AFL 2025 Round 22 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

With under a month to go in the AFL home and away season, we officially have a new ladder leader. A third loss in four games for the Pies saw the Crows jump past them into top spot, and means that just a game separates 1st from 5th and only one more game back to 8th. And with the Bulldogs loitering ominously one spot outside the eight despite their demolition job of the Giants, it’s very possible that one team currently inside the eight will not remain there. There are only a couple of games in Round 22 that aren’t significant in the race for finals spots, and it kicks off on Thursday night with perhaps the biggest of the lot when the Hawks take on the Magpies at the MCG. That begins what is likely the most important round of the season to date, and below you can check out the AFL tips and previews from our resident footy expert at Australianbettingsites for all nine games across the weekend.

Odds provided by Playup

• Date: Thursday, 7th of August
• First bounce: 7.30pm AEST
• Venue: MCG, Melbourne
• Broadcast info: Channel Seven (VIC, SA), 7Mate (NSW, QLD, WA), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Hawthorn Hawks Odds	Collingwood Magpies Odds
	$2.30	$1.62
	$2.25	$1.65
	$2.25	$1.63

Match Analysis

It’s fair to say that there is a little bit riding on this game. A month ago, the Magpies had a seemingly unassailable lead on top of the ladder, but two consecutive tight losses earlier in July were followed by a relatively comfortable loss to the Lions last weekend, enough to see them lose their grip on first. Their ability to finish top two remains in their own hands, but this is far from a guaranteed win and if they do lose it, they will likely end the round in 4th and only percentage ahead of 5th.

The Hawks, meanwhile, are the most likely candidate to fall outside of the top eight this weekend, but in contrast a win could see them move to within percentage of the top four. And they’re certainly not without a chance; they’ve been solid without being spectacular of late, but were really competitive in Adelaide against the Crows last weekend, something few teams can claim to have done.

The absence of Will Day for the remainder of the season is a massive blow, but they have been without him for large portions of the year already. The Hawks are a talented team but on paper, probably don’t have the depth that the Magpies do, particularly in the midfield. A month ago this would have looked like a game the Pies would almost certainly win, but they haven’t been themselves of late. Their indifferent form gives the Hawks a chance, but the Magpies are a champion team and with their backs against the wall, can come through with the goods.

Expert Tip

Magpies -7.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Pies badly need a win, and after a number of close losses in the past month can bounce back when they need it most.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Magpies 25+ @ $3.10 with Bet365
• Under 161.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet

• Date: Friday, 8th of August
• First bounce: 7.40pm AEST
• Venue: GMHBA Stadium, Melbourne
• Broadcast info: Channel Seven (VIC, SA), 7Mate (NSW, QLD, WA), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Cats Odds	Bombers Odds
	$1.01	$16.00
	$1.01	$21.00
	$1.01	$15.00

Match Analysis

There has been a reasonable amount of criticism regarding the Bombers’ raft of primetime games in recent weeks, and that noise is not about to quieten down this weekend. This week’s solitary Friday night slot will see arguably the worst team in the league at the moment with the exception of the Eagles face one of the toughest tests in footy when they head to the Cattery, and it’s hard to imagine this one not getting ugly.

Three wins in a row have seen the Cats put themselves in a strong position in 4th, and in the last couple of weeks they have been ruthless as they search for a potentially pivotal percentage boost. They’ve won their last two games by a combined 189 points, last week destroying the Power by 88 points in Geelong after beating the Roos by 101 the week prior.

The Bombers were actually competitive against the Swans last weekend, admirable given the extent of their injury list, but by and large that has not been the case of late and won’t likely be this weekend. They are virtually no chance of getting close in this game and appear almost certain to be on the receiving end of a blowout, with the Cats wreaking havoc on their home turf and Jeremy Cameron kicking another big bag as he hunts down the elusive 100-goal season over the coming weeks.

Expert Tip

Cats -66.5 @ $1.90 with PlayUp

The Cats beat the Power by 88 last weekend, and the Bombers are a substantially weaker opponent right now.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Jeremy Cameron to kick 6+ goals @ $2.85 with Bet365
• Jack Martin to kick 2+ goals @ $1.87 with Bet365

• Date: Saturday, 9th of August
• First bounce: 1.20pm AEST
• Venue: MCG, Melbourne
• Broadcast info: Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Tigers Odds	Saints Odds
	$3.60	$1.29
	$3.75	$1.28
	$3.65	$1.28

Match Analysis

There are plenty of significant games this weekend, but this is not one of them. Neither the Tigers nor the Saints will be playing finals this year and that’s been clear for some time, though in fairness to them both, they haven’t exactly thrown in the towel as the season has progressed. The Tigers were dreadful against the Suns last weekend, putting up their 7th lowest score in history, but in their three prior games they had picked up two wins and were relatively competitive against the Magpies.

The Saints, meanwhile, have actually won two on the trot! The first was one of the most thrilling victories in recent history when they (or should I say Nasaiah Wanganeen-Milera) beat the Demons by six points, and last week they backed it up admittedly unconvincingly with a nine-point win over the Kangaroos to take their record to 7-13.

