We’ve Gathered Round now let’s get stuck into Easter footy.
It all kicks off with a genuine Thursday night blockbuster as Brisbane hosts Collingwood in a clash that could shape the top four. Then on Good Friday, North Melbourne and Carlton square off in the annual SuperClash, with both clubs pretty desperate to convince us their seasons aren’t cooked just yet.
Saturday serves up a beauty as the Crom get a shot at a real contender in the red-hot Giants, and then we cap off the long weekend with one of the great rivalries — Geelong and Hawthorn back at the ‘G on Easter Monday, both dreaming of a return to September.
Five states. Nine games. Let’s get stuck into it in our AFL Round 6 Tips and Preview
The annual Easter Thursday blockbuster between Brisbane and Collingwood has become one of the marquee matchups of the modern AFL calendar, and this year’s clash promises to add another classic chapter.
The Lions are cruising at 5-0 and still look like they haven’t hit top gear. Their last-quarter blitz against the Bulldogs at Norwood, coming from 33 points down with seven unanswered goals, was a timely reminder of their class and composure.
Since their Round 0 drubbing at the hands of GWS, the Pies have found form, stringing together four straight wins, including a solid victory over Sydney last week.
Their scalps have included four likely finalists, but if they can knock off the reigning premiers at the Gabba and end Brisbane’s 10-game winning streak, we might need to start talking about “Too old, too slow” Collingwood as a serious flag threat again.
Importantly, Collingwood doesn’t fear the Lions.
They’ve won their last three meetings, including that epic Grand Final, and were the last team to beat Brisbane, in a one-point thriller in Round 23 last year.
Still, Brisbane at home or anywhere right now is a different beast. They just find a way, and right now, they’re in a serious purple patch.
The half-time full-time double market has always been outstanding value when either of these sides have played this season, I’m happy to take it in favour of the home team on Thursday night which would see the Lions take the points and the Pies gain plenty of respect in the process.
The result of this Good Friday clash will say far more about North Melbourne than it will about Carlton.
After their eye-catching win over Melbourne a few weeks ago, it looked like Alastair Clarkson’s Roos had turned a corner. But three losses on the trot since then have brought back all-too-familiar alarm bells at Arden Street.
Carlton, meanwhile, finally broke through for their first win of the season last week, a 71-point thumping of West Coast, and, just as importantly, didn’t cough up a half-time lead in the process. The monkey is off the back… for now.
But with the pressure mounting on North and Carlton still far from convincing, this match looms as a genuine litmus test, especially for the Roos, who have never won on Good Friday since footy first started being played in 2017.
At the time of writing, the Blues are $1.38 favourites, but given the emotion of the occasion and the desperation that should be brewing at North, the $3 on offer for a Kangas upset might just be worth a nibble.
Essendon could be sitting inside the eight by the time Anzac Day rolls around; all they need is a big win over a struggling West Coast outfit in Perth on Friday night.
And let’s be honest: struggling is putting it politely. Aside from a brief spark against Brisbane, the Eagles have been belted week after week. The rebuild isn’t just on, it’s already knee-deep.
From a punting perspective, this looks like one for a Same Game Multi and I’ll be keeping an eye on it via the Neds Bet Tracker.
Bombers skipper Zach Merrett was elite last week in the 39-point win over Melbourne — 37 disposals, 14 contested, eight marks, and a perfect 10 in the coaches’ votes.
He’s averaging 33.3 touches and has six goals so far in 2025. Expect him to find plenty of it again and maybe even hit the scoreboard.
As for West Coast, hope is in short supply , but Harley Reid offers a glimmer (if he can be bothered.)
The No.1 draft pick is $2.25 for an anytime goal, and if he salutes, it might just be enough to keep the locals believing he’ll stick around.
It’s far from a Grand Old Flag at Melbourne right now, more like a battered, faded one flying at half-mast.
The Demons are 0-5 to start the season, their worst since the dark old Mark Neeld days of 2012…and something just feels off.
They can’t kick a winning score, they haven’t won at the MCG in nine months (an entire pregnancy!), and they head into this clash as $3.12 outsiders at home.
Fremantle, on the other hand, are quietly 3-2, inside the eight, and have handled Melbourne comfortably in their last three meetings. They’re $1.44 favourites at the time of writing, and deservedly so.
Worth noting: the Dockers have hit the ‘overs’ in total match points in each of their last nine games outside of WA, and with the Dees’ leaky defence, Freo could pile on another big score in this rare MCG appearance.
