AFL Round 15 Tips & Preview - Best bets for the Round 15 of the AFL home and away season

ROUND 15

Fremantle are well placed to keep their top-eight hopes on track when they host an injury-hit Essendon at Optus Stadium on Thursday night. The Dockers have strung together four straight wins, with Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong continuing to drive their midfield dominance, while the former Bomber rookie, Patrick Voss, has added real punch up forward. In contrast, Essendon have dropped their past three and are leaking scores at an alarming rate, coming off a demoralising 91-point loss to Geelong. While the Bombers have no shortage of ball-winners, their lack of forward firepower and defensive stability has proven costly. At home and in form, Fremantle are expected to cover the line, with Voss tipped for multiple goals against his old side.

Geelong will look to extend their red-hot form and fortress record at GMHBA Stadium when they host the Brisbane Lions in Friday night’s Round 15 blockbuster. The Cats have surged into second place on the ladder after five straight wins, including a dominant 91-point demolition of Essendon, and have not lost to Brisbane at home since 2003. In contrast, the Lions have stumbled in recent weeks, with just two wins and a draw from their past six games, plagued by poor kicking accuracy and inconsistent defensive pressure. While Brisbane claimed victory in their earlier 2025 encounter, Geelong’s firepower—led by Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale—makes them hard to tip against at home. Expect the Cats to continue their winning streak, with Neale looming as a key contributor inside 50 and Dayne Zorko likely to rack up possessions for the visitors.

North Melbourne are a live chance to turn the tables on Carlton when they meet in Saturday’s AFL Round 15 clash at the MCG. While the Blues thrashed the Kangaroos by 82 points earlier this season, North have been significant improvers since, pushing several sides to the brink and tightening up defensively. Six of their past seven games have been decided by 10 points or less, and their dominance around the stoppages could cause issues for a Carlton side still battling inconsistency. Harry Sheezel continues to rack up big disposal numbers, while Carlton’s Zac Williams looms as a scoring threat again after booting four in their last meeting. With Charlie Curnow under an injury cloud, the Kangaroos look well-placed to cover the line in what should be a much tighter contest.

Port Adelaide will look to extend their strong recent record against Sydney and keep their finals hopes alive when they host the Swans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. The Power come in with momentum after back-to-back wins, including a 25-point upset over Melbourne in Round 14. Mitch Georgiades was electric with seven goals in that match and looms as a key threat again, while Zak Butters and Connor Rozee continue to lead with high disposal games. Sydney have been inconsistent and, despite a solid win over Richmond before the bye, their recent trips to Adelaide Oval against the Power have been disastrous – losing their last five, including a 112-point thrashing in 2024. With the Swans’ forward line still lacking punch, expect Port’s home dominance to continue.

Collingwood are expected to make light work of a struggling St Kilda side when the two meet at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night. The ladder-leading Magpies come off the bye full of momentum, having won their past five, including a gritty one-point win over Melbourne. In stark contrast, the Saints have managed just two wins in their last nine games and were thrashed by 72 points against the Bulldogs in Round 14. Scoring has been a major concern for Ross Lyon’s men, and they now face the best defensive team in the AFL. Expect Collingwood to cover the line with ease, led by Josh Daicos in the midfield and Jamie Elliott up forward, who has kicked 18 goals from his past five outings. The Saints may have pinched the win last year, but this time, the Magpies look set to flex their premiership credentials.

Sunday’s clash between the GWS Giants and Gold Coast Suns at ENGIE Stadium looms as a pivotal moment in the 2025 AFL season, with both sides eyeing finals contention. GWS enter the Round 15 showdown full of confidence after toppling the reigning premiers, Brisbane, with Jesse Hogan and Lachie Whitfield in blistering form. The Suns, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from consecutive losses, though their elite clearance work and inside 50 dominance remain key weapons. History favours the Giants, who have won their last four against Gold Coast by an average of 33 points, and with the return of Toby Greene likely, they’re tipped to extend that streak. Expect Whitfield to rack up possessions and Hogan to hit the scoreboard as GWS look to derail the Suns’ top-four push.

The Western Bulldogs are primed to deliver another statement performance when they face a struggling Richmond outfit on Sunday afternoon at Marvel Stadium. Sitting just inside the top eight, the Dogs are fresh off a thumping 72-point win over St Kilda and have made a habit of punishing teams below them on the ladder, averaging victory margins of 81 points in such matchups. Richmond, by contrast, are languishing in 17th and enter Round 15 on a four-game losing streak, having managed just four goals in their last outing. With the Bulldogs dominating centre clearances and boasting firepower in Sam Darcy, Aaron Naughton, and disposal machines like Bailey Dale, they’re expected to cover the line comfortably. Expect Luke Beveridge’s side to control the contest from the outset in what shapes as a one-sided affair.

Bye: Adelaide Crows, Hawthorn, Melbourne, West Coast Eagles