Round four of the 2023 AFL season sees some intriguing matchups, beginning on Thursday at the Gabba between Brisbane and Collingwood.
Carlton replace the Western Bulldogs for the Good Friday game against North Melbourne.
Easter Saturday is filled with defining matches, as Adelaide face Fremantle, Richmond take on the Bulldogs, Gold Coast travel to Marvel Stadium to battle with St Kilda while Sydney and Port Adelaide meet at the SCG.
A decimated West Coast outfit hosts Melbourne at Optus Stadium as the Giants travel to Victoria for the first time to face Essendon.
Round four isn't done with yet, as the traditional Easter Monday between Geelong and Hawthorn takes place.
Here at The Sporting News, we've put together our betting predictions for round 4:
Odds courtesy of Bluebet.
Last week, we scored six of our nine predictions.
Dunkley registered 24 disposals, Bolton only kicked one, while Davies-Uniacke didn't play for North Melbourne.
Brisbane (14th) vs Collingwood (2nd) best bet
The Easter Thursday clash is arguably the most intriguing given Collingwood's undefeated start to 2023 and Brisbane's ability to win at home.
The Lions have lost eight out of their past 48 games at the Gabba (since 2019), turning the ground into a fortress.
Darcy Cameron's injury and Mason Cox's unavailability has Pies fans worried, given that former Brisbane forward Daniel McStay will be asked to play ruck, with Ash Johnson and Billy Frampton to assist.
Craig McRae has said that he'll get creative against his former side, where he won three flags in the early 2000s.
In order for Brisbane to improve their already-impressive winning percentage at the Gabba, they must nullify the improved midfield.
Led by recruit Tom Mitchell, Jordan De Goey and Nick Daicos, the Lions must get on top of the clearance battle, especially since Cameron and Cox are out, leaving the Pies with no recognised ruckman.
Josh Dunkley and Lachie Neale haven't performed to their necessary loft standards, especially in the early season losses.
Of the four times Neale gathered 25 disposals or less in 2022, Brisbane lost three of them, including the preliminary final.
The 2020 Brownlow Medalist needs to return to his usual self if the Lions are any chance.
Lachie Neale 25+ disposals - $1.30
North Melbourne (7th) vs Carlton (3rd) best bet
The Good Friday clash has a new look, with Carlton replacing Western Bulldogs to take on North Melbourne.
The Blues remain as one of three teams who are undefeated (2 wins, 1 draw) while the Kangaroos have surprised most, sitting inside the top eight currently.
However, Carlton's midfield and potency up forward will be too strong for Alastair Clarkson's men, leaving the question, just how much will they lose?
Charlie Curnow has continued his impressive 2022 Coleman Medal winning form, averaging 3.3 goals a game, while his partner-in-crime Harry McKay has struggled to hit the scoreboard.
With Ben McKay already out of the side and potentially Griffin Logue joining him (suspension, the Kangaroos backline will be left thin.
Carlton's McKay is in need of a big game and would like to replicate the same outing he had against North Melbourne last year, where he slotted four goals.
Harry McKay 3+ goals - $1.80
Adelaide (11th) vs Fremantle (9th) best bet
Both teams registered their first victory in round three after relatively disappointing opening fortnights.
Adelaide will take tremendous confidence with their win in the Showdown, as will Fremantle in the Derby, despite it being against the injury-ravaged West Coast.
The last three encounters between these two sides have gone the way of the Dockers, although they've been close.
Playing at Adelaide Oval, the Crows will hope to use their home ground advantage to their favour, with Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele getting the crowd involved every time they go near it.
Fresh off four goals in the Showdown, Rankine is in fine form heading into round four and presents as a constant threat.
Fremantle's strength is their defence and will need to be on to stop the Adelaide forward line, which also includes Riley Thilthorpe, Luke Pedlar and Taylor Walker.
But that is easier said than done and Rankine will once again light up Adelaide Oval.
Izak Rankine 2+ goals - $1.65
Richmond (8th) vs Western Bulldogs (16th) best bet
Richmond were handed their first loss of the year last week, with Collingwood prevailing by 14 points.
Ironically, the Western Bulldogs won their first match of 2023 by that exact margin against the Lions, after two disappointing outings against Melbourne and St Kilda.
