AFL 2023 Round 8 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

Round 8 of the AFL season kicks off with another blockbuster Friday night game, this time with the Blues set to host the Lions at Marvel Stadium. That leads into a huge test for the Crows on Saturday when they head to GMHBA to face the Cats, on day on which both the Tigers and the Dockers get a great chance to find some winning form against the Eagles and Hawks respectively. Sunday will be headlined by a huge game between the Pies and the Swans, while the Power and Bombers also lock horns on an action-packed final day of the round. Check out all the odds, tips and previews for each game set to take place this weekend below. 

Round 8 of the AFL season kicks off with a bang with a huge clash between the Blues and the Lions at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. The Blues returned to the winners’ list last weekend after consecutive losses the two weeks prior, and though it was only the Eagles they beat, they could hardly have been more comprehensive in doing so. Charlie Curnow booted nine goals in the 108-point win, setting the Blues back on the right course and providing a necessary confidence boost prior to this Friday’s game against much tougher opposition. The Lions are flying having won four games in a row, the latest of which was a 48-point drubbing of a very disappointing Dockers outfit which took their record to 5-2. After a lacklustre start to the year they’ve flexed their muscles over the past month, though it is worth noting that while they’ve looked like the best team in the league at the Gabba so far this season, they’ve not quite been at that level away from home. Heading to Marvel Stadium to take on the Blues will present a challenge, no doubt. The way they’ve been playing, however, they’re very capable of rising to it, and earning a hard-fought win on the road.

Predicted Squads

Carlton Blues: B: N.Newman, J.Weitering, B.Kemp HB: S.Docherty, M.McGovern, A.Saad C: S.Walsh, P.Cripps, O.Hollands HF: E.Curnow, C.Curnow, J.Silvagni F: C.Durdin, H.McKay, Z.Fisher FOLL: M.Pittonet, A.Cerra, G.Hewett I/C: Le.Young, A.Cincotta, B.Acres, J.Honey

Brisbane Lions: B: B.Starcevich, J.Payne, K.Coleman HB: C.McKenna, H.Andrews, D. Joyce C: D.Wilmot, Z.Bailey, H.McCluggage HF: C.Cameron, J.Gunston, W.Ashcroft F: L. McCarthy, J.Daniher, E.Hipwood FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale  I/C: J.Berry, N. Cockatoo, C.Rayner, R.Lester

Prior to the year this would have loomed as a very one-sided clash, and while it may still end up that way, it’s also a bottom-of-the-table matchup, with the Tigers sitting in 16th and the Eagles 18th. After entering the year bullish about their chances, Richmond have lost five games in a row, and though the first four of them were competitive defeats at the hands of good sides, the same can’t be said for their 24-point loss to the Suns last week. They failed to give a whimper in that game, but surely, against the Eagles they can finally recapture some form. The Eagles have won just a solitary game this season, and are irrelevant to put it lightly. Their 108-point loss to the Blues last weekend follow consecutive 40+ point defeats to the Power and the Cats, both of which felt like they could have been well over ten goals if their opponents bothered to exit second gear. The Tigers need to get into fifth here. Many have already written them out of finals contention, let alone anything more, but they have a good opportunity here to re-insert some confidence into this embattled team. A side with as much pride as they have should not only be winning this, but winning it will, proving that they belong well away from the lower reaches of the AFL ladder in which they currently find themselves.

Predicted Squads

Richmond Tigers: B: T.Young, D.Grimes, N.Balta HB: D.Rioli, N.Broad, J.Short C: K.McIntosh, T.Taranto, T.Sonsie HF: M.Pickett, D.Martin, L.Baker F: S. Bolton, N.Cumberland, J.Riewoldt FOLL: I.Soldo, J.Hopper, D. Prestia I/C: N.Vlastuin, S. Ryan, J.Ross, J. Clarke

West Coast Eagles: B: S.Hurn, T.Barrass, A.Witherden HB: J.Jones, J.Rotham, L.Duggan C: L.Edwards, T.Kelly, J.Hunt HF: G.Clark, J.Darling, J.Waterman F: J.Culley, O.Allen, J. Petruccelle FOLL: B.Williams, R.Ginbey, A.Gaff I/C: Z. Trew, X.O’Neill, L.Foley, C.West

