AFL Expert Tips and Predictions for Opening Round, 2026
Mar 4, 2026, 9:41AM
Searching for AFL tips for Opening Round? We have AFL Opening Round tips 2026 for every game this week.
As Australia's leading provider of AFL expert tips, Stats Insider is here to give you an advantage with AFL tipping for each game in Opening Round of the 2026 season.
AFL Opening Round Expert Tips 2026
There are five games in Opening Round of the 2026 AFL season, beginning with Sydney vs Carlton on Thursday and ending with St Kilda vs Collingwood on Sunday.
These AFL footy tips and predictions are powered by cutting-edge data and analytics, making our AFL tips for Opening Round 2026 a go-to resource for AFL tipsters.
AFL Tips Opening Round 2026: Who Will Win
Detailed below are our predictions for each AFL clash in Opening Round, 2026, based on 10,000 simulations per match.
Sydney vs Carlton
Opening Round AFL action kicks off with Sydney taking on Carlton at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday night. Our AFL model projects Sydney as having a 68% chance of winning, while Carlton has a 32% win probability.
Sydney vs Carlton is at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday, March 5 at 7:30pm. All times mentioned in this article are in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
Gold Coast vs Geelong
In this week's game between Gold Coast and Geelong, the Suns are the more likely winners, with our predictive model projecting a 57% chance for Gold Coast. Geelong, on the other hand, has a 43% chance of winning.
Gold Coast vs Geelong is at Metricon Stadium on Friday, March 6 at 8:05pm.
More: AFL Premiership 2026 Tips
GWS vs Hawthorn
We are tipping Hawthorn to win its game against GWS this week, with our powerful AFL model projecting a 56% win probability for the Hawks. GWS has a 44% chance of winning.
GWS vs Hawthorn is at Giants Stadium on Saturday, March 7 at 4:15pm AEDT.
Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs
With a win probability of 64%, our tip for this match is Brisbane, while its opponent, the Western Bulldogs, have a projected win chance of 36%.
Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs is at The Gabba on Saturday, March 7 at 7:35pm AEDT.
More: AFL Player Ratings
St Kilda vs Collingwood
The Magpies have a 59% chance of winning on Sunday night, compared to St Kilda's 41% chance of victory. This makes Collingwood the team to tip at Marvel Stadium.
St Kilda vs Collingwood is at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, March 8 at 7:20pm AEDT.
AFL Tipping Opening Round 2026: Who to Tip
- Sydney
- Gold Coast
- Hawthorn
- Brisbane
- Collingwood
Related: Predictions for Every AFL Game
AFL Opening Round Games to Tip On
- Sydney Swans vs Carlton Blues
- Gold Coast Suns vs Geelong Cats
- GWS Giants vs Hawthorn Hawks
- Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs
- St Kilda Saints vs Collingwood Magpies
AFL Opening Round Bye Teams: Who Has a Bye This Week
- Adelaide Crows
- Essendon Bombers
- Fremantle Dockers
- Melbourne Demons
- North Melbourne Kangaroos
- Port Adelaide Power
- Richmond Tigers
- West Coast Eagles
The AFL footy tips Opening Round 2026 and probabilities in this article are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Stats Insider is renowned in Australia for providing expert AFL tips. Our AFL expert tips 2026 are generated by an in-house team of skilled data scientists and analysts who use cutting-edge technology and machine learning to simulate each game 10,000 times and determine the most likely outcomes. This meticulous approach ensures our predictions are accurate and trustworthy, helping you make informed decisions when it comes to AFL tipping.
If you choose to use our tips for betting purposes, it's crucial to gamble responsibly and manage your finances effectively. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
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