The play? Freo to win + over total points = the good old Daily Double on the Dockers.
This one has all the makings of a classic.
High-scoring. Free-flowing. Attacking footy. The kind we all love, and the kind these two teams live for.
The Crom take on the Orange Tsunami in what should be a genuine shootout at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide may have dropped their last two, close ones to the Suns and Cats, but they’ve lost no admirers. Sitting 3-2, a win over GWS would be the statement they’ve been searching for, and could spark a real push towards their first finals berth since 2017.
As for the Giants, they’re 4-1, back in the top four, and continue to get it done on the road. This will already be their fifth different venue of the season, but the likes of Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene up forward along with the rest of the orange team don’t seem to mind where they play.
On the other end, Darcy Fogarty, Riley Thilthorpe, and Taylor Walker mean Adelaide has plenty of firepower of its own.
Expect fireworks.
Take the tribet, back the overs, and enjoy two high-octane sides playing the game the way it’s meant to be.
After what should be a cracking clash between the Crows and Giants, the follow-up act between Richmond and Gold Coast at Marvel is… well, probably not game of the round.
Not only is Damien Hardwick coaching against his old side, the Tigers, but he’s playing them at his least favourite venue: Marvel Stadium.
Back when Hardwick was Richmond coach and declared “I hate coming here” in 2021, the Tigers have lost their past six games at the venue.
But it’s a different era, and a very different Tigers side. And while they’ve shown glimpses — like that gutsy Round 1 win over Carlton — they remain a young, rebuilding team still finding their way.
Gold Coast, on the other hand, are flying. They’re 4-0, sitting second on the ladder, and with finals firmly in sight, this is the kind of game they need to bank — and bank well.
For the Suns, it’s not a question of if they win, it’s by how much. I’m taking Gold Coast by 60+.
The Swans and Port at the SCG in a meeting of last years preliminary finalists is set to be a beauty and with both teams sitting 10th and 11th respectively on the ladder with a 2-3 record, they’ll be eager to get the chocolates and resurrect their season on Easter Sunday.
Cringey Easter puns aside, this should be a ripping contest. Port responded to mounting pressure with a thumping win over Hawthorn during Gather Round — a result that quietened the noise around their coaching succession plan.
Another win here, and they’ll likely jump back into the top eight.
Sydney, meanwhile, have had a frustrating start to the season. They fell to Collingwood by 31 points last week and are still searching for consistency.
Historically, Port has fared well as an underdog against the Swans — winning four of their last five in that position, including a 112-point demolition job in Round 21 last year. But that was in Adelaide, and the SCG is a very different prospect.
It’s still risky to tip against the Swans at home, so the 1-39 margin market in favour of Sydney feels like the better bet here.
Put this one firmly in the “bloody hard to tip” category as the Bulldogs take on the Saints under the roof at Marvel.
The Dogs will be disappointed they couldn’t hold onto a 33-point lead against the Lions last week, but when you’re up against the reigning premiers in a post-flag purple patch, sometimes you just run into a better team.
Back on the wide wings and indoor comforts of Marvel, their happy hunting ground, the Bulldogs will be breathing a little easier. They’ve won their last seven at the venue, and with Marcus Bontempelli a chance to return, the Dogs will take plenty of confidence into this one.
St Kilda also featured at Norwood during Gather Round, going down to GWS after a sluggish start, though they fought back admirably in the second half.
Hard to go past the Dogs at Marvel, but expect it to be tight.
There’s rarely a dull moment when Geelong and Hawthorn face off, and this Easter Monday clash might be their most significant in nearly a decade.
As per tradition, the Cats are too old, too slow, and too good.
Their win over Adelaide last week was a masterclass, led by their experienced core.
Now 3-2 to start the season, Geelong will be keen to keep the momentum going and extend their recent dominance over the Hawks, having won five of their last six. It’s not quite Kennett Curse territory, but it’s a streak Cats fans still love to bring up.
As for the Hawks?
HokBall came back to earth with a thud last week. After sitting atop the ladder heading into Gather Round, they were blown away early by Port and never truly recovered, despite some flattering junk-time goals late.
One silver lining for Sam Mitchell’s side: they’ll be the only team to face Geelong “away” at the MCG this season (outside of September of course) and they love the ‘G. Hawthorn has won its last eight games there by an average of 45 points.
This one should be a beauty to close out the Easter round.
This is going to be a beauty to finish off the Easter Footy weekend and I’m happy to take the tribet – either team 15.5 or less because football will really be the winner in this one.