{"id":86363,"date":"2026-05-26T16:24:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=86363"},"modified":"2026-05-29T07:22:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T21:22:43","slug":"2026-afl-round-12-tips-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-afl-round-12-tips-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFL Round 12 Tips & Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The bye is back as Adelaide, Gold Coast, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide all take a seat, leaving us with seven games spread out across Round 12.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First plays eighth on Friday night in a must-see clash between the Lions and the new ladder-leading Dockers, before all eyes shift to the Bombers on Sunday in their first game since the midweek dismissal of coach Brad Scott. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
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St Kilda<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Hawthorn<\/div>\n
Thursday 28th May 7:30 PM (Marvel Stadium)<\/div>\n
Tip: Hawks 1-39 @ $2.20 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Another important Thursday clash with the Hawks looking to cement a Top 4 spot and the Saints on the fringe of the Wild Card.\u00a0<\/span>Will Day looks at least another week away from returning for Hawthorn with Jack Gunston still under an injury cloud, while the Saints will\u00a0<\/span>likely welcome<\/span>\u00a0back Rowan Marshall from a leg injury. No Jack Higgins is still hurting St Kilda\u2019s already\u00a0<\/span>lackluster<\/span>\u00a0attack however, which\u00a0<\/span>doesn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0bode well against a Hawks side that\u00a0<\/span>has been one of the better teams at taking marks inside 50 all year.\u00a0<\/span>The Saints have gone 8-5 at the line on the back of a loss dating back to last season, but with the Hawks sporting a small two goal head start, the margin is probably the safer bet in what figures to be a slow, grind-it-out type stalemate.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Saints vs Hawks<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
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Carlton<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Geelong Cats<\/div>\n
Friday 29th May 7:40 PM (MCG)<\/div>\n
Tip: Geelong to Cover (-24.5 Points) @ $1.9<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

The Blues\u00a0<\/span>couldn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0make a late Wild Card run… could they? Two on the trot has given Blues fans something to cheer about, but this week\u2019s opponent is\u00a0<\/span>a serious step<\/span>\u00a0up in class compared to the Dogs and Port Adelaide. The Cats are humming off two easy wins again<\/span>st genuine heavyweight opposition over the last fortnight,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>very hard<\/span>\u00a0to see Carlton\u2019s sub-par midfield matching the red-hot form of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes for four quarters. Geelong is top five in scoring,\u00a0<\/span>tackle<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pressure<\/span>\u00a0and disposal efficiency, making this a tall order for a Blues team that is still struggling with accuracy in front of the sticks.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Blues vs Cats<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
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Sydney Swans<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Richmond<\/div>\n
Saturday 30th May 1:15 PM (SCG)<\/div>\n
Tip: Swans to Win & Under 178.5 Total Points @ $1.85 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Tigers<\/span>\u00a0fans have every right to feel afraid. The Swans will be out for blood after\u00a0<\/span>falling 27 points short of Geelong last week, although Richmond coach Adam Yze has one less headache to worry about with Tom Papley\u00a0<\/span>and Malcolm Rosas\u00a0<\/span>potentially out<\/span>\u00a0injured. Regardless, the Swans ran out\u00a0<\/span>44 point<\/span>\u00a0winners when the<\/span>se two met<\/span>\u00a0last\u00a0<\/span>year, and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>given their\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>ability to sustain pressure and lay tackles,\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0difficult to imagine Richmond keeping\u00a0<\/span>this close.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Swans vs Tigers<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
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Brisbane Lions<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Fremantle<\/div>\n
Saturday 30th May 4:15 PM (Gabba)<\/div>\n
Tip: Under 182.5 Total Points <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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One look at the ladder tells you all you need to know about the\u00a0<\/span>magnitude<\/span>\u00a0of this game. The reigning premiers are suddenly in a fight for a Wild Card spot after a record-setting\u00a0<\/span>third quarter last week in the blowout loss to GWS, while the Dockers will treat this game as a chance to prove once and for all that they are indeed the real deal. Whether Chris Fagan makes\u00a0<\/span>a big selection<\/span>\u00a0call remains to be seen, but there should be at least one big inclusion with Dayne Zorko fit to play. The Dockers\u00a0<\/span>haven\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>won at<\/span>\u00a0the Gabba since 2016, and they also\u00a0<\/span>haven\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0played in Brisbane in just over two years.\u00a0<\/span>Given neither side is really setting the scoreboard alight, plus the fact their last three clashes have fallen Under the Total, a low-scoring battle is the way to attack this one.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Lions vs Dockers<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
