<p>Well, we’re away, kind of. Opening Round was cut in half thanks to Cyclone Alfred, leaving us with just four teams in action.</p> <p>I’m yet to hear someone make a reasonable and rational claim to keep Opening Round in its current format, so we shall see what adjustments AFL HQ make.</p> <p>Still, some footy is better than no footy. Time for the deal now though. Here is how I see AFL round 1 playing out.</p> <p>For the latest analysis, news, odds and betting tips for all of this week’s action, check out my AFL round 1 tips and predictions below, or follow me <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/feed/profile/view/56/ist_ambassador_deeplink_action">on the feed</a> and see them there!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Richmond vs Carlton Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, March 13, 7:30pm AEDT – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As always, they’ll pack the MCG, and we’ll watch from our homes with anticipation but anything other than a blowout will be a large surprise.</p> <p>I’m also expecting this game to leave us with some questions over the Blues.</p> <p>Harry McKay gets a look at a Tiger defence without its premier key defender whilst Charlie Curnow will miss, giving McKay even more opportunity ahead of the ball.</p> <p>This should be one way traffic.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/richmond-v-carlton-8715853">Carlton by 51 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Patrick Cripps 30+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hawthorn vs Essendon Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, March 14, 7:40pm AEDT – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of our four contests where a team having played their opener, faces a squad raring to get stuck into 2025.</p> <p>Essendon arrive without as much expectation as last season. I see holes ahead and behind the ball and the midfield.</p> <p>Whilst they should be much improved thanks to Caldwell and Durham, they still need depth and consistency out on the wings.</p> <p>The Hawks looked superb last week, rolling into Sydney and handling their business. They kicked a winning score without Lewis and Dear playing AND without Ginnivan and Watson having any impact on the game.</p> <p>The Dons will have their hands full trying to defend the Hawks between-the-arcs speed and sizzle and that’s why I’ll side with the Hawks here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/hawthorn-v-essendon-8715854">Hawthorn by 18 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Jack Ginnivan 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong vs Fremantle Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, March 15, 1:20pm AEDT – GMHBA Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A superb contest here between two teams many have pinned as premiership contenders.</p> <p>The visiting team have won the past two clashes between these two, indicating how evenly matched they truly are.</p> <p>Freo will need to work their way through injured and underdone players early in the season. Hayden Young and Alex Pearce are two guys who could be slow to go because of summer setbacks.</p> <p>Geelong’s summer has gone under the radar despite acquiring Bailey Smith. Smith will spend most of his time as an outside mid, even spending some time at half back and half forward as he eases back in from an ACL injury.</p> <p>Max Holmes is one I anticipate explodes. He and Finn Callaghan are very similar in stature and with the ability to burst from the contest. I have Holmes pegged as a potential All-Australian.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/geelong-cats-v-fremantle-8715856">Geelong by 11 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Max Holmes 25+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, March 15, 4:15pm AEDT – SCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Life comes at you fast. Sydney have had a coaching handover in the off-season, fell to the Hawks at home in Opening Round and now have the reigning premiers in the house.</p> <p>They’ll have to overcome the scars that the Lions left on them in the GF as well.</p> <p>Sydney were game but defeated last week. Isaac Heeney was solid but far from dominant last week whilst Errol Gulden’s absence is already obvious.</p> <p>I’ll give the Swans an edge here. The Lions looked sharp in their pre-season game but did fall away late in that game.</p> <p>The other reason is Sydney are almost already in win or else mode. A trip to Perth for Freo next… the life comes at you fast narrative can quickly take hold.</p> <p>Trust me, my 2018 Crows know how quickly a season can spiral after being belted in a Grand Final.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/sydney-swans-v-brisbane-lions-8715855">Sydney by 4 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Kai Lohmann 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, March 15, 7:35pm AEDT – Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Some are labelling this North’s Grand Final. Whilst that is farfetched, I can see their point. The Dogs are missing everyone who’s anyone and those who have made it to the start line are also underdone.