Sydney v North Melbourne Preview, SCG

Incredibly, lowly North Melbourne enter this match as the form team after beating Gold Coast
last week for their second win in five weeks. The Kangaroos have been a different side since
breaking their drought five weeks ago against West Coast. But this is still the ultimate
challenge for a young team on the rise. Ladder-leaders Sydney are coming in off two-straight
losses by a combined total of three points. All the focus this week in the Harbour City has
been on Isaac Heeney after the Brownlow Medal fancy was suspended for a week. The
Swans took their case all the way to the appeals board, but their star midfielder will miss
playing the Kangaroos. Sydney’s midfield is stacked and they will be able to make up for the
loss of Heeney and bounce back at home.

As the AFL season edges closer to finals, the clash between Sydney and North Melbourne at the SCG draws attention from fans and punters alike. While Sydney continues to demonstrate consistent form, North Melbourne has shown flashes of resilience despite sitting lower on the ladder. Recent performances suggest Sydney’s forward line is finding rhythm, while North is still refining their structure under pressure.

When looking at AFL betting tips for this matchup, it’s worth noting that Sydney has dominated recent head-to-head encounters, particularly at home. However, North Melbourne’s young core, including promising talents like George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel, are gaining valuable experience each week. These performances may not always translate into wins, but they do influence margins and player prop markets.

AFL tips for this game lean towards a strong showing from Sydney, especially with their midfield creating plenty of inside-50 opportunities. But punters looking for value may consider predicting standout individual performances or tighter first-half margins, given North’s ability to stay competitive early.

While this isn’t a battle between two top contenders, it still offers insight into developing team strategies and potential upsets—an angle worth keeping in mind when reviewing AFL predictions this round.

TIP: Sydney by 26 points, Chad Warner for two or more goals