<p>Hello and welcome back to The Huddle’s AFL round 11 tips and predictions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Suns continued proving what a cheat code they are in Darwin, Geelong sent Port Adelaide into a tailspin and the Sons of the West reminded Essendon what big boy football looks like.</p> <p>Last week had some of everything - including West Coast’s maiden win in honour of the late Adam Selwood.</p> <p>For Huddle followers, some solid results. Marcus Bontempelli, Jeremy Cameron, Jordan Dawson, and Jack Sinclair made light work of their respective prop lines whilst there’s always one sick beat among the weekend… Lachie Ash needed 30 and had 29.</p> <p>But as Ben Simmons used to say… OTTNO (on to the next one)... and it’s a pretty big one in the context of the whole season.</p> <p>It starts with a grudge match down the highway between Baz and the Bulldogs before we’re back for the centrepiece of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round - Dreamtime at the G, taking place on a Friday night this year.</p> <p>All that before some seasons go well and truly on the line on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It’s going to be large.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the latest analysis, news, odds, and betting tips for all this week’s action, check out my AFL round 11 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>Geelong vs Western Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, May 22, 7:30pm AEST - GMHBA Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>All eyes lock in on Bailey Smith against the old mob.</p> <p>Accusations of checking out followed up with cheeky jibes back and forth making for a fascinating physical and mental clash.</p> <p>The overall outcome is more important, though, with Geelong clinging onto a top 8 position and the Dogs keeping pace with the top 4.</p> <p>Irish import Oisin Mullin has done well on Nick Daicos and Zak Butters, but Marcus Bontempelli feels a different beast with his size and scope to roll forward. Perhaps the Irishman goes to Ed Richards instead - as Sam Durham tried to do last week.</p> <p>The Dogs were near-perfect last week. West and Khamis combined for seven snags whilst Matt Kennedy, Bontempelli, Richards and Libba had 115 disposals and six goals between them.</p> <p>Timmy English is in form in the ruck, too. Mark Blicavs will need to be at his athletic best to keep pace.</p> <p>Down back, James O’Donnell may get first crack at Jeremy Cameron, who is fresh off a big bag of seven.</p> <p>Monster game, for many reasons. Oh - and I’d expect Libba to get in Bailey’s face early and often.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/geelong-cats-v-western-bulldogs-9208269">Western Bulldogs by 5 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Rhylee West 2+ goals</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Essendon vs Richmond Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, May 23, 7:40pm AEST - MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s always a big occasion when these two sides meet.</p> <p>Dreamtime at the G - this year on a Friday night in front of a mammoth crowd, It’s always a special night on the football calendar.</p> <p>Richmond hung in there and had chances to pinch it late against the Roos. They will get to the G with confidence that they can perform well on the big stage.</p> <p>They’ll bump into a team with a point to prove in the form of Essendon. Who were hammered wire-to-wire last week. They must rebound hard or they will lose grip on their season which had been building nicely.&nbsp;</p> <p>I’ll be watching closely for more speed on turnover and more desire to use the corridor in attack for the Dons.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/essendon-v-richmond-9208268">Essendon by 11 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Richmond +17.5 points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Carlton vs GWS Giants Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 24, 12:35pm AEST - Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s hard to believe GWS opened as underdogs, despite how poor they were at home last week.</p> <p>The Blues are banged up and at this point, look nothing more than a limited team with some top-end talent in Curnow, Cripps and Walsh.</p> <p>Indoors should work well for the Giants’ ball use and run from half-back and that will be key to Carlton hanging tough. Keeping the Lachie’s - Whitfield and Ash, from amassing large metres gained will be vital for Carlton if they are to quell their attack.</p> <p>Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley versus Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay might decide the game.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/carlton-v-gws-giants-9208271">GWS Giants by 13 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Greater Western Sydney H2H.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hawthorn vs Brisbane Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 24, 4:15pm AEST - MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This is large. The Lions have sleepwalked through the past fortnight, drawing with the Roos in Tassie and then giving away a lead against Melbourne at home.</p> <p>They play well at The MCG and will be wound up for this.</p> <p>The Hawks were really solid in Darwin but did go down, just like every team that plays the Suns up there at the moment. So they arrive here ready to rock as well.