The Tigers are hopeful of welcoming back Jacob Hopper and Dustin Martin, especially given Saturday's predicted weather in Melbourne, which looks like being wet and miserable.
Alike Richmond's match against the Pies, the conditions will be tough for big forwards, which means it's up to the smalls to produce some magic.
Shai Bolton began round three with an epic spin-and-turn goal to begin the match but was kept relatively quiet.
After an All-Australian selection in 2022, Bolton has necessarily reached those heights thus far, but the return of Hopper and Martin will help.
Coach Damien Hardwick will be able to play the match winner more aggressively, especially if the ball will be on the ground more often than not.
Shai Bolton 2+ goals - $1.50
St Kilda (1st) vs Gold Coast (15th) best bet
St Kilda's shock start to 2023 has them sitting on top of the ladder and are more than capable of extending their three-win streak to four.
Gold Coast notched their first victory of the year, albeit against an out-of-form Geelong line-up who have plenty of problems.
What the Saints have done early this season is been a defensive juggernaut, conceding an average of eight goals per game.
Ross Lyon's men have also won the last three encounters in close circumstances and will take plenty of confidence to Marvel Stadium.
The Suns finally have their game up and running in 2023 and will need to be on their game if they are a chance.
However, in perfect conditions under the roof, St Kilda will remain undefeated, given they are playing with an unparalleled synergy that is yet to be matched.
St Kilda to win - $1.45
Sydney (5th) vs Port Adelaide (13th) best bet
Sydney's first real test came in round three against Melbourne, to which they were unable to meet the standard.
Smashed by 50 points, the Swans looked second rate and will be hopeful they can bounce back against an out-of-form Port Adelaide outfit.
The Power began 2023 in terrific fashion, downing Brisbane by 54 points but since have lost to Collingwood and arch-rivals Adelaide in a disappointing manner.
Following a brilliant round one performance, Chad Warner has been kept to 15 and 19 disposals in the past two games, which is unlike the up-and-comer.
Tipped to join some of the competition's best midfielders, Warner's consistency is up for debate but a response against the Power would go a long way.
Chad Warner 25+ disposals - $2.50
Essendon (6th) vs GWS (10th)
In round three, Essendon and GWS both had opportunities to secure the victory but failed to do so.
The Bombers - after giving up the first five goals - stormed back into the contest in the last quarter before being blown out.
The Giants were leading Carlton by a goal with 11 minutes in the final term, but were put on the back foot by a controversial umpire dissent decision against Stephen Coniglio, of which the Blues capitalised.
However, in order to be successful, teams must be able to look forward and not concern themselves with what's happened.
The team who will do that this week will run out victors.
Essendon to win - $1.48
West Coast (12th) vs Melbourne (4th) best bet
Melbourne will be licking their lips as West Coast's injury list took a beating, with coach Adam Simpson revealing up to seven players might be out for their round four clash.
The Eagles were valiant in the Derby but literally ran out of legs and were overrun by Fremantle while Melbourne showed their class against Sydney.
Tipped to be a one-sided affair, the Demons should use this match as an opportunity to gain some percentage but also trial some new strategies, tactics and personnel.
We saw Jacob Van Rooyen and Harrison Petty up forward and it worked, while Tom McDonald was forced to take a backwards seat.
Coach Simon Goodwin should continue to experiment with his players, including Kysaiah Pickett, who returns from suspension this week.
Melbourne handicap (-44.5 points) - $1.90
Geelong (18th) vs Hawthorn (17th)
No one would've tipped Geelong to be on the bottom of the ladder after round three following their premiership last year.
They take on rivals Hawthorn, who besides last week have been disappointing to say the least.
Many pundits are reluctant to give up on the Cats but statistics don't bode well for Chris Scott's men.
Geelong are in desperate need of a win to kickstart their season, which can still be salvaged.
Jeremy Cameron has been a stalwart in the betting predictions in the early weeks and it would be rude to bet against him.
A consistent performer who has no trouble hitting the scoreboard, Cameron is likely to be the focal point in attack on Easter Monday and he will deliver for Geelong.
Jeremy Cameron 3+ goals - (odds)
