2018 AFL Round 8 Betting Preview: Odds, Game Trends, Week Analysis

One third of the 2018 AFL season has been played, and while two of the top three teams on the ladder competed in last season's Grand Final, there are still plenty of question marks about which clubs will be there when the finals begin in September.

One of the biggest surprises has been the North Melbourne Kangaroos, who were given no chance in 2018 after finishing 15th last year while winning just six of their 22 games.

The Kangaroos have already saluted four times this year, including a stunning upset win over the highly fancied Sydney Swans at the SCG last Saturday night, but the biggest test awaits the club this Sunday when they host the reigning champions Richmond Tigers at Etihad Stadium.

Richmond have hardly put a foot wrong so far this campaign, as they sit on top of the ladder with a whopping percentage of 154.8 percent. This has seen them shorten into just $4 AUD to defend their crown, according to AustralianGambling.

In fact, you'll get bigger odds ($4.10) for a North Melbourne win on Sunday, while the Tigers are in at $1.24 to win their seventh game from eight.

While the Tigers and Kangaroos are battling it out at Etihad Stadium, the Geelong Cats and Collingwood Magpies meet just three kilometres down the road at the MCG.

Nathan Buckley's charges have produced better football than many expected so far, and a win over the Cats would see them jump into the top eight and give the black and white army their fifth win from their last six starts.

The return is $2.40 if you like the Magpies to do just that, with Geelong in at $1.57 after their impressive 61-point win over the Greater Western Sydney Giants last Friday.

Speaking of the Giants, they host West Coast Eagles in the first of six Saturday games, and despite their poor showing last week they are in at $1.60 to bounce back.

Adam Simpson's side will be confident of causing an upset, though, and considering they are sitting pretty in second place on the table, with six wins from seven starts, you may be tempted to take the $2.35 on offer.

The next game on a bumper Saturday slate sees two of the bottom four sides on the ladder clash when Carlton Blues ($3.60) host Essendon Bombers ($1.30) at the MCG, while Gold Coast Suns ($3.50) are underdogs when they meet Melbourne Demons ($1.31).

Adelaide Crows are slightly favoured ($1.56) in Showdown 44, with Port Adelaide Power out at $2.45 for a win that would see them even the ledger at 22 wins apiece in South Australia's biggest fixture.

Western Bulldogs ($1.38) and Fremantle Dockers ($1.25) are favoured to beat Brisbane Lions ($3.05) and St Kilda Saints ($4), respectively, while the tightest betting match of the round comes up on Friday night when Hawthorn Hawks ($1.83) meet the Sydney Swans ($2).