Collingwood v Geelong betting tips, prediction and odds analysis; AFL Rd 3 preview 

Welcome to our Collingwood v Geelong betting tips, prediction and odds analysis ahead of their AFL round 3 clash at the MCG on Saturday night. 

The Magpies have emerged as a dark-horse for 2022 after winning their opening two matches under new coach Craig McRae, with their new found scoring fluency getting fans excited. 

Geelong has won one and lost one to start their campaign and are again expected to challenge for a top four position, despite an ageing list. 

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They will also have added motivation for the Magpies’ clash with captain Joel Selwood set to become the most capped AFL captain of all-time, when he leads his team out for a 227th time, surpassing Carlton great Stephen Kernahan. 

Australian bookmakers expect the Cats to win this contest, pricing them at $1.43, while the Magpies have ballooned out to $2.75, after being as short as $2.50 when the markets opened. The line has been set at a very tempting 14.5. 

Collingwood has been forced to make two changes with Nathan Kreuger and Beau McReery both suffering injuries in their win over Adelaide. They will be replaced by star defender Brayden Maynard and will blood 2021 top draft pick Reef McInness for his debut after he was outstanding at VFL level. 

The Cats have also made two changes with young defender Sam De Koning and veteran ball-winner Shaun Higgins both earning a call up. They replace omitted pair Zach Guthrie and Luke Dahlhaus. 

Continue reading for our free Magpies v Cats winner prediction, tips and odds analysis ahead of their April 2 clash at the MCG. 

Collingwood v Geelong tips

Our AFL betting expert has examined the markets and found some value Collingwood v Geelong tips: 

Taylor Adams to have 25 touches

The Magpies tough ball-winner has had a somewhat slow start to the season, despite his team’s strong start to the year. Adams is likely to be front and centre against the Cats’ hardened midfield and the Magpies will need him to play well for them to win. He also has a great record against the Cats and will want to spoil Selwood’s big night. He is paying $1.45 with Neds Australia to get 25 touches. 

Tom Hawkins to kick 3+ goals

Hawkins will relish the absence of Magpies stalwart defender Jordan Roughead, although he now may find himself opposed to Darcy Moore or Jeremy Howe, who won’t make his life easy. If his midfield can get the ball in quickly and allow him to get one-on-one contests against his lighter opponents, he could have a strong game. Hawkins is paying $1.95 to kick 3+ goals. 

Collingwood +14.5 in line betting

The Magpies have played well enough in the last fortnight to push the Cats all the way in this contest, and we think the $1.90 line of 14.5 will be enough to get the biscuits.

Collingwood Magpies v Geelong Cats prediction 2/4

Collingwood will be seeking a 3-0 start to the season, but the betting sites have almost written off their chances of defeating the Cats, who will be motivated to celebrate Selwood’s milestone with a victory. The Magpies’ midfield, lead by Brodie Grundy, looks better on paper than their opponent, however the Cats are stronger at both ends of the park. In the end, we would recommend not betting directly on the outcome of this clash, because the Cats are too short in our opinion, even though they will probably win. Our final Collingwood v Geelong prediction? Cats by eight points. 

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