AFL round 8 fixtures, odds analysis & early tips

William Demamp

Sports News

April 28, 2026

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Collingwood will rest star veteran Scott Pendlebury against Hawthorn on Thursday night. 

The Magpies legend is fresh off 43 possessions against Essendon on Anzac Day, a career record for the 38 year old, but he is unlikely to front up against the third-placed Hawks. 

Pendlebury said his participation was a wait and see proposition, while Magpies coach Craig McRae was more emphatic about resting the 331 game veteran, with the all-time AFL games record within his sights. 

“He won’t play this game, then he’ll play Geelong and we’ll see where that goes and then we’ll have a conversation when that games done, how his body is and we’ll weigh up performance,” McRae said. 

“It’s a delicate balance.” 

The Magpies (3.01) are outsiders against Hawthorn (1.50) with Australian betting sites despite their thrashing of the Dons, which was inspired by the evergreen Pendlebury and Brownlow Medal fancy Nick Daicos, who overcame an error-riddled first half. 

Collingwood will almost certainly call up captain Darcy Moore after his hamstring injury, while Ed Allan could replace Pendlebury after his prolific game in the twos, although Harvey Harrison has continued to excel at the lower level and may get a look-in. Key forwards Buller (five goals) and Charlie West (three goals) were also impressive in the Magpies’ VFL win over the Bombers and one of them looms as the logical replacement for Tim Membrey, who will miss a month with a hamstring injury.

The Hawks will be boosted by skipper James Sicily and Dylan Moore, who both served a week’s suspension. The Hawks may also consider Will McCabe after he booted three goals in the VFL team’s 20-point win over Sandringham, but they have an abundance of key forwards. 

Henry Hustwaite racked up 31 possessions in the victory, but appears a long shot to earn a call-up with Moore ahead of him in the pecking order. 

Meanwhile, Friday night will see a double-header played, with Western Bulldogs hosting Fremantle at Marvel Stadium and Adelaide and Port Adelaide locking horns at the Adelaide Oval. 

Remarkably, Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton might play after his ugly incident in their big loss to Sydney, while Tim English, Arthur Jones and Tom Liberatore are all listed as tests.

The Dockers were narrow winners over Carlton last start, and they will fancy their chances of winning a seventh successive game, against the wounded dogs. 

Adelaide (1.52) is a heavy favourite to defeat Port Adelaide, with Dan Curtain almost certain to return after playing in the SANFL. 

The Power are coming off their best win of the season, after eclipsing Geelong on Saturday night. They would be buoyed about the dominant games of Mitch Georgiades and Jason Horne-Francis, with the team beginning to gel under first year coach Josh Carr. 

On Saturday, Essendon (7.50) face an uphill battle against Brisbane (1.08) but they could be boosted by the return of Nik Cox for his first game since late 2024, after an injury interrupted run, while Archer May is touch and go after a knock to his knee against Collingwood. 

West Coast (1.43) will be in the rare position of starting favourite when they clash with Richmond (2.86) at home, with the Eagles needing to lift after being embarrassed by St Kilda on Sunday. 

Geelong faces a tricky encounter at home against North Melbourne, with several key players under injury clouds, and their form wavering after the disappointng Power display. But the home track will help, and Sam De Koning is a likely replacement for the injured Mark Blicavs. 

Carlton will host St Kilda at Marvel Stadium to close out Saturday, with the Blues a 2.63 outsider. The Saints (1.49) blitzed West Coast last start to keep the wolves at bay, but overall Ross Lyon’s team has improved. 

On Sunday, Sydney (1.18) will be the latest club to face the giant-killer Demons (4.95), who have stunned the AFL to sit fourth on the ladder with five wins from seven starts. But the ladder leading Swans present a stiff challenge at home, even without several of their stars. 

Gold Coast and GWS will close out AFL round 8 in what looms as a cracking contest, with both of these teams having claims on a finals position – words that have not been often said about the expansion clubs. 

AFL round 8 fixture & early tips

AFL round 8 will kick off on Thursday, April 30 and wind up on May 3. Our early tips for AFL round 8 are highlighted.