2018 AFL Round 5 Betting Preview: Odds, Game Trends, Week Analysis

The first Anzac Day game was played back in 1995 between Collingwood and Essendon, and those two clubs have met annually since, but the AFL recently introduced a pre-match ceremony for all games over the weekend to acknowledge the contribution of all the men and women who have served.

Anzac round begins on Friday night at the SCG when Sydney Swans host Adelaide Crows in a match between two sides who are expected to go deep into the finals.

The visitors haven't made a great start to the year, though, and with several question marks over the fitness of key players, including their skipper Taylor Walker, they enter this one as big underdogs at $2.85 AUD, according to AustralianGambling.

Coach John Longmire's charges squeezed past the Western Bulldogs last week in the match of the round and are $1.43 to win their fourth game from five starts.

Saturday's action begins at Etihad Stadium when Greater Western Sydney Giants are at short odds ($1.27) to hand St Kilda Saints ($3.80) their fourth loss in five games.

West Coast Eagles are also at skinny odds ($1.23) when they meet Carlton Blues ($4.20) just down the road at the MCG, while it is expected to be tighter when Port Adelaide Power, second on the Premiership odds, host Geelong Cats at the Adelaide Oval.

Geelong have won 13 of their last 14 fixtures against Port, which tells us that the $2.55 for the Cats may represent value and the $1.52 for the hosts may be a little short.

Fremantle Dockers are at $1.60 in the other Saturday night clash when they host the Bulldogs ($2.35) at Optus Stadium, but it won't be easy for the hosts, who come up against a rejuvenated Dogs lineup that may have lost a close one to Sydney last week but showed signs of its 2016 Premiership form.

There are two games on Sunday, the first of which comes up at Etihad Stadium when North Melbourne Kangaroos ($2.80) host Hawthorn Hawks ($1.44), and then the action moves north for the QClash between Brisbane Lions ($1.78) and Gold Coast Suns ($2.05).

Melbourne Demons ($2.65) were poor against the Hawks last week, and it doesn't get any easier for them when they host last year's Premier, Richmond Tigers ($1.49), on Anzac Day Eve.

As mentioned, it will be the Magpies ($1.81) and the Bombers ($2) meeting for the 24th Anzac Day in a row on Wednesday. The Pies have saluted on 13 occasions, while the Dons have won nine times, and there has been one draw, which occurred the first time these great clubs met on April 25.