The Saints remain in no-mans land in the longer term and badly need to convince Wanganeen-Milera to stay, and a third win on the trot would at the very least do them no harm in that regard. They’re not good enough to simply waltz to victory against the at-times plucky Tigers, but they should be too strong against a much younger and more inexperienced team.

Expert Tip

Saints to win by 1-39 @ $2.00

The Tigers can be competitive in this one, but the Saints should be too good.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Nasaiah Wanganeen-Milera to record 35+ disposals @ $2.12 with Bet365
• Under 160.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet

• Date: Saturday, 9th of August
• First bounce: 4.15pm AEST
• Venue: Gabba, Brisbane
• Broadcast info: 7Mate (NSW, QLD), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Lions Odds	Swans Odds
	$1.20	$4.60
	$1.22	$4.35
	$1.20	$4.50

Match Analysis

At the beginning of the year, a Grand Final rematch in Round 22 would have loomed as one of the games of the season, but it hasn’t exactly panned out that way. The Lions, as expected, are sitting inside the top 4 as they chase a second consecutive Grand Final, though with a relatively poor percentage they can ill-afford to lose this game if they want to remain there.

Fortunately for them, the Swans have been a shadow of the team they were last year throughout 2025. They have at least perked up as the season has worn on and if they hadn’t been so poor in the early parts of the season, could have made a run for the finals. But their loss to the Giants a fortnight ago put paid to their already slim hopes, and though they bounced back with a win last weekend they were far from convincing against the Bombers.

This is a really important game for the Lions, while with the Swans almost certain to finish in 10th with minimal scope to move up or down, the significance of the game for the visitors is much lower. If Sydney can find a way to muster up some enthusiasm for a game which ultimately doesn’t matter much for them they could at least make this a contest, but their last six quarters have been pretty average and the Lions should be much too good.

Expert Tip

Lions -27.5 @ $1.90 with PlayUp

The Lions, with their top 4 hopes on the line, should come out firing and win this easily.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Logan Morris to kick 3+ goals @ $2.10 with Bet365
• Will Ashcroft to record 30+ disposals @ $2.15 with Bet365

• Saints vs Tigers under 160.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet – The Tigers have really struggled to score for some time now, failing to surpass 58 points in seven of their last eight games. The Saints should keep them to a low score, but are not exactly the kind of team to put up a mammoth total themselves.
• Bulldogs over 100.5 total match points @ $1.89 with Bet365 – The Bulldogs have scored at least this number in five of their last seven games. On four of those occasions they’ve gone well past it, exceeding 130 points, while on one of the two occasions in which they didn’t crack the ton they got to 98.
• Crows -60.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365 – The Crows are on a tear at the moment and have demonstrated the capacity to absolutely destroy their opponents in recent weeks, while the Eagles are just an absolute basket case and were beaten by nearly 100 points by a pretty average Demons team last weekend.

Same Game Multi Tip

• Date: Saturday, 9th of August
• First bounce: 7.35pm AEST
• Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
• Broadcast info: Channel Seven (QLD), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Blues Odds	Suns Odds
	$4.00	$1.25
	$4.35	$1.22
	$4.10	$1.23

Match Analysis

It has been such a disappointing season for the Blues, and that continued last weekend with yet another loss to send their record to 7-13. As they have been for much of the year, they were reasonably competitive against the Dockers, but were ultimately just not good enough against a finals quality team. They face another one of them this weekend in the Suns.

Gold Coast are on the cusp of their first finals appearance in history following two consecutive big wins, last weekend making a mockery of the Tigers a week after destroying the Lions. They can’t count their chickens just yet though, and a surprise loss this weekend could see them lose their spot in the eight. But with an extra game in hand (and against the Bombers no less), they would need to make a monumental mess of things to miss the finals from here.

Historically the Suns have not travelled all that well, but they’ve been a whole lot better at it this year and should be good enough to win this despite having to travel to Melbourne for it. The Blues won’t likely get completely blown out, but they’ve made a habit of losing comfortably but not ugly to good teams, and that seems the most likely outcome in this game too.

Expert Tip

Suns 1-39 @ $2.05 with Bet365

It’s hard to see the Suns losing this, but the Blues can at least make it semi-competitive.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Under 171.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet
• Suns 1-24 @ $3.50 with PlayUp

• Date: Saturday, 9th of August
• First bounce: 8.10pm AEST
• Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
• Broadcast info: Channel Seven (SA), 7Mate (WA), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Power Odds	Dockers Odds
	$4.60	$1.20
	$4.00	$1.25
	$4.20	$1.22

Match Analysis

Ken Hinkley’s long career as coach of Port Adelaide is nearing an end, and it’s been a pretty grim one over the past fortnight. After losing the Showdown by 98 points two weeks ago, they lost by 88 to the Cats last weekend to make it three losses on the trot and take them to 8-12.

The Dockers, in complete contrast, have won four in a row and ten of their last 11, and have moved to 5th spot and only percentage outside of the top four in the process. But they remain precariously placed; while they are only a game from top spot and percentage outside the four, they’re also only one game clear of 8th and not entirely safe inside the top 8.

