AFL 2025 Opening Round – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

The AFL 2025 season is all set to get started this Thursday night…at least we think it is. The first game of the year is supposed to see the Lions host the Cats, but a cyclone set to impact southern Queensland right around game time is being closely monitored by the league. But if that game is postponed we will have to wait only a day for the season to kick off, with the Swans vs Hawks the next of three more games scheduled for the Opening Round. Check out our previews and AFL predictions for all four of those games below.

As mentioned, the first game of the season is quite literally under a very heavy cloud, with Cyclone Alfred potentially wreaking havoc with the AFL’s best-laid plans. For now we’ll assume the game is going ahead, though if it does it will likely be far from ideal conditions. Rain, hail or shine, the home team and reigning Premiers will head in as favourites with the betting sites, though with both teams harbouring high hopes this season, this could very easily be a tight tussle.

The Lions, of course, have made the Grand Final two years in a row and won it in a canter last season, and they enter what looms as an extremely tight year as the Premiership favourite. There are a plethora of teams nipping at their heels though, one of which is – as usual – the Cats. Both teams finished top four last year and will be hoping for more of the same in 2025, each having been relatively quiet during the off-season. As for this one, the likely inclement weather makes what would already be a tough game to tip that little bit harder, but on their home turf the reigning Premiers deserve their favouritism.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Lions to win	$1.48
	Lions 1-24	$3.00
	Lions 1-39	$2.00

Predicted Squads

Brisbane Lions: B: N. Answerth, H. Andrews, R. Lester HB: D. Zorko, J. Payne, D. Wilmot C: J. Fletcher, W. Ashcroft, H. McCluggage HF: C. Rayner, L. Morris, J. Berry F: C. Cameron, E. Hipwood, Z. Bailey FOLL: O. McInerney, L. Neale, J. Dunkley I/C: K. Lohmann, C. Ah Chee, C. McKenna, S. Day, L. Ashcroft

Geelong Cats: B: Z. Guthrie, J. Henry, J. Kolodjashnij HB: L. Humphries, C. O’Sullivan, T. Stewart C: G. Miers, B. Smith, O. Dempsey HF: P. Dangerfield, J. Cameron, B. Close F: T. Stengle, S. Neale, O. Henry FOLL: S. De Koning, M. Knevitt, M. Holmes, I/C: T. Atkins, S. Mannagh, T. Bruhn, M. Blicavs, J. Bowes

Speaking of teams nipping at the Lions’ proverbial heels for Premiership favouritism, both the Swans and the Hawks are among the leaders of the chasing pack. The Swans, of course, were the best team by a straight for a large chunk of last year but ultimately suffered yet another humiliating Grand Final defeat. That was not the first time that’s happened in recent years and under new coach Dean Cox, they have a point to prove – one which they are more than capable of proving.

The Hawks, meanwhile, had a barnstorming second half or so to 2024, and it will be intriguing to see how this talented young team deals with the weight of expectations this year. The football world has wasted no time jumping on their bandwagon, nor have AFL betting sites having installed them as second favourites for the flag, and while they are more than capable of doing some serious damage it would equally be no surprise to see them struggle to continue to play with the freedom with which they did last year now that the stakes are a little higher. At their best, both of these teams are brilliant to watch, and if they can bring that this should be a quality game. But the Hawks, capable as they are, might just be a little overhyped in the lead-up to this season, while many seem to have forgotten just how good the Swans were for most of last year. On their home turf, Sydney should be heavier favourites than what they are.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Swans to win	$1.85
	Swans 16+	$2.70
	Swans -1. 5	$1.90

Predicted Squads

Sydney Swans: B: D. Rampe, L. Melican, H. Cunningham HB: M. Roberts, N. Blakey, O. Florent C: Co. Warner, Ch. Warner, J. Jordon HF: T. Papley, T. McCartin, A. Sheldrick F: B. Campbell, J. Amartey, W. Hayward FOLL: B. Grundy, I. Heeney, J. Rowbottom I/C: T. Adams, J. Lloyd, J. McInerney, S. Wicks, B. Paton

Hawthorn Hawks: B: J. Battle, T. Barrass, J. Scrimshaw HB: J. Impey, J. Sicily, J. Weddle C: K. Amon, W Day, M. D’Ambrosio HF: D. Moore, M. Chol, N. Watson F: B. Hardwick, J. Gunston, J. Ginnivan FOLL: L. Meek, J. Newcombe, J. Worpel I/C: C. Macdonald, C. Mackenzie, C. Nash, F. Maginness, H. Morrison

In a weekend filled with clashes between teams right up there in the Premiership betting, this is the lone exception. But with plenty of pressure on both of these teams this year, this should nonetheless be an intriguing clash – and probably a wet one, with the remnants of the cyclone threatening the opening game of the season still floating around Queensland. For the Suns, the time is now – in fact the time was years ago. They have now been in the league for well over a decade without making the finals, but in their second season under three-time Premiership coach Damian Hardwick breaking that duck will be firmly on their 2025 wish list.

