It’s Round Three of the 2026 AFLW season, the early season cobwebs have been dusted and Essendon have already dropped to 17th, a familiar sight for those that follow the men’s game.

Round 3 of the AFLW season closes out Indigenous Round, which runs across Rounds 2 and 3 this year.

North Melbourne look in gear already as they chase a third straight premiership and they have the two best players in the competition to do it with.

Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell are flexing their starpower already after two rounds, both racking up some serious numbers as the Roos dispatched Brisbane in Round 2.

Nine games, two days, and at least three of them are genuine coin flips.

For the latest team news, analysis, and expert insights, check out our expert AFLW tips and predictions for Round 3 below.

North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs AFLW Prediction

Saturday, August 29, 12:35pm AEST - UTAS Stadium, Launceston

All signs point to the reigning premiers as they take on Western Bulldogs in Launceston. 

Both sides are unbeaten and both have earned it, but they've gone about it very differently. North have been ruthless, opening with a hundred against Geelong and then going to Brisbane and winning an arm wrestle.

The Bulldogs have won twice without cracking 50 either week, which is a perfectly good way to collect four points and not a great way to beat this North side.

The Kangaroos have the best midfield in the competition and they've had it for a while now. Garner does everything, wins the ball, takes contested marks and kicks goals and Riddell simply wears opponents down across four quarters.

The Dogs will find a way to make it uncomfortable. We just think North have too many weapons. 

Head-to-head prediction: North Melbourne by 15 points.

Betting tip: Ellie Blackburn 25+ disposals.

Adelaide Crows vs West Coast Eagles AFLW Prediction

Saturday, August 29, 2:35pm AEST - Thomas Farms Oval, Adelaide

Someone finally gets on the board.

Adelaide were competitive against Sydney and then went missing against Carlton, held to 23 points at Ikon Park. That's the concern with the Crows right now. When the game gets physical they've got Ebony Marinoff and not a lot else standing up.

West Coast have the more interesting player and the worse situation. Ella Roberts is genuinely elite, versatile enough to play through the middle or drift forward, and at her age she's still getting better.

The problem is she's carrying too much. The Eagles have scored 76 points in two weeks and conceded 123, and no single player fixes that.

Adelaide are home for their Indigenous Round fixture at Unley, where they'll play every home game this year for the first time since 2020. That continuity should count, and the Eagles have to fly across the country to find out.

Head-to-head prediction: Adelaide Crows by 24 points.

Betting tip: Grace Egan anytime goal scorer.

Sydney Swans vs St Kilda AFLW Prediction

Saturday, August 29, 4:35pm AEST - Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour

Sydney take an unbeaten record up the north coast and shouldn't need to work too hard.

The Swans have won two different types of games already, grinding out a result in Adelaide before controlling Essendon at the SCG in front of a big double-header crowd. Nothing flashy, but they haven't conceded more than 53 and Taylor Smith has been reliable in front of goal with five majors this season.

Saints are in real trouble. The 100-point hiding from Geelong was bad enough, but the two goals they managed in reply is the number that should worry them. Georgia Patrikios keeps winning the football but they’re struggling to convert the opportunities.

Coffs Harbour is a long way from home for both, which usually helps the better side. That's Sydney by a distance here.

Head-to-head prediction: Sydney Swans by 21 points.

Betting tip: Zippy Fish 25+ disposals.  

GWS Giants vs Port Adelaide AFLW Prediction

Sunday, August 30, 12:35pm AEST - Manuka Oval, Canberra

The tightest game of the round, between two sides who've each had one very good week and one very bad one.

GWS beat West Coast and then kicked one goal against Melbourne. Port held Fremantle to 20 points in Perth and then let Hawthorn put 65 on them at Alberton. Take your pick.

The Power's advantage is in the ruck. Matilda Scholz is 21 and already one of the competition’s leading rucks. She can win the ball too at ground level and functions as an extra midfielder around stoppage.

We’re thinking young Scholz can be the difference in this one.

Head-to-head prediction: Port Adelaide by four points.

Betting tip: Katelyn Pope anytime goal scorer.

Melbourne Demons vs Brisbane Lions AFLW Prediction

Sunday, August 30, 1:05pm AEST - Casey Fields, Melbourne

The heavyweight fixture of the round and the one with the most finals history attached to it.

These two met twice in September last year. Brisbane won the qualifying final, Melbourne won the semi. Neither result settled much and this won't either, but it'll be a proper contest.

