<p>A rough old week for The Huddle’s loyal AFL followers was only trumped by a fairly lacklustre round of footy in full.</p> <p>Sydney, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle (all suggested premiership contenders) played well below par and were all beaten despite going in as favourites - or close enough to in GWS’ shoes.</p> <p>We move quickly from Easter footy to ANZAC footy with a mammoth weekend on the slate.</p> <p>For the latest analysis, news, odds and betting tips for all of this week’s action, check out my AFL round 7 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 Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, April 24, 7:30pm AEST - MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>All of a sudden, we have something to be excited about as the Tigers and Dees clash during the now annual Anzac Eve match-up.</p> <p>The Tigers’ veterans did the job last week over Gold Coast whilst the unlikely goal scoring duo of Kozzie Pickett and Harry Petty combined for nine snags as Melbourne finally found a way to score.&nbsp;</p> <p>I’ve always thought Richmond would be a tough beat at The MCG with black and yellow fans out in force, and this is a great example of that.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/melbourne-v-richmond-9125346">Demons by 10 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Richmond +24.5.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs Essendon Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, April 25, 3:20pm AEST - MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The biggest regular season blockbuster has arrived and the Pies arrive as the competition’s most in-form team.</p> <p>Essendon roll up off the back of three consecutive wins but they almost feel secondary to the back-to-back losses of rucks, Nick Bryan and Sam Draper, both to season-ending injuries.</p> <p>Darcy Cameron should be among your Anzac Medal contenders.</p> <p>Sam Durham will attempt to quell Nick Daicos but the Pies midfield group is deep and slippery.</p> <p>The Pies possess the No. 1 defence in the competition at this stage of the season, so ball use and efficiency will be crucial for an undermanned Dons squad. They need to make life as easy as possible for Peter Wright, Nate Caddy and others.</p> <p>The Pies are rolling and this feels like a comfortable victory but we know Anzac Day can be unbelievably unpredictable.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/collingwood-v-essendon-9125345">Pies by 21 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Jack Crisp 20 + disposals (in his record breaking game).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fremantle vs Adelaide Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, April 25, 8:10pm AEST - Optus Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Anzac Day keeps rolling along with a sneaky good game in the west.</p> <p>Adelaide nabbed a semi-signature win over GWS in a pretty dour affair. Tex Walker stood tall in the slippery and windy conditions whilst Izak Rankine and Jordan Dawson did the job around the ball.</p> <p>Freo were arguably the disappointment of the weekend. The Dees came to play but even coach Justin Longmuir admitted the Dockers ‘did not value the right things.’</p> <p>They’ll need to rebound hard to get to 4-3. 4-3 looks much nicer on the ladder than 3-4, with a trip to Marvel Stadium against the Saints to follow immediately after. It’s a tricky run to come.</p> <p>On home soil, A big occasion for the footy club, The purple haze must simply get this done.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/fremantle-v-adelaide-crows-9125347">Dockers by 8 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Josh Treacy 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St Kilda vs Brisbane Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, April 26, 1:20pm AEST - Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Saints jumped the Dogs on Easter Sunday evening before totally rolling over and getting smashed to smithereens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Things get no easier here with a grumpy reigning premier in town. Brisbane was smacked by Collingwood last week and will be eager to quickly atone for their first loss on the season.</p> <p>Charlie Cameron is one I’m looking at. He needs to get back to his dangerous best so others can play a role, instead of needing to be a match-winning force.</p> <p>Zac Bailey and Cam Rayner can cause problems for medium-sized Saints defenders.</p> <p>Dayne Zorko enjoys zinging the ball around Marvel Stadium and we’ve seen the Lions make a mess of teams at this venue - as they did with these Saints last season.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/st-kilda-v-brisbane-lions-9125348">Lions by 23 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Charlie Cameron 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Port Adelaide vs North Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, April 26, 4:15pm AEST - Adelaide Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Power keep delivering and demanding more respect whilst North are doing anything but deliver and are losing respect by the week.