<p>Gather Round likely has you feeling gassed but the footy does not care about your fatigue.</p> <p>Round 5 rolls on with some big contests on the horizon and some teams looking to claw back some ground after slow beginnings.</p> <p>The Dees and Lions clash to kickstart the weekend whilst the Dogs and Dons at Marvel Stadium is interesting for a million reasons.</p> <p>Winless Adelaide visits unbeaten Carlton at Docklands whilst fellow unbeaten Geelong, should cruise at Kardinia against the Roos.</p> <p>For the latest analysis, news, odds, and betting tips for all the AFL’s upcoming action, check out my AFL round 5 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>Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Thursday, April 11, 7:30pm AEDT – MCG</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Dees look the real deal. I doubted them, wondering whether a summer of drama would wear them down. It’s been quite the opposite.</p> <p>May and Lever are in full control down back, whilst the midfield quadrella of Max, Viney, Oliver and Petracca are airborne.</p> <p>The Dees have also blossomed thanks to young guns Caleb Windsor and Jed McVee.</p> <p>From a Brisbane perspective, a clash with North at Norwood arrived at the perfect moment.</p> <p>Hipwood got rolling, big Joe dominated with 20 disposals and five goals and Charlie Cameron got a few shots at goal. All the big guns would feel much better about themselves.</p> <p>But they’ll need to rise to the occasion to roll the Dees in Melbourne – although we know it’s something they’ve managed before.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> Melbourne by 10 points.</p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Zac Bailey 15+ disposals and 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs Essendon Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Friday, April 12, 7:40pm AEDT – Marvel Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The two disappointments of Gather Round collide in a must-win round 5 game.</p> <p>Both land in round 5 at 2-2, so must win might be a stretch but must not get blown out is more to the point.</p> <p>Essendon were obliterated by Rozee, Butters and Horne-Francis at Adelaide Oval and the midfield must respond. Merrett has been amazing, but the others need to get going.</p> <p>Ugle-Hagan and Naughton are yet to break out in 2024 but Sam Darcy is beginning to show signs of being a future game-breaker. It’s a unique threesome and one the Dons will be hoping does not explode under the lid.</p> <p>The Dogs ball-winners were prolific last week – Treloar 37, Bontempelli 35, Libba 35 – but the result was a loss. They need to get more bang for buck with ball in hand.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip</strong>: Western Bulldogs by 13+ points.</p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Jamarra Ugle-Hagan 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>GWS Giants vs St Kilda Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, April 13, 1:45pm AEDT – Manuka Oval</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I snuck out to Mt. Barker last week and saw the Giants handle Gold Coast live. They’re an impressive squad.</p> <p>Toby exploded with 17 and five snags whilst Kelly, Whitfield, Coniglio and Himmelberg all dominated.</p> <p>Big Briggs in the ruck is also a weapon. The Saints scared fans with a hapless first half at Norwood before turning on the jets and accounting for Richmond on The Parade.</p> <p>They’ll be unable to have similar slip ups when they face the big boys in Canberra and beyond.</p> <p>Sam Taylor won a mouthwatering battle with Ben King last weekend and now he gets a look at twin, Max. Jack Buckley is also an outstanding tall defender for the men in orange (or charcoal).</p> <p>The Giants will be beaten at some point, but I doubt it’s this weekend.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> GWS by 18 points.</p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Tom Green 30+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Carlton vs Adelaide Crows Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, April 13, 4:35pm AEDT – Marvel Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Most would’ve expected the collective record of these two to be better than 4-4. Did any of us think Adelaide would be responsible for all four losses?</p> <p>The Blues made a great escape in a dramatic ending to their clash with Freo whilst the Dees disposed of an impotent Crows forward mix.</p> <p>The Crows were the No. 1 scoring team in the AFL last season but are averaging 57 points per game in 2024. It’s an awful mess.</p> <p>The Blues enjoy a trip across to Marvel Stadium and Adelaide will be looking for the speedy confines of the indoor arena to get some spark back in their game.</p> <p>Is the upset on the cards? Doubtful but not impossible.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> Carlton by 8 points.</p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Charlie Cunrow 4+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Port Adelaide vs Fremantle Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, April 13, 7:30pm AEDT – Adelaide Oval</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Dockers barely have time to get comfortable at home before they jump back on the jumbo jet and travel back to the scene of the crime.</p> <p>Adelaide Oval again awaits as does a rampaging midfield consisting of Rozee, Butters, and The Hornet.</p> <p>Freo have an on-ball brigade of their own. Serong leads the AFL in disposals, Brayshaw had 38 last week and Luke Jackson’s form has to be All-Australian worthy at this early stage.</p> <p>Both defensive groups will likely get on top in this one so scoring may be down, but the win is all that matters for both.</p> <p>Port wants to stack wins at home and the Dockers wish to avenge last week but also maintain the early season rage.</p> <p>I doubt this will be one for the highlight reels, but the pressure will be high and the drama intense.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> Port Adelaide by 13 points</p> <p><strong>Best bet</strong>: Jason Horne-Francis anytime goal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Suns vs Hawthorn Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, April 13, 7:30pm AEDT – Heritage Bank Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Suns hung with GWS last week for as long as their young legs could handle. The usual suspects were excellent – Miller, Rowell, and Anderson – and we saw some incredibly exciting signs from newbies like Read, Walter and Clohesy. While Mac Andrew was sensational – among the best afield.</p> <p>The Hawks look dishevelled at halftime against the Pies. A 50+ point loss looked on the cards, but they rallied hard.</p> <p>They got within a kick and threatened to steal the closing game of the weekend. But they fell short and remain winless. Captain James Sicily’s form is worrying, and they’ll need Lewis back and kicking goals at some stage to be winning games.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip</strong>: Gold Coast Suns by 33 points.</p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Jack Lukosius 20+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong vs North Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Sunday, April 14, 1:00pm AEDT – GMHBA</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I doubt much needs to be said about this one. The undefeated Cats have been $1.03 for much of the week and deservedly so.</p> <p>They controlled the game against the Dogs despite the close margin. Max Holmes and Tanner Bruhn are catapulting this midfield group even with Dangerfield and Guthrie on the sidelines.</p> <p>You’d imagine Hawkins, Cameron, Stengle, Henry, Miers and Close will be far too much for the Roos back line.</p> <p>They can get an edge inside, though, with Davies-Uniacke, Wardlaw, Scott and Simpkin. Getting Cam Zurhaar into the game would also be beneficial for the men from Arden Street.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> Geelong by 47+ points.</p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Geelong wire-to-wire.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>West Coast Eagles vs Richmond Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Sunday, April 14, 4:00pm AEDT – Optus Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Tigers travel west and travel in some reasonable form. They jumped the Saints, but class prevailed at Norwood Oval.</p> <p>West Coast’s performance against the Swans in Gather Round was sensational for three quarters. Predictably, the Swans rolled in Q4 and got the job done.</p> <p>However, the way West Coast performed would have to have the locals enthused about a win here at Optus Stadium. Can the Eagles pinch one? I think so.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip</strong>: West Coast by 11 points.</p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Harley Reid anytime goal.</p>

<h2>AFL Premiership Odds 2024</h2>