AFLW 2023 Round 8 – Betting tips & Predictions

After a difficult month which saw them lose four games on the trot, the Hawks finally got back on the winner’s list last weekend, knocking off the Swans by 14 points. Theoretically their finals hopes are still alive, but they’re two games and percentage out of the eight with three games to play and realistically it’s very tough to see them making the ground required in that time. The Tigers, too, have their work cut out to play finals, but they are a whole lot better placed than the Hawks. Three consecutive losses have seen them tumble out of the top eight after a strong start to the season which saw them win three of their first four games, but all is not lost. Those three losses came by a combined total of just 25 points, meaning that Richmond’s percentage is by far the best of the three teams with a 3-4 record and competitive with most of the teams a win ahead of them. That means that a win this weekend could feasibly see them jump back inside the top eight by the end of the round, and with plenty of the line they should be finally able to arrest their losing skid with a solid win over the Hawks.

Predicted Squads

Hawthorn Hawks: B: K.Ashmore 10 M.Eardley 17 HB: L.Elliott 20 J.Richardson 11 S.Locke 21 C: E.Bates 39 T.Lucas-Rodd -C 18 A.Gilroy 7 HF: A.McDonagh 13 B.Hipwell 19 G.Bodey 3 F: M.Breed 4 A.Kemp 16 FOLL: L.Wales 31 J.Fleming 5 K.Stratton 41 I/C: T.Smith 24 T.Fellows 8 A.Makur Chuot 34 C.Baskaran 9 E.Everist 25

Richmond Tigers: B: L.McClelland 16 R.Miller 15 HB: E.Sheerin 2 L.Graham 18 M.Eastman 8 C: J.Woods 29 G.Egan 1 K.Dempsey 19 HF: K.Cox 17 K.Brennan - C 3 C.Jones 5 F: P.Kelly 14 E.Yassir 27 FOLL: G.Seymour 28 M.Conti 4 S.Hosking 7 I/C: M.Shevlin 35 M.Macdonald 38 C.Wicksteed 24 C.Greiser 9 S.Reid 25

Another team sitting a game outside the eight and desperately needing the win this weekend is the Swans, but they’ll feel confident in achieving just that. Their opponent on Saturday, the Bulldogs, remain winless seven games into the season, and were unsurprisingly blown out of the water by the unbeaten Crows last round. They’ve got a better chance of getting close this weekend against the Swans, but given how the season has played out for them to date it’s hard to imagine them getting the win. The Swannies themselves have been a little erratic, alternating wins for losses over the past few weeks, and last week endured a really disappointing loss which will potentially prove a fatal blow to their finals chances against the Hawks. But nonetheless, their last three losses have resulted in bounce-back wins the weekend after, and up against the struggling Bulldogs they should have no problems continuing that trend on Saturday afternoon.

Predicted Squads

Western Bulldogs: B: I.Grant 3 N.Ferres 16 HB: E.Georgostathis 17 M.Brown 20 M.Gorham 26 C: R.Wilcox 37 J.Fitzgerald 23 I Pritchard 4 HF: D.Bateman 8 G.Newton 5 B.Gutknecht 18 F: S.Hartwig 15 E.Snell 1 FOLL: A.Edmonds 33 E.Blackburn - C 2 B.Hunt 21 I/C: B.McFarlane 58 H Woodley 19 K.Lamb 27
G Lagioia 12 A.Smith 24

Sydney Swans: B: B.Tarrant 20 L.Szigeti 28 HB: A.Woodward 13 A.Mitchell 8 E.Heads 12 C: L.Steane 21 C.Hamilton 10 S.Hurley 25 HF: J.Anthony 44 M.Ham 18 R.Privitelli 19 F: B.Smith 11 C.Molloy - C 5 FOLL: A.Morphett 7 L.Gardiner 31 L.McEvoy 9 I/C: M.Beruldsen 37 A.Hamilton 30 A.Whelan 22
T.Kennedy 29 P.Sheppard 4

There are a couple of blockbusters set to take place over the course of Round 8, and this is the first of them. The Lions and the Crows currently sit in fourth and first place respectively, and there will be plenty of repercussions for both the winner and the loser of this game. The Lions’ percentage of over 170% suggests that they should clearly be in the top four, but the Magpies sit behind them only on percentage, meaning that a loss for Brisbane this weekend could very easily see them lose their grasp on that position and risk losing a shot at the double chance. The Crows, meanwhile, are sitting pretty atop the table having not been beaten all season, but a spot in the top two remains far from assured. Both the Kangaroos and the Demons are just a game behind them and with superior percentage – despite the fact that the Crows’ own is 237% - so any slip up would place their chances of securing a home Qualifying Final in jeopardy. Though the game is technically a Lions home game, it’s actually being played on neutral territory, and for that reason, in a tight game the undefeated Crows can continue their unbeaten run with a tight victory.

