AFL Gather Round continues on Friday night with another cracking contest for fans to enjoy, as Collingwood take on Sydney at Adelaide Oval. Action gets underway from 7:40pm AEST and a bumper crowd is expected. We bring you our full Magpies vs Swans betting preview below, complete with a best bet and Same Game Multi!
Also, Before You Bet will be providing free previews and betting tips for EVERY game in the 2025 AFL season, so make sure to head over to out our AFL Tips regularly to keep up to date with all of our free content.
Collingwood vs Sydney
Location: Adelaide Oval
Date: Friday, 11th April
Time: 7:40pm AEST
Odds: Collingwood ($1.75) vs Sydney ($2.10)
Line: Collingwood -4.5
Points: 170.5
Odds and lines provided with thanks to Dabble. Note that odds and lines can fluctuate throughout the week, and are correct at the time of writing.
Match Preview
Friday night footy lights up Adelaide Oval as Gather Round delivers a blockbuster clash between Collingwood and Sydney. The Magpies have started 2025 with three wins from four and sit sixth on the ladder, while the Swans, despite a 2-2 record, have arguably faced the more demanding schedule and sit just outside the eight in ninth. There’s plenty on the line in this marquee fixture, with both sides eyeing a significant scalp as the season begins to take shape.
The Magpies' start to the season has been solid on paper, but closer inspection reveals a softer fixture. Wins have come against bottom-tier opposition, while their one loss was against the red-hot Giants – the only genuine contender they've faced. To make matters trickier, they’ll go into this clash without suspended recruit Dan Houston and injured duo Jordan De Goey and Lachie Schultz. Those three absences strip Collingwood of crucial drive and forward potency. The Pies have turned to Lachie Sullivan, Ed Allan, and Will Hoskin-Elliott to fill the gaps, but it's certainly a test of their squad depth.
The Swans, meanwhile, come in unchanged following a ruthless 65-point demolition of North Melbourne in Melbourne. That win followed three tough matches against quality opponents in Hawthorn, Brisbane, and Fremantle, all of whom are expected to feature prominently in September. Despite sitting at 2-2, Sydney's form line holds more weight than Collingwood’s, and they’ve been competitive even in defeat. Their loss to ladder leaders Hawthorn was only by 20 points, while their forward pressure and midfield work rate have steadily improved. With last year's Grand Final experience still fresh in their minds, Sydney looks like a side building toward something stronger.
Recent history favours the Swans too – they’ve won five of their past six against the Magpies, including both encounters last season. A 33-point win at the SCG and a tight 3-point victory at the MCG underline their ability to match up well against Craig McRae’s side. While Adelaide Oval offers neutral territory, it’s been a happy hunting ground for the Pies – they’re currently riding a nine-game winning streak at the venue. That said, Sydney’s consistency across various states and surfaces shouldn’t be underestimated. The Swans are structured, composed, and seem to have the edge when it comes to depth – an area that could be telling with Collingwood undermanned.
It’s a curious one from the markets, with the Swans entering as underdogs despite their superior recent H2H record and success over the past 12 months. While Collingwood's Adelaide Oval streak and defensive resilience – evident in five of their past six games going under the total points line – make them dangerous, the Swans appear the more trustworthy option. Their blend of experience, structure, and relentless tackling pressure should trouble a depleted Magpies outfit. With their record against the Pies and their strong showings against top-tier opponents already this season, Sydney is well positioned to pull off a Gather Round upset and get their campaign firmly back on track.
Sydney to Win
$2.15 (1 Unit)
Same Game Multi
Throughout the 2025 AFL season we’ll be putting together a fun same game multi for every match at BoomBet using their BetShare feature.
To follow our multi, just click on the BoomBet BetShare button below and our same game multi selections will be added straight into your bet slip on BoomBet. You can then enter how much you wish to wager, and with a single click, your bet has been placed!
Will Hayward 2+ Goals – After singles in his first three games of the season, Hayward lit it up last round with 4 goals against the Kangaroos. He’ll be riding high on confidence and remains terrific value.
Josh Daicos 25+ Disposals – Continues to rack up the easy possessions in his new role across half back. Averaging 27.5 per game and is yet to fall below 25.
Steele Sidebottom 20+ Disposals – Nick Daicos will get plenty of attention from James Jordon, so the rest of the Magpies midfielders will need to get busy. Sidebottom’s averaging 23 disposals per contest including 31, 22, and 24 in his last four.
SGM Odds: $4.20 at BoomBet
