Round four threw up some remarkable results that have completely shaken up the ladder. With plenty of blockbusters in store this weekend, fans are in for a treat. We have previews and betting tips for all seven games below!
AFLW Round 5 Betting Tips
Richmond vs Geelong
Friday Feburary 26, 7:10pm
Round five presents an opportunity for one of these two sides to pick up their first win of the season, or in Richmond’s case, their first win ever in the AFLW. The Tigers have been building over the past two weeks, falling just five points short of Carlton last week. After a dominant first quarter which saw the Tigers kick three goals to none, it was a second quarter collapse that cost the Tigers badly. Monique Conti continued her great season, picking up 26 disposals in a best on ground performance. Geelong suffered a second half fade out in their 29 point loss to St Kilda in round four. The Cats have struggled to score all season, whilst Richmond have shown across the past two weeks that they have plenty of firepower in front of goal which will worry the Cats undersized backline. The Cats don’t have someone who can shut down Conti through the midfield, and if she wins enough ball in the middle of the ground, the Tigers forwards are going to have a day out. With Courtney Wakefield and Katie Brennan in form up forward, the Tigers just have too much attacking potency for the Cats to handle. Expect Richmond to break through for their maiden AFLW win.
Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants
Saturday Feburary 27, 3:10pm
After a loss to St Kilda in round one, there were many fears over the Bulldogs prospects this season. However the resilient Bulldogs side turned their season around with three consecutive wins, including impressive wins over the Blues and Demons. The Dogs defence held tight under pressure in the first half last week against Melbourne, before the Bulldogs got on top in the second half on the back of Ellie Blackburn’s 16 disposals and one goal. Isabella Huntington looms as the major threat against the Giants backline, Huntington currently sits as the third leading goalkicker in the competition. The Giants comfortably accounted for the Eagles in round four to move within striking distance of the top six. The league’s leading ball winner, Alyce Parker continued her dominant season picking up 25 disposals. This game is set to be a cracking encounter between two excellent midfield units, the issue for the Giants is in defence. Both forward lines are full of goal scoring threats, but the Giants defence could be vulnerable against the Dogs tall forwards. The Dogs are yet to lose at home this season, and the Giants are yet to win on the road this season. This contest should be a ripper, but the Dogs will just get across the line.
Western Bulldogs H2H
$1.22
Fremantle vs Brisbane
Saturday Feburary 27, 5:10pm
The match of the round comes on Saturday afternoon as the ladder leading Dockers host the third placed Lions. Fremantle’s winning streak moved to eleven after a convincing 49 point victory over the Gold Coast. Kiara Bowers was once again a dominant force, picking up 17 disposals and laying 15 tackles. Bowers is averaging 21 disposals, 6 clearances and 13 tackles per game in 2021 and has been such a pivotal part of the Dockers success over the past two seasons. An Erin Phillips masterclass handed Brisbane their first loss of the season. The Lions midfield struggled to get their hands on the ball in the twelve point loss, losing the disposal count by 40, which led to losing the inside 50 count by 13. After defeating some mediocre opposition to start the season, questions will be raised as to whether or not the Lions can stand up against the upper echelon of the competition. Fremantle have been a proven outfit over the past two seasons with an incredibly well rounded side that dominates on both sides of the ball. The pandemic denied them a premiership last season, and they’re playing with a serious chip on their shoulder this season. This is set to be a quality matchup, but the Dockers will continue their perfect season.
