2026 AFL Gather Round Tips & Preview

The home faithful will be licking their lips at potentially putting the final nail in Michael Voss’s coffin on Thursday night. The Blues coach fronted the media following a disastrous loss to North Melbourne last week, stating that he and his entire club need to “own” the small moments if they wish to start winning games. Ironically, the same could almost be said for Matthew Nicks and the Crows after fighting back against Fremantle last week, only to fall over by two points in a nail-biting finish. In a weird twist of fate, the Blues have been one of the better first half teams on the year, while the Crows have been notorious slow starters before roaring home late. If what we’ve seen from these two sides so far has taught us anything, the Crows should come home with a wet sail and win this one in a comfortable manner.  

The chance to sew up a Top 4 spot will be fresh in the minds of the Dockers on Friday night after disposing of the Crows by two points at the Adelaide Oval a week earlier. Freo’s potent forward line fired some serious shots with Patrick Voss, Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy among the goals, while it was encouraging watching the Dockers weather the storm after surrendering a similar lead to the Cats in Opening Round. As for the Pies, it will be interesting to see how Craig McRae’s side responds to a 54-point Easter Thursday drubbing at the hands of the Lions. The reigning premiers toyed with Collingwood over the second half, exposing the Pies’ slow ball movement and inability to get the ball inside 50. The Dockers have turned the page on their defensive-first, low-scoring ways, but they have shown signs of their old selves during various quarters this season. With the Pies still playing a boring brand of footy, the Under is the best bet here. 

Last week was the first time we’ve really seen the back to back champs flex their muscle, and after somehow drawing the short straw at Gather Round (again) with this game scheduled at Barossa Park, I dare say we’ll see the Lions playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Although these two sides drew last year, Brisbane hasn’t lost to North Melbourne since 2018, with 10 of their last 16 meetings all falling Under the Total. Two wins in a row is a serious milestone for the Kangas, but considering they were both against the Bombers and Blues, this shapes as a serious reality check against the top dog in the competition. 

Turns out most of us were completely wrong on the Dees. Melbourne occupies 7th on the ladder after last week’s upset over the Suns, and there’s every reason to believe the Dees’ current pace is sustainable with Jack Steele getting plenty of the footy and Jake Melksham finding the centre of the sticks four times on return last week. Things at the Hangar feel slightly better after a respectable second half saw the Dons go down by only five goals to the Dogs, although it’s fair to say the Bulldogs’ injuries probably played a part. In what has come as the biggest surprise, the Dees have been the fifth-highest scoring team in the competition this year on the back of some intense pressure that sees sitting fourth in tackles per-game. Positives aside, the Dons will need to lift in a big way with the Melbourne hype train gaining serious steam. 

Definite ‘game of the round’ contender between 2nd and 3rd. The Swans made short work of the Eagles last week in a 128-point romping, while the Suns tasted their first defeat to Melbourne in what looks to have been a classic case of a team underestimating its opponent. Damien Hardwick’s side was smashed by double digits in the clearance and contested possession counts, uncharacteristic numbers for a side that boasts so much talent through the middle of the ground. Unsurprisingly, the bookies are having a tough time separating these two sides, with the tricky dimensions of Norwood Oval also worth factoring in. Gold Coast’s Round 4 loss aside, the first month of footy has seen these two sides pile on points in a hurry, evidenced by the fact both sit first and second respectively averaging over 18 goals a game. With close to even money on offer, the Over is the way I’m leaning here. 

A very quick turnaround for the Hawks following a memorable Easter Monday win that could turn into a serious building block for the months ahead. The Adelaide Oval has been the site of disappointment over the last few years for Sam Mitchell’s crew, although brown and gold supporters should feel confident heading into Saturday night knowing the Dogs could be without Ed Richards and Tim English. The Hawks have dominated this fixture winning four in a row over the Dogs dating back to 2023, with their last two meetings being low-scoring affairs. Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan are in scintillating form and Jack Gunston looks as good as he did last year, but with the Dogs equally loaded in the forward half of the ground, this one could turn into a shootout. That said, for all the talk about the Bulldogs’ back line entering the year, they’ve been surprisingly stingy allowing the third-fewest goals to opponents. With Hawthorn on short rest, the Dogs are a good bet to keep this tight. 

Big line in favour of the Cats, as you’d expect based on last week’s results. Geelong lost no admirers losing to the Hawks in another nail-biter, the positives being another 30+ touch game from Bailey Smith and a multi-goal outing from forward Ollie Henry. After winning two in a row over North and Port, the Eagles were more than disappointing in a blowout loss to the Swans. For the second week in a row, West Coast started slow and, unlike against the Power, failed to recover. A whopping 28 of their 39 defensive 50 chains were intercepted by the Swans, which obviously doesn’t bode well against a Cats outfit that always sets up well behind the ball. Away from home and still going through growing pains, this should be a typical bounce back game led by Chris Scott. 

Hardly the Sunday afternoon blockbuster Gather Round deserves, although it could very well be a great game for all the wrong reasons. Last week’s bye couldn’t have come at a better time for GWS after losing its third game in a row to Collingwood a fortnight ago, while the Tigers suddenly look like a bottom four lock after managing only six goals in a blowout loss to Port Adelaide last week. Three of the last five meetings between these two have been decided by a goal or less, while the fact both rank second and third in turnover this year suggests this one could be much the same.  

Far from a headline game, but it should be fascinating to see where St Kilda’s heads are at post bye. Port Adelaide is a team the Saints should be beating given their overall level of talent, but as we’ve seen over the first month, it’s taking longer than expected for a few of Ross Lyon’s newest recruits to gel. As a team, the Saints need to bring more pressure (14th in tackles) and improve their accuracy in front of goal, which is all easier said than done away from home. The Power, meanwhile, have played good footy in chunks this year and were duly rewarded with a big win over Richmond last week that saw them really motor home in the third term. We’re yet to see anything from the Saints that suggests they are capable of putting teams away by big margins, which helps explain the slim (-7.5) line at publish. With both sides struggling for points and their last two meetings falling Under the Total, a low-scoring Sunday afternoon battle is the way I’m leaning.