It is crunch time in the top 8, with elimination and qualification finals catching the eye with old and new betting sites. alike. For Collingwood, Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Adelaide, these opening qualification fixtures give them a chance to pave their way towards the AFL finals. Whilst for Carlton, St Kilda, Syndey and Greater Western Sydney, any slipups here will be fatal, and their 2023 AFL campaigns will be coming to an end after this weekend.
AFL 2023 Qualification & Elimination Finals – Betting Tips & Predictions
Collingwood vs Melbourne
In what many anticipate could well be the final at the end of September, Collingwood take on Melbourne, with both sides out to put the other through the final eight lottery.
The Collingwood Magpies have been all too strong for the rest of the league this term, particularly in crucial fixtures and they topped the regular season standings after 24 games.
Melbourne meanwhile are the favourites to go all the way and win the title with many AFL betting sites and they will see this as a real chance to have a crack at Collingwood.
Losing here wouldn’t be catastrophic for either side, but reaching the preliminary finals playing one game less could be a very handy energy source in a couple of weeks’ time.
Calling this one is tough, with both sides sure to be bang up for the battle but perhaps Collingwood should just have enough about them.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Total Points – Over 151.5 | $1.74 | |
 | Winning Margin: Collingwood 1-12 | $5.50 |
 | Collingwood to win the match | $1.85 |
Predicted Squads
Collingwood: Ashley Johnson, Bobby Hill, Brayden Maynard, Brody Mihocek, Darcy Cameron, Darcy Moore, Harvey Harrison, Isaac Quaynor, Jack Crisp, Jamie Elliott, Jeremy Howe, John Noble, Josh Daicos, Mason Cox, Nathan Murphy, Oleg Markov, Patrick Lipinski, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams, Tom Mitchell, W. Hoskin-Elliott
Melbourne: Alex Neal-Bullen, Angus Brayshaw, Bayley Fritsch, Brodie Grundy, Christian Petracca, Christian Salem, Ed Langdon, Harrison Petty, Jack Viney, Jacob Van Rooyen, Jake Lever, James Jordon, Joel Smith, Judd McVee, Kade Chandler, Kysaiah Pickett, Lachie Hunter, Max Gawn, Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Tom Sparrow, Trent Rivers.
Carlton vs Sydney
The stakes step up a notch in the first elimination final, as Carlton host Sydney, with both sides desperate to book their place in the semi-finals, with the losers packing their bags and heading for a summer on the beach.
Both sides have upset the odds with many AFL betting sites, overcoming very poor starts to the regular season to reach the top 8 and they now have the potential to kick on throughout the finals.
Carlton are the form side in the AFL, producing a superb winning streak to end the campaign and they look to be the side that everybody wants to avoid in the finals. Sydney meanwhile fulfil a similar brief, coming good in the latter stages of the season and they will revel in the role of underdog here against Carlton.
This will be a close one to call but home advantage should suit Carlton and they could take one significant step towards the 2023 AFL final.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Carlton to win the match | $1.53 | |
| Winning Margin: Carlton 13-24 | $5.00 |
| Total Points – Under 166.5 | $1.55 |
Predicted Squads
Carlton: Adam Cerra, Adam Saad, Alex Cincotta, Blake Acres, Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, David Cuningham, Harry McKay, Jack Martin, Jacob Weitering, Jordan Boyd, Lachie Fogarty, Marc Pittonet, Matthew Cottrell, Matthew Kennedy, Matthew Owies, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman, Paddy Dow, Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh, Tom De Koning.
Sydney: Braeden Campbell, Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Errol Gulden, Harry Cunningham, Hayden McLean, Isaac Heeney, Jake Lloyd, James Rowbottom, Joel Amartey, Lewis Melican, Logan McDonald, Nick Blakey, Oliver Florent, Robbie Fox, Ryan Clarke, Tom Papley.
St Kilda vs GWS Giants
Next on the agenda is another elimination final as St Kilda take on GWS Giants, with both sides desperate to stay in 2023 AFL contention.
Neither side has been fancied too heavily by AFL betting sites however, they have both shown real resilience to stay in the hunt for the top 8.
St Kilda have endured a topsy turvy campaign, but they have managed to stay inside the top 6 for most of the season and their reward is a home fixture in this one. For GWS Giants meanwhile, anything beyond the elimination final would be a huge coup, after enduring a relatively quiet season.
Both sides have a very good hope coming into this one, with a big reward on the other side, with GWS Giants perhaps most likely to progress to the semis.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Toby Greene – First Goalscorer | $7.00 | |
| Winning Margin: GWS Giants 1-12 | $5.5 |
| GWS Giants to win the match | $1.75 |
Predicted Squads
St Kilda: Anthony Caminiti, Ben Paton, Brad Crouch, Bradley Hill, Callum Wilkie, Dan Butler, Dougal Howard, Jack Higgins, Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele, Jade Gresham, Jimmy Webster, Josh Battle, Liam Stocker, Marcus Windhager, Mason Wood, Mattaes Phillipou, Max King, Mitchito Owens, N. Wanganeen-Milera, Rowan Marshall, Ryan Byrnes.
Greater Western Sydney: Aaron Cadman, Callan Ward, Callum M Brown, Connor Idun, Daniel Lloyd, Finn Callaghan, H. Himmelberg, Harry Perryman, Jack Buckley, Jake Riccardi, Josh Kelly, Kieren Briggs, Lachie Ash, Lachie Whitfield, Lachlan Keeffe, Nick Haynes, Sam Taylor, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Bedford, Toby Greene, Tom Green, Xavier O'Halloran.
Brisbane vs Port Adelaide
The other qualifying final pits Brisbane against Port Adelaide and both teams will be looking to avoid the banana skin of a semi-final and progress to the preliminary finals.
Brisbane always seem to time their runs to perfection, and they have managed it again this season. Finishing second was just rewards for a team that picked up some superb results later on in the campaign and they look to be a real force to be reckoned with.
Port Adelaide meanwhile are one of the surprise packages of the season, producing some stellar showings in the early months to secure a top 4 spot. Their momentum has waned a little in recent weeks, but they are still a very good outfit, capable of causing some damage to anybody.
This should be an absolute cracker, with Brisbane most likely to come out on top.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Brisbane to win the match | $1.50 | |
| Total Points – Over 154.5 | $1.91 |
| Winning Margin: Brisbane 13-24 | $6.50 |
Predicted Squads
Brisbane: Brandon Starcevich, Cameron Rayner, Charlie Cameron, Conor McKenna, Darcy Wilmot, Deven Robertson, Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage, Jack Payne, Jarrod Berry, Joe Daniher, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Neale, Lincoln McCarthy, Oscar McInerney, Ryan Lester, Zac Bailey.
Port Adelaide: Aliir Aliir, Charlie Dixon, Connor Rozee, Dan Houston, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Dylan Williams, J. Horne-Francis, Jed McEntee, Jeremy Finlayson, Josh Sinn, Kane Farrell, Miles Bergman, Ollie Wines, Quinton Narkle, Ryan Burton, Sam Powell-Pepper, Scott Lycett, Todd Marshall, Travis Boak, Trent McKenzie, Willem Drew, Zak Butters.
