Carlton v Bulldogs AFL Round 3 tips & odds | Round 3 preview

Carlton vs Western Bulldogs best bets

Carlton vs Western Bulldogs match preview

Carlton will be look for their first win of the 2025 AFL Premiership season when they face the Western Bulldogs this Friday night at Marvel Stadium.

The Blues continued their tough start to the season last Thursday as they fell to Hawthorn by 20 points. Despite leading the game at half-time, Carlton struggled in the second half, kicking just 2.8.

Fading away in the second half has been a trend for the Baggers this year, after they also threw away a 41-point lead in their Round 1 clash with Richmond. Despite having one of the most talented lists in the AFL, Carlton have only shown glimpses of their best so far this season.

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The Bulldogs also went down in Round 2, losing to Collingwood by six points last Friday night. While they led at the main break, the Dogs gave up their advantage early in the second half and never got back ahead — although they did level the scores late in the piece.

At 1-1, the Bulldogs are hard to gauge at the moment, particularly in the continued absence of captain Marcus Bontempelli. But with a strong midfield group and plenty of key-position talent, they can push the top teams in the AFL.

As a result, the Dogs are slight favourites for this clash at $1.85 with top online bookmakers, while the Blues are at $2.02. The line is set at just 1.5 points.

Carlton vs Richmond team news

The Blues look set to regain key forward Harry McKay as he recovers from illness. Otherwise, there aren’t many other changes expected.

The likely matchup for McKay is Liam Jones, with the Bulldogs’ veteran defender set to return from a hamstring injury. Defender James O’Donnell is also expected to rejoin the side after recovering from a broken jaw, leaving players such as Buku Khamis and Taylor Duryea at risk of omission.

Carlton vs Western Bulldogs prediction

Despite starting the season 0-2, there is still plenty of time for the Blues to turn their season around, beginning with this clash. Expect key forward Charlie Curnow to have a much greater impact this week alongside Harry McKay, while the likes of Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh are among the premier midfielders in the AFL. Despite coming in as slight underdogs with BetOnline, back Carlton to improve on their second-half output and get the four points.

Carlton’s Zac Williams has been a revelation since moving to the forward line halfway through last season, kicking multiple goals in five of his last 11 full games — including last Friday. His breakaway speed and excellent finishing ability makes him the most dangerous of the Blues’ smalls. With the likes of Curnow and McKay getting all the attention, expect Williams to get away and kick two or more goals at $3.20 with leading sports betting sites.

Second-year Bulldog Joel Freijah has been a breakout player early in 2025, averaging over 25 disposals per game. Playing across half-back and the wing, Freijah thrives in the uncontested game and is one of the most trusted kicks in the team. At $2.55 with Bet365, back Freijah to continue his good form with 25 or more disposals.

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