With just three games remaining in the home & away season and just one game separating fifth from eight, the race for the top six heats up. We have previews and betting tips for all seven games below!
AFLW Round 7 Betting Tips
Gold Coast Suns vs Richmond
Friday March 12, 7:40pm
The Tigers travel to Metricon Stadium to take on the winless Suns on Friday night. Monique Conti was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury as North Melbourne comfortably defeated the Tigers by 35 points last week. The Richmond midfield struggled badly without their star, losing the disposal count by 85 and the contested possession count by 33. The Suns were annihilated by 70 points at the hands of the Adelaide Crows. The Suns inability to get to enough ball inside fifty to put up competitive scores this season has been a massive concern, the Suns have averaged just 16.5 points per game, and have scored two or less goals in four of their six games this season. Richmond have shown plenty of promise in the last three rounds with competitive efforts against Carlton and North Melbourne, along with a big win over Geelong. The Suns haven’t been competitive at all in most of their games this season, having an average losing margin of 35 points including losses of 70, 63 and 49 points so far this season. Richmond won’t have any troubles getting past the struggling Suns in this clash.
St Kilda vs GWS Giants
Saturday March 13, 3:10pm
It’s a massive clash on Saturday afternoon at Moorabbin between the Saints and Giants. With both sides sitting ninth and tenth on the ladder, and two games outside of the top four, a win for either side will keep finals hopes alive. A loss however, will end any chance of making the top six. For the second week in a row the Saints were handed a convincing defeat, in a 44 point loss to Melbourne. The Saints have lost by a combined 97 points over the last two weeks. The Giants suffered a 38 point loss at the hands of Brisbane in round six. The midfield battle looms crucial in this clash, with the Giants possessing the fifth and sixth best ball winners in the competition in Alyce Parker (22.7 disposals per game) and Rebecca Beeson (22.5). Whilst Saints young gun Georgia Patrikios ranks eighth in the league for disposals, averaging 21.5 disposals per game. The Saints will have the edge up forward with Caitlin Grieser set to give the Giants defenders plenty of headaches. Both sides have won plenty of the footy this season, but have failed to turn it into scores, expect a low scoring encounter. The Saints have been good at home this season, and should have enough up forward to outlast the Giants.
North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
Saturday March 13, 5:10pm
For the second time this season, AFLW football returns to Tasmania as North Melbourne hosts the Bulldogs at North Hobart Oval. The Roos are coming off a 35 point win over Richmond last week, whilst the Bulldogs suffered a 36 point loss against Collingwood, which saw the Dogs drop out of the top six. The Kangaroos midfield were in complete control last week with Ash Riddell (25 disposals), Jasmine Garner (22 disposals), Ellie Gavalas (19 disposals) and Kaitlyn Ashmore (19 disposals) finding the ball with ease. The Bulldogs will have their work cut out trying to stop the Roos through the midfield, but their defence will need a massive lift after conceding sixteen shots on goal, and seven goals in the second half last week. After a mid season slump, the Kangaroos have found their mojo and are back to the form that had them as premiership fancies early in the season. The Bulldogs list is quite young and they’ve been ran over the top of by the experienced sides that can consistently produce four quarters of good football. The Roos experienced bodies will be too much for the Dogs to handle, with how shaky the Dogs defence looked last week, the line in this fixture looks the way to go.
North Melbourne (-16.5)
$1.88
Melbourne vs Adelaide
Saturday March 13, 7:10pm
Casey Fields plays host to a Saturday blockbuster with massive top six implications as the Demons and Crows do battle. The Demons bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Pies in round six, with a 44 point win over the Saints. Daisy Pearce played her most impactful game of the season kicking 2 goals and picking up 13 disposals, while Karen Paxman continued her elite season with 24 touches. Anne Hatchard (21 disposals) and Ebony Marinoff (20 disposals) dominated out of the middle, whilst Danielle Ponter starred up forward with four goals as the Crows smashed the Suns by 70 points in round six. The Demons need a win to hold their spot in the top six, whilst a win for the Crows will keep them in the three team logjam on 20 points that occupies second, third and fourth places on the AFLW ladder. This match shapes to be one of the best we’ve seen this season. Adelaide are one of the best contested teams in the competition, whilst the Demons are one the best kicking teams in the competition. If Adelaide can control the stoppages, they can prevent Melbourne’s outside kicking game. While the Demons have a great record at home, the Crows have shown they can win big games on the road this season. The Crows contested style stands up in big games, and you can expect that to continue again.
