2018 AFL Round 3 Betting Preview: Odds, Game Trends, Week Analysis

In the opening round of last season 400,401 people clicked through the turnstiles across the nine games, which broke the record for a single round attendance. This weekend, the AFL is hoping to set a new high mark.

If that record is to be broken, a big turnout will be needed when traditional rivals Carlton Blues and Collingwood Magpies meet at the MCG on Friday night. There is one problem, though, neither of these sides has registered a win yet in 2018, which may lead to some fans staying away.

Carlton showed plenty of promise in their narrow loss to Richmond Tigers in their season opener, but they crashed back to Earth with a 34-point loss to Gold Coast Suns last Saturday, which sees them enter this one as the $2.60 AUD underdog, according to AustralianGambling.

The Magpies were beaten in the first round against Hawthorn Hawks, but did put up a good fight against one of the Premiership favourites, Greater Western Sydney Giants, last week, and that sees punters back them into $1.50 to open their account here.

The first of five games on Saturday sees perhaps the form team in the league and the shortest priced favourite of the weekend, Port Adelaide ($1.07) host Brisbane Lions ($8.50) at the Adelaide Oval.

Melbourne Demons ($1.31) got their first win over the Lions last week and are out to make it two in a row when they host North Melbourne ($3.50), who were too good for St Kilda Saints last week, at the MCG.

There are two games at Perth's brand new Optus Stadium this round, both of which will go a long way to achieving that record attendance across the weekend. The first game comes up on Saturday afternoon, when Gold Coast Suns head west to take on the Fremantle Dockers.

The Western Australia club are $1.44 to secure their second win in as many weeks, while the Suns, who've surprised many this year, are $2.80 to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive.

Adelaide Crows ($1.30) are heavily favoured to beat the Saints ($3.50) on Saturday night, but it is the Sydney derby that will have the focus of the nation, when the Giants head to the SCG to take on Sydney Swans.

The two Sydney clubs are right at the top of Premiership betting, with the Swans favourites at $6 and their cross-town rivals equal second pick at $7. For this one, it is the hosts who are in at $1.70, but the boys from the west are not far behind at $2.17.

The biggest crowd of the nine games will be at the MCG on Sunday when Richmond Tigers are $1.64 to bounce back into the winner's circle against Hawthorn Hawks ($2.27), while a huge crowd is also expected across town at Etihad Stadium, when Western Bulldogs ($2.80) host Essendon Bombers ($1.44).

Before the final match of the round starts in Perth, we will know if the record is set to be broken, but one thing we can rely on is a full house to be in attendance when West Coast Eagles ($2.06) host Geelong Cats ($1.77).