We’re officially at the business end of the 2024 AFLW season with just two rounds remaining. Round 9 is next on the schedule and it kicks off on Thursday night with the Hawks vs Demons in Cairns. We bring you our preview and best bet for that match plus all other Round 9 matches below!
AFLW Round 9 Betting Tips
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Thursday 7:45pm AEDT, Cazalys Stadium
After some lacklustre matches to get proceedings underway in recent rounds, we have a cracker on our hands to kick off Round 9 with the Hawks and the Demons set to come together in Cairns.
The Hawks have been the big improvers this season and are now eyeing off a top four finish in what will be their maiden finals berth. They currently sit second on the ladder and are two wins and % ahead of fifth, which means all they need to do is not suffer two blowout losses.
On the flip side, the Demons had a horror start to their campaign after usually being a leading contender in previous years. They were 1-4 at the halfway mark and had just suffered a 65-point defeat against the Bombers, yet here they are at 5-4 just a month later and back in the finals hunt.
With a poor % of just 75.1%, the Demons will likely need to win each of their last two games if they’re to feature in the finals, so clearly this one is a must-win. With that in mind, I expect the Dees to give this everything they have, but to ultimately fall short against the rampaging Hawks.
Hawthorn Win By 1-24
$2.40 (1 Unit)
Adelaide vs North Melbourne
Friday 7:45pm AEDT, Norwood Oval
What a cracking Friday night fixture we have to look forward to in Round 9 with two genuine premiership contenders set to lock horns, with the third-placed Adelaide hosting the first-placed North Melbourne at Norwood Oval.
The Crows look to have rediscovered their form after a mid-season slump, winning each of their last two games by very comfortable margins, albeit against bottom four sides. Star midfielder Ebony Marinoff is putting together arguably the most dominant season we’ve seen in AFLW history. She’s averaging 32 disposals and 12 tackles per contest which is just outrageous stuff in 17-minute quarters.
Meanwhile, the Kangaroos remain undefeated in season 2024 with a draw against the Cats early on in their campaign being their only blemish. The Roos have also won their last three games by 50+ points each, so there’s clearly no signs of slowing down in the pursuit of their first AFLW premiership.
The Kangaroos are clearly the flag favourites but their struggles against the perennial top four in their history is well documented. And on the road against a fellow true contender, I’m expecting them to have to fight all way to the end to pull this one out.
Adelaide +13.5
$1.90 (1 Units)
GWS vs Fremantle
Saturday 2:05pm AEDT, Henson Park
First up on Saturday is a clash between the Giants and the Dockers, with the latter needing a win to secure a final berth and keep their chances of a top four finish alive. The Dockers bounced back from their four-point surprise defeat against the Blues with a strong win against the Eagles in the derby last weekend, taking them to 6-3 on the season.
For the Giants, they are playing for nothing more than pride at this point after what’s been another very disappointing season. Their lone win came back in Round 1, meaning they’re eight straight games without tasting success.
The Dockers have everything to play for here and are very much deserving of their short odds. I expect them to be far too good for the Giants and to cover the spread.
Fremantle -16.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Gold Coast vs Port Adelaide
Saturday 4:05pm AEDT, People First Stadium
After getting a taste of finals footy last season, 2024 has been a huge let down for the Suns. They’ve managed to win just one match and are unlikely to add to that tally with two tough opponents to come. In saying that, they have shown improvement over the last couple of weeks with a solid effort against the Lions and a narrow win over the injury-plagued Swans.
The Power have enjoyed by far their best season in their clubs short AFLW history. With five wins to their name and a pair of bottom four opponents to come, they’re a huge chance to claim their maiden finals berth. The Power have won four matches on the spin, with their most recent win coming against a quality Saints outfit.
The Power are clearly the better team in this matchup and have the carrot of a finals berth dangling in front of them. I expected their odds to be far shorter than they are, and am more than happy to back them in.
Port Adelaide -9.5
$1.93 (2 Units)
West Coast vs Geelong
Saturday 6:05pm AEDT, Mineral Resources Park
The Eagles have had a disappointing back half of the season with four losses from their last five games, which looks to have seen their finals hopes dashed. They were no match for the Dockers last weekend when losing by 23 points, which came after their monster 66-point loss against the Hawks the week prior.
The Cats came desperately close to making a Grand Final appearance last season, but won’t even get the chance of playing finals footy in 2024. They’ve arguably been the most disappointing team this season and enter their 10th game with only three wins to their name.
Despite this year’s disappointment, the Cats have gotten better as the season has progressed and should be far too good for the young Eagles here. I expect the Cats to be winning this by 5+ goals.
Geelong -23.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
Essendon vs Richmond
Saturday 8:15pm AEDT, TIO Stadium
The Bombers had their four-match win streak destroyed by the Kangaroos last weekend as they went down by 51 points. The Bombers could muster on two shots on goal for the entire contest and were thoroughly beaten in all facets of the game. They now sit precariously in eighth spot on the ladder with two games to come.
The Tigers suffered a tough loss against the Demons last start which means they’re now highly unlikely to finish in the top four. However, they’re just one win away from locking in a finals spot and that will be their primary focus this weekend.
Although only one win separates these clubs on the ladder, it’s the Tigers who are the far superior outfit in my opinion. They’ve put up a great fight against the top sides this season and only lost to the ladder-leading Roos by two goals a couple of weeks ago – a team that just smashed the Bombers by 51 points. Simply put, I expect the Tigers to be winning somewhat comfortably.
Richmond -10.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Western Bulldogs vs St Kilda
Sunday 1:05pm AEDT, Mars Stadium
Sunday AFLW action begins with the Bulldogs vs Saints at Mars Stadium in Ballarat! The Bulldogs notched their third win of the season last weekend with a 33-point victory over the Blues. The Dogs have shown great improvement over the course of the season despite getting the wrong end of the stick on the injury front. For the Saints, their finals hopes have been all but dashed on the back of some tough results in recent outings.
The Saints have lost their spark on the back of five defeats in their past six games and are no certainty to get the chocolates on Sunday. The Dogs have been playing with great pride over the past month and are capable of keeping things close here. I like them to cover the spread for one unit.
Western Bulldogs +14.5
$1.91 (1 Unit)
Collingwood vs Carlton
Sunday 3:05pm AEDT, Victoria Park
It’s 18th vs 14th in the second game of Sunday’s three-match slate, with the Magpies set to host the Blues at Victoria Park. These clubs have combined for four wins and 14 defeats this season and have each failed to reach expectation. It’s anyone’s guess as to who wins this match and the result will simply come down to who wants it more, as both clubs are simply playing for pride at this point.
Instead, I fancy taking the unders in the total points market, as both clubs struggle to put score on the board at the best of times. The Pies top score for the entire season is 35, while the Blues top score is only 39. Season long trends will have to drastically change if the unders is to fail here.
Under 69.5 Points
$1.85 (1.5 Units)
Brisbane vs Sydney
Sunday 5:05pm AEDT, Brighton Homes Arena
The Lions remain in the box seat for a top four finish which would help set up their tilt at a premiership defence – something no team has done in the AFLW thus far. The Lions were upset on the road by the Cats last weekend and will be desperate to bounce back.
Meanwhile, the Swans currently sit in the bottom four on the ladder and were defeated by the then last-placed Suns last weekend. The Swans have been severely hit by the injury bug this season and that’s a big reason for their largely disappointing campaign.
The Lions still have every chance to finish in the top two, so I expect to see the best version of the Lions on Sunday. On their home deck, they have the ability to pile on score quickly and turn this one into a bloodbath.
Brisbane -32.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