North Melbourne vs Carlton
Saturday Feburary 27, 7:10pm
The AFLW action heads to Tasmania on Saturday night as North Melbourne take on Carlton in Launceston. Just two weeks ago the Roos were premiership favourites, however two straight losses have caused some serious doubt over their premiership aspirations. The Kangaroos were held goalless for the first time in their history, in a 20 point loss to Collingwood in round four. The Pies absolutely dominated North Melbourne on the outside, winning the disposal count by 62, despite the clearance count being even. Melbourne and Collingwood have shown over the past two weeks that the Roos are vulnerable if sides can use their speed and spread them on the outside. After conceding the first four goals of the game, Carlton rallied behind Maddy Prespakis’s 19 disposals and two goals, to beat Richmond by five points last week. Carlton have underperformed this season, and will be without Prespakis this week, after the reigning AFLW Best & Fairest winner was suspended for one week for a dangerous tackle. Prespakis has carried the Blues midfield this season, and without her it's hard to see the Blues being able to win against the Kangaroos. North Melbourne have slipped to seventh on the ladder and will be looking to send a statement to get back into the top six. Expect a big response from the Roos.
North Melbourne H2H
$1.37
Adelaide vs St Kilda
Sunday Feburary 28, 1:10pm
The Crows responded from a disappointing loss against the Dockers in round three, with an excellent victory on the road against Brisbane last week. Erin Phillips dragged the Crows over the line with 21 disposals, 8 marks and 4 goals, in one of the greatest individual performances in AFLW history. Led by three goals from Caitlin Greiser, the Saints ran over the top of Geelong to record a comfortable 29 point victory last week. This match is going to be crucial, with both teams finding themselves in a serious logjam on the ladder, with just one game separating third place from tenth. The Crows are sitting in fourth, whilst the Saints are in ninth spot. The Saints lineup has no shortage of talent with the likes of Patrikios, Smith and Greiser. However they lack experience, and they’re coming up against a seasoned Crows side that knows how to get the job done. The Crows on ball brigade of Phillips, Marinoff and Hatchard have been in excellent touch this season, and their bigger bodies will cause the young St Kilda midfield plenty of headaches. The Saints will be competitive, but they’ve struggled to string four quarters together this season. The experienced Crows outfit will be too good for the Saints, and firmly establish themselves inside the top six.
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Sunday Feburary 28, 3:10pm
After upsetting North Melbourne to move to 4-0 on the season, Collingwood hosts the Demons who are coming off a disappointing loss to the Bulldogs. The Pies announced themselves as genuine contenders in their 20 point victory, holding the Kangaroos goalless in a remarkable performance. Collingwood’s midfield once again came up big for the Pies with Bri Davey (31 disposals), Jaimee Lambert (27 disposals) and Britt Bonnici (21 disposals) dominating the Roos star studded midfield. The Dees unbeaten start to the season came to an end in a wasteful performance last week. Melbourne dominated the game, registering 14 scoring shots to 7, but kicked 2.12 in the thirteen point loss. This clash pits two of the best attacking sides in the competition against each other, with both sides possessing plenty of speed on the outside. This means the battle on the inside between Karen Paxman and Bri Davey will have a massive impact on the game. Collingwood’s damaging forwardline will give the Demons plenty of troubles with the form they are in. This is set to be one of the games of the season, with the way the Pies are playing at the moment, it’s impossible not to back them in.
West Coast Eagles vs Gold Coast Suns
Sunday Feburary 28, 5:10pm
Round five concludes with another matchup between two winless sides. The Eagles were brave for three quarters, before being ran over by the Giants in the fourth quarter last week. The Suns were dominated by the Dockers, kicking just one goal in a 49 point loss. The Eagles have shown plenty of promise in their last three games against Fremantle, Brisbane and GWS, and they look set to finally break through for their first win of the season. Emma Swanson and Aisling McCarthy have led the way for the Eagles this season, and will be sensing a huge opportunity for to pick up the Eagles first win of the season. The Suns have kicked just two goals in the last three weeks and have completely fallen apart after a solid showing in round one. The Eagles have shown enough this season to be confident that they will get the job done against the struggling Suns. This game will likely be a low scoring slog, but the home ground advantage will help the Eagles, and they Suns have looked so far off any other side in the competition. The Eagles will pick up their first win of the season against the struggling Suns.
