AFL Round 3 preview, betting odds & market news

Following another classic round of AFL football packed with brilliant highlights and nail-biting contests, round three of the 2021 AFL Premiership season is shaping up to be a beauty as well. Here is a look at the upcoming Easter weekend round, with odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au.

AFL Round 3 odds & matchups

Collingwood Magpies $1.80 vs Brisbane Lions $2.05

COVID-19 has officially made its first move of the 2021 AFL season, as the Brisbane Lions have been forced to stay in Melbourne and play this Thursday night match at Marvel Stadium instead of the Gabba. Oscar McInerney was subbed out of last week’s match with an ankle injury, meaning he may not be available here, which would give Brodie Grundy free rein in the ruck. The Magpies looked much better against Carlton last Thursday night and would fancy their chances of knocking off the Lions.

North Melbourne Kangaroos $8 vs Western Bulldogs $1.08

These two sides are in contrasting positions; the Western Bulldogs are approaching the premiership window, while North Melbourne could be destined for the wooden spoon. The Roos were beaten badly by the Gold Coast Suns last week and will want to bounce back against the Dogs, but an in-form Marcus Bontempelli and his powerful midfield brigade will be hard to stop this Good Friday.

Adelaide Crows $2.24 vs Gold Coast Suns $1.65

The Crows started strong in round one with a big win over the Geelong Cats, but they fell to the Sydney Swans on the weekend, while the Suns posted a 59-point win over North Melbourne. All eyes will be on Taylor Walker, who has kicked 11 goals in the first two weeks. The Suns will play Sam Collins on the experienced forward, which should be a great battle that could decide the match.

Richmond Tigers $1.27 vs Sydney Swans $3.78

Both the Tigers and Swans have started their seasons with two straight wins, yet it is clear who the punters favour for this one. John Longmire has three future stars in Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell and Logan McDonald playing terrific footy early in their maiden AFL campaign, but it will take something special for the Swans to beat Damian Hardwick’s all-conquering Richmond side at the MCG.

Essendon Bombers $3.80 vs St Kilda Saints $1.27

Port Adelaide outfit completely belittled the Bombers last weekend, but the worst aspect of the game came from the injury report. Dyson Heppell was a late out due to a back complaint, while Jye Caldwell (hamstring), Sam Draper (ankle) and Dylan Shiel (knee) all went down during Essendon’s 54-point loss. The Saints must punish the Dons if they want to get their season back on track.

West Coast Eagles $2.04 vs Port Adelaide Power $1.81

This mouth-watering contest could be a 2021 finals preview as the Eagles and Power lock horns at Optus Stadium. Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling combined for seven goals last week, while Charlie Dixon and Mitch Georgiades put eight past the Dons. Luke Shuey could return for the Eagles and provide a much-needed spark to their midfield, while the Power may bring back the electric Connor Rozee.

Carlton Blues $1.43 vs Fremantle Dockers $2.86

A poor fourth quarter against the Magpies leaves the Blues 0-2, and their finals hopes will be hanging by a thread if they can’t stop the rot this weekend. The Dockers were abysmal in front of goal again, but they still smashed the Giants. Nat Fyfe was concussed during Sunday’s match and will be sidelined for this contest, giving the Blue Baggers a huge opportunity to get their first victory of the season.

GWS Giants $2.25 vs Melbourne Demons $1.65

Two of the most intriguing teams entering the 2021 season will face off in Canberra this Sunday as the GWS Giants take on Melbourne. Simon Goodwin’s Demons have started the season in fine form, collecting two wins from two matches, but GWS coach Leon Cameron is under immense pressure after two bad losses. Both teams have impressive midfield groups, but the Demons look much stronger across the entire ground.

Geelong Cats $1.26 vs Hawthorn Hawks $3.90

Easter Monday has provided footy fans with some cracking contests, as the traditional meeting between Geelong and Hawthorn always brings out the best in both teams. The Cats will be without another key player, as Gary Rohan has been suspended for striking Lachie Neale. Online bookmakers are giving the Hawks great value despite the Geelong outs, so the +23.5 handicap is sure to attract plenty of interest.

AFL 2021 Premiership market update

The Sydney Swans have convinced punters to jump on board the bandwagon, as they have dropped from $41 to $26 with leading AFL betting sites after their big victory over the Crows. Chris Fagan’s Lions have dropped out of the top four candidates, falling from $8 to $11 after a devastating one-point loss to the Cats. Keep an eye on the Melbourne Demons at $21, as they are 2-0 with a few key players set to return from injury. The Gold Coast Suns have also shortened to $34 from $51 after their round-two win over the deplorable Kangaroos.