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)
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)
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)
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)
Sydney vs Essendon
The Swans enter this Round 2 clash as overwhelming favourites following a strong first-up performance, where a crucial fourth-quarter surge saw them overrun the Crows in Adelaide. Having finished ninth last season, Sydney is widely expected to push back into the top eight this year.
Meanwhile, the Bombers endured a disastrous first half against the Lions before finding their footing after the main break, though the damage had already been done. Maddi Gay and Maddy Prespakis were the clear standouts, finding plenty of the football.
Essendon cannot afford another slow start against a talented Sydney side this week. However, if they can clean up their opening half, they are more than capable of hanging around long enough to cover the 30.5-point spread.
Essendon +30.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Collingwood vs Fremantle
Sunday 12:35pm AEST, Victoria Park
The Magpies have languished in the bottom four for consecutive seasons, and an opening-round defeat to the Tigers by three goals suggests they could be heading down a similar path this year. In response, they've swung the axe at the selection table, making six changes.
The Dockers also kicked off their campaign on the back foot with a disappointing loss to the Power, managing just two goals for the entire match while failing to capitalise on their opportunities. However, the return of Emma O'Driscoll this week provides a major defensive boost behind the ball.
Armed with a superior system and a more talented list, the Dockers should bounce back and secure a convincing victory here.
Fremantle -10.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Melbourne vs GWS
Sunday 2:35pm AEST, Casey Fields
The Demons survived an opening-round scare against the Hawks, overcoming a late deficit in the final term by kicking the last three goals of the match. Liv Purcell made a successful return from serious injury to claim best-on-ground honours, while Mia Austin bagged multiple goals on her club debut.
Meanwhile, the Giants pulled off a surprise victory over the Eagles to kick off their season. Having managed just two wins last year, getting off the mark early in 2026 is a massive boost, largely thanks to Grace Kos executing a superb tagging job on Ella Roberts.
The Demons boast a vastly superior list and system, meaning anything less than a resounding blowout win at home would be a major shock.
Melbourne -31.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Carlton vs Adelaide
Sunday 3:20pm AEST, IKON Park
The Blues kicked off their campaign with a commanding win over the Saints at Marvel Stadium, laying the foundation with a dominant six-goal-to-one opening half. Claudia Whitfort was fantastic on debut, while Lila Keck provided a lively spark up forward. Carlton will be even stronger this week with key inclusions Keeley Sherar and Sophie McKay returning to the side.
Adelaide endured a disappointing 2025 campaign, and an opening-round home loss where they coughed up a late lead to the Swans suggests they could slip further down the ladder this season.
The script has officially flipped in this rivalry compared to recent years. It is now the Blues who boast the superior list and stronger form, making them deserving favourites heading into this clash.
Carlton -4.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn
Sunday 5:20pm AEST, Alberton Oval
The Power proved too strong for the Dockers last week, giving new coach Glenn Strachan the ideal start to his tenure. They held up exceptionally well defensively and could easily have won by a greater margin with better efficiency, as they look to bounce back into the finals following a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Meanwhile, the Hawks were far from disgraced in their opening-round loss to the Demons, pushing the perennial contenders all the way to the final siren. Having established themselves as a top-four side over the past two seasons, Hawthorn will be confident of featuring near that mark again.
This is a tight fixture that could genuinely go either way, which makes taking the Hawks at +7.5 the standout play.
Hawthorn +7.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
