Overview
- Round 4 opens with Brisbane hosting Collingwood at the Gabba, followed by a Good Friday double header and a Hawthorn–Geelong holiday clash at the MCG.
- Collingwood must replace captain Darcy Moore for up to four weeks due to a hamstring strain and inflamed bursa, with Scott Pendlebury likely to miss through Achilles soreness.
- Brisbane’s back line needs cover as Noah Answerth is out with concussion and Darcy Gardiner with a shoulder injury, while Harris Andrews serves the final week of his suspension.
- Champion Data says Adelaide’s key flaw is ball movement from defence, noting 18 defensive-50 chains in the last quarter against Geelong that produced no inside-50 entries and an expected margin far larger than the eight-point loss.
- ESPN’s April tiers place the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast as the clearest premiership threats, and tipping panels largely back short-priced favourites across the round.