AFLW 2026 Round 2 Preview & Betting Tips

August 21^st 2026, 8:59pm, By: Jake Smit

Round 2 of the 2026 AFLW season takes place this weekend with four matches on Saturday and five on Sunday. It was business as usual for North Melbourne in Round 1, but they’ll face a genuine test in the marquee fixture of Round 2 when they travel to Queensland to take on the Lions.

We bring you our best bets for all nine AFLW Round 2 matches below and if you’re keen to follow our tips, then consider joining Dabble!

2026 AFLW Round 2 Betting Tips

Western Bulldogs vs Richmond

Saturday 2:05pm AEST, Mission Whitten Oval

The Bulldogs kicked off their season with a strong win over the Suns, though it came at a cost with star midfielder and forward Ellie Blackburn now sidelined by injury. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them finish 12th, the Bulldogs possess the capability to mount a serious challenge for a finals berth, aided by a more favourable draw this year.

Similarly, the Tigers opened their account with a hard-fought victory against the Magpies. Mon Conti delivered a dominant display, while Sierra Grieves and Emilia Yassir both contributed strongly within a revamped midfield. However, given that the Magpies have managed only four wins across the past two seasons, the result offers limited indication of the Tigers' true ceiling.

Even without Blackburn, the Bulldogs enter this matchup as the deserving favourites. With expectations that they would be shorter odds in the market, they look a solid proposition to cover the line for 1.5 units.

Western Bulldogs -6.5

$1.89 (1.5 Units)

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West Coast vs Gold Coast

Saturday 2:35pm AEST, Mineral Resources Park

The Eagles endured one of the most disappointing outings of opening round, falling to the Giants, who finished at the foot of the ladder in 2025. Star playmaker Ella Roberts was restricted by a rare, tight tagging job from Grace Kos and will be desperate to make a resounding statement here. History shows that when Roberts is kept quiet, West Coast rarely find a way to win.

Meanwhile, the Suns rolled out 11 club debutants last round, and the lack of chemistry showed as they fell comfortably to the Bulldogs in testing conditions. There were still bright spots, however, with Havana Harris dominating in the air and Ava Usher showing plenty of promise in her first outing.

While the Suns are firmly in a rebuilding phase and lack experience, they boast undeniable raw talent. Given how toothless the Eagles looked last week, Gold Coast have the capability to stay within reach and cover the big spread.

Gold Coast +23.5

$1.91 (1 Unit)

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Geelong vs St Kilda

Saturday 5:00pm AEST, GMHBA Stadium

The Cats started brightly against the Kangaroos in their opener, matching the back-to-back premiers in a promising first quarter before being completely overrun and conceding a century of points. Geelong's ball movement broke down under pressure, allowing their opponents an avalanche of intercept marks.

The Saints fared little better in their opening-round loss to the Blues, turning in a thoroughly unconvincing performance. While Georgia Patrikios and Tyanna Smith provided some resistance through the midfield, the rest of the team offered very few positives.

Geelong holds the distinct advantages of superior class and a home-ground fixture. Having faced a baptism of fire in round one, the Cats should find considerably more space and time with the football here, making them a strong bet to cover the small line.

Geelong -9.5

$1.91 (1.5 Units)

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Brisbane vs North Melbourne

Saturday 7:15pm AEST, Brighton Homes Arena

This blockbuster clash serves as the marquee fixture of Round 2, delivering a heavyweight Grand Final rematch where the back-to-back premiers, North Melbourne, deservedly enter as clear favourites.

While the Lions flexed their depth by dismantling the Bombers from the opening bounce last week, they did so without Courtney Hodder and Ally Anderson, who remain sidelined alongside the suspended Dakota Davidson. Managing three absences of this calibre is a monumental task at the best of times, let alone against an opponent as clinical and dominant as the Kangaroos.

Ultimately, North Melbourne should prove too strong once more. They boast an embarrassment of riches across every line and continue to play with the ruthless hunger of a side chasing history.

North Melbourne -24.5

$1.91 (1 Unit)