</p> <p>The Roos are wound up and their supporters should demand double the three wins the club managed in 2024. Roos fans, I’d be demanding 7-8 wins and hoping for 10.</p> <p>This needs to be one of them.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-north-melbourne-8715857">North Melbourne by 11 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Harry Sheezel 30+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, March 15, 7:35pm AEDT – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We have a genuine fascination on our hands, gang!</p> <p>The Pies were hammered in Western Sydney. Ran ragged and thumped by 52 points in a game where the market expected them to perform strongly.&nbsp;</p> <p>Port arrive with many queries of their own. Todd Marshall will miss most of the season but more importantly Zak Butters will miss this match.</p> <p>Much will be asked of Jack Lukosius, who arrives from Gold Coast with big wraps. He will partner Mitch Georgiades will need to form a versatile and athletic focal point up front.</p> <p>How Nick Daicos recovers off a less-than-ideal Opening Round bout of cramp will be fascinating. My guess is it’ll take more than cramp to slow the young superstar moving forward.</p> <p>Port have too many holes and the Pies will be desperate to atone.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/collingwood-v-port-adelaide-8715859">Collingwood by 14 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Josh Daicos 30+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Adelaide Crows vs St Kilda Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, March 16, 12:35pm AEDT – Adelaide Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This feels like a half-volley outside off stump for these Crows. Expectation got the best of Adelaide last season, which only means the expectations rise in the City of Churches.</p> <p>Adding a duo from GWS and a premiership player from the Dees gives them stability, depth and more midfield punch.</p> <p>The Saints though, are off the boil. Injuries everywhere and countless swings and misses on free agent and trade acquisitions.</p> <p>There’s a scent at Moorabbin - and it’s not the sweet stuff Isaac Quaynor is using.</p> <p>The Crows can be dynamic at home. Rankine, Fogarty, Tex, Dawson, Thilthorpe and a few others, this has to be a home victory to open the season and perhaps a comfortable one.</p> <p>Adelaide have won three of the past four in this match-up and should be extending that advantage here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/adelaide-crows-v-st-kilda-8715860">Adelaide by 28 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Darcy Fogarty 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne vs GWS Giants Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, March 16, 3:20pm AEDT – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Giants could not have been any more impressive opening the season up at home against a popular Pies outfit.</p> <p>They’ll now land at the G full of confidence but likely down on soldiers as Kieren Briggs joins the injury list, alongside Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer.</p> <p>Tom Green will be back, joining guns like Josh Kelly, Finn Callaghan, Brent Daniels, Darcy Jones, Lachie Whitfield, Cal Ward and Lachie Ash.</p> <p>Sam Taylor was utterly dominant last week. Simon Goodwin likely needs to assign a forward to him, rather than Taylor worrying about a Demon forward.</p> <p>Goals from big forwards might again be hard to come by, with Steve May and Jake Lever awaiting the Giants big boys at the other end.</p> <p>The Dees will have energy early in the season. Oliver looks back. Petracca was sensational in the pre-season game and big Max is still big Max.</p> <p>But the Giants feel a better overall squad with better coaching and more weapons across the ground.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/melbourne-v-gws-giants-8715858">GWS by 17 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Caleb Windsor 20+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>West Coast Eagles vs Gold Coast Suns Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, March 16, 6:10pm AEDT – Optus Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Footy in WA finally gets underway, 10 days after the actual season got going. For the visitors - Gold Coast - nothing but a win will suffice.</p> <p>Their road record was awful last season, we know that! So, getting things going early will be key to avoiding that narrative as we move along the season.</p> <p>Noah Anderson is the new skipper, and I’d expect teams to target him as the run-with mid. Meaning Matt Rowell, Miller, Graham, Flanders and Humphrey will need to carry some of the load, too.</p> <p>Sam Flanders is my pick for most disposals across the season. I’ve backed him the on Feed.</p> <p>Ben King gets a look at an Eagle defence without Tom Barrass, he could go big here!</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/west-coast-eagles-v-gold-coast-suns-8715861">Gold Coast Suns by 24 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Ben King 4+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>