Round 5 of the 2024 AFL season begins with a blockbuster clash between Melbourne and Brisbane at the MCG on Thursday night. Keep up to date with all of the fixtures, games, news, tips, odds, results, reaction, and video as they come to hand.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11
Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions
Team news: Zac Bailey hobbled off with an ankle injury against the Kangaroos, and is in a race to be fit. Lachie Neale has also been nursing an ankle complaint. Kysaiah Pickett is challenging his one-match ban at the tribunal.
READ: Melbourne's handling of Pickett's latest suspension was 'pathetic'
ESPN tip: Demons by 12 points
Pointsbet odds: Demons $1.45, Lions $2.75
Get your tips in now on the ESPNfootytips app!
FRIDAY, APRIL 12
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon
Marvel Stadium, 7:40 pm (AEST)
Team news: Caleb Daniel has been dropped by the Bulldogs. The team may look to give Jack Macrae a full game after spending the early part of the year in the VFL and as the sub. Archie Perkins injured his hamstring against the Power and is set to miss a couple of weeks. The Bombers have regained Sam Durham from concussion and recalled Alwyn Davey Jr.
ESPN tip: Dogs by 19 points
Pointsbet odds: Dogs $1.45, Bombers $2.75
SATURDAY, APRIL 13
GWS Giants vs. St Kilda
Team news: The Giants are unchanged as they welcome the Saints to Manuka Oval. Hugo Garcia has been named to make his debut while Marcus Windhager returns after serving a suspension.
ESPN tip: Giants by 30 points
Pointsbet odds: Giants $1.35, Saints $3.20
Carlton vs. Adelaide Crows
Team news: Gun midfielder Sam Walsh will return for the Blues, but half forward Lachie Fogarty is set to miss a week after his high hit on Nat Fyfe resulted in a one-week suspension. The Crows have recalled Will Hamill and Lachie Gollant as they continue to search for a first win.
ESPN tip: Blues by 20 points
Pointsbet odds: Blues $1.25, Crows $4.00
Gold Coast Suns vs. Hawthorn
People First Stadium, 7:30pm (AEST)
Team news: Both sides are unchanged after losses to the Giants and Hawks respectively last week.
ESPN tip: Suns by 10 points.
Pointsbet odds: Suns $1.25, Hawks $4.00
Port Adelaide vs. Fremantle Dockers
Team news: Port welcome back Ollie Wines and Sam Powell-Pepper but lose veteran Travis Boak to a back injury sustained at Gather Round and Jeremy Finlayson who is serving a three match ban for an anti-gay slur. For the Dockers, Michael Frederick tweaked his hamstring and won't play this week.
ESPN tip: Power by 12 points.
Pointsbet odds: Power $1.35, Dockers $3.20
SUNDAY, APRIL 14
Geelong vs. North Melbourne
Team news: The Cats have not named Patrick Dangerfield after two weeks on the sidelines, but have handed a debut to Connor O'Sullivan. North Melbourne will be without Cam Zurhaar due to calf tightness and the axe has swung on Jaidyn Stephenson after the team's dire performance against the Lions during Gather Round.
ESPN tip: Cats by 48 points.
Pointsbet odds: Cats $1.03, Roos $13.00
West Coast Eagles vs. Richmond
Team news: Scans have confirmed that Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto suffered a fractured radius at training. The injury occurred late in the club's main training session, after an innocuous mishap. Taranto will have surgery today to repair his wrist and is expected to miss an extended period. Liam Baker returns for Richmond, while Thomson Dow and Kane McAuliffe are in after both tweaking their ankles against the Saints at Gather Round. For the Eagles, Luke Edwards (hamstring) and Ryan Maric (ribs) have been named, as has veteran Andrew Gaff.
ESPN tip: Eagles by 1 point.
Pointsbet odds: Eagles $3.50, Tigers $1.30