AFL 2022 Round 9 – Betting tips & Predictions

The ladder is beginning to take shape over two months into the season, and Round 9 of the AFL season offers a number of teams the chance to consolidate their places in the top eight. It begins with a big game between the Bulldogs and Magpies, two teams looking to jump into the aforementioned eight, while the next day the Hawks face a tough test against a Tigers team coming into some ominous form. Saturday night sees perhaps the biggest game of the round when the Saints and Cats face off, before the round wraps up with what looms as a hugely one-sided affair between the Eagles and the Demons. Check out our previews of every game this round below.

Collingwood Magpies vs Western Bulldogs

May 13 – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne – 7.50pm

Round 9 of the AFL season kicks off with an intriguing game between the two sides sitting immediately outside the top eight. The Magpies have impressed many with their improvement this year, but on Saturday were no match for long-time rivals in Richmond, who leapfrogged them into the top eight with a 27-point win. The Bulldogs suffered a disappointing loss of their own, going down to a Port Adelaide side which finally seems to have recaptured something resembling its best form in a rematch of last year’s Preliminary Final. The Magpies, at 4-4, have already outperformed expectations so far this season and a top eight finish would be a bonus, but for the Bulldogs it’s a bare minimum. Despite their similar ladder positions, the Doggies need this win a lot more than the Pies, and can get the job done in what should be an entertaining game.

Bet on the Bulldogs to win @ $1.60 (Unibet)

Hawthorn Hawks vs Richmond Tigers

May 14 – MCG, Melbourne – 1.45pm

Like the Magpies, the Hawks have shown marked improvement under a new coach this season, though their loss to the Bombers on the weekend – their third in a row – was arguably their most disappointing of the season. They led by 15 points at three-quarter time only to be completely overwhelmed by a side which has struggled immensely all year, and if they play like that this weekend they could be in for a rough Saturday. The Tigers, having been written off as recently as a fortnight ago, appear to be working their way into some very dangerous form. They might not be the side that won three Premierships in a row, but at their best they are still pretty damn good, as they showed last weekend. Tom Lynch had an extraordinary first half in what has been a brilliant fortnight for him, while their defence and midfield looked strong even in the absences of Nick Vlastuin and Dion Prestia, arguably their two most important players in those two areas of the ground. A top four spot is now back on the agenda for the Tiges, and they can work their way closer to it with a win this weekend.

Bet on the Tigers to win @ $1.46 (BoomBet)

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power

May 14 – Blundstone Arena, Hobart – 2.10pm

The Kangaroos’ season is going from bad to worse with every passing week as they continue to prove uncompetitive against most sides in the league. Last weekend it was Fremantle – granted a very good side, but nonetheless the three goals North managed was subpar to say the least and resigned them to a fourth consecutive loss by in excess of 50 points. Port Adelaide, meanwhile, are trending in the other direction. Last year’s Preliminary Finalists got off to a shocking start to the year with five consecutive losses, but they’ve flown back into finals contention with three wins in a row, the most recent of which came against the Bulldogs. The Power looked far closer to the slick outfit which they’ve been over recent years than the struggling side they were earlier in the season, which doesn’t bode well for the Roos. This should be an easy win for the Power, their fourth in a row and one which could potentially see them jump inside the top eight.

Bet on the Power to win @ $1.13 (Palmerbet)

St. Kilda Saints vs Geelong Cats

May 14 – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne – 4.35pm

Last week’s matchup against the Dees was viewed as a litmus test for the improved Saints, and while they ultimately failed they didn’t lose too many fans in the process. The Demons were clinical in the early stages, but St. Kilda refused to concede and, though they were no match, at least hung around in the second half. Meanwhile, the Cats were back to their best, easily accounting for the struggling Giants and moving to within reaching distance of the top four in the process. This is a game with huge implications between two sides that will likely be competing for similar spots in the upper reaches of the ladder later in the year, and in a close game the experienced Cats can just get over the line.

