We’re now a month into the 2026 AFLW season which means the ladder is starting to make shape and each match has that little bit more importance attached to it. Our focus now shifts to Round 5 which will again take place over Saturday and Sunday with four and five match slates respectively.
We bring you our best bets for all nine AFLW Round 5 matches below and if you’re keen to follow our tips, then consider joining Dabble!
2026 AFLW Round 5 Betting Tips
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs
Saturday 1:05pm AEST, Kennedy Community Centre
The Western Bulldogs hit the road with immense confidence after a 60-33 dismantling of the Sydney Swans. Rylie Wilcox earned a perfect 10 coaches' votes, well supported by Emma McDonald's eight. Hawthorn, sitting at 2-2, is coming off a 39-67 defeat to Adelaide at the Kennedy Community Centre, despite the tireless efforts of Lucy Wales in the ruck. The Hawks will be eager to bounce back at home, making one change with Niamh Martin replacing the concussed Greta Bodey, while Tamara Smith celebrates her 50th game. The Bulldogs have shown excellent form to sit 3-1, but taking down a physical Hawks side smarting from a loss is a tough assignment. Expect Hawthorn's inside game to dictate terms on their own deck and cover the slight handicap.
Hawthorn -4.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Gold Coast Suns vs Collingwood
Saturday 2:35pm AEST, People First Stadium
Collingwood travels to Queensland following a heavy 29-68 defeat to Carlton, where they simply could not handle the Blues' midfield run. They now face a Gold Coast side returning home after grinding out a gritty 17-14 victory over Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval. Daisy D'Arcy was universally praised with 10 coaches' votes for the Suns, while Charlie Rowbottom and Niamh McLaughlin provided vital support around the contest. The Suns are yet to prove they can blow teams away, thriving instead in contested, low-scoring slogs. Against a Magpies side desperately searching for form and answers, Gold Coast has the defensive structure to control the tempo. Backing them to secure the four points by under four goals offers a solid read on a match likely to be played largely between the arcs.
Gold Coast 1-24
$2.05 (1 Unit)
Adelaide Crows vs Geelong Cats
Saturday 3:05pm AEST, Unley Oval
This looms as a blockbuster. Geelong arrives off an 83-51 shootout win against Essendon, powered by Aishling Moloney’s four goals and a mammoth 40-disposal game from Mikayla Bowen. However, they face a massive challenge taking on Adelaide at Unley Oval. The Crows were clinical in Round 4, taking down Hawthorn 67-39 away from home. Chelsea Biddell took top honours with a perfect 10 coaches' votes, while Ebony Marinoff and Jessica Allan controlled the midfield and aerial battles. The Cats have looked potent, but Adelaide’s structured transition and wealth of finals experience make them incredibly difficult to beat in South Australia. The Crows have the defensive discipline to blunt Geelong's attacking waves and should have enough polish to cover the 5.5-point line in front of their home fans.
Adelaide -5.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
West Coast Eagles vs Brisbane Lions
Saturday 4:35pm AEST, Mineral Resources Park
Brisbane rebounded strongly last week, comfortably handling the Giants 55-24 with Charlotte Mullins and Isabel Dawes leading the charge. They now face a long cross-country flight to take on West Coast, who went down 44-81 to Melbourne. While the Eagles' defence leaked heavily against the Demons, kicking six goals shows they can hit the scoreboard when given opportunities. A 24.5-point handicap is always substantial for a travelling side, even one with Brisbane's undeniable quality. The Lions have the class to secure the win, but the Eagles' home-ground familiarity and desperation to arrest a 0-4 start should see them hang around and cover the spread.
West Coast +24.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Melbourne vs Port Adelaide
Sunday 12:35pm AEST, Casey Fields
Melbourne continued their impressive start to the season by putting away West Coast 81-44 in Perth. They now return to their Casey Fields fortress to host a Port Adelaide side licking its wounds after a heartbreaking 14-17 loss to the Gold Coast Suns. The Power proved they can defend grimly in a contested slog, but containing Melbourne's multi-faceted attack is a different challenge entirely. Port Adelaide has struggled to manufacture goals, managing just one major last week. While the Demons should dominate territory and possession, the Power's defensive structures are robust enough to avoid a complete blowout. The 1-39 margin respects Melbourne's clear superiority and home-ground advantage while acknowledging Port Adelaide's proven ability to defensively restrict the damage.
Melbourne 1-39
$1.65 (1.5 Units)
Richmond vs St Kilda
Sunday 1:05pm AEST, Windy Hill
This shapes as a desperate contest at Windy Hill. St Kilda is coming off an absolute nightmare, annihilated 7-99 by North Melbourne. Richmond also enters off a 35-60 defeat to Fremantle, despite the midfield efforts of Isabel Bacon who enjoyed a bigger role in the midfield. The bookmakers have firmly sided with the Tigers, largely due to the sheer magnitude of the Saints' defeat last week. However, the disparity in odds feels unearned for a Richmond side that is also battling deep structural issues and remains without superstar Mon Conti. St Kilda will be motivated purely by pride and the need to respond. In what promises to be a scrappy, low-quality affair, taking the value on the Saints to grind out a gritty upset is the play.
St Kilda to Win
$2.25 (1 Unit)
Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants
Sunday 2:35pm AEST, Henson Park
The Sydney Derby arrives with both teams looking to rebound. The Swans were halted by the Bulldogs in a 33-60 defeat, despite Chloe Molloy's strong performance. The Giants were equally outplayed by Brisbane, going down 24-55, with Alyce Parker typically battling hard in the midfield. Sydney rightly enters as the heavy favourite, but a 31.5-point line in a local derby demands serious scrutiny. Matches between these cross-town rivals invariably breed a physical, stoppage-heavy brand of football that naturally stifles open scoring bursts. The Swans possess superior outside class and are fully expected to win, but GWS has enough experienced personnel around the contest to drag this into a congested scrap. Take the generous points head start with the Giants.
GWS +31.5
$1.70 (2 Units)
North Melbourne vs Carlton
Sunday 3:05pm AEST, Arden Street Oval
Arden Street Oval hosts an intriguing clash after both teams recorded massive Round 4 victories. Carlton impressed with a 68-29 win over Collingwood, led by Mimi Hill's nine-vote performance. However, North Melbourne’s 99-7 demolition of St Kilda showcased a terrifying level of dominance that we've become accustomed to over the past three years. Jasmine Garner was again flawless, earning 10 coaches' votes with 38 disposals and 11 clearances. Setting a 29.5-point handicap against a confident Blues outfit shows just how highly the market rates the Kangaroos. North Melbourne's system is suffocating; they starve opponents of forward supply and score with ruthless efficiency. Carlton will provide resistance early, but North's sheer midfield power makes them a strong bet to clear the line.
North Melbourne -29.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Fremantle vs Essendon
Sunday 5:05pm AEST, Cockburn ARC Oval
Round 5 concludes in the west, with Fremantle hosting Essendon. The Dockers are riding high after a 60-35 win over Richmond, driven by strong performances from Gabby O'Sullivan, Ange Stannett, and Gabby Newton. Essendon heads across the country following a 51-83 defeat to Geelong in a high-scoring shootout. The Bombers showed they can hit the scoreboard, but doing so against Fremantle's structured defence in Perth is a more difficult prospect. The Dockers dictate terms brilliantly at home, preferring to control possession and win the territorial battle rather than engaging in end-to-end shootouts. Essendon will be competitive, but Fremantle's methodical style aligns perfectly with a controlled, low-scoring victory, making the 1-24 point margin the smartest investment.
Fremantle 1-24
$2.08 (1 Unit)