</p> <p>The Lions will want to take uncontested marks and keep the game largely out of chaos against the run and gun of Hawthorn.</p> <p>Harris Andrews will look to rebound after being beaten for maybe the first time in 18 months by Jake Melksham.</p> <p>Both are contenders but the loser of this will have a few genuine questions to answer too.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/hawthorn-v-brisbane-lions-9208270">Brisbane Lions by 8 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Hugh McCluggage 25+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Melbourne vs Collingwood Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 24, 7:35pm AEST - Marvel Stadium&nbsp;</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Roos exploded and finally won an opening quarter against Richmond before allowing them back into the contest.</p> <p>They did win, though, and secured their first win at the home of footy since 2017. Admittedly, they barely ever play there, which should make the result even sweeter for the Roos fans.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Pies will give them headaches. The corresponding clash last season was one for the ages. The Roos kicked 14 first-half goals to lead by 48 points at the main break. Collingwood won the third quarter by two goals then went on a blistering rampage in the last term, eventually stealing the one-point win in unthinkable circumstances.</p> <p>We’d love a sequel here but it’s more likely the Pies power on.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/north-melbourne-v-collingwood-9208273">Collingwood by 24 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Josh Daicos 30+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fremantle vs Port Adelaide Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, May 24, 8:10pm AEST - Optus Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Dockers needed to win and they did. They went to Western Sydney - a place they had never won before - and rolled GWS. Now, they need to go home and do the business again. Frank the form!</p> <p>Port Adelaide is weakened, wounded and in a large hole.</p> <p>Adelaide Oval turned into ‘hamstring city’ on Saturday and the Power copped the brunt of it as their season fell further into the abyss.</p> <p>One guy that fell to the hamstring pinging party was Jason Horne-Francis who will be absent for a few weeks. It’s a bad loss, especially while questions continue to plague the club over its coaching handover plans.</p> <p>Freo gets a real chance to explode into the back half of their season here… and maybe end the season of their opposition (who ended theirs at the post last year) at the same time.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/fremantle-v-port-adelaide-9208272">Fremantle by 18 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Josh Treacy 3 + goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Adelaide vs West Coast Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, May 25, 1:10pm AEST - Adelaide Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Crows were - again - gallant against Collingwood in Melbourne but - again - come up empty-handed.</p> <p>They’ll get home and smash West Coast, who will be feeling a shade more relaxed after securing win No. 1 for the season.</p> <p>Darcy Fogarty booted four last week and should be looking to kick another bag whilst Jordan Dawson continues proving why he may be the club’s best-ever acquisition.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/adelaide-crows-v-west-coast-eagles-9208274">Adelaide by 51 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Darcy Fogarty 3 + goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne vs Sydney Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, May 25, 3:20pm AEST - MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I’m not ready to bring these two clubs back into season 2025 just yet, but the reality is, whoever wins this game, will bridge the gap between them and the top eight even more.</p> <p>It’s an enormous game in regards to hanging onto hopes for September action.</p> <p>Grundy vs Gawn will be fun. Gawn is in sensational form (again) while Grundy has built over a couple of softer kills in the ruck in recent weeks.</p> <p>New tagger extraordinaire Clayton Oliver will likely go to Isaac Heeney after the Swans superstar did as he pleased against the Blues.</p> <p>The Swans will again need to build a makeshift forward line without Joel Amartey after he went and got himself suspended.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/melbourne-v-sydney-swans-9208275">Melbourne by 8 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jake Melksham 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St Kilda vs Gold Coast Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, May 25, 4:40pm AEST - Marvel Stadium&nbsp;</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Suns cop a tricky one here after a successful fortnight in Darwin. They get a clash at Marvel with the fizzed-up Saints.</p> <p>St Kilda handed West Coast its maiden win, meaning a week of ridicule will ensue, and will be wound up for this one.</p> <p>The corresponding game last season was one of the hardest watches I’ve ever sat through. 99 combined points and more sideways kicks than you’d like to see in a month.</p> <p>Here’s hoping we see the opposite of that in 2025.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/st-kilda-v-gold-coast-suns-9208276">Gold Coast by 22 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Ben Long 2 + goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>