With no AFL action this weekend, the AFLW takes centre stage, as Indigenous Round kicks off in the Top End on Friday night. It’s another massive weekend of football instore and the Before You Bet team has you covered with Round 3 tips for all nine AFLW games!
We bring you our best bets for all nine AFLW Round 3 matches below and if you’re keen to follow our tips, then consider joining Bet Right!
2025 AFLW Round 3 Betting Tips
Richmond vs Essendon
Friday 29 August, 7:15pm, TIO Stadium
Richmond will be hoping the trip north helps them reset after a disappointing 0-2 start. Their midfield, led by Monique Conti, is finding plenty of the ball but the connection with their forward line hasn’t clicked yet. The heat and humidity in Darwin often favour the side that can win the contest and adapt quickly to slippery conditions.
Essendon, meanwhile, have started 2025 in positive fashion. Undefeated after two rounds, their ball movement has been slick, and Bonnie Toogood continues to be a match winner up forward, however the Bombers will be without their skipper who was given two game suspension for a dangerous tackle. The Bombers’ spread from stoppages could prove too much for the Tigers to contain.
If Richmond can turn their midfield work into efficient scoring, they’ll give themselves a chance, but Essendon’s system has been a lot better over the opening fortnight, and will hold them in good shape. These two teams have a history of playing in close games, with both teams having a win, loss and a draw across the three games played between the two clubs.
Essendon 1-24
$2.15 (1.5 Units)
GWS Giants vs Adelaide
Saturday 30 August, 1:05pm, Henson Park
The Giants have struggled to generate scoreboard pressure so far, averaging one of the lowest totals in the league across the opening fortnight. Their young midfield is competing hard but lacks polish going inside 50.
Adelaide, after a shaky Round 1, reminded everyone why they’re perennial contenders with a clinical performance last week. Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff remain relentless around the ball, and Chelsea Randall’s leadership is vital at both ends of the ground. If the Crows bring their usual tackling intensity, it’s tough to see GWS matching them for four quarters.
GWS don’t have the efficiency inside forward 50, or the attacking power to match it with the Crows, having kicked only seven goals across the opening two weeks of the season. Adelaide’s depth and class will be too much for the Giants across four quarters.
Adelaide -37.5
$1.85 (2 Units)
St Kilda vs West Coast
Saturday 30 August, 3:05pm, RSEA Park
St Kilda shocked many with their Round 1 upset of Adelaide, but were brought right back to earth with a 74-point loss against Melbourne. However there is cause for heightened optimism for the Saints, who appear to be capable of challenging for the top eight.
West Coast shape as one of the big improvers in 2025, with a Round 1 win over the Suns, followed by a heartbreaking loss to Essendon in the dying seconds last week. In Daisy Pearce’s second season at the helm, the Eagles are finally competitive, and have plenty of young talent.
This will be one of the most interesting games of the weekend between two rising sides, but it’s going to be a tough ask for West Coast to back up in another away game in Victoria. The Saints will break away late in this clash, and overcome a brave West Coast outfit at Moorabbin.
St Kilda -8.5
,$1.83 (1 Unit)
Geelong vs Sydney
Saturday 30 August, 3:05pm, GMHBA Stadium
Geelong have had a tough start to the season, with an 0-2 record after defeats to Adelaide and North Melbourne, and will be desperate to stay in the finals hunt and get on the board in 2025. It’s a tough ask for Geelong against an in-form Sydney side that will be looking to go 3-0.
Sydney have been the biggest surprise packet of 2025, starting the season with a comfortable win over Richmond, and a thrashing of Gold Coast. Chloe Molloy and Ally Morphett have been standouts, and the Swans’ pressure game has gone up a level compared to last year. If they can maintain that defensive squeeze, they’re going to be a genuine top four contender this season.
Geelong are always tough to beat at Kardinia Park, however Sydney’s attacking game will give the Cats plenty of issues behind the footy, and if they can get quick ball movement through the centre of the ground they will be in a great position to win this game. The Swans will ride their hot form to a third straight win.
Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast
Saturday 30 August, 5:05pm, Alberton Oval
Port Adelaide and Gold Coast come into Round 3 both hunting their first win of the season, in a crucial clash at Alberton. Port have shown patches of exciting footy, especially when their midfield gets first hands on the ball, but they’ve struggled to sustain pressure for four quarters. Their forward entries have left a lot to be desired, which allowed North Melbourne to generate plenty of scores from rebound 50’s.. The key for Port will be finding more avenues to goal, with Gemma Houghton’s ability to stretch Gold Coast’s defence looming as a key factor if she gets good supply.
After a great off season where they acquired plenty of established talent, Gold Coast are one of the biggest disappointments of the opening two weeks. They only kicked two goals in their Round 1 defeat to West Coast Coast, while they were absolutely obliterated at home by the Swans last week, to the tune of 82 points. Gold Coast conceded a mammoth 103 points, as their midfield and defence were all at sea against a slick Swans outfit.
