<p>Welcome back to Sportsbet’s tips and predictions for AFLW round 4.</p> <p>A mixed bag of results that saw new contenders solidify their place alongside the teams that you know are going to continue to be incredibly good. It was a better week for the Huddle too, our climb starts now!</p> <p>It was also a week that saw the competition strugglers firmly take their place at the bottom of the ladder. But fear not Collingwood or Dogs fans, Come Sunday, one of you should have a win on the board!</p> <p>The action never stops though, we’re straight back in action on Tuesday with the Pies and the Eagles kicking off the next round &amp; the compressed part of this AFLW fixture. So, teams are doubling up, but every team will have their turn.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs West Coast Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Tuesday, September 17, 7:15 pm AEST – Ikon Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Tuesday night footy returns to Ikon Park for the battle of the birds.</p> <p>The Daisy Pearce-led Eagles have already matched their best-ever win tally, and it’s only round 4!</p> <p>They get their best chance to break that early this week when they take on the decimated Magpies.</p> <p>The Pies have needed to dip heavily into the reserves to be able to field a team already, which has made the early goings tough for new coach Sam Wright. Another hammering away at Brisbane has them scratching around for fit players and wondering where their first win will come.</p> <p>It might not be against the Eagles, who have a nice thing going here. Maybe later in the week.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> West Coast Eagles.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Ella Roberts (Eagles) most disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Wednesday, September 18, 7:15 pm AEST – Brighton Homes Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The reigning premiers have their mojo back.</p> <p>They were always expected to win against Collingwood, but the way they dismantled them fired a big warning shot back across the brow of the competition.</p> <p>After a bout of leather poisoning last week, Ally Anderson shared the ball around with her fellow midfielders this week, as the Lions completely owned the ball at home and asserted their dominance around the ground.</p> <p>There were some bright sparks and signs of life from the Dogs last Thursday night, but they were all too brief as the Eagles proved to be too strong. That was their one chance to get on the board. Dogs’ fans' hearts would’ve sunk further seeing skipper Ellie Blackburn carried off late with injury, just a further hammer blow to what is already a long and trying season.</p> <p>This one could get really ugly. Record losing margin ugly.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Brisbane Lions</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Lions win by 50+ns..</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Richmond vs Carlton Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, September 19, 7:15 pm AEST – Ikon Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Are the Blues back?</p> <p>Back-to-back wins and holding the Cats to under a goal, it was their best performance under Matthew Buck and probably, their best performance since COVID cut their premiership charge in 2020.</p> <p>The Blues mids all came to play. Mimi Hill, Maddy Guerin, and Abbie McKay all got plenty of the ball and hit the scoreboard.</p> <p>Now they get a chance to test themselves and see if they are ready to jump a bracket, as they take on Richmond in an away game at their home ground. Weird, but ok.</p> <p>The Tigers are back on track after their first round slip up, easily accounting for the Swans in Coffs Harbour. Kicking their equal second-highest score in the process.</p> <p>The Blues will need to assign a role for star Mon Conti, while former Blue Sarah Hosking has returned in goalkicking form and will be looking to put a few past her old side again.</p> <p>Sneaky good contest this one but the Tigers are going just a little better.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Richmond.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Caitlin Greiser (Richmond) most goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, September 20, 5:05 pm AEST – Whitten Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Roos took all their frustrations out on drawing to the Cats last week on the Dees. Fair enough too, they wouldn’t have imagined a draw getting put into their plans as part of their “ 2024 Revenge tour.”</p> <p>They made amends with a big 50-point win against the Dees, just to make no bones about who is the premiership favourites this season.</p> <p>Expect a similar margin this week when they come up against Port. The Power fought admirably against the Dockers, but the Dockers proved to be too strong. And the Kangas are a couple of weight classes higher than that.</p> <p>The only question left in this one is, how many touches will Ash Riddell have? Plenty is the answer. She might be going record-hunting again.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>North Melbourne.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Kate Shierlaw (North) 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast vs Geelong Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 21, 12:05 pm AEST – People First Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A chance here for both of these sides to get on the board with a win after both having a draw and two losses to their name.</p> <p>The Suns were lucky to come away with something after their match against the Giants in Canberra, with a shot and a goal to draw the game after the siren went.</p> <p>They return home to face a desperate Cats side who are licking their wounds and wondering how their season is yet to properly get going.</p> <p>The Cats will be hoping that star mid-Georgie Prespakis has overcome a quad injury and will be back for the game. Watching her and Charlie Rowbottom go head-to-head will be worth tuning in for.</p> <p>Rowbottom stuffed the stat sheet last week with 42 possessions. She’ll need another big game (or some friends to go with her) if they are to get their first win on the board.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Gold Coast Suns.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Jamie Stanton any time goal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St Kilda vs Hawthorn Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 21, 2:05pm AEST – RSEA Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The game of the round pits the Saints against the Hawks.