Sir Doug Nicholls and round 10 has plenty of exciting fixtures for fans to look forward to, starting with Port Adelaide and Melbourne on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.
The Western Bulldogs and the Crows travel to Ballarat to face off at MARS Stadium while Fremantle host Geelong in the west.
QClash 24 takes place Saturday night at the Gabba while Dreamtime at the G between Essendon and Richmond is always entertaining.
The Harley Reid Cup (Hawthorn and West Coast) gets things going on the Sunday before the traditional afternoon time slot held for arch rivals Carlton and Collingwood.
Then St Kilda play visitors at Giants Stadium against GWS to complete the weekend.
The Sporting News have put together our betting predictions for Round 10 below.
Odds courtesy of Bluebet.
Last week, we scored four of our nine predictions.
Anderson fell just short of 30 disposals; Sydney lost; Fritsch kicked two goals; Cameron was goalless; De Goey kicked one.
Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide 4th) vs Naarm (Melbourne 2nd) best bets
Both teams come into this clash with a full head of steam.
Port Adelaide have won six on the trot while Melbourne have put a perfect month of football together.
The Demons have won the past three encounters and will take some confidence into Friday night knowing they love playing at Adelaide Oval, albeit in front of a hostile crowd.
A top-four match up has plenty riding on it and supporters will look to the big players to stand up.
For the Power, it’s going to be their midfield through the likes of Zak Butters and Connor Rozee while Melbourne has a host of bona fide stars like Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
If the Demons are to win, both Petracca and Oliver must dominate and get ahold of Ken Hinkley’s men, which includes hitting the scoreboard.
Since the start of 2021, Melbourne have lost four games when the pair both gather over 30 disposals each.
The duo would be towards the top five of the Brownlow count as we speak and will continue their incredible form.
Christian Petracca 30+ disposals – $2.05
North Melbourne (16th) vs Sydney (14th) best bet
No one predicted Sydney’s fall from a Grand Final berth last year to be this dire yet here we are.
The Swans are expected to beat North Melbourne comfortably under the roof at Marvel Stadium despite the lengthy injury list they are currently dealing with.
The Kangaroos’ season continues to go from bad to worse after suffering their seventh loss in a row to Port Adelaide last week.
And to make matters worse, senior coach Alastair Clarkson is taking time away from the club to deal with the ongoing Hawthorn racism allegations that have been lingering for the better part of a year.
Nevertheless, this match couldn’t have come at a better time for Sydney who are on a four-game losing streak and in desperate need of confidence.
After a goalless fortnight for the first time since 2013, Lance Franklin will have his sights set on a big game, being the only available key forward in the side.
Franklin usually takes aim at North Melbourne, kicking the fourth most goals against any other side in his career including the famous 13 when he was still at Hawthorn.
Can he do it again?
Lance Franklin to kick 3+ goals – $2.30
Western Bulldogs (6th) vs Adelaide (8th) best bet
This is shaping up to be the game of the round despite the other match ups.
Hosted in Ballarat, the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide are playing some inspired football that has both clubs in finals contention.
The Bulldogs have won four on the trot and six of their past seven while the Crows have only dropped games to Collingwood and Geelong in the last four weeks, although the result could have easily gone the other way.
Last year, at MARS Stadium, Adelaide walked away victors by one solitary point and will have complete confidence that they can do that again.
However, the form of Luke Beveridge’s men will be hard to stop and is reflected by in-and-under midfielder Tom Liberatore, who Champion Data ranked second in the league behind his captain Marcus Bontempelli after round nine.
‘Libba’ is putting another career-best season together and it’s impressive to watch, as the premiership Dog is relishing in more midfield minutes.
If Adelaide can stop the 30-year-old dishing it to the likes of Bontempelli and their good ball users, it will go a long way to winning this game.
However, it’s easier said than done.
Tom Liberatore 25+ disposals – $1.60
Walyalup (Fremantle 12th) vs Geelong (7th) best bets
Fremantle’s newfound form has this clash up in the air for tipsters,especially since the Dockers will play in front of a home crowd.
Geelong’s four-game winning streak came to an end against Richmond although the club shouldn’t be too dejected given their extensive injury list.
