Saturday football begins under the roof as the ladder leading Swans take on the improving Kangaroos. Can North Melbourne claim a scalp and push towards the top eight? Or will Sydney record their eight win from nine games? We bring you our full preview and betting tips for the clash below!
North Melbourne vs Sydney Prediction & Betting Tips: AFL 2026 Round 9
Improving, But Not Quite There
In the final minute of the third quarter, North Melbourne trailed Geelong by just 4 points and looked every possibility of causing a major upset at the Cattery. The Roos then conceded two goals inside the final 45 seconds of the third quarter, and eventually conceded nine goals in the final quarter to be steamrolled by Geelong. The 49 point loss didn’t reflect how competitive the Kangaroos were, however it showed how far the gap is from them and the best sides in the league. Tristan Xerri produced a masterful display with a career high 30 disposals and 14 clearances.
Full Steam Ahead
Sydney were pushed all the way by an enterprising Melbourne side, but the Swans continued to roll on, winning their fifth straight game to move to 7-1. Sydney scored 132 points, their third score above 130 points, and their seventh score above 100 points. The Swans are the highest scoring team in the league, averaging 118 points and have scored 83 more points than the next best team. Sydney ranks 1st for scores from turnover, 1st for scores from defensive half, 2nd for scores from centre bounce, 3rd for scores from stoppage, 3rd for scores from forward half and 4th for scores from kick in. To rank top four for all score origins and score sources is almost unheard of, no other club even ranks in the top eight for all score origins and sources.
Recent Head To Head History
The Swans are currently on a ten game winning streak against North Melbourne, one of the longest active streaks in the AFL. Not only is it a long streak, but it’s been a completely one sided affair in recent times, with Sydney’s last five wins against the Roos coming by an average winning margin of 43 points.
Kangaroos or Swans? Here’s our North Melbourne vs Sydney Tip
The Swans will be without Charlie Curnow who is their leading goalkicker with 20 goals, however Sydney should still be able to function at a high level without Curnow. The Kangaroos have conceded scores of 105 and 135 points across the last two weeks and they face another massive challenge this week. North Melbourne conceded 83 points from turnover last week, this week they face the number one ranked team for scores from turnover. The Swans are the number one ranked team for contested possessions, which has led to them ranking 3rd for clearances and 1st for inside 50’s.
Their midfield dominance allows their forward line to get a high volume of looks inside forward 50, and in pristine conditions under the roof, they should be able to get their forward handball game going. North Melbourne have only played two games against sides in the current top eight and have lost both matches. Although they’ve improved, the Roos will be in for another reality check against the best team in the competition.
Sydney -23.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
North Melbourne vs Sydney Prop Bet
The trend is your friend and Sydney’s dominance over North Melbourne is where we are looking in this clash. As mentioned earlier, the Swans have won 10 in a row against the Kangaroos, with their last five wins coming by an average winning margin of 43 points. North Melbourne have only played two of the current top eight this season, for two losses, including a 49 point defeat last week. If Sydney puts together four quarters of football, they should win in convincing fashion.
North Melbourne vs Sydney Same Game Multi
Luke Parker 25+ Disposals: He had a down game against the Cats, but Parker has been excellent this season across half back. Parker has recorded 25+ disposals in four of his last six games, and will be eager to play well against his former side.
Nick Blakey 20+ Disposals: The Lizard is on fire in 2026, averaging 24.8 disposals per game through eight games. Blakey has reached 20+ disposals in eight out of eight games in 2026 and racked up 29 disposals in his last game against North Melbourne.
Brodie Grundy 20+ Disposals: Grundy is having a stellar season, averaging 20 disposals per game in 2026. Over the last five weeks Grundy’s form has been even better averaging 23.8 disposals per game since Round 4, with 20+ disposal performances in four out of those five games.
SGM Odds: $3.80 at Dabble
North Melbourne vs Sydney Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Saturday 9th May
Time: 1:15pm AEST
Location: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Odds: North Melbourne $3.40 vs Sydney $1.32
Line: Sydney -23.5
Points: 191.5
Where to Watch North Melbourne vs Sydney
You can watch the Kangaroos vs Swans live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
Back in our 2026 AFL Tips at Dabble!
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