</p> <p>The Saints have shot to the top of the ladder with their come-from-behind win over Essendon keeping their start to the season blemish-free.</p> <p>The Saints defenders stood up. The Bombers had 10 more inside 50s but were limited in their scoring opportunities thanks to the outstanding work of the Saints' defenders Serene Watson, Paige Trudgeon, and Bianca Jakobsson.</p> <p>Star forward Jesse Wardlaw didn’t get on the scoresheet but was still prominent in setting others up.</p> <p>The Hawks might have gone down to the Crows, but they didn’t lose any admirers at all. The Crows will do that to a lot of sides this year, but the Hawks didn’t drop their bundle. They continued to play at the level that has impressed so many since the start of the season.</p> <p>It’s why this game promises to be a belter. Flip a coin. How can you resist Hokball? But the Saints look like they might have it all together finally.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Hawthorn.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Serene Watson (Saints) most disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fremantle vs Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 21, 2:05 pm AEST – Fremantle Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This is a strange one. Two teams we’re yet to get a read on this year.</p> <p>Good on Freo for getting the ship re-aligned with a win over the Power, but how much did they gain after the Power pushed them before they pulled away at the end?</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Dees are in an interesting spot. A terrific first up win followed by two ordinary showings. Yes, they came up against both Grand Finalists from last year, but they didn’t look great in either match.</p> <p>The Dees will need their guns to fire and get the win here. Otherwise, they might find themselves too far back to make an impact.</p> <p>The home side should be too strong.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Fremantle.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Anie Tigh (Fremantle) most disposals + anytime goal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Adelaide Crows vs Essendon Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 22, 1:05 pm AEST – Thomas Farm Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Adelaide Crows are undeniable.</p> <p>There’s the sense of inevitability that they are always just going to be good.</p> <p>The Hawks threw their best at them, yet the Crows played the game seemingly with one arm outstretched with a “you shall not pass” sign in it. And the Hawks have been rather good so far this year.</p> <p>So, you’d imagine, it would be the same this week against Essendon, who were run over the top by St Kilda last week and failed to fire in front of the goal. Too much got left to Maddy Prespakis in the middle and are desperately missing their skipper, Bonnie Toogood.</p> <p>The Dons are also sweating on the MRO and waiting to learn how long they will be without gun midfielder Maddi Gay for after a big bump on the last qtr against the Saints. Which will only further deplete Essendon’s chances of something remarkable.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Adelaide Crows.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Danielle Ponter (Adelaide) 15 + disposals + 2 goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 22, 3:05 pm AEST – Victoria Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The relief will be palpable for one of these sets of fans come 5 pm Sunday. By then, one of them will finally have a win on the board.</p> <p>Plus, it will be a first-ever win for a new coach. So, there’s plenty on the line here.</p> <p>It’s an early-season spoonbowl, but these are the two worst sides in it this year.</p> <p>Collingwood will be hoping the cavalry arrives soon. If they get anything resembling their best team in the park, that should be enough for them.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Collingwood.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Bri Davey 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney vs GWS Giants Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 22, 3:05 pm AEST – Henson Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Another Sydney derby in September? Yes, please!</p> <p>This time, Henson Park in Marrickville is the venue for the battle of the bridge, and it looms to be a crucial clash, with both sides fighting to keep their seasons alive.</p> <p>The Giants were hit badly by the injury curse last Sunday, finishing the game against the Suns down three players for the majority of the second half plus losing star Izzy Huntington before the game with an injury too.</p> <p>The Swans are still navigating how to overcome the loss of their lynchpin Chloe Molloy and unfortunately suffered further blows on the weekend with a further ACL injury to Alana Woodward.</p> <p>The eyes on this one should be in the middle of the ground. Laura Gardiner vs Alyce Parker is the matchup to watch. Of course, it’s the Giants and Zarlie Goldsworthy is never far away from doing something spectacular in front of goal.</p> <p>Expect it to be tight, but if the Giants can contain Gardiner and the supply to Bec Privitelli and Montana Ham, they should come out on top.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> GWS Giants.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Haneen Zreika (Giants) anytime goal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>West Coast vs Brisbane Lions</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, September 22, 5:05 pm – Mineral Resources Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Eagles bookend the round, this time back at home against the Lions.</p> <p>And it’s the first real test for Daisy Pearce and her coaching, how does she set up her young developing team to take on the reigning premiers and one of the contenders to take out the crown this year?</p> <p>On paper, it might be a bloodbath. The second time in a week that the Lions might maul another animal if you will.</p> <p>It will be interesting to see how well both sides pull up here, as they will be the first sides to feel the condensed fixture crush with the travel. We’re backing the away side here. It could be their second 50-plus point win in a week too.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Brisbane Lions.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Sophie Conway (Lions) 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFLW 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>