The Bombers, meanwhile, are trying to break an even longer duck – one which has seen them fail to win a final for 20 years. Of course, first they need to actually make the finals, something they haven’t done for the past three years, but like the Suns they have been banging down the door. These are the kinds of games that each of these teams needs to win if they are to make the top eight this year, and on their home turf it’s the Suns who can get their season off to a winning start.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Suns to win	$1.47
	Suns 1-39	$2.15
	Suns 1-24	$3.15

Predicted Squads

Gold Coast Suns: B: M. Andrew, S. Collins, B. Uwland HB: D. Rioli, C. Ballard, J. Noble C: S. Clohesy, N. Anderson, L. Weller HF: B. Ainsworth, E. Read, B. Humphrey F: B. Long, B. King, J. Rogers FOLL: J. Witts, M. Rowell, T. Miller I/C: W. Graham, T. Berry, C. Budarick, W. Powell, J. Jeffrey

Essendon Bombers: B: A. McGrath, B. McKay, J. Ridley HB: M. Redman, Z. Reid, D. Shiel C: X. Duursma, Z. Merrett, N. Martin HF: J. Gresham, H. Jones, A. Perkins F: I. Kako, N. Caddy, K. Langford FOLL: N. Bryan, J. Caldwell, S. Durham I/C: S. Draper, A. Roberts, E. Tsatas, B. Hobbs, J. Prior

• The Giants have won their last three games against the Magpies in Sydney, and were 9-2 at home during the 2024 home and away season.
• The Swans were an impressive 13-2 at home inclusive of their two finals last year.
• Again sticking with the theme of home ground advantage, the Lions were 9-4 in Brisbane last year after not losing a game there the year prior.

Multi of the Week

In 2023, these two teams played out a thrilling Preliminary Final, with the Magpies’ one-point win ultimately leading them to a Premiership. Last year they failed to replicate that and became the second team in two years to miss the finals the year after winning the flag, but they will be fully expecting that to be no more than a blip on the radar.

The Giants, meanwhile, again put themselves in a great position to contend for a flag last year with a top-four finish, but lost two games in a row from winning positions to be knocked out in straight sets. For the second year in a row they were eliminated by a small margin by the eventual Premier, but given they were up by seven goals in that game they have no one to blame but themselves. The Giants have an intriguing mix of young talent and aging but still very talented stars, and that mix looks likely to make them one of the teams to beat this season – though unfortunately they will be without a few of them courtesy of the off-season shenanigans which saw a number of their best 22 suspended. The Magpies are more than capable of taking it right up to them, but the Giants have had six months to seethe over another heartbreaking end to a season. This should be a quality game, but GWS can come out and make a statement with a strong Opening Round win.

Bookmaker	James’ Tip	Odds
	Giants to win	$1.90
	Giants 1-39	$2.66
	Giants 1-24	$3.35

Predicted Squads

Greater Western Sydney Giants: B: H. Himmelberg, S. Taylor, C. Idun HB: L. Whitfield, J. Buckley, L. Ash C: T. Bedford, F. Callaghan, X. O’Halloran HF: B. Daniels, A. Cadman, T. Greene F: D. Jones, J. Hogan, J. Stringer FOLL: K. Briggs, S. Coniglio, J. Kelly I/C: C. Ward, C. Stone, J. Leake, C. Angove, L. Keeffe

Collingwood Magpies: B: B. Maynard, D. Moore, R. McInnes HB: I. Quaynor, J. Howe, J. Daicos C: S. Sidebottom, H. Perryman, J. Crisp HF: L. Schultz, B. Mihocek, J. Elliott F: B. Hill, D. McStay, B. McCreery FOLL: D. Cameron, N. Daicos, S. Pendlebury I/C: P. Lipinski, E. Allan, W. Hoskin-Elliott, T. Membrey, O. Markov

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