In 2022, the Dockers became one of very few teams to win down at Kardinia Park in a thriller and will have the belief to replicate that result at Optus Stadium.
For the first time this season, Cats spearhead Jeremy Cameron was kept to a solitary goal in last week’s loss to the Tigers and that won’t sit well with him.
The former Giant has been in career-best form and will like another chance to hit the scoreboard to get his club’s season back on track.
Leading the Coleman Medal, just, to Charlie Curnow, Cameron will be eyeing off a big performance against Fremantle.
Docker defender Alex Pearce will have his hands full, that’s for sure.
Jeremy Cameron 3+ goals – $1.50
Brisbane (3rd) vs Gold Coast (11th) best bet
QClash 24 is set for a spicy encounter between Queensland’s two clubs who have had bad blood between them.
Brisbane is arguably the in-form team in the competition, winning their past six matches comfortably while Gold Coast has claimed three of their last four games.
The Lions have won eight in a row against their cross-town rivals and are favourite to continue that stretch.
Played at the Gabba, the Suns will need to bring their A-game if they are any chance to cause an upset.
Charlie Cameron was uncharacteristically kept goalless for the 13th time since the beginning of 2019 and would like to rectify that performance.
Good luck Sean Lemmens.
Charlie Cameron 3+ goals – $1.55
Essendon (10th) vs Richmond (13th) best bet
Dating back to 2007, Essendon and Richmond have been a part of Dreamtime at the ‘G for an annual match during the Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which celebrates the contribution Indigenous players, both past and present, have had on our great game.
The Tigers have won the past 13 matches, dating back to 2014 and have won their last two clashes including against 2022 premiers Geelong.
As for the Bombers, the club’s past month hasn’t had the outcome they’d hope, losing all four games to very handy competition, so they shouldn’t be disheartened.
However, Saturday’s match shapes up to be season defining, with both clubs vying for the last spot or two of the eight if they get a run on in 2023.
Dustin Martin’s four goals last week was a brief window into the past and will hold him in good stead.
We’re tipping him to do something similar.
Dustin Martin 25+ disposals – $3.10
Hawthorn (18th) vs West Coast (17th) best bet
Not many eyes will be tuned into this game between the two teams who occupy the bottom spots on the ladder.
Hawthorn and West Coast have only claimed one victory each in 2023 with percentages just over 60, indicating heavy losses.
Played down at UTAS Stadium, the Hawks are heavy favourites given their potential and the length injury list the Eagles possess.
Sam Mitchell’s men should win, otherwise the ‘T’ word (tanking) will reverberate through the AFL world.
Hawthorn to win – $1.27
Carlton (9th) vs Collingwood (1st) best bet
A traditional Sunday afternoon clash between the two biggest clubs in the land is set to descend on the MCG at 3:20pm AEST.
Collingwood – who’ve dropped only one game – are playing inspired football and look unstoppable under Craig McRae, who keeps producing innovative ways to keep his men in check.
As for Carlton, their past month has resulted in only one win against West Coast and their backs are firmly against the wall.
However, what better way to make a statement than beating your arch rivals.
Harry McKay has struggled to produce a consistent season, especially in front of goals, with his partner-in-crime Charlie Curnow shouldering most of the load.
The Pies have been stingy so far in 2023, sitting second for points against (634) and will look to keep it that way.
If the Blues are any chance, their twin towers need to fire, big.
Plus, Curnow loves the big stage.
Charlie Curnow 3+ goals – $1.60
GWS (15th) vs St Kilda (5th) best bet
Both sides are coming off comprehensive losses at the hands of Collingwood and Adelaide and will want to respond this week.
St Kilda’s resurgence into finals contention under Ross Lyon has shocked most but should come as no surprise given their start to 2022.
GWS is under new direction, with Adam Kingsley finding his way as senior coach.
The Giants have been valiant in the first nine games and showcased plenty of positives despite what the win-loss column says.
Max King is set to return for the Saints and will be welcomed back with open arms given his long absence due to a shoulder injury while Giants skipper Toby Greene is ready to go.
Greene’s 2023 has been All Australian-esque, slotting 20 goals from seven games, including three hauls of four.
If the Giants are to cause an upset, the captain will need to stand up.
Toby Greene 3+ goals – $1.65