Melbourne have been the most convincing side in the competition outside North, winning both by a combined 67 points and holding GWS to a single goal.

Kate Hore remains one of the hardest players to contain. She led the league with 24 goals last season while still averaging more than 21 disposals.

Brisbane's answer is Courtney Hodder, who wins games without needing the football. She chases, tackles and harasses until defenders make mistakes, and she kicks a few herself while she's at it.

The Lions have the best percentage of any side with one win, so the loss to North wasn't a disaster.

Casey Fields has been kind to the Demons and we'll back the home side.

Head-to-head prediction: Melbourne by 5 points.

Betting tip: Kate Hore 2+ goals.

Gold Coast Suns vs Geelong Cats AFLW Prediction

Sunday, August 30, 3:05pm AEST - People First Stadium, Gold Coast

Two sides you can't trust an inch, sitting eighth and ninth with almost identical percentages.

Gold Coast kicked 1.8 at home in Round 1 and then 10.9 in Perth a week later. Geelong lost by 73 and then won by 85. There is no form line here worth the paper.

What Geelong do have is better talent. Georgie Prespakis has turned into a complete midfielder, winning her own ball and using it well and at 23 she's not close to finished. Up forward, Aishling Moloney gives them the genuine key target most clubs in this competition are still searching for.

Add Parry, who has kicked seven goals from seven scoring shots and hasn't missed once, and the Cats have three ways to win.

The Suns get the shorter trip. That's about all that's keeping this one honest.

Head-to-head prediction: Geelong Cats by 13 points.

Betting tip: Aishling Moloney 2+ goals. 

Collingwood Magpies vs Hawthorn Hawks AFLW Prediction

Sunday, August 30, 3:05pm AEST - Victoria Park, Melbourne

Collingwood are struggling with execution, struggling to score goals and sitting 0-2 to start the year.

Hawthorn were beaten by Melbourne to open the season, which is nothing to sneer at, then went to Alberton and knocked over Port by 32. That's a genuinely good win on the road and it suggests the Hawks travel fine.

Aine McDonagh has six goals already and Jenna Richardson is taking more marks than anyone in the league. A tall marking forward line against a defence that leaked 96 points in a fortnight is not the fixture Collingwood needed.

Victoria Park should keep it respectable for a half.

Head-to-head prediction: Hawthorn by 21 points.

Betting tip: Aine McDonagh 2+ goals. 

Fremantle Dockers vs Carlton Blues AFLW Prediction

Sunday, August 30, 5:05pm AEST - Cockburn ARC Oval, Perth

The Blues opened in front of more than 20,000 at Marvel and beat St Kilda, then held Adelaide to 23. Two wins, both on the trot at home, both comfortable. The obvious question is whether that means anything, because they haven't left Melbourne yet and now they're going to Perth.

Fremantle are hard to gauge at the moment, they were embarrassed in Round One, held to 20 points by Port, then went to Victoria Park and put on a clinic against the Pies.

Kiara Bowers is the reason to be nervous about backing against them, a genuine star who rarely wastes a possession and Mim Strom is a rucky/midfield hybrid that can win possession against anyone.

Carlton have the likes of Abbie McKay, Mimi Hill, Harriet Cordner and Darcy Vescio leading the way – we think they’ll be too classy by a touch.

Head-to-head prediction: Carlton by seven points.

Betting tip: Mimi Hill 25+ disposals.

Essendon Bombers vs Richmond Tigers AFLW Prediction

Sunday, August 30, 7:15pm AEST - TIO Stadium, Darwin

Dreamtime in Darwin, under lights, closing out Indigenous Round. Should be a huge fixture on atmosphere alone.

Essendon are winless in their first season in the AFLW, but far from being uncompetitive.  Madison Prespakis has been enormous in defeat, averaging 31 disposals across the opening two matches.

The Bombers need somebody to reward that work inside 50, and so far nobody has.

Richmond have Monique Conti, which is usually enough to keep you in a contest. Nobody in the AFLW turns defence into attack faster and she's leading the competition for inside 50s this season.

Every coach knows stopping her is how you slow Richmond down. Almost none of them manage it.

The Top End changes things. Humidity and a Sunday night in Darwin can flatten form lines and turn a game into a scrap, which is the best argument going for Essendon. We'll take the Tigers anyway, with the caveat that Dreamtime rarely follows the script.

Head-to-head prediction: Richmond by 10 points.

Betting tip: Madison Prespakis 30+ disposals.