2024 AFL Round 7 Betting Predictions
Gear up for AFL Round 7, including the iconic Anzac Day clashes, with our expert AFL Round 7 Betting Predictions.
Richmond Tigers (16th) vs Melbourne Demons (6th)
The bye came at a good time for Richmond as they're dealing with a bunch of injuries and licking their wounds after a surprise loss to West Coast. They're itching to make up for that loss, even if it doesn't sting as much now. But they're up against a refreshed Melbourne squad, who've been on a winning streak in the Anzac Day eve clashes.
Melbourne was cruising with four straight wins until they ran into a pumped-up Brisbane side, but they're still 6th on the ladder. They weren't at their A-game in that loss, but they're eager to bounce back, especially with tough matches against Geelong and Carlton on the horizon.
The Under is 7-0 when these two sides meet at night and this clash should be another low-scoring battle considering the Tigers injury woes up forward.
Stadium Record
Richmond are 5-5 in their last 10 games at this venue. Melbourne are 6-4 in their last 10 games at the MCG.
Head to Head Record
The Demons are 3-1 (1 draw) against the Tigers in the last 5 meetings.
Best Bet
Essendon Bombers (7th) vs Collingwood Magpies (10th)
Essendon's feeling pretty pumped with back-to-back wins injecting some serious energy into their season. They're heading into the Anzac Day showdown with higher hopes than usual. Despite only bagging three wins in these big clashes since 2010, especially with Peter Wright coming back from suspension, they're eyeing up what could be a real statement victory.
Collingwood was in a bit of a rough patch, starting their premiership defence with three straight losses. But now they're back in the race, getting a couple of wins in a row. They flexed their muscles against Port Adelaide with 38 scoring shots and coming back after a slow start. Their slick moves and intense pressure are back, which doesn't bode well for Essendon, who will be trying to break a four-game losing streak against them.
The Pies put away the Power last week and they'll be up for Anzac Day as usual, especially with a top 8 spot on the line.
Stadium Record
Essendon are 4-6 in their last 10 games at the MCG. In their last 10 games at the MCG, Collingwood holds a 6-4 record.
Head to Head Record
Since 2018, the Magpies are 7-3 against the Bombers.
Best Bet
GWS Giants (3rd) vs Brisbane Lions (12th)
Greater Western Sydney (3rd) had a bit of a rough go against Carlton, not at full strength and failing their first big test in a tough stretch of games, ending their undefeated streak. They're going into the clash with Brisbane a bit shorthanded again without key defender Sam Taylor and Conigilio in the midfield. Canberra has also been a poor venue for the Giants so they have a lot to overcome on Thursday.
As for Brisbane, it's not quite do-or-die yet, but their dreams of a top-four finish are slowly slipping away with each loss. Spending five years near the top might be catching up with them. Still, they're aiming to extend their winning streak against the Giants to six matches to kick-start their season in the right direction.
Brisbane has come out on top in their last five games against GWS and the Giants usually struggle in Canberra.
Stadium Record
GWS are 2-7 at this venue since 2021. Brisbane are 1-0 at the Manuka Oval since 2021.
Head to Head Record
The Lions are 5-3 against the Giants since 2018.
Best Bet
Port Adelaide Power (5th) vs St Kilda Saints (13th)
Port Adelaide (5th) let another big win slip through their fingers when Collingwood stormed back to snatch victory after trailing by as much as 31 points. But hey, Port's pretty good at handling teams in the middle of the ladder, as they've shown in the past year. Plus, they've been dominating St Kilda, winning 12 out of their last 13 matchups.
St Kilda's had a tough run, playing three games in 11 days before getting trounced by the Western Bulldogs. They might blame fatigue, but their opponents didn't have much more rest time either. Now they're hitting the road again to take on Port. Their midfield is not the fastest, which could be a problem against Port Adelaide's powerhouse midfield. The Saints really need to find some fire if they want to keep their top-eight hopes alive.
In their last four matches against St Kilda, Port Adelaide has managed to cover every time and I think their defence will handle the Saints forward line pretty easy.
Stadium Record
Port Adelaide are 6-4 in their last 10 games at the Adelaide Oval. St Kilda are 1-3 at the Adelaide Oval since 2021.
Head to Head Record
In the last 5 meetings, the Power hold a 4-1 record against the Saints.
Best Bet
North Melbourne Kangaroos (18th) vs Adelaide Crows (15th)
North Melbourne (18th) really dropped the ball against Hawthorn, who's just one spot above them in 17th place. It was a pretty lacklustre performance to be fair. The young Kangaroos need to step up their game big time, but at least they're facing the only team in the league that's scored fewer points than them this season.