The Crows have been terrific this season and look likely to be in the discussion for the most improved team, but this Saturday they get one of the most difficult tests in football when they head to GMHBA Stadium to take on the Cats. Geelong are flying after losing their first three games of the season, with their latest victory a 28-point defeat of the Bombers in which they never really looked like losing. In fact, they haven’t looked like losing for a month, particularly on their home turf; last time they were there they beat the Swans by 93 points. The Crows will be hopeful of avoiding a result like that; prior to last weekend they had won four games in a row, and they very nearly made it five before they were unable to survive the fourth quarter onslaught which the Magpies have made their own. Disappointing as that one-point defeat was, it was also an impressive display against a Premiership favourite, and if the Crows can be similarly competitive this week it will go a long way to establishing them as a legitimate finals candidate. Unfortunately for them, Geelong in Geelong is a nearly impossible task for most teams in the league. The Crows might be able to be competitive for a period, but the Cats should run away with this one and win it by a few goals.

Predicted Squads

Geelong Cats: B: E.Ratugolea, S.De Koning, T.Stewart HB: J.Kolodjashnij, M.O’Connor, Z.Guthrie C: I.Smith, T.Atkins, Z.Tuohy HF: S.Simpson, T.Hawkins, O. Henry F: G.Miers, J.Cameron, B.Close FOLL: G.Miers, J.Cameron, B.Close I/C: T. Bruhn, M.Duncan, M. Knevitt, J.Bews

Adelaide Crows: B: T.Doedee, N.Murray, M.Michalanney HB: B.Smith, J.Butts, M.Hinge C: J.Soligo, J.Dawson, L.Sholl HF: I.Rankine, C.Jones, L.Pedlar F: T.Walker, D.Fogarty, L.Murphy FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays I/C: R.Sloane, R.Thilthorpe, W.Milera, J.Rachele

• West Coast have lost their last five games by 40 or more points
• The Lions have won nine of their last 11 against the Blues
• Just one of St. Kilda’s seven games this year has seen more than 166 points scored.

Multi of the Week

For all of the criticisms of Richmond that came out of their loss last weekend, the Suns deserve plenty of credit for comprehensively dismantling a side that many thought would be right up the top of the ladder this year. Gold Coast have now won two on the trot to alleviate a little bit of pressure on themselves and specifically coach Stewart Dew, taking their record to 3-4 with the win over the Tigers. They can make a serious statement that they’re finals capable this weekend, though they will need to be at their absolute best, and even that won’t likely be enough. The Demons have established themselves once again as a Premiership favourite, winning five of their first seven games, and their 90-point win against the Kangaroos last weekend looked more like a training drill than an AFL game. The Suns will provide more resistance than that, particularly up on the Gold Coast, but nonetheless the Demons should be able to win this one relatively comfortably.

Predicted Squads

Gold Coast Suns: B: S.Lemmens, S.Collins, D.Macpherson HB: B.Long, C.Ballard, W.Powell C: L.Weller, B.Humphrey, D.Swallow HF: B.Ainsworth, M.Chol, B.Ellis F: N.Holman, B.King, J.Lukosius FOLL: J.Witts, M.Rowell, N.Anderson I/C: R.Atkins, A.Davies, B.Fiorini, A.Sexton

Melbourne Demons: B: J.Bowey, S.May, J.Lever HB: A.Brayshaw, B.Fritsch, T.Rivers C: E.Langdon, C.Oliver, T.Sparrow HF: J.Viney, J.Schache, M.Hibberd F: J.Jordon, J.van Rooyen, J.McVee FOLL: M.Gawn, C.Petracca, K.Chandler I/C: B.Grundy, L.Hunter, A.Neal-Bullen, K.Pickett

The Giants have won two of their last three after losing three of their first four, but with each of those wins having come by two points or less it could easily have been a different story. They certainly won’t be dwelling on that, however, given how impressive their victory was last week. They knocked off the Swans in a brilliant incarnation of the Battle of the Bridge, with a final minute goal from captain Toby Greene giving them a one-point win over last year’s Grand Finalists. This week, they get a good chance to make it three from four. The Dogs, however, have won four of their last five and are consistently playing pretty good footy, with their midfield firing and, interestingly, their ability to restrict teams from scoring seemingly improved from what it has been in years past. This will be a tight and, based on the Bulldogs’ recent games, relatively low-scoring affair, and on their home turf the Giants can earn a valuable win by another small margin. 