This shapes as a genuine battle between Port’s pressure game and the Suns’ ability to run and spread. If Port can lock the ball in their forward half and isolate their tall targets, they’ll have the upper hand. But if Gold Coast can break the game open on the wings, they’ll give themselves a chance. It’s impossible to pick the Suns given what they’ve served up in the first two games, and Port Adelaide’s physicality will overwhelm an out of form Gold Coast team.
Port Adelaide -20.5
$1.82 (1 Unit)
Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn
Saturday 30 August, 7:15pm, Whitten Oval
A bounce back performance in Round 2 got the Dogs their first win of the season, against Richmond, but they face a huge challenge on Saturday night against the Hawks. Hawthorn are 2-0 after their defence grinded out an 8 point win over Carlton, holding the Blues to just two goals in a low scoring affair.
The Bulldogs ability to break through quality defences is a massive concern coming into this clash. The Dogs were held to under four goals five times last season, and were held goalless on three occasions. In Round 1 they only managed one goal against Melbourne, once again highlighting their inability to score against the better sides in the competition.
This will be a one sided affair at Whitten Oval with the Hawks looking to flex their status as a premiership contender. The Hawks haven’t got going from the offensive standpoint that they are capable of, and this clash against the Bulldogs provides a great opportunity to cash in for Hawthorn.
Hawthorn -27.5
$1.80 (2 Units)
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Sunday 31 August, 1:05pm, Victoria Park
Collingwood got on the board after a win against the Giants in Round 2, and will be looking to cause a massive upset when they host Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. The Pies will be looking for some improved accuracy in front of goal this week, which kept the game against GWS closer than it should’ve been.
The Demons appear to be the biggest challenger for North Melbourne this season, starting off with dominant wins by 48 and 74 points. Melbourne have fired in all areas of the ground, and have one of the most balanced sides in the competition, and have a great record at home, winning seven of their last ten games at Casey Fields.
Melbourne have an excellent record against Collingwood, winning four of their last five games against the Pies. The Demons last two wins over Collingwood have come by margins of 47 and 42 points, with the Dees kicking 70+ points on both occasions. Melbourne have kicked scores of 89 and 62 points over the first two games, and will have far too much attacking firepower for Collingwood to handle.
Melbourne 40+
$2.10 (1.5 Units)
Fremantle vs North Melbourne
Sunday 31 August, 3:05pm, Fremantle Oval
Sunday’s clash sees North Melbourne looking for their seventeenth consecutive win, when they travel west to take on Fremantle. The Dockers have had an up and down start to the season, with a 22-point win over the Power in Round 1 followed up by a 70-point defeat to Brisbane at home.
North Melbourne, however, look every bit the unbeatable team they have been since the start of 2024. Jasmine Garner continues to be untouchable, Ash Riddell racks up plenty of the footy, and their forward line, led by Tahlia Randall, is capitalising on high inside-50 numbers. The Kangaroos’ midfield depth is comfortably the best in the competition, which opposition teams are yet to figure out how to contain. Wins by 30 and 72 points have been impressive, but the most impressive aspect is the fact they’ve only conceded 5 goals across two games.
Fremantle will be desperate to bounce back after last week’s performance, however they don’t have a forward line that is capable of pushing North Melbourne’s defence. The Kangaroos have won three of their last four games against the Dockers, including a 45-point victory at Fremantle Oval last season. The Kangaroos will cruise to another win in the west.
North Melbourne -30.5
$1.80 (1 Unit)
Brisbane vs Carlton
Sunday 31 August, 5:05pm, Brighton Homes Arena
Brisbane bounced back from a heartbreaking loss in Round 1, with a 70-point thumping against Fremantle last week. The Lions had a brilliant spread of goals, with Courtney Hodder kicking 3, while Ruby Svarc, Taylor Smith, Orla O’Dwyer, Ellie Hampson, Nessa Dooley and Dakota Davidson all kicked 2. Brisbane showed the form of previous campaigns where they were the best attacking side in the comp, and are more than capable of being a contender this season.
Carlton couldn’t overcome a stingy Hawthorn defence in Round 2, managing just 2 goals in an 8-point defeat to the Hawks. The Blues are now 1-1, but are showing glimpses that they are on an upward trajectory after five consecutive seasons without a finals appearance. Their lack of attacking quality is a concern when they come up against the better sides, but they look a much more stable side than in previous seasons.
The big issue for Carlton is that they simply cannot afford to allow this to be a free flowing game. If Brisbane’s attacking game gets going, this is going to be a blowout. Carlton’s last two games against Brisbane have resulted in defeats of 55 and 35 points, and given the form the Lions got back to last week, this looks set to be another one sided fixture between these two clubs.
Brisbane -27.5
$2.00 (1.5 Units)
