We remained warm on the tip here for Huddle AFL followers with 5/7 suggested bets landing.

In Season 2026, we’ve gone 16/21 so far. We need to keep punching!

Round 3 is on the runway.

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

Geelong Cats vs Adelaide Crows

Thursday, March 26, 7:30pm AEDT – GMBHA Stadium

Adelaide needs to break a hoodoo which has existed for longer than some of its players have been alive.

2003 was the last time an Adelaide Crows squad travelled to Kardinia Park and won. That’s something the team should lean into.

Problem is, injuries have struck in the worst way with Laird and Ah Chee grounded, queries on Dawson, Worrell and the veteran Tex. They’ll also comically arrive off a six day break, whilst Geelong land here having had a bye. A nonsensical filtering decision.

And because of that, the Cats should roll here. Taking care of Thilthorpe is priority 1a and Izak Rankine 1b, but aside from that you just feel Holmes, Smith, Miers, Cameron, Neale and others will be too much for a wounded Crows unit to handle.

An Adelaide win would be epic.

Head-to-head prediction: Geelong Cats by 21 points. 

Betting tip: Jeremy Cameron 3+ goals.

Collingwood Magpies vs GWS Giants

Friday, March 27, 7:40pm AEDT – Marvel Stadium

Why this game is at Marvel Stadium is anyone’s guess.

But here we are.

GWS visited this venue a fortnight ago and were humiliated by the Doggies. Can they atone?

They meet a rested Pies squad who will be keen on having four byes considering its older list. I’d expect prime performances from Pendlebury, De Goey, Elliott and maybe even Sidebottom off a freshen up.

For Greater Western Sydney, I’m not convinced Toby Greene’s move on-ball has worked, whilst Hogan and Stringer have been very quiet for a fortnight. Contract-season Jake lasted a week.

Can Finn Callaghan take the game away from the Pies around the ball and kickstart some GWS energy or will the Daicos brothers run riot? I like the former all things being equal.

Head-to-head prediction: Collingwood Magpies by 11 points. 

Betting tip: Josh Daicos 27+ disposals.

St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions

Saturday, March 28, 12:35pm AEDT – Marvel Stadium

Considering daylight saving is still a thing in Queensland, Lions fans will begin watching their boys in the AM hours. What nonsense (again).

Despite all that, Brisbane copped a bye at maybe the perfect time, allowing some bodies to heal up and getting back Zac Bailey - has averaged 22 and 3 goals his past two against the Saints.

Despite the losses in Round 1 and 2, the Saints have looked strong for most of the season but they did need that win in western Sydney last week. Tom De Koning has been rock solid, aside from a last quarter fadeout against Max Gawn.

Sam Flanders is what he is - a ball-finding machine - and Jack Silvagni has been honest down back.

The Saints growth and eventual success will come from Wilson, Phillipou, Hall, Tauru and other young emerging players’ improvement.

Without Andrews - and potentially others - a St Kilda win would not fully surprise but I’ll side with the champs who will be desperate to avoid 0-3.

Head-to-head prediction: Brisbane Lions by 21 points. 

Betting tip: Cam Rayner 2+ goals.

Fremantle Dockers vs Richmond Tigers

Saturday, March 28, 4:15pm AEDT – Optus Stadium

Fremantle handled its business back on home soil against an inferior opponent last week.

The Dees were KO’d early and never allowed to recover and the Tigers should receive similar treatment. Richmond should’ve won (in my opinion) against the Blues and were never going to a match for Gold Coast. They’re about where we thought they’d be.

In the past three contests, Richmond has not scored more than 54 points against the Dockers. That’d be a handy starting point for improvement. Last season was a 10-goal win for the Purple Haze with Josh Treacy booting six.

Treacy has also kicked nine goals in the two games previous to that. He looms as the difference again.

This looks like another 10-goal margin. Maybe more.

Head-to-head prediction: Fremantle Dockers by 57 points. 

Betting tip: Josh Treacy 3+ goals, Patrick Voss 2+ goals, Jye Amiss 2+ goals.

Essendon Bombers vs North Melbourne Kangaroos

Saturday, March 28, 7:35pm AEDT – Marvel Stadium

Talk about not wanting to be the loser of a game…

The Roos undid all their good work from Round 1 by going to WA and losing to the Eagles after going up four goals early on.

And how do you even know what to say about the Bombers?

Their Round 1 effort against Hawthorn was awful but I guess you can claim the Hawks are a power who were always going to roll past Essendon. Problem is, a response was needed and a response was far from there in Adelaide against Port.

The world is watching both these clubs, despite the fact it looks unlikely either will do much damage in 2026.

Head-to-head prediction: North Melbourne by 20 points.

Betting tip: Cam Zurhaar 2+ goals.

Port Adelaide Power vs West Coast Eagles

Sunday, March 29, 12:30pm AEDT – Adelaide Oval

And we thought Lions fans were hard done by with a morning kickoff… 

West Coast’s Perth-based fanbase will need to be ready to go by 9:30 local time as its club goes to work against Port Adelaide.

Last week, things looked grim before the kids got rolling and some of the experienced Eagles led the way to a famous win - Andrew McQualter’s 2nd as coach.

The Power looked better back at home but lost captain Connor Rozee to a serious hammy tendon injury and will be without him for a while.

Another Eagles surprise would be amazing for the path forward this club is trying to take. Although that seems unlikely on foreign soil.

Head-to-head prediction: Port Adelaide by 28 points. 

Betting tip: Kane Farrell 19+ disposals.

Carlton Blues vs Melbourne Demons

Sunday, March 29, 3:15pm - MCG

The end of Round 3 might not be jam-packed with premiership contenders but this looms as an interesting game for various reasons.

The Dees were positively impressive against the Saints then got blown away early against Freo. The Blues hung in there for a half against Sydney before coughing up 12 goals in 30 minutes.

They then found a way to beat Richmond, although you can argue the Tigers beat themselves with Tommy Lynch booting 2.7.

The Dees feel more capable of kicking 100+ points so maybe this is a grind it out, 87-80 game for the Blues.

Head-to-head prediction: Melbourne Demons by 3 points.

Betting tip: Dees H2H.

Odds are subject to change*