This is a must-win game for the Dockers, and they should be expecting to win it. The Power are clearly not without some very talented players, but they have endured a disappointing season and are only limping to its end. With plenty on the line, the Dockers can continue to prove their wares as a genuine contender with yet another win this Saturday night.

Expert Tip

Dockers -27.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Dockers are a legitimately good side, something which cannot be said for the Power at the minute.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Dockers to win by 40+ @ $2.60 with PlayUp
• Caleb Serong to record 30+ disposals @ $1.87 with Bet365

• Date: Sunday, 10th of August
• First bounce: 7.30pm AEST
• Venue: ENGIE Stadium, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Channel Seven (NSW), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Giants Odds	Kangaroos Odds
	$1.05	$10.00
	$1.06	$9.50
	$1.05	$10.00

Match Analysis

Following a really disappointing defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs last weekend, the Giants now sit precariously in 8th spot, ahead of the Dogs by just one game. Making matters worse, they have the worst percentage of the top 9 teams, so despite being just one game from the top 4 they are in reality a lot closer to being outside the top 8 than inside the top 4. Fortunately, they get what should be an easy win this weekend – and potentially a percentage-boosting one.

The Kangaroos have had yet another bad season, and despite the fact that their list seems to be unequivocally improving, the team as a whole continues to struggle to get results. They were at least competitive against the Saints last week, but it was still their sixth loss and many of those losses have not been close.

This is an important game for the Giants not just in terms of the four points, but also in terms of any added percentage they might be able to glean from victory. Bad as they were last week, their fortunes remain in their own hands and they should come out looking for a victory as hefty as they possibly can in this one. Betting sites have set the line at a solid 47.5 points, but that doesn’t look likely to be enough.

Expert Tip

Giants -47.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Giants have a point to prove after last week’s capitulation, and the Roos are just limping to the end of the season.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Over 165.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet
• Jesse Hogan to kick 4+ goals @ $2.60 with PlayUp

• Date: Sunday, 10th of August
• First bounce: 1.40pm AEST
• Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
• Broadcast info: Channel Seven (VIC), 7Mate (NSW, QLD, WA), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Demons Odds	Bulldogs Odds
	$3.90	$1.26
	$4.00	$1.25
	$3.90	$1.26

Match Analysis

It’s hard to believe that the Bulldogs remain outside the top 8, and could still very feasibly not make the finals. They have the third best percentage in the league, and while a lot of that has come from beating up on poor teams, last week they finally showed they can do it against top 8 sides too by belting the Giants to the tune of 88 points. With the Demons and then Eagles to come, all they need is a slip up from the teams above them and they will likely pounce, and if they do make their way into the finals they will be incredibly dangerous in September.

The Demons won’t like to think of themselves as easybeats and were at least able to flex their muscles against the hapless Eagles last weekend, but in reality they don’t have the ability to go with the Dogs if they’re anywhere near their best. The Dees have had a really bad season overall and now find themselves in football purgatory, and with nothing to play for it’s hard to see them matching it with the Dogs.

There will be plenty of talent in the midfield in this one; the Dogs’ is as good as any team in the leagues while the Dees still boast Gawn, Petracca, Pickett, Oliver and Viney. But the Dogs have the edge there and are a much, much better team around the rest of the ground, and the Demons won’t likely be able to stop their run and carry. Expect a comfy win for the Dogs.

Expert Tip

Bulldogs -25.5 @ $1.90 with EliteBet

The Dogs are just a much, much better team than the Dees and regularly beat up on bad teams.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Bulldogs to win by 40+ @ $2.90 with Bet365
• Bulldogs over 100.5 total match points @ $1.89 with Bet365

• Date: Sunday, 10th of August 
• First bounce: 5.10pm AEST
• Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
• Broadcast info: Channel Seven (SA, WA), Fox Footy

Bookmaker	Eagles Odds	Crows Odds
	$16.00	$1.01
	$15.00	$1.02
	$15.75	$1.01

Match Analysis

The only saving grace for the Eagles is that this game is being played in Perth, but regardless it’s one of the most lopsided matchups possible in the league. The Eagles, of course, are absolutely dreadful, tiers and tiers below every other team in the AFL, as their 1-19 record suggests, and even the Demons were able to beat them by 83 points last weekend.

The Crows, in complete contrast, now find themselves on top of the ladder after six consecutive wins. They were challenged by the Hawks last week in a topsy turvy game before coming out victorious, but while they needed every bit of their ability to get out of that one with the four points, they could win this one by ten goals in their sleep.

The Crows’ percentage is comfortably the best in the league and won’t likely be relevant for them, potentially unless they end up on the same number of wins as the Cats, so they don’t necessarily need to keep the pedal to the metal all game long. But they are such a good team and the Eagles are such a bad one that the 60.5-point line betting apps have set looks really short, regardless of how long the Crows keep their foot down. This could very easily be a triple-figure margin to conclude Round 22.

Expert Tip

Crows -60.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Demons beat the Eagles by 83 points last week – enough said.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Over 173.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet
• Crows to win by 100+ @ $8.00 with PlayUp