Predicted Squads

GWS Giants: B: C.Idun, N.Haynes, I.Cumming HB: L.Whitfield, J.Buckley, L.Ash C: F.Callaghan, J.Kelly, H.Perryman HF: B.Daniels, H.Himmelberg, J.Peatling F: T.Greene, J.Hogan, T.Bedford FOLL: M.Flynn, T.Green, S.Coniglio I/C: R.Angwin, A.Cadman, C.Brown, C. Ward

Western Bulldogs: B: T.Duryea, L.Jones, T.O’Brien HB: B.Dale, A.Keath, E.Richards C: O.Baker, M.Bontempelli, B.Williams HF: B.Smith, J.Ugle-Hagan, C.Weightman F: A.Jones, A.Naughton, R.Lobb FOLL: T.English, J.Macrae, A.Treloar I/C: J.Johannisen, C.Daniel, A.Scott, T. Liberatore

The start to the 2023 season has been an unmitigated disaster for the Dockers, who now find themselves 2-5 after winning 15 games, and have been on the receiving end of consecutive eight-goal losses to first the Bulldogs and then the Lions over the past two weeks. Surely, surely they can get some respite this weekend. They have one of the easiest matchups in footy, welcoming the 1-6 Hawks on a four-game losing streak to Optus Stadium. The Hawks have actually been very competitive in recent weeks, losing by under a goal to both the Giants and the Crows before going down a little more comfortably to the Bulldogs last weekend. Competitive as they may be, however, the Hawks are unequivocally a bottom four team this year. The Dockers have played like one too, at least so far this season, but they are capable of so much more. If they want to give themselves any chance of working their way back into the finals race this season, they absolutely have to win this game, and should be able to do it comfortably.

Predicted Squads

Fremantle Dockers: B: B.Cox, A.Pearce, H.Young HB: J. Hamling, L.Ryan, J.Clark C: J.Aish, C.Serong, E.Hughes HF: M.Walters, L.Jackson, B.Banfield F: S.Switkowski, J.Amiss, N.O’Driscoll FOLL: S.Darcy, A.Brayshaw, J.O’Meara I/C: N. Wilson, W.Brodie, J. Corbett, L.Schultz

Hawthorn Hawks: B: J.Impey, S.Frost, J.Sicily HB: C.Jiath, B.Hardwick, J.Weddle C: K.Amon, W. Day, C.Nash HF: H.Morrison, M.Ramsden, L.Breust F: C.Wingard, M.Lewis, D.Moore FOLL: N.Reeves, J.Newcombe, J.Worpel I/C: S.Mitchell, C. Macdonald, J. Ward, F.Greene

The Power are on a tear, having won four games in a row to take their record to 5-2. Their latest victim was the Saints, against whom they scored more than any other side has managed all year to hand them just their second loss of the season. That was at Marvel Stadium, which has been a happy hunting ground for them, but another happy hunting ground is their actual home deck. That’s where they’ll return to this weekend, and where they’ll be favoured to make it five on the trot. But while they’ll enter as favourites, they won’t have it all their own way against an improved Bombers side. Essendon have lost two in a row after going down to the Cats last weekend, but with those defeats coming, as mentioned, to Geelong as well as Collingwood, it’s not exactly an indictment on the Bombers. They look like a solid team this year and are capable of competing for a spot in the eight, and that narrative will only grow if they can come away from Adelaide Oval with the four points. But while they’ll likely be competitive, the Power are in form that is just too good to ignore, and can make it five on the trot.

