants as clear favourites.

West Coast have won nine of their past 11 games as home favourites for a narrow profit and they are 6-5 against the line in this scenario.

Greater Western Sydney got themselves out of jail once again with a late goal against Richmond, but their slow starts are sure to catch up with them at some point.

The Giants have won two of their past three games that they have started as underdogs and they are 3-0 against the line when giving away a start.

West Coast are obviously very tough to beat in front of their home fans, but the Giants really do appeal at their current price and they are more than capable of beating the Eagles for the first time.

Back GWS Giants To Win @ $2.25

2016

There are a number of games in round ten of the 2016 AFL season that involve teams that have struggled against their rivals in recent seasons.

The Brisbane Lions host Hawthorn on Saturday and are chasing their first home win against the Hawks for over a decade, while the Melbourne Demons have lost their past six game against Port Adelaide.

Carlton face Geelong on Sunday – a team they have struggled against since they beat them in the 1995 AFL Grand Final – and the Gold Coast Suns will have the chance to record their first ever win over West Coast.

This is a rematch of a semifinal from last season, which the North Melbourne Kangaroos won before they lost to the West Coast Eagles in the preliminary final.

Sydney have generally had the upper hand against North Melbourne in recent years and have won 9 of the past 11 games played between the two sides, but they face a Kangaroos side that has made a flawless start to the season.

The market is confident that Sydney will be the team that can end North Melbourne’s winning streak and the Swans are 9-2 as home favourites in the past 12 months, while they are 6-5 against the line in this scenario.

North Melbourne have been an excellent betting team over the past 12 months and while they have won only two of their past five games as away underdogs, they are 4-1 against the line in this scenario.

I think that the market has not given North Melbourne the respect that they deserve heading into this fixture and I am keen to back the Kangaroos with a start of 18.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back North Melbourne To Beat The Line (+18.5 Points)

The Brisbane Lions have struggled badly against Hawthorn in recent seasons and it is tough to see that changing this weekend.

The Lions produced a somewhat improved performance against Melbourne last weekend, but they were still beaten by over ten goals and they face a very difficult assignment against the Hawks this weekend.

While the Lions have won just two of their past eight games as home underdogs they are actually 5-3 against the line in this scenario.

It has been a tough fortnight for Hawthorn, but there is very little doubt that they will be able to return to winning form this weekend.

They have won 11 of their past 14 games as away favourites and it has been a number of seasons since they lost back-to-back games, while they are 9-5 against the line as away favourites.

The Hawks will win this game, but the line of 50.5 points seems just about right and I am happy to stay out of this game from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

Melbourne have a very poor record against Port Adelaide in recent seasons and they have lost the past six games played between the two sides, but they go into this clash as narrow favourites.

The Demons have won four out of their past six fixtures, but their record as favourites in the past 12 months is still a very average 2-4 and they remain difficult to trust from a betting prospective.

Port Adelaide have lost two games on the trot, but they did produce an improved performance against the West Coast Eagles last weekend.

The Power are 2-5 as underdogs in the past 12 months, but they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario and have proven to be a profitable betting proposition as away underdogs.

Melbourne are 2-7 on the back of wins in the last season and I am willing to take them on this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back Port Adelaide To Win @ $2.15

The ‘Ross Lyon Cup’ takes an extra twist this year as St Kilda can inflict a tenth straight defeat on their former coach and the struggling Fremantle.

The Saints got the job done against Essendon last weekend and they will start this game as favourites as they aim for their first back-to-back wins for over a year.

St Kilda have only started three games as favourites in the past year, but they have won all three of these games and they have won three of their past four games against Fremantle in this situation.

The Dockers horrid season continued with a poor performance against Richmond last weekend and they have now won just one of their past 12 games as underdogs, while they are 4-8 against the line in this scenario.

St Kilda may never have a better chance to record back-to-back wins and they should be able to do so comfortably this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back St Kilda To Beat The Line (-21.5 Points)

Richmond made a completely woeful start to the 2016 AFL season, but they turned it around with their thrilling win over Sydney and can make it three wins in a row against the Bombers this weekend.

The Tigers were far from impressive against Fremantle, but they were still able to get the job done and another trademan like performance will be enough to get them home over the Bombers.

Richmond have been only a middling 10-8 as favourites in the past 12 months and their record against the line when giving away a start is a particularly poor 6-12.

Essendon were fairly uninspiring against St Kilda last weekend and they continue to struggle to string together quality performances in back-to-back weeks.

The Bombers have won just three of their 22 matches as underdogs and they are 10-12 against the line in this scenario.

I have been more than happy to stay out of Essendon games in recent weeks and I will be using that strategy again this weekend.

This is arguably the most interesting game of the weekend and there is very little between the two teams in the current betting market.

Adelaide ended their two game losing streak with a big win over the Gold Coast Suns last weekend and they will go into this game as narrow favourites.

The Crows are 3-1 as home favourites in head to head betting this year, but they have not been a profitable betting play against the line in this scenario.

Greater Western Sydney made it six wins in a row with a professional victory over the Western Bulldogs last weekend and they are now being spoken about as genuine top four contenders.

The issue for the Giants has been their form away from home and they have not won a single game as away underdogs in the past 12 months.

The Giants are due for a poor performance and they will need to be at their best to beat Adelaide this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back Adelaide To Win @ $1.83

Carlton’s winning run came to an end against North Melbourne last weekend and they face another tough assignment against Geelong.

The Blues were never able to get into the hunt against the Kangaroos and a similar performance could see them suffer a very big defeat at the hands of Geelong.

In saying that, Carlton have been a winning betting proposition as home underdogs in the past 12 months and they are 5-3 against the line in this scenario.

Geelong suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Collingwood last weekend and it will be very interesting to see how they bounce back from that effort.

The Cats are 3-1-3 as away favourites in the past 12 months and their record against the line in this situation is a poor 2-5.

The Blues are being given a sizable start of 40.5 points and if they can bounce back to a semblance of their best form they have the chance to give the Cats a minor scare.

Recommended Bet: Back Carlton To Beat The Line (+40.5 Points)

Collingwood got their season back on track with their upset win over Geelong last weekend and they go into this clash with the Western Bulldogs as genuine winning chances.

The Magpies finally produced the type of football that they are capable of, but they will still start this game as underdogs despite the injury-depleted status of their rivals.

Collingwood are 4-8 as underdogs in the past 12 months for a narrow profit in head-to-head betting markets, while they are 8-4 against the line in this scenario.

Injuries may have finally caught up with the Western Bulldogs, but they still produced a credible performance against the Greater Western Sydney Giants last weekend and they will take confidence from the fact that they have only lost back-to-back games just once in the past 12 months.

The Bulldogs have been one of the most reliable teams in the competition in the past 12 months and they have won 13 of their past 15 games as home favourites and beaten the line in ten of these fixtures.

This is is set to be a very interesting fixture, but the market seems to have got it just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The West Coast Eagles are yet to lose a game to the Gold Coast Suns, but the two sides played out an exciting draw at Metricon Stadium last season.

A first win for the Suns against their rivals is not expected and West Coast are currently the shortest-priced favourites of the season to date.

This price is fair for many reasons – West Coast have won their past 12 games as home favourites and they are 11-1 against the line in this scenario, while the Gold Coast Suns have played some putrid football in recent weeks.

The Suns have won just one of their past nine games as away underdogs and they are an awful 2-7 against the line, but they are being given a huge start of 79.5 points.

Only 19 teams have been given such a big start in the AFL since 2012 and they all won, but only seven of the 19 covered and I can’t recommend taking on a line that large.

Recommended Bet: No Bet