Easter Round continues on Good Friday with a pair of games for fans to tune into. First up we head to Marvel Stadium where North Melbourne and Carlton will do battle from 3:20pm AEST. Both clubs come into this game at 1-4 and both will approach this as a must-win. We bring you our full preview and betting tips for the match below!
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.
North Melbourne vs Carlton
Location: Marvel Stadium
Date: Friday, 18th April
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Odds: North Melbourne ($3.00) vs Carlton ($1.40)
Line: Carlton -13.5
Points: 180.5
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
The Good Friday clash between North Melbourne and Carlton at Marvel Stadium promises to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the round. With both clubs sitting at 1-4, the stakes are high and neither side can afford to slip to 1-5. The annual fixture is always played with plenty of intensity, and given the way these two sides have started the 2025 season, a tight, physical contest should be expected. Despite the odds leaning toward Carlton, North Melbourne has shown enough to suggest they can be competitive and make a genuine push to cover the +18.5 line.
Carlton leads the league in inside 50s with 292 entries after five rounds, a stat that would usually indicate attacking dominance. However, their inefficiency has been a serious problem. They’ve converted just 34% of their entries into scores—the lowest rate in the AFL. That inability to turn opportunity into scoreboard pressure has been a key reason behind their slow start. Even when they control the territory and contest, they haven’t been able to make it count. They also rank highly in contested possessions and ground ball gets, so it’s not an issue of supply, but rather what happens once the ball goes forward.
North Melbourne enters the clash with a very different statistical profile. They sit mid-pack in most key areas but have been solid in patches and have shown glimpses of what they’re trying to build. Their structure behind the ball has held up well at times this season, particularly when they’ve been able to slow the tempo and set up defensively. Against a side like Carlton that struggles to finish its work, that kind of discipline could prove valuable. North have also been more comfortable playing at Marvel Stadium this season, where the controlled environment suits their style.
Where the game could be won is in how each side manages momentum. Carlton has often looked strong in the opening half of games before losing control late, while North Melbourne has tended to start slower but finish strongly. If that trend continues, this clash could come down to a few key moments in the final quarter. Carlton may generate more chances, but if they continue to waste them, North will be right in the game. On a short turnaround, the ability to maintain pressure for four quarters could prove decisive.
While the Blues deserve to be favourites given their contested ball numbers and overall midfield strength, their poor conversion makes it difficult to trust them to win by a big margin. North Melbourne may not be dominant in any one area, but their system has shown signs of improvement, and they’ve competed well in matches where they’ve stayed composed. Given all that, this one looks much closer than the line suggests. If North can restrict Carlton’s scoring again, they’re every chance of keeping it tight and pushing the contest into the final minutes. Covering the +18.5 looks very achievable.
North Melbourne +18.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
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!
Harry Sheezel 30+ Disposals – I think it’s more likely the Hewett tag goes to LDU who has a similar body type. Sheezel can find the footy with the best of them averaging over 29 disposals this season. I expect another big game from him here.
Nick Larkey 3+ Goals – 16 goals in 5 games for Larkey so far this season with a low of 2 goals which came last weekend. The Blues defence has been vulnerable in 2025 and Larkey will certainly get his chances to cash in.
Corey Durdin Anytime Goal Scorer – Returned to the side with a four-goal haul last weekend and comes up against another shaky defence on Friday night. I think we can expect at least one goal again.
SGM Odds: $3.40 at BoomBet
