AFL Round 0 & NBA Week 20 (2026)

And finally we're BACK!!!

Usually we don’t go this early folks but I’m getting excited for the new season so here’s a look at the first 3 games...

Gold Coast/Geelong

Gold Coast Win

We’re buying into the Suns early in 2026. They’re strong at home and especially early in the season when conditions suit their style. Rowell is out but off-season signing Christian Petracca is the perfect replacement with Humphrey able to hold the fort as a dynamic fwd and take some CBAs as well.

The Cats on the other hand are looking a little muddled up front with connectors Miers and Stengle missing this one. Their best forward in Jezza hasn’t trained properly all pre season with a broken arm and is in doubt for this one with a soft tissue injury. GF losers often start slow as well.

Bookmaker:

Units: 0.55

SYD Win/HAW Win

Sydney

The Swans had an injury riddled 2025 and only got a run on with form late winning 8 of their last 11 games. Their transition game will be too damaging. Mills back allows Blakey to get off the chain and the Gulden with a full preseason should run rampant against the crusty Blues. The Swans inability to convert their IN50s should be helped greatly by the acquisition of Curnow.

It’s no secret the Blues list isn’t really equipped for the modern game and the new rules are about to make that a whole lot worse. There are a bunch of injury clouds on key players coming into this one. Most important of which is Weitering, who if he plays will be under done and if he doesn't the blues don't have a matchup for CC.

Hawthorn

The Hawks had their issues in the midfield last year but have had a whole off season to adjust. There shouldn’t need to be a whole heap of adjusting needed against a Giants side without Tom Green, Josh Kelly and potentially Finn Callaghan. They should be able to win the midfield battle and send it long to a tall trio who have the advantage of not being up against Sam Taylor. CMac, Moore and Watson are good matchups for Ash and Whitfield and will limit their ball movement.

At the other end the Giants are going to have serious issues holding the ball inside forward 50 without their pressure trio of Daniels, Jones and most importantly Bedford. I expect Impey, Amon and Siss to stream out of there and tear them up on transition. Greene and Hogan have also had a limited pre season and might take time to get fully fit.

This one should play out pretty similarly to the final in my view.

Bookmaker: Sportsbet/Pointsbet $2.09

Units: 0.45

SYD/CAR

TOTAL o172.5

Bookmaker: Bet365 $1.91

Units: 0.5

SYD W/Grundy 15+ (14+)/Alt total o156.5

Bookmaker: TAB $2.10

Units: 0.4

BL/WB

TOTAL o167.5

Bookmaker: Ladbrokes $1.88

Units: 0.5

Jai Newcombe 25+ Disposals

Bookmaker: Bet365 $2.15

Units: 0.4

GWS/HAW

Finn Maginness AGS

Should see permanent fwd time keeping Ash and Whitfield accountable.

Bookmaker: Pointsbet $4

Units: 0.15

GWS/HAW

Nick Watson Goals

Conditions and match-up suit. High humidity so ground ball experts like him and Newcombe will be prominent. Can expect some off season development in the off season from a player of his age.

Bookmaker: Pointsbet 

Units: 

0.25U 2+ $2.40

0.1U 3+ $5.25

StK/COLL

TOTAL o169.5 

Bookmaker: Ladbrokes $1.88

Units: 0.5

COLL/STK

Steele Sidebottom Goals

0.2U AGS $3.25 (Ladbrokes)

0.05U 2+ $19 (Bet365)

0.02U 3+ $126 (Bet365)

Mitch Owens Goals

0.3U 2+ $2.6 (Bet365)

0.1U 3+ $6.5 (Bet365)

Jordan De Goey 20+ Disposals

Bookmaker: Bet365 $2.20

Units: 0.4

Multi:

Phillipou 20+/De Goey 15+/NWM 25+

Bookmaker: TAB $1.85

Units: 0.55

NBA Plays

ORL Win/SAS Win/PHO Win/CHA Win (4-leg multi)

Spurs in a great match-up/motivation spot vs. the 76ers without Embiid and the other have both schedule and motivational clashes.

Bookmaker: Bet365 $1.90

Units: 0.5

SAS@PHI

Tyrese Maxey u31.5 Points

Bookmaker: Bet365 $1.89

Units: 0.5

DET@SAS

Cade Cunningham u26.5 Points

Bookmaker: Bet365 $1.86

Units: 0.5

POR@HOU

Portland +7.5

Bookmaker: Sportsbet $1.92

Next Best: TAB $1.90

Units: 0.5

POR Win/BOS Win - 2 legger

Bookmaker: Bet365 $3.66

Units: 0.25

NOP@PHO

New Orleans TEAM Total u111.5

Bookmaker: TAB $1.87

Next Best: Bet365 $1.86

Units: 0.5

IND@POR

TOTAL o236.5

Bookmaker: Sportsbet $1.90

Units: 0.5

WAS@NOP

Trae Young o3.5 Q1 Points

Bookmaker: Bet365 $1.83

Units: 0.55

CHA@PHO

Q4 u54.5

Bookmaker: Sportsbet $1.88

Units: 0.5