Grand Final Rematches and Easter Feasts: The Punter's Guide to Round 3
The fixture bosses have served us a treat for the Easter long weekend. We have a Grand Final rematch to kick things off and the traditional Easter Monday clash to close it out. For those looking at the markets, the disparity between the contenders and the pretenders is starting to widen, which opens up some serious value for our AFL Round 3 2024 tips.
It all starts at the Gabba. The Brisbane Lions are winless and ferocious. They welcome Collingwood back to the scene of last year's prelim heartbreak, and frankly, the Lions look primed to explode. We are backing Brisbane to cover the line comfortably. The Gabba remains a fortress where visiting teams go to die, and the Magpies have looked a step off the pace defensively. Expect the home side to make a statement.
Down in Melbourne, Marvel Stadium is going to see some heavy scoring. Both Carlton and the Western Bulldogs play under the roof against defences that are, to put it politely, generous. The Blues face North Melbourne in a Good Friday clash that could get ugly very quickly. Carlton's forward line is built to dismantle inexperienced defences, making the big line cover a very attractive play for your AFL multi bets this week. Similarly, the Dogs face an Eagles outfit that struggles to stop momentum on fast decks. We are looking at significant margins in both these fixtures.
One of the smarter plays of the round sits with St Kilda. They face Essendon in a game the bookies have relatively close, but the stats tell a different story. Ross Lyon's defensive structure travels well, and the Saints have a Top 8 pedigree that the Bombers are still chasing. St Kilda's ability to strangle opposition ball movement makes them a great straight-up bet.
We wrap up the round with the Cats and Hawks. Geelong has historically owned Easter Monday. While Hawthorn shows glimpses of exciting youth, they lack the hardened bodies to go four quarters with the Cats. Geelong covering the line looks like one of the safer plays to anchor your Round 3 betting tips.
This is a weekend for backing the teams with established systems. The top-tier sides are looking to separate themselves from the pack, so don't be afraid to take the favourites at the line.