2018 AFL Round 6 Betting Preview: Odds, Game Trends, Week Analysis

It is a privilege for Melbourne Demons and Richmond Tigers to play on Anzac Eve and for Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers to play on Anzac Day, but because the day fell on a Wednesday this year all four clubs are left with a short break before their next match.

So unusual are the Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon fixtures that the AFL has been forced to schedule a round-robin style fixture this Sunday, when the four teams involved play the other teams affected, with the aim of making the competition as even as possible.

Something that may affect the Bombers' chances against the Demons on Sunday is the fact that both Josh Green (hamstring) and Josh Begley (knee) went down with injuries during the 49-point loss to the Magpies.

Melbourne also suffered a pair of injuries in their 46-point loss to the reigning Premiers in Dean Kent (hamstring) and Michael Hibberd (nose); the latter is expected to play for a Demons side who are at $1.97 AUD to get the win, according to AustralianGambling, while Essendon are in at $1.84.

The two winners from Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, Richmond and Collingwood, meet at the MCG on Sunday afternoon in front of what could be another crowd in excess of 90,000.

The Premiers have shown little sign of slowing down this season and their comfortable win over Melbourne has seen them move into betting favourites to defend their crown, at $6.50.

Damian Hardwick's charges are also favoured heavily to get the points in this one, at $1.45, with the Magpies out at $2.78.

A huge slate of Sunday football concludes in the west when Fremantle Dockers host West Coast Eagles in the first western derby at Perth's brand new stadium.

Having beaten their in-state rivals in each of the last five derbies, the Eagles head into this one as $1.71 favourites to make it six straight, but the Dockers were impressive against the Western Bulldogs last week, and aren't without a chance at $2.15.

Speaking of the Bulldogs, they are favoured ($1.44) to bounce back from that loss to Fremantle, when they host Carlton Blues ($2.80) on Friday night, while Geelong Cats host Sydney Swans in one of the most anticipated contests of the round on Saturday.

The hosts are at the short odds of $1.45 to win their fourth match from six starts for two reasons, the first is because they are at home and the second is that superstar Swan Lance Franklin has been ruled out with a heel injury.

Despite sitting in fourth place on the ladder, North Melbourne Kangaroos ($2.75) are big outsiders when they host Port Adelaide Power ($1.46) as are St Kilda Saints ($3.56) when they meet Hawthorn Hawks ($1.30).