Predicted Squads

Brisbane Lions: B: P.Monahan 11 S.Campbell 20 HB: B.Koenen - C 3 N.Grider 10 J.Ellenger 5 C: O.O’Dwyer 9 C.Svarc 25 S.Conway 12 HF: L.Postlethwaite 6 D.Davidson 14 C.Mullins 28 F: T.Smith 31 C.Hodder 21 FOLL: T.Hickie 2 I.Dawes 17 A.Anderson 18 I/C: C.Wendland 4 J.Dunne 8 E.Hampson 7 D.Heslop 23 P.Boltz 15

Adelaide Crows: B: K.Mueller 13 C.Biddell 12 HB: N.Allen 8 Z.Prowse 4 M.Newman 17 C: N.Allen 8 Z.Prowse 4 M.Newman 17 HF: J.Waterhouse 19 C.Randall - C 26 E.Jones 2 F: C.Gould 1 R.Martin 5 FOLL: M.McKinnon 21 T.Charlton 25 E.Marinoff 10 I/C: J.Allan 32 A Ward 3 H.Munyard 20 S.Goodwin 11 D.Ponter 15

• The Cats’ percentage of 123% is a hell of a lot better than that of the Magpies, which sits at 98.8%
• The Saints have won four games on the trot
• The Crows have not lost a single game all season

Multi of the Week

It hasn’t been a particularly fruitful year for the Giants, but over the past couple of weeks they have at least been a little more competitive than they had been previously. A fortnight ago they finally secured their first victory of the season, albeit against the lowly Eagles, but last weekend they did well to back it up – to a degree – in a competitive encounter against a Saints team which has won four games in a row. Still, they have little to play for over the course of the next three weeks, at least as far as this season is concerned, which is in stark contrast to the situation in which the Blues find themselves. A 17-point loss to the Magpies last weekend was a really disappointing one which saw them lose their handle on a top eight spot, but they’re still very much in the hunt. They sit in ninth spot, one of the six teams with a 4-3 record and just 0.7% behind the Magpies, who sit in eighth. A win this weekend means they’ll definitely jump inside the top eight, given that two of the teams above them on percentage only are playing themselves, and they should have no problems getting the job done against the Giants.

Predicted Squads

GWS Giants: B: K.Smith 4 P.Randall 21 HB: C.Dalton 11 J.Grierson 10 T.Evans 18 C: E.Pease 33 A Dallaway 30 3 N.Barr 8 HF: J.Doyle 5 Z.Goldsworthy 7 I.Huntington 12 F: G.Garnett 17 B.Mowbray 31 FOLL: R.Caris 26 A.Eva - C 2 H.Zreika 24 I/C: J.Hicks 29 C.McCormick 25 F Davies 20 I.McLeay 16 T Cattle 40

Carlton Blues: B: K.Peterson 9 V.Laloifi 8 HB: G.Lawson-Tavan 27 H.Cordner 21 G.Pound 6 C: A.Velardo 1 A.McKay 5 B.Vickers 24 HF: M.Austin 22 B.Moody 16 L.Goss 20 F: D.Vescio 3 K.Skepper 4 FOLL: J.Good 12 M.Hill 10 K.Sherar 25 I/C: D.Walker 23 E.Fitzpatrick 19 J.Dal Pos 2 M.Hendrie 49 D.Finn 17

Saturday evening will see the attention of the AFLW world turn to Adelaide when the Power take on the Suns in a game which will have consequences for a number of teams. That’s not so much to do with Yartapulti, for whom this result is relatively inconsequential – they’ve won just a solitary game all year and will likely finish in the bottom for. The Suns, however, are in the aforementioned logjam of teams, and whether they win or lose will have major implications for a number of those teams around them. And while they’ve lost two of their last three games, both in disappointing fashion, they have had a tough run of things, with both those games coming against sides in the top four, while the game sandwiched in between those two was against the Tigers – they won that one by a solitary point. The Power will be the easiest opponent that the Suns have faced in quite a few weeks, and they should be able to capitalise with a win that will give their finals aspirations a huge boost.

