Round 5 kicks off on Thursday night.
Melbourne hosts Brisbane at the MCG in a blockbuster clash to kick off the round.
Friday sees the Dogs and Dons meet at Marvel before four games take place on Saturday with interesting matchups across the day.
We've only got the two games on Sunday with both Collingwood and Sydney enjoying a bye from playing in Opening Round.
See our tips and predictions for Round 5 below.
Western Bulldogs v Essendon
Friday - 7:40pm AEST – Marvel Stadium
Essendon didn’t show up to their biggest test of the young season so far last week, will they seek redemption on Friday night?
Facing off against Port Adelaide on their home turf is one of the toughest challenges in football this season, and the Bombers were the Power’s latest victim last week, being on the receiving end of a 69-point thumping.
Yet with a gutsy win over the Saints back in Round 3 under their belt, Essendon would have real confidence that they can claim a big scalp in the form of the Bulldogs.
The Dogs are coming off a heart-breaking loss to the undefeated Geelong over in Gather Round, dominating the midfield battle but still falling short by four points.
Having battled the stranglehold that is the Cat’s transition defence, Luke Beveridge’s men will be thrilled to take on an Essendon side that gives their opponents plenty of freedom.
The Bombers have had defensive struggles all season, conceding the third-most points per game in the competition, however their staunch effort against St Kilda proved that they are capable of locking a side down.
If Essendon can channel that defensive pressure they showed in Round 3, they’ll have a real chance at triumphing over a bona fide finals contender.
Yet if the Bulldogs can establish their game early in the prime time clash, their vaunted midfield could see this one get out of hand in a hurry.
Tip: Bulldogs by 22 points.
Jack Makeham
GWS v St Kilda
Friday - 1:45pm AEST – Manuka Oval
Manuka Oval will play host to a fascinating clash between two teams in good form when GWS hosts St Kilda.
The undefeated Giants are in red-hot form, they’re healthy and are likely the early premiership favourite.
The Saints meanwhile are 2-2, but could have also been 4-0 with some accuracy in front of goal.
St Kilda looks a different team in 2024, taking the game on with run and carry, utilising their offensive weapons across half back.
Only Fremantle has conceded fewer points per game so far this season than GWS and the Saints, indicating it will could turn into a bit of a scrap in Canberra.
However, the Giants have been an incredible offensive side so far this year too, leading the league in points per game as well at 115. Of course, they’ve played West Coast and North Melbourne.
This is a serious test for GWS and their top eight credentials. St Kilda has had the wood on them generally, winning four of their last five. Though the Giants were the better team in last year’s Elimination Final.
Tip: GWS by 14 points.
Nic Negrepontis
Carlton v Adelaide
Saturday - 4:35pm AEST – Marvel Stadium
The undefeated Carlton host the winless Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Blues are just finding ways to win at the moment despite not being at their best. It was a great escape against Fremantle in Gather Round, but they won’t mind how as long as the four points keep coming in.
The Crows, on the other hand, are struggling to come up with ways to win. They’ve been in almost every game, losing by 6 points to Gold Coast, 19 points to Geelong and 15 points to Melbourne last weekend.
Adelaide’s forward connection is letting them down right now, with enough forward 50 entries to sit eighth in the league, but the second lowest score. It has been a point of discussion for a few weeks now and something Matthew Nicks will need to fix quickly.
However, that will be some sort of test against Michael Voss’ well-drilled Blues who can grind out wins at the death.
Adelaide has won its last two against Carlton but they both came at the Adelaide Oval. Prior to that, the old dark navy blue had won two on the trot at Marvel.
The Crows are likely to huff and puff and have their chances, but until we see some semblance of forward line efficiency, it’s hard to tip them confidently especially against a side yet to taste defeat in 2024.
Carlton has Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay to do some damage in attack and with an in-form midfield they should be too strong for the visiting Crows.
Tip: Carlton by 18 points.
Andrew Slevison
Gold Coast v Hawthorn
Saturday - 7:30pm AEST – People First Stadium
Two teams who are desperate to find themselves back on the winners list.
The Suns have lost in back-to-back games, falling heavily to the Dogs before the bye in Round 2, and coming up short against the Giants during Gather Round.
With a flying midfield balance, featuring Matt Rowell in career-best form, they will look to dominate the centre of the park against a Hawthorn side with the third least clearances in 2024.
After a promising start to Damien Hardwick’s life in the Gold Coast, the Suns need to put away bottom-half opponents if they want to consider September football.
With losses coming against teams predicted in and around the eight, the Suns must find a way to win against the bottom half sides.
The Hawks are yet to register a win this season. Despite gutsy performances against the Cats, and nearly nicking the Pies late at Adelaide Oval, there are signs of a strong young team that are yet to put it all together.
