April is the most anticipated month on the Australian sporting calendar. The Easter weekend brings blockbuster rivalries across both AFL and NRL, followed immediately by the Anzac Day fixtures – two days of football that define seasons and create lifelong memories for fans.
For punters, this concentrated block of high‑intensity matches is a goldmine for player prop betting. Unlike simple head‑to‑head or line betting, player props allow you to focus on individual performances – disposals, marks, tackles, goals, tries, run metres, and more. And because the Easter and Anzac rounds carry extra emotional weight, player props often offer better value than standard markets.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best player prop opportunities for both AFL and NRL across the April 2026 Easter and Anzac rounds. You’ll learn which players consistently perform in big games, how to spot value in prop markets, and where to find the highest odds.
1. Why Easter and Anzac rounds are different for player props
| Factor | Normal round | Easter / Anzac rounds |
|---|---|---|
| Player motivation | Standard | Elevated – rivalry intensity |
| Weather | Variable | Often cooler, wetter (April) |
| Attendance | Regular | Near‑capacity crowds |
| Umpiring/refereeing | Standard | Tends to let more go (especially NRL) |
| Player prop markets | Standard depth | Enhanced – more props offered |
| Public betting volume | High | Extremely high – odds can move sharply |
Key insight: In high‑intensity matches, certain players thrive under pressure. Others fade. Knowing which players have a history of stepping up is the key to profitable player prop betting.
2. AFL player props: What to bet on
AFL player props have exploded in popularity. The most common markets include:
| Prop market | What it means | Typical odds range |
|---|---|---|
| Disposals (over/under) | Total kicks + handballs | 1.85 – 1.95 |
| Marks (over/under) | Total marks taken | 1.85 – 1.95 |
| Goals (over/under) | Individual goals | 1.85 – 1.95 (anytime goal scorer ~1.50‑2.00) |
| Tackles (over/under) | Total tackles | 1.85 – 1.95 |
| Fantasy points (over/under) | AFL Fantasy score | 1.85 – 1.95 |
| First goal scorer | Kicks the first goal of the match | 8.00 – 15.00 |
| Anytime goal scorer | Kicks at least one goal | 1.40 – 2.50 |
3. Top AFL player props for Easter & Anzac rounds 2026
Easter weekend (Friday – Monday)
Collingwood vs Essendon (Anzac Day eve or Easter Friday)
| Player | Prop | Why | Approx odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Daicos (Coll) | Over 30.5 disposals | Elite ball‑winner; Essendon lacks a tagger | 1.90 |
| Zach Merrett (Ess) | Over 28.5 disposals | Rises in big games; Collingwood allows high disposal numbers to oppositions’ best mids | 1.90 |
| Bobby Hill (Coll) | Anytime goal | Kicked 3+ in last two Anzac clashes | 1.80 |
| Jordan De Goey (Coll) | Over 5.5 tackles | Physical midfielder; Essendon game always heated | 1.85 |
| Mason Redman (Ess) | Over 6.5 marks | Loves intercept marks against Collingwood’s forward entries | 1.90 |
Value play: Nick Daicos to have 30+ disposals and 1+ goal – combined odds ~3.50. He has done this in 3 of his last 5 games against Essendon.
Geelong vs Hawthorn (Easter Monday)
| Player | Prop | Why | Approx odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Cameron (Geel) | Over 3.5 goals | Averages 3.2 goals against Hawthorn; wet track may reduce, but he’s the main target | 2.00 |
| Tom Hawkins (Geel) | Over 2.5 goals | Still dangerous in the goal square; Hawks’ young defence struggles | 1.90 |
| Will Day (Haw) | Over 25.5 disposals | Geelong allows midfielders to accumulate; Day is Hawthorn’s prime mover | 1.90 |
| Max Holmes (Geel) | Over 4.5 tackles | Runs all day; Hawks use corridor, creating tackle opportunities | 1.85 |
Value play: Jeremy Cameron to kick 4+ goals at $2.00. He has kicked 4 or more in 2 of his last 3 against Hawthorn.
