AFL Round 10 Tips & Preview - Best bets for the Round 10 of the AFL home and away season

ROUND 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round)

Gold Coast and Hawthorn kick start Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round, with the Suns looking to continue their dominance over the Hawks outside Victoria. Gold Coast are 6-2 and undefeated at home in 2025, riding a seven-game winning streak at the Darwin venue, and have beaten the Hawks by an average of 64 points in their last five home meetings as the home side. Ben King (27 goals this season) and Noah Anderson (36 disposals in their last clash) are key threats, while the Suns lead the league in scoring and inside 50s. Despite Hawthorn’s 7-2 record and late surge to beat Melbourne last week, they may struggle in the tropical conditions and against a red-hot Suns outfit.

Carlton will look to even their season record when they face a depleted Sydney Swans side at the SCG in Round 10. The Blues have won four of their last five and come in with momentum, led by key midfielders Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, and George Hewett, and a forward line featuring Charlie Curnow (12 goals in his past four games) and Harry McKay. Sydney, sitting at 3-6, continue to struggle with injuries and scoring power, ranking 15th for points despite decent inside 50 numbers. The Swans have lost three of four at the SCG. Carlton’s midfield dominance and forward threats give them the edge in this clash.

Collingwood face Adelaide in a blockbuster Round 10 clash at the MCG, where the Magpies will look to extend their nine-game winning streak over the Crows. The 7-2 Pies boast the AFL’s best defence, conceding just 71 points per game, and return home after a strong win in Perth. Adelaide, at 6-3, edged Port Adelaide in a thrilling Showdown and rank second for scoring, but they’ve won just once in their past 11 visits to the MCG. Nick Daicos has dominated recent encounters, averaging 36 disposals in his last four against the Crows, while Taylor Walker has kicked 12 goals in his past four against the Magpies. Take Collingwood in a close one. 

Both teams enter the clash on five wins. The Bulldogs are tipped to rebound from a loss to the Suns, backed by strong midfield depth and attacking form, averaging 113 points per game since Sam Darcy's injury. Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore lead a dominant engine room, while Rhylee West has kicked 10 goals in the last four rounds. Essendon have won four of their last five but have relied on narrow wins against some questionable opposition and face depth concerns due to injuries. Despite Essendon winning their last meeting, the Bulldogs have claimed three of the past four encounters and look set to edge this one.

Port Adelaide host Geelong at the Adelaide Oval in a pivotal clash, with both sides looking to rebound from narrow losses. The Power, currently 4-5, will be eager to avenge last year’s 84-point finals drubbing by the Cats at the same venue, but they continue to struggle with converting inside 50s into scores. Geelong, sitting at 5-4, have been involved in multiple close contests this season and are expected to bounce back strongly after falling short against the Giants. With Bailey Smith in elite ball-winning form and Jeremy Cameron a consistent threat up forward, the Cats are tipped to edge out a Power side that’s been strong at home but inconsistent in attack.

The Kangaroos are favoured to break through for a much-needed win despite their modest 1-7-1 record. North enter the match on the back of a spirited draw against reigning premiers Brisbane and have shown notable defensive improvement in recent weeks. Luke Davies-Uniacke and Cam Zurhaar are expected to play key roles, with the latter having a strong goalkicking record against the Tigers. Richmond, surprisingly competitive in 2025 with three wins, continue to battle injury woes and rank poorly across key stats like clearances and inside 50s. While they’ve shown heart, the Kangaroos’ midfield edge and forward firepower may prove too much at the MCG.

Brisbane return to the GABBA on Sunday afternoon and will prove to be too strong for Melbourne. Despite a surprising draw against North Melbourne last round, the Lions boast a 7-1-1 record and remain dominant in clearances and inside 50s, with their midfield group in strong form and Eric Hipwood amongst the goals. In contrast, the Demons continue to struggle in front of goal, averaging under 60 points over the past three weeks, and come off a 35-point loss to Hawthorn. With Brisbane’s midfield depth and home-ground advantage, they’re expected to cover the line comfortably against a Melbourne side lacking attacking punch and consistency.

St Kilda are well-placed to secure a comfortable win over the winless West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium, having won their last four encounters by an average of 28 points. The Saints remain in finals contention and boast in-form players like Jack Higgins (23 goals in 2025), Jack Sinclair, and Jack Macrae, while the Eagles are bottom of the ladder and struggling across key stats including points conceded and disposals. Despite a narrow loss to Richmond last week, West Coast lack the midfield depth and scoring power to match a more balanced and experienced St Kilda side.