Round 8 AFL Tips 2026 | SGM Bets & Predictions

The Pies absolutely dismantled the Dons on ANZAC Day, with Pendles leading the charge and showing there is plenty of fight left in those old legs. They looked much more composed and experienced, proving that if they somehow make it to September, they might go alright.

Speaking of September, if they do make it there, the Hawks will probably boot them straight out. Hawthorn continued their dominant form this year, and over in Tassie, by smoking the Suns by 49. Sam Mitchell seems to have every player performing at 100%, and they’re really making the argument that a champion team beats a team of champions.

Both teams love the big stage, but everything is clicking for the Hawks at the minute.

After starting like an absolute bull, the Dogs have regressed to porch puppies, similar to their injury-riddled start to 2025. With all the attention on Naughton, English out, and Bont not being able to be everywhere, it’s looking rough.

The Dockers had a bit of a scare last week, only just getting it done over the Blues by 14 points. At home, they probably didn’t expect such a challenge, but all their big boys stepped up, with most of the players around 2 metres tall kicking 2 goals.

With the height mismatch this week, I think Freo will get an opportunity to really bully the undersized and undermanned Dogs, and add a bit to their percentage.

What a time for the Showdown. The Crows are so far in free fall that they’ve dropped underneath Port on the ladder. Although ladder rankings mean nothing in this game.

Adelaide simply had nothing against the former premiers last week, getting smoked by 52 points and with the three-headed monster resembling a two-headed potato. It was always going to be a hard slog, but they looked second-rate.

On the other side of the coin, Port absolutely turned it on and upset the Cats quite comfortably last week. It was looking like they’d get flogged early, but they came out with all the answers and Horne-Francis showed Danger he is the best player in the comp with long socks.

Adelaide will bounce back sooner or later, but Port looked electric last week. I think another week for the Crows to iron out some kinks.

Last week answered two questions. Yes, Essendon do stink, and so does maybe Gold Coast. After the biggest smoking they’ve received on ANZAC Day, it was incredible to see how little pressure the Dons were willing to offer on the biggest stage of their year. The win against Melbourne really was a reverse mulligan.

And for Brisbane, the loss against Melbourne now looks like a non-reverse mulligan. The premiership favourites came home, collected their thoughts, and decided to channel that energy into destroying the Crows. Charlie back to his best, and Zac Bailey putting more dollars on his end-of-season offers.

Unless Essendon channel that Melbourne victory energy, I can see this being a 10-goal blowout. And a loss even if they do.

The early battle of the teams to watch in 2030. But for 2026, it’s the spoon bowl. The Eagles just got handed another 100-point loss last week, this time at the hands of the Saints. Harley looked alright, but the whole team looks in shambles and this rebuild has a few council delays.

Speaking of slow rebuilds, it seems the Tiges are actually going backwards. Glorious for anyone who remembers Richmond in the teens, very non-glorious for anyone with eyes. Their 7th straight loss this year, and 12th in a row, watch out Dons, was a clumsy affair where the only blokes giving it a crack are both 33 years old.

Seems both teams might have been conserving energy for this affair, but over in the West, it’s the West for me.

Chris Scott certainly didn’t have any answers last week when Blicavs went down, and then got done by Port by 5 goals. However, you can nearly guarantee he’ll have some hidden ace up his sleeve in the twos ready to go.

After just doing revision so far, North copped their first real test this year against the Giants, and failed. Not abysmally, as it was a Sunday arvo cracker, but GWS are a decent team who are in a rut. North need to figure out how to beat those teams not in a rut before they will be taken seriously.

The Cats will definitely want to bounce back, although I can see North’s aggressive pace being a bit of a problem. Cats, but closer than it should be.

The Blues had a commendable effort last week, after a week from hell. Heading over west is never a fun task, and definitely not when you’re against a steaming hot Fremantle. But they didn’t go hell for leather in the first half and then die in the ass. On the contrary, they were nearly the ones to steal it. Nearly. Try a smaller scalp first, and this is probably the best opportunity to see if Carlton can turn a leaf.

Saints enjoyed the biggest win of the worst round of football of all time last week. They took a step in the right direction, put in a strong performance and really buried the Eagles’ faces in the dirt, taking no prisoners. Although they’re still yet to beat a decent team, it’ll happen soon. Not this week though. Because Carlton aren’t good.

Carlton at their best versus this St Kilda team would actually be a good hit-out. Carlton haven’t looked that way in ages, but have been getting better in the last few weeks. But so have the Saints. A bit too much momentum for St Kilda in this one, for the Blues to have a sniff.

Sydney are missing their two best players and still gave the Dogs an absolute smashing last week. Albeit the Dogs were severely smashed, but everything was gelling for the Swans and Charlie finally found out where the big sticks are.

The Dees have backed up their epic 2-point win against the Lions by absolutely putting the Tiges down with a 9-goal shellacking. Although they looked a bit on the nostril at times in the first half, they looked at their electric best in the second. And whatever Kozzy Pickett is getting paid, double it.

In the battle of the two cities, I think Melbourne do their best work at the G with no one around. Which is why they loved COVID. In the Swans’ pond, I think they’ll get found out.

The two biggest fan bases go head to head. The Suns finally started getting recognised down south, and have almost instantly gone to pieces. They are 1-3 in their last four, with that one game being a very non-convincing 9-point win over the Bombers. Yikes.

GWS nearly dropped it against North, and aren’t having the season we thought they would. Although they haven’t had the easiest start to the year, at least we know they’re still capable of beating the likes of the Kangaroos.

I feel like both teams could peak a lot harder later in the year, and are currently both in a form slump. But the Suns have the pieces ready to gel a bit quicker, and at home should get the job done.