The race to AFL finals is on and the pressure couldn’t be higher for those teams hovering outside the top 10 – North, St Kilda, GWS and especially the Gold Coast Suns.
We kick things off with a potential Grand Final preview between Fremantle and Sydney, as we run through every game with our 2026 AFL Round 18 best bets and predictions below.
Fremantle vs Sydney Predictions
The two best-performing teams, Fremantle and Sydney, will go head-to-head in a top-of-the-table clash at Optus Stadium on Thursday night.
The Dockers, who suffered their first loss since Round 1 against the Giants last weekend, will be eager to bounce back and maintain their eight-game winning streak at home.
Why you would travel Hayden Young (groin) to Canberra when two games clear on top of the ladder is beyond me, but his injury set-back opens the door for either Jaeger O’Meara, Jeremy Sharp or Corey Wagner to make a return to the seniors.
After lowering their colours to the Lions two weeks ago, the Swans bounced back with an emphatic 35-point win over the Doggies thanks to Big Charlie’s six goals.
Tom Papley could return from a calf issue and it’s doubtful they’ll win over in the west, but the $2.70 about them is a little attractive.
Collingwood vs North Melbourne Predictions
Finals are back on the cards for Collingwood, and they’ll continue their push against North Melbourne as short-priced favourites on Friday night.
Clearly a game the Pies think is winnable – why else would they use their one of their two contractually obligated home games at Marvel? – and they should be confident after defeating the Suns by a goal.
Scott Pendlebury will return for this clash, rejoining Nick Daicos after his 31 disposals, one goal and likely 3 Brownlow votes.
North fell outside the top 10 after their 21-point loss to Port Adelaide.
While they won their three previous games, the Roos aren’t in a great spot when you consider they scratched out wins over the Eagles (16th), Richmond (17th) and Essendon (18th).
Collingwood for the win.
St Kilda vs Port Adelaide Predictions
Two sides coming off impressive wins (relative to their form – I mean, it was Essendon and North), St Kilda and Port Adelaide will clash at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The Saints, who are currently $1.57 favourites with Ladbrokes, decimated the Bomber 117-50 thanks to both Nasiah’s 46 disposals and one goal, and the fact Essendon are an embarrassment.
Port Adelaide will provide a far greater threat to the Saints, having won their last two games against Adelaide and North Melbourne.
Josh Carr is making serious improvements with his squad as the year progresses, and it’s worth noting they’ve won each of their last six away matches against St Kilda.
GWS Giants vs Geelong Predictions
Are the Giants Arthur or Martha?
Arguably the hardest team to get a read on in 2026, GWS ended a three-game losing streak since their bye by upsetting Fremantle and ending the ladder leaders’ greatest run in club history.
Jake Stringer booted a career-best seven goals, while Toby Greene led from the front with 26 and 3. The downside, however, is the loss of Lachie Whitfield after he entered concussion protocols.
Geelong dropped to seventh on the ladder after their 22-point loss to the Lions, but it’s hardly a knock when you consider just how dominant the reigning premiers are looking.
With hardly an injury to speak about, the $1.60 Cats should bounce back despite ethe Giants winning their previous seven matches as a home underdog.
Carlton vs Hawthorn Predictions
Carlton will face their biggest test yet under Josh Fraser when they clash with Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Blues have notched an impressive seven wins in a row, but it must be said that five of w’s have come against sides sitting in the bottom six spots on the ladder. The market has clearly realised with the Blues $2.55 underdogs.
The Hawks were asleep at the wheel in the first half of their latest outing against Melbourne, giving up a 79-point lead at half-time before hitting back with 13 goals to six.
The injuries are starting to mount up for Sam Mitchell’s men, but likely All-Australian Nick Watson is expected to return to their forward line.
This is the biggest challenge the Blues have faced since sacking Michael Voss and will be interesting to see if they can knock off a Hawks that’ll be hurting.
Adelaide vs Gold Coast Predictions
The Suns have lost six consecutive games and each of their previous 13 at the Adelaide Oval – this does not bode well.
It’s hard to believe the 14th-placed Gold Coast were premiership favourites earlier in the year as they now fight to even make the top 10.
Ben Long will miss two weeks for giving Brayden Maynard a taste of his own medicine, while Will Graham (hamstring) the likely replacement.
Although the Crows struggled against their arch-rivals in the latest Showdown two weeks ago, they’ve still won four of their past five with Jordan Dawson in genuine Brownlow form.
Adelaide has been the first to 50 points in each of their 17 previous matches as a favourite against Gold Coast, and they’ll likely go again and extend the Suns’ losing run in the City of Churches to 14.
Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Predictions
While the Suns hate Adelaide, the Eagles’ affiliation with Marvel Stadium is nearly just as bad having lost each of their last 11 games at the venue.
Again, this does not bode well for their clash against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
The Dogs will be looking to bounce back after their 35-point loss Sydney but must first find replacements for defensive pair Conor Budarick (syndesmosis) and Nick Coffield (concussion).
Could be a big day for power forward Aaron Naughton who has kicked 3+ goals in each of the Western Bulldogs’ last four matches against opponents that were ranked in the bottom four.
Melbourne vs Richmond Predictions
May the footy gods have mercy on the Tigers this Sunday as they face a Melbourne team fresh off a demolition of the Hawks.
While Richmond weren’t disgraced in their two-point loss to the Blues, the Dees were sublime with a 13-goal to one opening half against Hawthorn.
They led by as much as 96 points mid-way through Q3 before taking their foot off the gas and holding on for a 35-point victory.
24 touches and 5 goals from Jacob van Rooyen gives Adem Yze plenty to worry about, while Max Gawn could probably give the entire Richmond side a run for its money on his own.
Anyway, the Dees to win.
Brisbane vs Essendon Predictions
Bring on three in a row for the Lions.
The $1.02 about Brisbane against Essendon could be considered generous at this point, with the home side coming off wins against Geelong and Sydney and expecting Hugh McCluggage and Dayne Zorko to return this weekend.
As for the Bombers, they are a shell of a footy team with no leaders and no answers.
It only gets worse as Essendon has lost each of their last 17 away matches.
The line has been set at 62.5, with Brisbane every chance of blowing that out of the water.