Carlton and Gold Coast face off in a crucial Round 22 clash at Marvel Stadium, with the Blues desperately trying to salvage pride after six losses in their past seven games, while the Suns surge toward a potential top-four finish. Carlton have lacked scoring power without Charlie Curnow and continue to struggle for efficiency inside 50, despite solid midfield efforts from Patrick Cripps and George Hewett. In contrast, the in-form Suns have won five of their last six, boast an 8-1 record against bottom-half teams, and are coming off an 84-point demolition of Richmond. With Noah Anderson dominating through the midfield and Ben King providing a reliable forward target, the Suns look well-positioned to end their three-game losing streak against the Blues and cover the line in this one.
AFL Round 22 Tips & Preview - Best bets for the Round 22 of the AFL home and away season
- Hawthorn aims for finals amidst injuries against Collingwood's solid defense.
- Geelong set for a big win over Essendon with Jeremy Cameron leading.
- Richmond vs St Kilda, Brisbane vs Sydney, offer pivotal face-offs with finals implications.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 30: Jai Newcombe of the Hawks attempts to mark over Darcy Moore of the Magpies during the round 12 AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on May 30, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Round 22 of the 2025 AFL season takes place from August 7. Adam Cusworth provides his best bets for the nine games taking place.
- Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG (7.30pm)
- Geelong Cats v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium (7.40pm)
- Richmond v St Kilda, MCG (1.20pm)
- Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba (4.15pm)
- Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)
- Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)
- GWS Giants v North Melbourne, ENGIE Stadium (1.40pm)
- Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (3.20pm)
- West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (5.10pm)
ROUND 22
Thursday August 7
Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG (7.30pm)
The Hawthorn Hawks face a crucial clash against the Collingwood Magpies at the MCG on Thursday night, with the Hawks fighting to keep their finals hopes alive while sitting seventh on the ladder. Despite recent injuries, including star midfielder Will Day being ruled out for the season, Hawthorn will rely on key players like Jai Newcombe and Conor Nash to step up. Collingwood, aiming to secure a top-two finish, have struggled with three losses in their past four games but remain a formidable defensive unit bolstered by returning stars like Jordan de Goey and Jeremy Howe. After a dominant win over Hawthorn earlier this season, the Magpies will look to maintain control with strong ball movement and forward threats such as Brody Mihocek. Expect a tightly contested match with both sides eager to claim vital points.
Friday August 8
Geelong Cats v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium (7.40pm)
Geelong are primed to deliver another blowout victory when they host a depleted Essendon side at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. The Cats have won nine of their last 11 games and are coming off back-to-back 150+ point tallies, driven by the red-hot Jeremy Cameron, who has kicked 23 goals in his past three games and is closing in on the elusive 100-goal mark for the season. Essendon, meanwhile, have lost nine straight and continue to battle a crippling injury list, averaging under 50 points per game across their last four. With the Bombers struggling for scoring options and Geelong in ruthless form, expect a big Cats win, led by Cameron and ball magnet Max Holmes.
Saturday August 9
Richmond v St Kilda, MCG (1.20pm)
Richmond Tigers face St Kilda Saints at the MCG on Saturday afternoon in Round 22, with the Saints expected to extend their recent dominance. St Kilda, sitting 14th with a 7-13 record, have won the past four meetings against Richmond—including a commanding 82-point win earlier this year—and come off back-to-back close victories. Richmond, struggling for consistency at 16th with just five wins, are coming off a heavy 84-point loss to Gold Coast but welcome back Tom Lynch from suspension. Despite Richmond’s flashes of promise, St Kilda’s strong ball-winning duo Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair should provide the Saints with the edge, making them the likely winners in a close contest within the 1-39 point margin.
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba (4.15pm)
Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans face off in a crucial Round 22 clash at the Gabba on Saturday night, with Brisbane aiming to secure a top-four spot after an impressive five wins from their past six games. The Lions, led by Lachie Neale and Will Ashcroft, are strong at home and have dominated this rivalry, winning the last five meetings including the 2024 Grand Final. Sydney, out of finals contention but building momentum with four wins in their last five, will rely on elite midfielders Errol Gulden and Isaac Heeney to challenge Brisbane’s tough defense. With Brisbane’s forward Logan Morris coming off a six-goal haul, expect a tight contest, but Brisbane’s midfield strength and home advantage make them the likely winners by 1-39 points.
Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)
Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)
Fremantle head to Adelaide Oval full of momentum and finals intent as they take on a Port Adelaide side battling injuries and form in Saturday’s Round 22 clash. The Dockers have won 10 of their past 11 and are firing across the ground, with Patrick Voss, Jye Amiss, and Josh Treacy forming a dangerous forward trio, while Andrew Brayshaw continues to lead a dominant midfield. In contrast, the Power are limping to the finish line, coming off an 88-point loss to Geelong and averaging just seven goals across their last three games. While Fremantle haven’t won at the Adelaide Oval in six attempts, their current form suggests they can break that hoodoo, with Voss likely to impact the scoreboard again and Brayshaw a strong chance to hit 25+ disposals.
Sunday August 10
GWS Giants v North Melbourne, ENGIE Stadium (1.40pm)
GWS return to Manuka Oval in Round 22 needing a win to stay in the top-eight hunt, and they’re perfectly poised to bounce back against a struggling North Melbourne side. The Giants had won six straight before being crushed by the Bulldogs last week, but they’ve dominated the Kangaroos in recent meetings and will welcome back captain Toby Greene from suspension. With Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield leading a high-disposal game and Jake Riccardi dangerous up forward, GWS should prove too strong for a Roos outfit that’s lost six in a row and continues to leak points. Expect the Giants to respond in style with a big win.
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (3.20pm)
The Western Bulldogs face a must-win clash against the Melbourne Demons at the MCG as they fight to keep their finals hopes alive in Round 22. Sitting just outside the eight, the Dogs are coming off a demolition of GWS and boast a perfect 10-0 record against bottom-nine sides in 2025. But Melbourne, despite an inconsistent season, have shown fight — beating Brisbane and narrowly falling to Collingwood and Adelaide — and they’ve won the past three matchups between the sides at the ‘G. The Bulldogs will rely on their elite midfield duo of Bontempelli and Liberatore, as well as key forwards Naughton and Darcy, who combined for 10 goals last week. Meanwhile, the Demons will look to Bailey Fritsch and Kozzie Pickett to provide a spark up forward. Expect the Bulldogs to get the job done, but Melbourne should make them earn it.
West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (5.10pm)
Adelaide head west in Round 22 as they face the struggling West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium in what shapes as a serious mismatch. The ladder-leading Crows have dominated teams outside the top eight in 2025 and are riding high after a strong win over Hawthorn, while West Coast have slumped to 10 straight defeats and continue to sit bottom of the ladder. Adelaide’s firepower is peaking at the right time, with Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker and Izak Rankine combining for 10 goals last week, and their elite defence should comfortably handle the Eagles’ misfiring forward line. With Adelaide winning their past four games against West Coast by an average of 83 points, another blowout is firmly on the cards.
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