Anzac Day (25 April) – multiple matches
Melbourne Storm (NRL) – see NRL section below for AFL/NRL crossover day
But for AFL on Anzac Day, the traditional blockbuster is:
Sydney Swans vs St Kilda (SCG, afternoon)
| Player | Prop | Why | Approx odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Errol Gulden (Syd) | Over 28.5 disposals | Loves the wide SCG wings; St Kilda’s midfield defence is leaky | 1.90 |
| Callum Mills (Syd) | Over 6.5 tackles | Returns to midfield role; Anzac Day intensity suits him | 1.85 |
| Jack Sinclair (StK) | Over 25.5 disposals | Swans allow uncontested marks; Sinclair will find space | 1.90 |
| Tom Papley (Syd) | Anytime goal | Loves Anzac Day (kicked 3 in 2025) | 1.75 |
Value play: Errol Gulden 30+ disposals and 1+ goal – odds ~4.00. Achieved in 2 of last 3 games against Saints.
4. NRL player props: What to bet on
NRL player props are equally diverse and often offer better value because they are less bet on by the public.
| Prop market | What it means | Typical odds range |
|---|---|---|
| Try scorer (anytime) | Player scores a try at any time | 1.50 – 3.00 |
| First try scorer | Player scores the first try of the match | 8.00 – 17.00 |
| Last try scorer | Player scores the last try | 8.00 – 17.00 |
| Try assists | Player sets up a try | 2.50 – 5.00 |
| Line breaks | Player breaks the defensive line | 2.00 – 4.00 |
| Tackles (over/under) | Total tackles made | 1.85 – 1.95 |
| Run metres (over/under) | Total metres gained with ball | 1.85 – 1.95 |
| Goal kicks (over/under) | Total goals kicked (for kickers) | 1.85 – 1.95 |
5. Top NRL player props for Easter & Anzac rounds 2026
Easter weekend
Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels (Easter Friday)
| Player | Prop | Why | Approx odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Cleary (Pen) | Over 2.5 goal kicks | Reliable kicker; Penrith scores 4+ tries | 1.85 |
| Dylan Brown (Par) | Over 5.5 tackle breaks | Runs hard at Penrith’s aggressive line | 1.90 |
| Brian To’o (Pen) | Anytime try | Scores in 8 of last 10 against Parramatta | 1.70 |
| Isaiah Papali’i (Par) | Over 30.5 run metres | Always lifts against former club | 1.85 |
Value play: Nathan Cleary to score a try – odds ~2.50. He has scored in 3 of his last 4 matches against Parramatta.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters (Easter Saturday – traditional rivalry)
| Player | Prop | Why | Approx odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latrell Mitchell (Sou) | Anytime try | Loves the big stage; has scored in 4 of last 5 against Roosters | 1.80 |
| James Tedesco (Syd) | Over 150 run metres | Always runs hard in derbies; Souths’ edge defence is vulnerable | 1.90 |
| Cameron Murray (Sou) | Over 35 tackles | Workhorse in big games; Roosters will attack through the middle | 1.85 |
| Joseph Manu (Syd) | Over 2.5 tackle breaks | Powerful runner; Souths’ defence struggles with his footwork | 1.90 |
Value play: Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco both to score a try – combined odds ~4.50. Both are proven big‑game scorers.
Anzac Day (25 April)
Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors (AAMI Park, afternoon)
| Player | Prop | Why | Approx odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Papenhuyzen (Mel) | First try scorer | Scores early in 25% of matches; Warriors’ kick chase can be slow | 9.00 |
| Harry Grant (Mel) | Try assist | Leads league in try assists from dummy half | 2.80 |
| Addin Fonua‑Blake (War) | Over 150 run metres | Workhorse prop; Storm’s middle can be exploited | 1.90 |
| Jahrome Hughes (Mel) | Over 1.5 try assists | Storm’s primary playmaker; Warriors’ edge defence is weak | 2.20 |
Value play: Ryan Papenhuyzen anytime try + Harry Grant try assist – odds ~4.00. Strong correlation – if Grant sets up tries, Papenhuyzen is often the beneficiary.
Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons (Anzac Day, afternoon)
| Player | Prop | Why | Approx odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominic Young (Syd) | Anytime try | Aerial threat; Dragons’ wing defence is poor | 1.65 |
| Ben Hunt (Drag) | Over 2.5 tackle breaks | Still elusive; Roosters’ defensive line can be broken | 1.90 |
| Victor Radley (Syd) | Over 4.5 tackles | Aggressive defender; Anzac Day intensity suits him | 1.85 |
| Zac Lomax (Drag) | Over 2.5 goals | Dragons’ primary kicker; will have opportunities | 1.90 |
Value play: Dominic Young to score 2+ tries – odds ~4.50. He has scored multiple tries in 3 of his last 5 Anzac Day appearances.
6. How to find value in player props
| Method | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Historical head‑to‑head | Some players consistently perform well against specific opponents. |
| Venue splits | Certain players thrive at specific grounds (e.g., Papenhuyzen at AAMI Park). |
| Weather forecast | Rain favours unders on run metres and tries; favours tackles overs. |
| Team changes | If a key defender is out, opposing try scorer props increase in value. |
| Bookmaker promotions | Some books offer “try scorer insurance” – get a free bet if your pick doesn’t score. |
7. Building a player prop multi for the long weekend
Combining player props into a multi (parlay) can turn small stakes into big returns. Keep these rules in mind:
- Maximum 3‑4 legs – more legs increase variance dramatically.
- Mix safe (1.50‑1.80) with value (2.00‑3.00) – don’t take all long shots.
- Use same‑game correlation – e.g., a team to win + their star try scorer.
- Avoid two “first try scorer” legs – too volatile.
Example multi (AFL – Anzac Day)
- Nick Daicos over 30.5 disposals (1.90)
- Errol Gulden anytime goal (1.75)
- Jeremy Cameron over 2.5 goals (1.85)
Combined odds: ~6.15. $20 returns $123.
Example multi (NRL – Easter Saturday)
- Latrell Mitchell anytime try (1.80)
- Nathan Cleary over 2.5 goals (1.85)
- Ryan Papenhuyzen anytime try (1.90)
Combined odds: ~6.33. $20 returns $126.60.
8. Common player prop mistakes
| Mistake | Why it’s bad | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Betting on your favourite player regardless of match‑up | Emotion over data | Research historical performance against opponent |
| Ignoring weather | Rain reduces goals/tries, increases tackles | Check forecast 24 hours before |
| Betting too many legs | One bad leg kills the whole multi | Stick to 3‑4 legs maximum |
| Not shopping for odds | Different bookmakers offer different lines | Compare across 3‑4 sites |
| Chasing after a win | Overconfidence leads to poor bets | Stick to your unit size |
9. Bankroll tips for the Easter‑Anzac block
With multiple matches over 4‑5 days, it’s easy to overbet.
- Allocate a separate weekend bankroll (e.g., $200).
- Bet 1‑2% per player prop ($2‑$4 per bet).
- Maximum 5 player props per day – quality over quantity.
- After 3 losing props in a row, stop for 2 hours.
10. Conclusion: The props are there – you just need to pick them
The Easter and Anzac rounds are the pinnacle of the AFL and NRL regular seasons. For player prop bettors, they offer a rare combination of high intensity, predictable patterns, and enhanced markets.
Focus on players who have proven they step up in big games – Nick Daicos, Jeremy Cameron, Latrell Mitchell, Ryan Papenhuyzen. Study their historical numbers against specific opponents. Check the weather. And always, always compare odds.
Now you have the props. The only thing left is to place your bets and enjoy the greatest weekend in Australian sport.
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