AFLW 2024 Round 8 Preview & Betting Tips

Busiest part 2024 AFLV season has come to an end, meaning that normal life is resuming for Round 8. Actions will begin Thursday evening The Blues hosted the Bulldogs at IKON Park. As always, we bring you a free preview and best bets for this match, as well as all the other matches for Round 8, below!

AFLW Round 8 Betting Tips

Carlton v Western Bulldogs

Thursday, 7:15 pm ET, IKON Park

The Blues pulled off a big upset win over the Dockers last weekend in what was arguably their best performance of the season. The win showed the Blues were still willing to give it their all despite being eliminated from the final.

All eyes will be on the Bulldogs’ game plan this Thursday night after being completely rinsed off by the media following their party against the Bombers last Friday. The Bulldogs kept increasing their numbers to avoid scoring, but ended up failing to score a goal themselves. The Dawgs have failed to score a goal in two weeks and have scored fewer than 10 points four times this season.

The Dogs will be under pressure to really attack this weekend and that should make for a much more enjoyable viewing experience for fans. Whether they play more freely or not, the Blues should have their number in this match. I think the Blues will win by 10+ points after a morale-boosting win over the Dockers.

Port Adelaide v St Kilda

Friday 19:45 AEDT, Alberton Oval

Last Friday’s match was a sleep-fest, although this match is set to be anything but as the Power and Saints are set to lock horns in what is shaping up to be a do-or-die match for both clubs and their finals hopes.

The Power and the Saints enter this fight tied at 4-4 and 9.^th and 8^th spot respectively, they are separated by only 4.2%. And with 6 wins + a high percentage likely needed to secure a place in this season’s finals, these clubs have everything they need to play at Alberton Oval on Friday night.

I’ve liked the Power’s form a bit more in recent weeks and they come into this clash on a three-match winning streak which will certainly be a confidence booster. They also have home advantage and are 3-1 at home against interstate clubs this season. So, with that said, I’m happy to be with the Force with little chance of being an underdog.

Hawthorn vs GWS

Saturday, 13:05 AEDT, Kinetic Stadium.

In one of the more one-sided matches of round eight, the Hawks take on the Giants at the Kinetic Stadium in the opening match of Super Saturday. The Hawks are second in the standings and have the top four in their hands, while the Giants are a distant second in 16th place.^th place with only one victory to his name.

There’s no value here in the H2H market, as a win over the sure-fire Hawks is only worth $1.02. The line is currently hovering around the 40 pip mark and playing this market is nothing more than guesswork.

Instead, I’ll be looking for scorer markets where Zarley Goldsworthy stands out. Yes, she’s determined to be on the wrong side of the deciding score, but that rarely stops her from getting on the scoreboard. Goldsworthy scored two goals in last weekend’s 64-point loss and has scored at least one goal in 7/8 games this season.

Sydney vs Gold Coast

Saturday, 15:05 AEDT, Henson Park

A pair of teams who played in last year’s grand final but will not play this season will come together in a clash at 3:05pm (AEDT) on Super Saturday when the Sydney Swans host the Gold Coast Suns at Henson Park.

Last weekend the Swans were very competitive in the opening 15 minutes against the table-topping Kangaroos but after that they simply couldn’t go any further with them. They ended up losing by 60 points, making it four losses in a row and 6/8 for the year.

The Suns remain the only team in the competition yet to win, and with two tough games to go after this one, you feel like this is their only real chance of making it big in 2024. To boost her chances of returning home, star midfielder Claudia Whitfort is set to return in round eight.

To their credit, the Suns have been very competitive over the last three weeks against very strong opposition and I’m confident a similar effort here will be enough for four points. They will also have extra motivation since they will know that this is their best chance to get rid of the monkey, and I expect them to act accordingly.

Melbourne vs Richmond

Saturday 17:05 AEDT Casey Fields

With only one win to their name in the first five rounds, it seemed as if the once powerful Demons had fallen off a cliff; However, fast forward to the start of Round 8 and they are on a three-game winning streak to breathe life into their campaign.

The Tigers started the season shaky, losing their first game to the Eagles despite being overwhelming favorites. They quickly got to work after waking up early and entered the 8th round with a 6-2 record, good for 5 games.^th place on the stairs.

Both clubs are currently playing well and this sets up a stunning meeting in Saturday’s twilight match. Both teams have also played close games in recent weeks and with so much to play this weekend, I’m expecting another close battle here. With that in mind, any team winning by less than 15.5 points in the Tri Bet market is a solid value.

West Coast vs Fremantle

Saturday, 7:05 pm ET at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

The Eagles were crushed by a dominant Hawks team last weekend in their worst performance of the season. However, the Eagles still have a realistic chance of securing their first finals spot, but will likely have to win all three of their remaining matches.

The Dockers suffered a shock defeat at home to the Blues in the last round of what could have been a very costly defeat. The Dockers were in the box seat and in contention for a top-four finish, but in that regard their fate is now out of their hands.

The Dockers have won all previous meetings with the Eagles and it is more than likely that will continue this weekend. However, the Eagles are certainly good enough on their day to push the Dockers over the finish line, and taking them with a generous +14.5 handicap would be a gamble in a low-stakes game for me.

Geelong v Brisbane

Sunday 1:05pm AEDT GMHBA Stadium.

If Geelong’s 2024 campaign wasn’t over last weekend, it certainly is now. They came into this round with two wins from eight matches, both of which came against teams in the bottom five of the rankings.

The Lions are the reigning premiers and look to be in a great position to become the first team to win back-to-back premierships in the AFLW. They have won seven matches in a row since their round one loss to the Kangaroos and are now third in the league table.

The Lions weren’t at their best in their win last weekend and they won’t have to be if they want chocolate in the nursery this Sunday. That being said, the Cats have been competitive in all their games this season, with their heaviest loss coming by 18 points, so a 1-24 win over the Lions has market appeal.

Essendon v North Melbourne

Sunday 15:05 AEDT, Windy Hill

Ultimately, the Bombers prevailed over the Bulldogs in a tough contest last Friday night. They were 26-3 winners and have now won four matches in a row to take them into the top eight for the first time this season.

The Kangaroos continued their dominant home and away season in 2024 with a crushing 60-point win over the Swans. The Kangaroos remain undefeated this season, with six of their seven wins coming by 6+ goals.

The Kangaroos have superior talent, fitness and structure and they will win this game… the only question is by how much? I believe the Bombers can be competitive for 1 or 2 quarters but will fall short against the strongest and most dominant team in the competition. I expect the Kangaroos to knock it out in the second half and add over 6 wins to their tally.

Collingwood v Adelaide

Sunday 5:05pm AEDT, Victoria Park.

The Magpies put up a strong fight against the Power last weekend but they were not strong enough to go with them in the second half as they ended up losing by eight points. The Pies have lost seven of eight games this season, with their only win coming against the last-place Suns.

After a normal few weeks of performances in recent weeks, a seemingly much hungrier and more determined Crows team took the field last weekend and handed the Giants a 64-point belt. Ebony Marinoff continued her incredible season with 41 strikeouts and 17 tackles, helping her team return to the top four with a 6-2 record.

The Magpies are limping towards the end of the home and away season and will be wary of facing one of their top clubs this weekend. If the Crows’ latest performance is a sign of things to come, it could backfire on the Pies. The Ravens will win this by 40+.