Adelaide might gripe about a bad call from the umps against Essendon. But let's be real, they struggled with inside 50s and relied on Essendon's poor accuracy to stay in it. They're not exactly lighting up the scoreboard, averaging just 67 points per game. Still, their forwards must be excited about going up against North Melbourne's smaller defence, especially with the likes of Tex and Fogarty.
This feels like the perfect time for the Crows to get a big win before the Showdown next week. North are 1-26 in their last 27 games and have lost their last 4 by 40+ pts.
Stadium Record
North Melbourne are 2-8 in their last 10 games at this venue. Adelaide are 1-0 at Blundstone Arena since 2021.
Head to Head Record
In the last 8, the Crows are 6-2 against the Kangaroos.
Best Bet
Geelong Cats (1st) vs Carlton Blues (4th)
Geelong (1st) is on fire, leading the AFL as the only team without a loss. They showed their grit by taking down Brisbane in some wild weather on Brisbane's turf. But the real test is coming up, with Carlton up next followed by Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast in Darwin and GWS. It's gonna be a real challenge for the Cats to keep their streak alive.
Carlton made some serious waves by demolishing the former league leaders, Greater Western Sydney. They went on a scoring spree in the second half, rattling off six goals in just 13 minutes. Despite being banged up by injuries, they still pulled off a massive upset. Now, they've got a chance to make an even bigger statement against Geelong, the last team standing without a loss.
The Blues knocked off the Giants last week and I think they can upset the Cats at the G. Carlton have won 7 straight at the MCG too.
Stadium Record
Geelong are 15-5 at the MCG since 2021. Carlton are 7-3 in their last 10 games at the MCG.
Head to Head Record
In the last 5 meetings, the Cats hold a 3-2 record against the Blues.
Best Bet
Fremantle Dockers (9th) vs Western Bulldogs (8th)
Fremantle had a decent start to the season but hit a rough patch with close losses to Carlton and Port Adelaide, and then a real shocker against their local rivals, West Coast. They've been struggling to put points on the board, averaging just over 64 points a game in their three-game skid. To stand a chance against the unpredictable Western Bulldogs, they'll need to loosen up and play their game.
The Western Bulldogs have been all over the shop lately, trying to find the right balance between their seasoned players and the up-and-comers. Guys like Adam Treloar, Jack Macrae, and Jason Johannisen really stepped up in their big win against St Kilda. But there's still some worry about the inconsistency between their best and worst performances.
Freo will be disappointed about the Derby and should be fired up to bounce back. The Dogs don't travel well either, they're 0-4 interstate and after a win, they're 1-5 ATS.
Stadium Record
Fremantle are 4-6 in their last 10 games at Perth Stadium. The Bulldogs are 3-2 in their last 5 games at this venue.
Head to Head Record
In the last 9, the Bulldogs are 5-4 against the Dockers.
Best Bet
Gold Coast Suns (11th) vs West Coast Eagles (14th)
Gold Coast put up a fight against Sydney, but whenever things got intense, they couldn't keep up. They haven't snagged a win on the road in three tries this season. But they're heading back home where they've got a perfect record from all their games so far.
West Coast is on a roll, taking down a battered Richmond and then shocking their local rivals in the Derby to secure two wins in a row for the first time since 2021. Their new star player, Harley Reid, has been a game-changer, and with veterans like Elliot Yeo finding their groove again, the Eagles are looking solid. But the question mark is how they can turn around their form interstate because it's been a struggle lately.
After a loss, Gold Coast has managed to cover in their last eight games at home. Meanwhile, West Coast has only won one out of their last 22 games outside of their home state.
Stadium Record
Gold Coast are 7-3 in their last 10 games at this venue. West Coast are 2-3 in their last 5.
Head to Head Record
The Suns are 4-1 against the Eagles in the last 5.
Best Bet
Hawthorn Hawks (17th) vs Sydney Swans (2nd)
Hawthorn breathed a sigh of relief with a solid win over North Melbourne, thanks in large part to their midfield stepping up against the younger Kangaroos. They really turned on the heat in the second quarter, slamming home eight goals. But it wasn't just their scoring that impressed; their intense pressure was on point too, something they'll need to bring against Sydney, who likes to play fast.
Sydney was looking a bit worn out before their break, but they bounced right back with a big win over Gold Coast. They've got depth all over the field, especially with Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams joining the squad. But they can't let their guard down against Hawthorn, especially with the Sydney Derby coming up next.
The Hawks have struggled at the MCG having lost their last 5 and Sydney beat the Hawks 118-37 last season.
Stadium Record
Hawthorn are 7-20 at the MCG since 2021. Sydney are 3-7 in their last 10 games at the MCG.
Head to Head Record
In the last 5 meetings, the Swans have won 4 games against the Hawks.
Best Bet
