Round 8 in the AFL season marks the calm before the storm as a potential smorgasbord of daily AFL action is set to get underway soon. Three games will make up the Sunday slate in Round 8 and as usual, we have a preview and betting tips for every game here.
Remember, you can check out our previews for every game in Round 8 by heading to our AFL Betting Tips page.
AFL Round 8 Sunday Betting Tips
Adelaide vs Essendon
Adelaide Oval, 1.05pm (AEST)
Nothing is going right for the Crows at the moment. They put in arguably their best performance of the season in Round 7 against the Saints but were still comfortably defeated by 23 points on Monday night football. There was a little bit more desperation amongst the Crows side playing at home in front of fans, and they’ll be back at Adelaide Oval again this weekend.
The Bombers will be desperate to bounce back from a smashing at the hands of the Western Bulldogs on Friday night football in Round 7. Going into the game as slight underdogs, the Bombers were trounced by 42 points, never really looking in the game. They are battling some injuries at the moment, but should still be firm favourites against the struggling Crows.
Tough to see how the Crows are competitive here and we think this line should probably be more than the 13.5 points it opened at. If the Bombers put in a more solid performance against the Dogs last week, then it probably would be, but we’ll happily back them at a reduced line. The Crows haven’t come within 14 points of a team since the AFL season came back, losing their last six games by an average margin of 40.1 points.
West Coast vs Collingwood
Optus Stadium, 3.35pm (AEST)
A rematch of the thrilling 2018 Grand Final headlines the Sunday slate in round 8 as West Coast host Collingwood from 3.35pm. This should be the best crowd we have seen at an AFL game so far this season, with Optus Stadium set to be buzzing for a big game. The Eagles have found their grove in the 2020 season, winning their last three on the trot to jump into the top eight. Those wins have come against bottom teams in the Swans, Crows and Dockers and this week they’ll really get to test themselves against one of the league’s best teams in the Magpies.
The Pies have won their last two games in dominant fashion, beating the Hawks by 32 points in Round 6 before winning comfortably against the Cats in Round 7. While they are battling some key injuries at the moment, it doesn’t really seem to be affecting their momentum and after the win last week they have firmed as one of the premiership favourites.
Really tough game to call here. The Pies are probably the stronger team on paper at the moment but the home field advantage and an actual crowd is probably worth at least a few goals for the Eagles. They start as slight 5.5 point favourites here and we are going to side with them out West. Look for them to extend their winning streak to four games in a close contest.
Melbourne vs Brisbane
Metricon Stadium, 6.10pm (AEST)
The Demons season is back on track after winning their last two games on the trot against the Suns and Hawks. They get a really tough test in the Brisbane Lions from Metricon Stadium on Sunday evening, one that will be a great barometer for to see where they are really at. They currently sit in 12th place on the ladder with a 3-4 record and can but have looked like a top eight side over the last two weeks, a lot of that has been due to the continued dominance of Christian Pettracca. The midfielder is arguably the best player in the league at the moment, and looks like winning the game of his own boot every time he steps on the field.
The Lions have a few genuine match-winners of their own, none more so than Charlie Cameron. The small forward has booted 13 goals through the opening seven games of the season and had another scintillating game in the Lions 20 point win over the Giants in Round 7. Brisbane currently sit second on the AFL ladder with a 5-2 record.
Love the look of the Demons here. While the Lions are no doubt one of the form sides in the competition, their ability to play away from the Gabba is still under question. They have lost two of their three games away from home this year and come up against a Melbourne side that is flying at the moment. Like the Demons to cover here.
