GWS v Collingwood betting tips & top odds | AFL Opening Round

GWS v Collingwood best bets

AFL Opening Round: GWS v Collingwood preview

The GWS Giants and Collingwood will clash as the 2025 AFL Premiership season picks up pace at ENGIE Stadium this Sunday afternoon. Both sides harbour premiership aspirations and will be anxious to start their campaigns with a bold showing.

Leading AFL bookies predict a hard-fought battle, with the line hovering around 5.5 points. The Pies are narrow favourites at $1.70 in head-to-head betting, while the Giants are priced at $2.20.

GWS will be out for redemption in 2025 after a pair of heart-breaking losses deep in September ended their 2024 flag hopes. They finished the home-and-away season with 15 wins and eight losses, good for fourth on the AFL ladder, but need to find a new level of grit to grind out the close games when the pressure is on.

The Giants boast a young squad that should be full of running throughout the season. Their depth is bound to be tested but will undoubtedly unearth exciting new talent as the season unfolds, and they will field several debutants in this Opening Round matchup.

Collingwood endured a tough 2024 season, narrowly missing the opportunity to defend their premiership after finishing ninth in a nail-biting end to the home-and-away season. The Pies are now at a crossroads, with a gap between their seasoned veterans and young stars that may be exposed over a tough campaign.

The Pies dropped their opening three matches in 2024, and that slow start proved costly. They will be desperate to avoid such an error and appeared steady and confident during the pre-season.

GWS vs Collingwood team news

The Giants will be missing key midfielder Tom Green, Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan, and the newly recruited Jake Stringer. Filling these gaps will be debutants Cody Angove, Oliver Hannaford, and James Leake.

It remains to be seen how this lineup will hold together under top-level pressure.

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The Magpies will unveil recruit Harry Perryman, who joined on free agency from the Giants and is expected to add stability to the backline. Tim Membrey is another addition to the Collingwood squad, and the former Sydney and St Kilda key forward could prove to be a difficult matchup.

On the injury front, the Pies will be missing Jordan De Goey with a knee complaint, Mason Cox with a finger issue, and Tom Mitchell from the midfield. Dan Houston is suspended and will need to wait a week before slipping on the black and white.

GWS vs Collingwood predictions – AFL 2025

Despite an unsettled lineup, punters might be underestimating the firepower of the Giants heading into this clash. The narrow losses that ended their 2024 campaign should have lit a fire under a squad that bristles with young talent. Back the Giants to get within 5.5 points at $1.90 with online bookmakers.

GWS veteran Callan Ward continues to be one of his side’s most reliable performers. The 34-year-old kicked 13 goals from 20 appearances in 2024 and looks sure to contribute again this season with a bit more time in the forward line. Back him at $2.15 with Neds to boot at least one goal.

This shapes as a tight affair that might not be conducive to free-scoring ball movement. Rain is forecast across the weekend, so conditions are bound to be tricky come game time. For that reason, under 165.5 points shapes as the likely option at $1.90 with major betting sites.

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