With James Worpel in top form, and a very impressive second half against the reigning premier, this will be Hawthorn’s best opportunity at a victory thus far.
Gold Coast put the Hawks away by 67 points in their last meeting in June of 2023, and while it’s unlikely that such a result will repeat, the Suns may have too much talent across the ground.
Tip: Gold Coast by 22 points.
Jaiden Scibberas
Port Adelaide v Fremantle
Saturday - 7:30pm AEST – Adelaide Oval
Fremantle get a chance to redeem themselves at the Adelaide Oval just one week on from losing in dramatic fashion at the same venue during Gather Round.
Both sides enter this clash with records of 3-1 and this looms as a genuine eight-point game with the Power and Dockers both vying for similar spots on the ladder come season’s end.
This game will no doubt be won in the midfield with probably the two best young on-ball units going head-to-head.
Connor Rozee is in immense form after he had three goals and 36 disposals last week and he’s supported by Jason Horne-Francis and Zak Butters.
For Fremantle, Caleb Serong is red-hot and Luke Jackson has been everywhere in the ruck. They’re both supported by Andrew Brayshaw and Hayden Young.
Then we have the older bulls going at it in Brownlow Medal winners Nat Fyfe and Ollie Wines.
If Port Adelaide wins or breaks even in this battle, that should be enough to see them through at home. If Fremantle can get on top at the source, that’s their key to victory.
Port Adelaide deserve to go in favourites, but Fremantle have been strong both defensively and in the midfield in 2024 so far.
You’ve got to go with the Power, but it wouldn’t shock at all to see Freo get the job done after their opening month.
Tip: Port Adelaide by 19 points.
Lachlan Geleit
Geelong v North Melbourne
Sunday - 1:00pm AEST – GMHBA Stadium
An undefeated Geelong outfit up against a winless North team, the outcome speaks for itself.
The Cats have won this matchup the last eleven games in a row, with a staggering average margin of victory of 78 points in this matchup.
North will struggle to break this streak, partly due to their woeful defensive unit which has conceded 118 points per game in 2024 and faces a dynamic Geelong forward line features the likes of Oliver Henry, Tyson Stengle and Tom Hawkins.
This game will see Jeremy Cameron further up the ground, starring in a wing-role against the Doggies last week which saw him gather his equal-second career high game of 27 disposals, along 2.4 in front of the goals.
North will be unable to Geelong’s forward firepower however; the emergence of Charlie Comben seems real. Returning for his first game of the year last week, he starred with 25 disposals on 80 per-cent efficiency in a revitalised key defender role.
He was joined alongside Tristian Xerri as one of the stars last week in a poor North side, with the ruckman showcasing his abilities around the ground gathering a momentous 41 hit-outs, with nine tackles.
The midfield battle nevertheless favours the Cats who average an impressive 37 clearances per game, despite no players gathering over 25 disposals per game, proving their balance across the ground.
With the Roos winless in away games since Round 2 2023, we cannot see a way that they will come close to a Cats team who are firing and playing at the fortress down at GMHBA.
Tip: Geelong by 52 points.
Harry Attiwill
West Coast v Richmond
Sunday - 4:00pm AEST – Optus Stadium
The West Coast Eagles return home from Gather Round with a renewed sense of optimism after pushing the Sydney Swans for the full four quarters last week.
Harley Reid has already proved his credentials as an AFL footballer but his performance against the Swans enhanced his reputation as a generational talent.
With just 18 touches of the pill, Reid had four clearances, three inside 50’s, two goal assists and booted his first goal. The most impressive aspect to his performance was his seven broken tackles which fell just one short of the record held by Dustin Martin and Luke Davies-Uniacke.
It helped that Reid didn’t play a lone hand in last week’s 26-point loss with the Eagles’ senior players finding strong form including Elliot Yeo, Jeremy McGovern and Jayden Hunt.
Richmond were also in the losing column during Gather Round and the Tigers would be rueing a big missed opportunity by claiming a big scalp against St Kilda. The Tigers held the Saints to one goal at half time but would be disappointed that they were overrun in the third and fourth quarter.
Shai Bolton was at his brilliant best during Gather Round with a four-goal performance and has booted 10 goals in the past five matches against West Coast.
The positive for the Tigers is that they have won six of their past seven matches against West Coast which includes a 109-point thrashing at Optus Stadium in 2022. However, this is a different Richmond line-up featuring a first-year coach on his first trip to WA.
If West Coast are to claim their first win, hosting a weakened Richmond side in the first year of a rebuild at home is the best chance they have.
Tip: West Coast by 15 points.
Charles Goodsir