Predicted Squads

Port Adelaide Power: B: A.Aliir, T.McKenzie, T. Jonas HB: M.Bergman, J.Burgoyne, D.Houston C: T.Boak, J.Horne-Francis, X.Duursma HF: J.McEntee, D.Byrne-Jones, S.Powell-Pepper F: J.Finlayson, T. Marshall, O.Lord FOLL: C.Dixon, W.Drew, C.Rozee I/C: R.Burton, O.Wines, Z.Butters, J.Rioli

Essendon Bombers: B: J.Kelly, B.Zerk-Thatcher, J.Ridley HB: A.McGrath, M.Redman, K.Langford C: S.Durham, D.Parish, N.Martin HF: D.Shiel, S.Weideman, J.Caldwell F: A.Perkins, J.Stringer, B.Hobbs FOLL: S.Draper, Z.Merrett, W.Setterfield I/C: N.Hind, S. Durham, M.D’Ambrosio, A.McDonald-Tipungwuti

The Magpies just can’t stop winning. Their extraordinary 2022 season which saw them win an inordinate number of games by a handful of points saw them finish fourth when they could just as easily have missed the eight, but rather than fall back to the pack this year they’ve gone in the other direction. They are one of the most exciting teams in the league and a deserved Premiership favourite, and their ability to win close games has continued into this season. They’re now 6-1 and on top of the ladder having won their past three games, with those wins coming by a combined total of 20 points and their come-from-behind win over the Crows by a point last weekend closely mirroring their fightback ANZAC Day win a few days earlier. The Swans will have a mighty tough task stopping the Magpie onslaught to which so many teams have already fell victim. Making things worse is that the Swans are in really bad form, having dropped four of their last five games including their last two – one by 93 points to the Cats, and the other to the Giants. Given the respective form of these teams, it’s hard to see the Swans coming away from the MCG victorious. They should be more competitive than their recent form would suggest, but the Magpies should be too strong in this one.

Predicted Squads

Collingwood Magpies: B: I.Quaynor, D.Moore, B.Maynard HB: W.Hoskin-Elliott, N.Murphy, J.Crisp C: J.Noble, J.De Goey, J.Daicos HF: B.Hill, B.Mihocek, J.Elliott F: B.McCreery, A.Johnson, N.Kreuger FOLL: B.Frampton, T.Adams, N.Daicos I/C: T.Mitchell, S.Sidebottom, J.Ginnivan, S. Pendlebury

Sydney Swans: B: R. Fox, T.McCartin, H.Cunningham HB: O.Florent, J.Lloyd, N.Blakey C: L.Parker, C.Mills, R.Clarke HF: E.Gulden, W.Hayward, A.Francis F: I.Heeney, L.Franklin, T.Papley FOLL: I.Heeney, L.Franklin, T.Papley I/C: D.Stephens, B. Campbell, L.McDonald, H.McLean

The Kangaroos have returned to their form of last season after a strong start to life under Alastair Clarkson, losing five games in a row – including their latest by 90 points to the Demons. Try as they might they just don’t look good enough to match it with both teams, let alone the best ones, and that’s what they’ll face again this season. Maybe the Saints aren’t quite worthy of being labelled as such just yet, but so far this year that’s exactly what they’ve been, with their own experience under a new (kind of) coach in Ross Lyon vastly different to that of the Roos. They’ve been the best team in the league from a defensive standpoint, though they did struggle against the Power a little more than they have so far this year en route to their second loss of the season. This presents a great chance for them to jump straight back to the winners’ list. A matchup between perhaps the two best tacticians in the league in Clarkson and Lyon should be intriguing in many ways, but the talent differential should be far too significant even for a man of the four-time Hawthorn Premiership coach to overcome. 

Bookmaker	James’ Tips	Odds
	Saints/Saints half-time/full-time	$1.22
	Under 164.5 total points	$1.89
	Saints to win	$1.13

Predicted Squads

North Melbourne Kangaroos: B: G.Logue, B.McKay, J.Ziebell HB: L.McDonald, A.Hall, H.Sheezel C: C.Taylor, T.Powell, L.Shiels HF: P.Curtis, B. Scott, J.Stephenson F: J.Simpkin, N.Larkey, K. Turner FOLL: T.Goldstein, L.Davies-Uniacke, C.Zurhaar I/C: A.Corr, B.Cunnington, W. Phillips, D. Tucker

St. Kilda Saints: B: J.Battle, D.Howard, C.Wilkie HB: L.Stocker, J.Sinclair, N.Wanganeen-Milera C: M.Wood, S.Ross, R.Byrnes HF: M.Phillipou, B.Hill, J.Higgins F: M.Owens, Z.Cordy, T.Membrey FOLL: R.Marshall, B.Crouch, J.Steele I/C: J.Gresham, H.Clark, D.Butler, B.Paton

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