So, we continue to keep on keeping on! The winter is almost over and March Madness is not quite here yet. We naturally transition from curling to, you guessed it, Australian Rules Football! At Online Sports Betting, the lessons learned from years of watching late night football should serve us well. Now, let us dish out a few Aussie Rules Best Bets for Friday's action.
- What: Aussie Rules Football
- When: March 12th, 2026 - March 15, 2026
- Where: All across the continent of Australia
2026 Aussie Rules Betting Update
So, we dive straight into this Aussie Rules Betting Update. Our focus, in particular, is on the Friday matches. One takes place early in the morning Eastern time and one in the late hours of night. alike. Yes, online betting sites for these sports have a few unique choices. For now, we list our early match below in the table.
Here are the particulars. It is believed that Sydney and Brisbane could be two of the better teams in the AFL this year. Hawthorn had a tough opener and Essendon has not started their 2026 campaign yet. They are one of eight squads that have not started the party as they say. If one is wondering about season projections, Essendon has been planted in the 13th-17th range while Hawthorn has ranged from 6th-8th.
With Western among the Top 6 or expected to be, some thought GWS looked promising. GWS could be in the running for a wildcard spot. The Bulldogs are not going to be an easy team to face especially at home. That cannot be said for Essendon who appears to be very much in a rebuilding mode. It is a strange time when it comes to Australian Rules Football. Teams most are used to excelling are not while West Coast is still West Coast (projected 18th).
The teams are all just getting started in a very long season. With 24 weeks, 207 games in all, this is always where the unexpected starts. Then there are the inevitable matchups. Western and Hawthorn are more than 20-point favorites for a reason. Let us take a look at the first match as our prime contest.
Aussie Rules Best Bets For Hawthorn vs Essendon
Making a few Aussie Rules Best Bets for Hawthorn vs Essendon remains our priority. With the preseason and some games behind us, now it is all about this weekend. At a minimum, taking two or three betting options is not a bad idea. The goal is to be modest and sprinkle small amounts. Who will win this week?
Hawthorn And The Spread
This is that one team which could be a threat as the playoffs approach. However, Hawthorn right now has a few things to sort out including their defense on the back end. That was on full display in their opening match where they stumbled considerably against the GWS Giants. After three years of not qualifying for the playoffs, the Hawks were eliminated in the prelim final by Geelong. Geelong went on to lose in the Grand Final.
Now, this is the time of year where it feels a bit like an extended preseason. Teams practice and train but none of it is like game action. People forget there are four quarters and each quarter is 20 minutes long. Most matches take a little over three hours to complete. In this case, one of the reasons why we are high on Hawthorn this week is their ability to play with pace. Essendon has had trouble. Considering, the Hawks have gone 29-17 the past two seasons, a rebound feels likely.
With Essendon going 6-17, some pundits feel this is the tip of the iceberg. Basically, it is a nice way of saying things could be even worse this season. Keep in mind, they did not win a match after Week 9. The expectation is for that to continue as Hawthorn should notch their first win with ease early on Friday morning (evening time in Australia).
The Game Over
Throughout the first month, it is usually the defenses or backends that suffer a bit. Essendon can throw up some clunkers but the expectation is that Hawthorn could easily top 100 points -- maybe 110+ or even 120+. The game total for Friday's match is only 186.5. This is a number that comes in via BetOnline at only -110. Bovada and others were seen around -115 to -120 for this wager.
People like the old-time matchups with Victorian Era teams. It is not exactly a match for the ages. However, we are expecting a little higher scoring match than usual once again. Considering the amount of overs connecting should be in the 50-60% range, we again lean towards 187 or more points scored between the two squads.
Even the 45.5 over during the first quarter is on our radars here. Hawthorn wants to prove the opener was a fluke and they will damn the torpedos for the sake of offense.
A Quick Look At Western And GWS
Finally, the Aussie Rules Best Bets shine a light on Western and GWS (Greater Western Sydney). The Western Bulldogs are stacked and expect to be near the top of the ladder in 2026. They went 14-9 last year and narrowly missed the playoffs. Western was unlucky in 2025 which many teams may be unlucky to face them this year.
Bluntly, expect this team to be on a mission. Even though GWS won easily to open the season, the chances they go 2-0 are pretty small against the Bulldogs especially on their home pitch. It might be a day where one throws some shrimp on the barbie. Take the spread and run with it here!
How To Make More Of Those Aussie Rules Football Bets?
Get those 2026 Aussie Rules Football Bets in now at one of the bookmakers below. Naturally, the top 2026 sportsbook reviews, offers. Finally, many type of online sports bet are available.
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