AFL Round 9 preview, match odds & betting news

Following another classic week of Australian football action, the 2021 AFL Premiership season has even more huge matchups ready to go in round nine. Here is the lowdown for every game this week, as well as a look at the latest outright odds at Sportsbet.

AFL Round 9 betting odds & matchups

St Kilda Saints $3.03 vs Geelong Cats $1.39

Can the Saints make it three wins on the trot when they host Geelong at Marvel Stadium? The odds currently favour the Cats following their brilliant demolition of the Tigers last week, but you can never rule out St Kilda on its home deck at Marvel Stadium.

Sydney Swans $1.33 vs Collingwood Magpies $3.36

The Magpies finally secured a win last week against North Melbourne, but they must now travel to Sydney to take on the exciting Swans at the SCG. The Pies are known for their performances on the road, but it will take a huge effort to knock off John Longmire’s men this week.

Hawthorn Hawks $1.48 vs North Melbourne Kangaroos $2.67

Tasmanian footy fans are in for an interesting contest this week between the Hawks and the Kangaroos, who sit 17th and 18th respectively on the AFL ladder. David Noble had a chance to claim his first win as an AFL coach last week, but a poor final term cost the Roos the match. Can North Melbourne finally put a win on the board this weekend against the out-of-form Hawks?

Gold Coast Suns $3.55 vs Brisbane Lions $1.30

The Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions head to Metricon Stadium this Saturday for their 20th Q-Clash. Chris Fagan’s men have won the last four meetings with ease, but the Suns will be fired up after another slim loss to the Saints last week. The Lions are 13-6 against the Gold Coast since the Suns joined the AFL in 2011.

Richmond Tigers $1.32 vs GWS Giants $3.41

The Tigers and Giants faced off in the 2019 AFL Grand Final, but a lot has changed since that day. Damian Hardwick’s men were smashed by the Cats last week, completely unable to control Geelong’s talented trio of forwards. Could Toby Greene, Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg cause Richmond similar headaches this week at the MCG?

Port Adelaide Power $1.61 vs Western Bulldogs $2.32

This Saturday night clash at the Adelaide Oval will draw plenty of attention as two premiership contenders do battle for premiership points. The Power and Bulldogs both sit at $5.50 to win the outright market, but those odds could change depending on this match’s result. The Bulldogs should welcome back Tim English from concussion, while the Power will need to bring someone in to replace Dan Houston (shoulder).

Essendon Bombers $1.77 vs Fremantle Dockers $2.10

Both the Bombers and Dockers will look to get back on the winners’ list this Sunday when they clash at Marvel Stadium. Justin Longmuir’s men were valiant against the Lions last week, but they will need to spend another round on the road as they head over to Melbourne for this contest. The Bombers were unlucky against the Giants, but their momentum could prove valuable for this clash.

Melbourne Demons $1.27 vs Carlton Blues $3.80

Simon Goodwin’s Demons will aim for their ninth consecutive win of the 2021 season, but the Blues will be out to spoil the party. Carlton might have knocked off the Bulldogs if not for a brilliant final quarter from Marcus Bontempelli, and that form suggests they can match it with the top teams. The Dees are undefeated and will want to keep it that away.

West Coast Eagles $1.10 vs Adelaide Crows $7

The final match of round nine has the biggest differential in odds, as online bookmakers have the Eagles at an unbackable $1.10 against the Crows. Adelaide started the season with aplomb, but Matthew Nicks’ men have lost their last four matches to slide down the ladder. A big win here could see the Eagles jump inside the top four with a strong percentage.

AFL 2021 Premiership betting update

Four teams now share the top line of 2021 AFL Premiership betting after the Tigers slipped to $5.50 following their 63-point loss to the Cats. We identified the big value for Geelong last week at $10, but that price has dropped to $7 and will only continue to shorten if the Cats keep winning. The biggest smokey that could still impact the finals is GWS at $41, as the Giants’ price has gone up despite winning four in a row.