AFL round 3 odds: Swans litmus test awaits after Gulden injury blow
Hawthorn will kick off AFL round 3 on Thursday night with an intriguing clash against a Sydney team rocked by injuries to two of their best players.
The Swans are sweating on the fitness of Errol Gulden (shoulder) and Isaac Heeney (hamstring) with coach Dean Cox refusing to rule the pair out of the Hawks clash, despite leaving the ground and not returning in their win over reigning premier Brisbane.
Cox said the pair would have scans in the coming days, with a timeframe them established for their returns.
MORE: AFL betting tips
Australian betting sites sense vulnerability and have installed the Hawks a 1.50 favourite to defeat the Swans (2.60), despite their unblemished record to start 2026.
Hawthorn booted 21.19 in their demolition of Essendon on Friday night, to highlight their premiership credentials, with Jack Gunston (five goals) and Nick Watson (four goals and 17 touches) very important to to the victory.
On Friday night, fifth-placed Adelaide (2.00 with Neds) will host third-placed Western Bulldogs (1.83), in what is looming as a cracking clash. The Crows will be boosted by the return of livewire forward Izac Rankine, while the Bulldogs are unlikely to make wholesale changes after their demolition of GWS.
The early fixture on Saturday will see Richmond (5.10) host the Gold Coast (1.17) at the MCG as the Suns look to bank another early season win, and a rare victory at the home of football.
GWS is a heavy favourite at 1.45 to defeat St Kilda (2.76) with the Saints desperate for a victory after their off-season recruiting spree. The Giants have a mountain of injuries and are vulnerable here, with this match one to keep a close eye on from a betting perspective.
On Saturday night, Fremantle (1.38) look to be in the box seat against Melbourne (3.07) despite the Victorian club recording a win over St Kilda on Sunday. The Dockers had Geelong on toast in their clash before they dropped the bundle and the Cats stormed home, with this game against the Demons a shot at redemption.
On Sunday, Port Adelaide (1.39) will attempt to bounce back against Essendon (3.01) in their battle the Adelaide Oval, after they lost to the much-improve North Melbourne on Sunday.
West Coast (2.42) and North Melbourne (1.57) will close out AFL round 3, with both of these teams success starved in recent times, although the Roos look primed to improve this year.