Bet on the Cats to win @ $1.69 (Bet365)

Sydney Swans vs Essendon Bombers

May 14 – SCG, Sydney – 7.25pm

After starting the season 5-1, it’s been a disappointing couple of weeks for the Swans, who on Saturday afternoon lost their second game in a row. The first of those wasn’t a major issue, coming against the very impressive Lions, but going down at home to the Suns last weekend was a major surprise. They’ll be desperate to curtail this minor slide, and get a great chance to do so in Sydney against the Bombers. Essendon has been one of the most disappointing teams of the season, but out of nowhere came from behind in a 50-point final quarter against Hawthorn last win to register just their second win of the season. It may have only been a quarter, but they looked terrific for that 30-minute period, making their beginning to the season even more of a headscratcher. Perhaps that quarter was the catalyst they need to get their year heading in a more positive direction, but regardless this is a tough ask against the Swans.

Bet on the Swans to win @ $1.32 (PlayUp)

Adelaide Crows vs Brisbane Lions

May 14 – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – 7.40pm

The Crows have shown some tangible improvement in the early stages of this season, but over the past fortnight have regressed to their former selves with a couple of hefty losses. After going down by 59 points at the hands of the Giants two weeks ago, they faced a tough test against the Blues in Melbourne last weekend and well and truly failed it, losing by 58 points. The Lions, in contrast, continued on their merry way with another thumping win, though given it came against the Eagles it wasn’t anything to get too excited about. Perhaps the biggest contender to the Demons for this year’s flag, Brisbane did what they needed to do against a side absolutely ravaged by COVID protocols and terrible form. The Crows won’t be quite an easy a kill as that, but nonetheless the Lions should be far too strong.

Bet on the Lions to win @ $1.23 (PlayUp)

Gold Coast Suns vs Fremantle Dockers

May 15 – Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast – 1.40pm

The Suns’ season appeared to be heading down a familiar path seven rounds into the season, but out of nowhere they put in their best performance of the year last Saturday afternoon, knocking off the Swans on their own turf to arrest a three-game losing skid. The unexpected victory was a pivotal one as they attempt to finally, after what seems like an eternity, develop into a legitimate finals contender, and if they can cause another upset this week they will establish themselves as exactly that. The side they will face, the Dockers, continue to impress week after week, and though they only beat the Kangaroos last weekend they couldn’t have been more impressive in doing so. Their record now sits at 7-1, and though the Suns could mount a challenge if they play like they did last week, Fremantle should be too strong here.

Bet on the Dockers to win @ $1.47 (Palmerbet)

GWS Giants vs Carlton Blues

May 15 – GIANTS Stadium, Sydney – 3.20pm

The pressure on Giants coach Leon Cameron is reaching its zenith after last weekend’s performance, a game in which they could muster up just four goals against the Cats after they appeared to have turned the corner a week prior. The slow ball movement and lack of dare which has been symptomatic of their plight was on full show in that game, and if it continues then Cameron’s days are numbered – if they aren’t anyway. Carlton has been beating up on poor teams all year – and did so again against the Crows last weekend – so if the Giants don’t improve they can expect to suffer a hefty loss. The Blues, however, for all their improvement are still a developing and flawed side, and a Giants side at their best is more than capable of challenging them. This is a huge game for Cameron’s side, and we’re backing them to ward off the critics, at least for this week, with a win.

Bet on the Giants to win @ $2.18 (BoomBet)

West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne

May 15 – Optus Stadium, Perth – 5.20pm

Round 10 of the AFL season concludes with one of the most lopsided games imaginable between the last-placed Eagles and the undefeated Demons. West Coast are quite literally one of the worst teams in league history nine weeks into the season; COVID certainly played a part in their initial decline and continues to do so, though even when their more established players have returned they haven’t looked much better. Melbourne, in contrast, has hardly put a foot wrong, winning their first nine games of the year without appearing to get out of second gear. The only saving grace is that this game will be played at Optus Stadium, but regardless, it’s almost impossible to imagine the Eagles getting within coo-ee of the visitors, and clearly Aussie bookmakers agree, with the Dees installed as $1.01 favourites.

Bet on the Demons to win @ $1.01 (Unibet)