</p> <p>Port went on the road and franked the Gather Round win over Hawthorn with a powerful win in the harbour city over the staggering Swans. Zak Butters’ return to the team has been gigantic.</p> <p>For the Roos, things must turn quick. The pressure is on the coach but the pressure also needs to be on names like Luke Davies-Uniacke, Cam Zurhaar, Harry Sheezel, Caleb Daniel, Darcy Tucker and others.</p> <p>The Kangaroos can barely tolerate another woeful performance, despite how tough this one may be against an in-form Power at Adelaide Oval.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/port-adelaide-v-north-melbourne-9125352">Port Adelaide by 31 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Mitch Georgiades 4+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, April 26, 7:35pm AEST - Manuka Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The return of The Bont meant the best version of these Western Bulldogs.</p> <p>30 and 2 goals on his resumption and a powerful overall performance after being jumped by the Saints. 2nd up blues are real in horse racing, so maybe Bontempelli slows down a shade this week but they’ll need him close to his best.</p> <p>The Giants were lifeless offensively in Adelaide and will not be blaming the performance on the absence of Jesse Hogan. They need to be able to source numerous avenues to goal - which they do have.</p> <p>Timmy English has recaptured some good form, which is a great sign for the Dogs and without Sam Darcy, the time is now for Aaron Naughton to command the forward line. We know he’s capable.</p> <p>In the nation’s capital, we know both teams are capable of a blockbuster showing.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/gws-giants-v-western-bulldogs-9125349">Giants by 18 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Finn Callaghan 25+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast vs Sydney Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, April 27, 1:15pm AEST - People First Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Suns and Swans collide, both off poor losses.</p> <p>Sydney are 2-4 with a genuine intersection in their season ahead. Gold Coast were incredibly poor on the road against Richmond, but they’ve built up credits with me after wins in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.</p> <p>Getting to 3-1 on the road sets them up with a lovely run in the backend of the season when more sunshine state games arrive.</p> <p>Sydney have personnel issues. Relying on another cameo from Aaron Francis is fool’s gold, Tommy McCartin is forward, then back, then forward again and Isaac Heeney looks their most dangerous forward despite being needed around the ball.</p> <p>Pulling one from the fire is precisely what Sydney need but you get the feeling Dimma Hardwick will have these Suns wound up after last week’s poor showing.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/gold-coast-suns-v-sydney-swans-9125351">Suns by 17 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Noah Anderson 30+ disposals (I feel James Jordon will tag Matt Rowell).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Carlton vs Geelong Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, April 27, 3:20pm AEST - MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Blues have bumped into a couple of easy-beats, perhaps giving them the form needed to springboard into the season.</p> <p>Geelong will be hardened off back-to-back epic wins over Adelaide and Hawthorn.</p> <p>Patrick Dangerfield’s presence as a forward is here to stay and trying to contain him for Jezza Cameron, Tyson Stengle and even Shaun Mannagh is a handful.</p> <p>The Cats will miss Gryan Miers, one of their most creative players and best runners.</p> <p>Tom De Koning again gets the chance to take over in the middle, which would give his Blues a major leg-up in the clash.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/carlton-v-geelong-cats-9125350">Cats by 14 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jeremy Cameron 4+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hawthorn vs West Coast Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, April 27, 4:45pm AEST - Marvel Stadium&nbsp;</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Hawks have dropped a couple but there will be no dropping this one.</p> <p>I expect a triple-figure margin to be more likely than a Hawk L.</p> <p>James Sicily was as bad as I’ve seen him on Easter Monday, whichever end of the ground he plays I would imagine he makes amends.</p> <p>How long can West Coast keep pace? That’s the major question. And will Hawks fans jeer or cheer Harley Reid… as they hope to land him in brown and gold at one point in the future.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/hawthorn-v-west-coast-eagles-9125353">Hawks by 83 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Hawks by 60+ points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFL 2025 Premiership Odds</h2>