Carlton vs Fremantle
Sunday March 14, 1:10pm
It’s season on the line for the Blues when they host Fremantle on Sunday afternoon at Ikon Park. A comfortable win over the Cats last week kept them in the finals hunt, however it’s another must win game this weekend against the Dockers. A loss would likely see Carlton fall two games outside of the top six with just two games left, with Melbourne’s healthy percentage lead over Carlton, the Blues will likely need to win all three of their remaining games to make the finals. After their record breaking streak was snapped in round five, the Dockers bounced back with a ruthless 67 point victory over West Coast. Gemma Houghton became just the second player to kick five goals in an AFLW game, while Kiara Bowers favouritism for the league best & fairest only strengthened with a dominant 24 disposal, 9 clearance performance. Fremantle’s pressure game will trouble a Carlton side that tends to overposses the ball at times with their heavy kicking style. Fremantle’s balance between attack and defence makes them so hard to beat, and the depth they possess will have the Blues covered. The Dockers loss to Brisbane looks like it might have been a nice wake up call, and they’re looking ruthless on the run home as they push to take top spot from Collingwood. Expect the Dockers to pick up a win that will all but end Carlton’s finals aspirations.
Brisbane vs Collingwood
Sunday March 14, 3:10pm
Finally the Brisbane Lions get an opportunity to take on the undefeated Collingwood, after COVID lockdowns prevented this clash from happening twice earlier in the season. The Pies come into the match off a 36 point win thanks to a strong second half. The Lions have been in excellent form over the last two weeks, breaking Freo’s eleven game winning streak, then defeating the Giants by 38 points last week. The matchup’s inside fifty at both ends loom crucial in this match. Up forward for the Lions, the battle between Dakota Davidson and Stacey Livingstone, Davidson is ranked second in the league goalkicking. At the other end of the ground, equal league leading goal kicker Chloe Molloy will likely face Natalie Grider, who has been in excellent form all season long. Although Collingwood come into this clash undefeated, they haven’t had to play the Dockers, Lions or Crows who occupy second, third and fourth positions on the ladder. This game will give a better understanding into the hierarchy at the top end of the ladder. The Lions are well prepared for this clash after their outstanding performances over the past two weeks, which has been led by their pressure game. They’ve hunted the opposition racking up massive tackle counts over the past two weeks. Collingwood haven’t had to face this sort of pressure yet this season, and going into enemy territory, the Lions look well positioned to end Collingwood’s undefeated season.
West Coast Eagles vs Geelong
Sunday March 14, 5:10pm
The winless Cats travel west to take on an Eagles side that is coming off a 67 point hiding in the derby, from their arch-rivals Fremantle. Geelong was beaten by 33 points by Carlton, as their winless streak ticks past the one year mark - the Cats haven’t tasted victory since the 6th of March 2020. Geelong have an average losing margin of 35 points and have only scored an average of 16 points per game, having an average losing margin higher than an average score by more than double, highlights just how bad the Cats have been this season. West Coast broke through for their first win of the season two weeks ago against the Suns, and had shown some promise in the weeks prior to their first win. The Eagles are a well coached side that has held up well defensively for large parts of games this season, the Cats won’t find it easy to score against the West Coast defence. This will be a low scoring encounter, and it’s hard to see Geelong finding a way to kick a winning score. The home ground advantage will help the Eagles too, who will pile on the misery for the Cats.
West Coast Eagles (-6.5)
$1.89
