AFL 2022 Round 12 – Betting tips & Predictions

Round 11 of the AFL season was the scene of plenty of blowouts, but a couple of thrilling games in Sydney vs Richmond and Carlton vs Collingwood went some way to saving it. This weekend, albeit in a shorter round as a result of byes for six teams, looks a little more entertaining. It starts with a huge game between the Bulldogs and Cats on Friday night, while a Demons vs Swans clash on Saturday night will draw plenty of eyes to the screen. Sunday looks like an entertaining day of footy, too; it starts with the Hawks facing the Magpies, before the round ends with a massive top-four clash between the Dockers and the Lions. Take a look at our preview of all six games this round below.

Western Bulldogs vs Geelong Cats

June 3 – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne – 7.50pm

Round 12 of the AFL season kicks off with what looms as an exciting matchup between two sides jostling for similar positions on the AFL ladder. The Doggies and the Cats sit in eighth and sixth position respectively, are separated by just a solitary game, and are both in good form having won three of their last four games. The Cats most recent win was a comfortable one against the Crows, who they disposed of as expected at home by 42 points. The Bulldogs meanwhile, had an easy kill against the Eagles; they won by 101 points, though that sort of margin is almost commonplace against West Coast these days. This game will be a tougher test for both sides, and the result should be a close, entertaining affair. The Bulldogs can at times be exposed down back and the Cats big forwards are as good as any, and that might prove to be the difference in the end.

Bet on the Cats to win @ $1.94 (PlayUp)

Adelaide Crows vs West Coast Eagles

June 4 – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – 1.45pm

If ever you needed proof of just how dire the straits the Eagles are in right now, this game could be it. The Crows have lost five games in a row and are sitting in 15th place on the AFL ladder with a record of 3-8, and yet they will enter this game as $1.13 favourites in their quest to win their first game since mid-April. The Eagles, incredibly, managed to find a way to have their percentage dip below 50 on the weekend, going down by 101 points to the Bulldogs in what is fast turning out to be one of the worst seasons in AFL history. Were it not for the equally woeful Kangaroos, they would be so far behind every other team in the league so as to render comparisons irrelevant. Granted they have had plenty go wrong off the field and few teams would have been able to deal with the raft of COVID-related omissions they’ve endured throughout the season, but nonetheless their lack of competitiveness of late is concerning. Adelaide are no world-beaters, but they should be strong enough to get past the Eagles pretty easily.

Bet on the Crows to win @ $1.30 (Palmerbet)

Gold Coast Suns vs North Melbourne Kangaroos

June 4 – TIO Stadium, Darwin – 4.35pm

Are the Suns finally, at long, long last, getting to be a decent team? Their last month of football would certainly suggest that they are. Impressive wins against the Swans and Dockers were franked by a flogging of the Hawks last Saturday night, and with the Kangaroos now in their sights they should be able to move within reaching distance of the top eight this weekend. Like the Eagles, the Kangaroos have been simply awful this year, and notched up yet another loss against the Saints last weekend. They have, at least, shown some semblance of competitiveness over the past fortnight, though in saying that they’ve still lost their last two games by a combined total of 100 points. The Suns handled the slippery conditions up north with aplomb last weekend, and should be able to do so again this Saturday afternoon.

Bet on the Suns to win @ $1.07 (BoomBet)

Melbourne Demons vs Sydney Swans

June 4 – MCG, Melbourne – 7.25pm

At last, the Demons have lost a game. They were thoroughly outclassed by the Dockers in the second half last weekend, but with a record of 10-1 and a percentage of nearly 150, they won’t be getting too worried at this point. A loss was bound to come at some point, though they’ll be eager to avoid that losing streak stretching out for more than a week. They do, however, have another tough matchup against the Swans this Saturday. Sydney recorded a rousing and somewhat controversial victory over the Tigers last Friday night, coming from behind after a first half in which they couldn’t have looked less likely to win the game. They will have their tails up after that result and if they play at their best can certainly make the Demons work hard for their spoils, but Melbourne is still the best team in the competition and should be able to bounce back with a win.

Bet on the Demons to win @ $1.26 (Ladbrokes)

Hawthorn Hawks vs Collingwood Magpies

June 5 – MCG, Melbourne – 2.10pm

The Hawks have shown some decent signs of improvement in Sam Mitchell’s first season as coach, though the last month and a half hasn’t exactly gone to plan. After four consecutive losses they looked like they might have turned the corner when they beat Brisbane last weekend, but unfortunately that prospect was quickly shut down by the Suns on Saturday night. The Hawks ultimately went down by 67 points in that one, taking their record to 4-7 in the process. The Magpies, in contrast, jumped to 6-5 and just percentage out of the top eight with a rousing win over the Blues. In front of over 80,000 at the MCG, the two old rivals put on an absolute show, with the Magpies just able to hold off a charging Carlton side to win by five points. Craig McRae, in his first season, now has his new team in with a genuine chance at making the finals, and they can jump into the eight with a win over the Hawks on Sunday.

Bet on the Magpies to win @ $1.48 (Palmerbet)

Fremantle Dockers vs Brisbane Lions

June 5 – Optus Stadium, Fremantle – 5.20pm

Round 12 finishes with what is probably the most enticing matchup of the weekend, with the third placed Dockers welcoming the second placed Lions to Optus Stadium on Sunday evening. Fremantle have had a topsy turvy couple of weeks; a 7-1 start to the season was followed by two consecutive disappointing losses, but they turned their form around in a big way in the second half last weekend, handing the Demons the first loss of their season. The Lions also returned to their winning ways after a loss against the Hawks, beating the Giants by 14 points; though they will be somewhat concerned by the fact that they’ve now conceded 33 goals in the past two weeks. The Dockers, aside from last weekend, aren’t typically an offensive juggernaut, but nonetheless Brisbane will need to tighten the screws defensively if they’re to win this one. This should be an engaging and tightly contested game, but on their home turf the Dockers can sneak over the line and level up the records of these two sides in the process.

Bet on the Dockers to win @ $1.65 (Unibet)