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Western Bulldogs<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Collingwood<\/div>\n
Saturday 30th May 7:35 PM (Marvel Stadium)<\/div>\n
Tip: Under 180.5 Total Points <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Injuries have really turned this game on its head with the Pies suffering some serious blows last week in the win over\u00a0<\/span>West<\/span>\u00a0Coast. Jamie Elliott is done for the year with a torn ACL, while Darcy Moore is back on the shelf with a hamstring complaint. The black and blue Dogs know just how it feels, and\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0still no closer to learning of Tim English\u2019s return. The Bont and Ed Richards were instrumental in a stirring win against\u00a0<\/span>Melbourne last\u00a0<\/span>week, and<\/span>\u00a0based on what\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span>\u00a0seen from the Pies all year, Collingwood should look to turn this into another ugly, low-scoring scrap.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bulldogs vs Pies<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Melbourne <\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
GWS Giants<\/div>\n
Sunday 31st May 3:15 PM (TIO Stadium)<\/div>\n
Tip: Melbourne to Win @ $1.70 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Are the Giants back? Or did last week\u2019s dominant 78-point win say more about Brisbane? Either way, this is a tough game to get a feel for up in Darwin with\u00a0<\/span>the Dees left wondering what could have been last week against the Dogs. Melbourne struggled to get the ball into the forward half of the ground when it mattered<\/span>\u00a0most<\/span>, and as far as this game goes, a\u00a0<\/span>4-7 record at Traeg<\/span>e<\/span>r Park inspires little confidence. As\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span>\u00a0seen in recent weeks,\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0all about how each side adjusts to the heat,\u00a0<\/span>but on the plus side for\u00a0<\/span>Melbourne,<\/span>\u00a0they have gone 9-4 at the line after a loss. The Giants have some question\u00a0<\/span>marks down<\/span>\u00a0back with Jack Buckley on the injury report with a hamstring, so all up, the current price for the Dees is\u00a0<\/span>probably worth<\/span>\u00a0taking.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Dees vs Giants<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
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\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
West Coast Eagles<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Essendon<\/div>\n
Sunday 31st May 2026 7:20 PM (Optus Stadium)<\/div>\n
Tip: West Coast 40+ @ $4.80 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Unlikely to be the best game of the weekend, but it could be the most interesting as far as narratives go. No one can say the sacking of Brad Scott on Tuesday came as a surprise, but it will be fascinating to see if the Bombers play with a renewed sense of vigor like Carlton has since\u00a0<\/span>Vossy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>bit the bullet<\/span>. West Coast, meanwhile, should sense the importance of the moment after putting up a spirit<\/span>ed fight against the Pies last week in front of a packed house. The Eagles are far from the team they were 12 months ago, and they certainly have the pieces to pick up a win on Sunday if they start out strongly. With\u00a0<\/span>key pieces like Andrew McGrath and Jye Caldwell all out injured for the Dons, West Coast should go in for the kill and look to make a statement.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Eagles vs Bombers<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The bye is back as Adelaide, Gold Coast, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide all take a seat, leaving us with seven games spread out across Round 12.   First plays eighth on Friday night in a must-see clash between the Lions and the new ladder-leading Dockers, before all eyes shift to the Bombers on Sunday in their first game since the midweek dismissal of coach Brad Scott.  St Kilda vs Hawthorn Thursday 28th May 7:30 PM (Marvel Stadium) Tip: Hawks 1-39 @ $2.20 Another important Thursday clash with the Hawks looking to cement a Top 4 spot and the Saints on the fringe…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":86364,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,10157],"tags":[],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-86363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-rules","category-afl-tips"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":"","md_tip_date_end":"","md_market_url":"","tip_date":"26\/05\/2026","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86363"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86363\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86363"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=86363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}