Predicted Squads

Yartapulti Power: B: A.Foley 3 A.Borg 21 HB: E.O'Dea 2 J.Simmons 32 H.Dunn 24 C: C.Hammond 28 M.Moloney 9 E.Boag 17 HF: M.Keryk 26 J.Mules 14 J.Teakle 15 F: A.Saint 8 G.Houghton 27 FOLL: M.Scholz 29 A.Dowrick 5 E.Phillips - C 1 I/C: J.Stewart 13 A.Ballard 19 Y.Duursma 7
K.Pope 44 S.Syme 20

Gold Coast Suns: B: D.D'Arcy 20 M.Girvan 25 HB: N.McLaughlin 11 L.Ahrens 7 V.Saad 39 C: G.Clayden 18 C.Whitfort 4 E.Keaney 30 HF: L.Single 13 T.Bohanna - C 12 M.Brancatisano 5 F: D.Davies 3 J.Dupuy 27 FOLL: L.Bella 2 A.Drennan 33 C.Rowbottom 8 I/C: J.Stanton 17 E.Barwick 6 C.Fitzpatrick 9 C.McCrossan 14 A.Gee 24

If the Crows vs Lions game isn’t the game of the round, then this one is. The Demons and Kangaroos are locked in what is currently a two team fight for second position and the second home Qualifying Final. They’re the only two teams with a 6-1 record, and have the best two percentages in the AFL. With the Crows set to face the Lions this weekend there is every possibility that the top spot will be available come the first bounce of this game, but whether or not that’s the case this is a hugely significant game. The winner, theoretically, could jump into top spot – the loser, meanwhile, will almost certainly be in third come the round’s end but could quite possibly be ahead of both the fourth and fifth placed teams on percentage alone, leaving their spot in the top four precariously balanced. Both sides are coming off blowout victories last weekend, having each won by over ten goals, but things won’t be so easy this Saturday night. It is very easy to see this game going right down to the wire, and the Demons might just prove too good, earning a single-figure margin victory to all but secure a spot in the top two. 

Predicted Squads

Narrm Demons: B: L.Birch 9 T.Gillard 17 HB: S.Goldrick 23 M.Chaplin 13 S.Heath 30 C: B.Mackin 31 T.Hanks 5 E.McNamara 22 HF: A.Bannan 16 M.Fitzsimon 24 C.Sherriff 18 F: E.Zanker 29 K.Hore - C 10 FOLL: G.Campbell 1 E.West 11 L.Mithen 14 I/C: A.Mackin 21 S.Lampard 8 R.Watt 26 O.Purcell 2 G.Colvin 32

North Melbourne Kangaroos: B: E.Shannon 11 J.Ferguson 20 HB: S.Wright 17 E.O'Shea 14 E.Kearney - C 9 C: T.Gatt 8 M.King 23 A.Smith 15 HF: A.O'Loughlin 6 B.Eddey 3 K.Shierlaw 33 F: T.Randall 16 E.King 60 FOLL: K.Rennie 26 J.Garner 25 A.Riddell 7 I/C: T.Craven 5 L.Pullar 24 J.Bruton 35 N.Martin 28 R.Tripodi 19

Sunday kicks off with another huge game, and though it doesn’t likely have top four ramifications there is plenty on the line in terms of the top eight. The Magpies jumped inside the top eight last weekend courtesy of a hard-fought victory in a low-scoring game against the Blues, and have now won three on the trot during what loomed as a really tough run against three teams that were in the top eight when they played them. That hugely successful run has seen them elevate themselves into a genuine finals contender, but their spot in the eight hangs by a thread, with just 0.7% separating them from the Blues in ninth. The Cats, meanwhile, managed to arrest a disappointing two game losing skid last weekend with a relatively comfortable four-goal win over the Dockers, but while their percentage means they are essentially a win ahead of the four other teams with a 4-3 record, their spot in the top eight is far from assured and a loss this weekend will likely see them fall out of it. The Magpies form has realistically been better than their more highly fancied opponent this weekend, but the Cats returned to something resembling their best last weekend and can continue that on this Sunday with a tight victory.

Predicted Squads

Collingwood Magpies: B: S.Casey 22 L.Butler 23 HB: J.Allen 6 S.Sansonetti 16 L.Brazzale 24 C: T.White 29 M.Cann 25 S.Rowe 7
 HF: E.James 2 N.Morris-Dalton 17 A.Brazill 10 F: E.Morris 21 A.Porter 9 FOLL: S.Frederick 1 B.Davey - C 3 A.Sheridan 14 I/C: E.Fowler 15 B.Bonnici 8 J.Lin 35 G.Campbell 13 E.Smith 33

