Melbourne v Richmond AFL Round 7 betting tips | April 24, 2025

Melbourne vs Richmond best bets

Melbourne vs Richmond match preview

Round 7 of the 2025 AFL Premiership season kicks off with Melbourne facing Richmond at the MCG in the traditional ANZAC Day Eve clash this Thursday night.

The Demons enter as strong favourites, with leading online bookies giving them odds of $1.27 to win. The Tigers are at $3.85, while the line is set at 23.5 points.

Last Saturday, Melbourne secured their first win of the season, beating Fremantle by 10 points at the ‘G. Led by five goals from small forward Kysaiah Pickett, the Demons were ahead at every change, holding off a late comeback to secure the upset win.

Despite the win, it is still a bleak picture for the Demons in 2025. Sitting in 17th with a terrible percentage, they will need a miracle to turn their season around.

The Tigers also produced an upset victory last Saturday, beating the previously undefeated Gold Coast Suns by 11 points at Marvel Stadium. Despite coming in as substantial outsiders with AFL betting sites, Adam Yze’s side shocked the Suns, producing a six-goal third quarter that proved the difference.

The 2024 wooden-spooners were expected to spend another season down the bottom of the AFL ladder this year. But with wins over the Carlton and now Gold Coast, opposition sides need to be wary of complacency.

Melbourne vs Richmond team news

Melbourne look set to regain veteran defender Steven May this week as he recovers from a foot injury. However, they will be without forward Daniel Turner as he enters concussion protocols, so expect Matt Jefferson to be included.

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Richmond will be without key defender Noah Balta after he was given a legal curfew that prevents him from playing in night matches. Ruckman Samson Ryan will also miss due to a foot problem, but forward pairing Rhyan Mansell and Jacob Bauer look set to return.

Melbourne vs Richmond predictions

Despite the Demons’ underwhelming efforts so far this season, they have far too much quality for the Tigers. Richmond’s key-position stocks have taken a major blow, and the return of May down back for Melbourne is a significant boost. The Tigers’ performances have been stronger in Victoria, so back the Demons to win by less than 40 points at $2.15 with leading Australian bookmakers.

Since returning from suspension in Round 4, Kysaiah Pickett has been the most dangerous man in the Melbourne forward line, with 12 scoring shots in three weeks. Richmond shouldn’t be able to match his speed and agility on the ground, and with the Demons tipped to have plenty of entries, expect Pickett to continue his good form with three or more goals at $2.40 with major sports betting sites.

For a side that has struggled to hit the scoreboard, Richmond youngster Seth Campbell has been very consistent in front of goal. The 20-year-old has kicked multiple goals in all but one game this season, including every match at the MCG. The Demons hold one of the worst defensive records in the AFL, so take Campbell to continue his good form with two or more goals at $2.60 with Bet365.

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