Geelong Cats: B: C.Emonson 16 C.Gunjaca 26 HB: R.Webster 21 M.McDonald - C 11 R.Kearns 22 C: Z.Friswell 20 G.Prespakis 41 J.Crockett-Grills 6 HF: D.Moloney 4 A.Moloney 45 K.Surman 7 F: C.Scheer 14 S.Scott 15 FOLL: E.Hoare 46 Am.McDonald 3 N.Morrison 9 I/C: J.Parry 5 M.Bowen 1 K.Darby 8 G.Featherston 32 G.Rankin 10

After winning three of their first five games of the season and putting themselves in a good position to contend for a finals spot, the Dockers have made it very difficult for themselves with two consecutive defeats over the past fortnight. In fairness those were tough games, up against the Kangaroos and the Cats, but nonetheless they would have been hopeful they could have snared a victory during that period to really put themselves in a position to compete for a spot in the top eight. Alas, two defeats means that they are now one game and a whole lot of percentage from eighth spot, and they can’t afford another loss if they want to play finals. The Saints, meanwhile, are also outside the top eight but are charging as hard as anybody. Following three consecutive losses to start the year, they’ve won four in a row with remarkably similar scorelines – they’ve scored between 45 and 54 in each of those games while their opponent has, incredibly, scored either 35 or 36 points in every one of those games. That run of form means that, while they’re currently sitting in tenth, they are every chance of jumping into the top eight come the end of the home and away season, though they can’t afford to drop more than probably one game. They won’t want that to be this weekend against a team they should be beating, so expect them to make it five from five with a solid win against Walyalup.

Predicted Squads

Walyalup Dockers: B: P.Seth 18 E.O'Driscoll 3 HB: J.Low 30 L.Pugh 32 M.Scanlon 6 C: J.Flynn 20 D.East 8 J.Cregg 23  HF: O.Lally 14 A.Mulholland 33 E.Antonio 12 F: A.Tighe 10 M.Kauffman 25 FOLL: M.Strom 21 H.Miller - C 19 A.Stannett 4 I/C: M.Hyde 28 T.Mulder 26 S.Verrier 5 A.Runnalls 22 G.O'Sullivan 9

St. Kilda Saints: B: H.Priest 14 B.Pinchin 24 HB: S.Watson 12 G.Kelly 11 B.Jakobsson 8 C: M.McDonald 1 T.Smith 6 A.Richards 22 HF: E.Friend 16 N.Stevens 2 N.Exon 15 F: G.Patrikios 21 N.Xenos 27 FOLL: S.Nalder 34 J.Lambert 9 R.Dillon 25 I/C: J.Anderson 7 D.Guttridge 5 O.Vesely 23
A.Burke 3 J.Wardlaw 30

Two consecutive wins have taken the Bombers’ win/loss record to 5-2 so far this year, putting them right on the edge of the top four with just three weeks to go in the regular season. But while they’ve done well to drop just two games all season, their percentage of 104.1% relative to the Lions’ – who have the same win/loss record – of 173.3% is more indicative of where those sides are at. The Bombers realistically aren’t in the top four teams in the league, but that certainly doesn’t mean they can’t finish top four and there is a good chance they find themselves in fourth come the end of the round. Because while the Lions have to face the unbeaten Crows, the Bombers will take on the Eagles, a team which has won just a solitary game all season and has the woeful percentage of 41.7%. After a win against the Power and then a somewhat competitive effort against the Giants, the Eagles returned to their previous ways with a 70-point drubbing at the hands of the Demons. The Bombers aren’t quite as imposing an opposition as what the Eagles faced last week, but with a top four position on the line they should nonetheless be able to take care of business with relative aplomb on Sunday.

Predicted Squads

Essendon Bombers: B: K.Jacques 7 G.Clarke 17 HB: S.Van De Heuvel 27 E.Gamble 14 M.Dyke 16 C: G.Gee 2 M.Prespakis 4 S.Cain 20 HF: B.Walker 9 S.Alexander 24 B.Toogood - C 8 F: G Clarke 17 P.Scott 32 FOLL: S.Wales 30 G.Nanscawen 5 A.Clarke 33 I/C: A.Morcom 25 D.Marshall 6 M.Van Dyke 19 M.Busch 28 A.Radford 22

West Coast Eagles: B: Z.Wakfer 16 S.McDonald 35 HB: B.Smith 14 E.Gooch 31 C.Thomas 3 C: J.Britton 18 A.McCarthy 11 C.Rowley 5 HF: K.Gibson 2 E.Roberts 4 S.Davison 28 F: A.Franklin 19 D.Hooker 17 FOLL: L Wakfer 1 I.Lewis 6 E.Swanson 13 I/C: A.Schmidt 7 E.Smith 22 E.Hartill 25 L.Wakfer 1 E.Elkington 29

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