It was a lean week for us here on The Huddle, with a handful of upsets and a couple of matches that were straight up bizarre.

Hawthorn kicked 10 unanswered goals against Melbourne after trailing by 96 points at one stage, while Port Adelaide and North Melbourne combined for a world record in free kicks. Some weeks the footy gods just want to mess with the form guide.

The good news is we move on. Round 18 gives us a fresh crack at redemption, and Round 18 is stacked with high-stakes matchups.

From Fremantle vs Sydney in a table-topping clash to a host of Wildcard hopefuls who can’t afford to slip up.

For the latest team news, analysis, and expert insights, check out our expert AFL tips and predictions for Round 18 below.

Fremantle Dockers vs Sydney Swans

Thursday, July 9, 8:10pm AEST - Optus Stadium, Perth

First versus second, and this one shapes as an absolute cracker.

There are genuine questions swirling around Sydney's recent form, while Fremantle arrive off the back of only their second loss of the season.

The Dockers were overdue a stumble, and although they were far from awful in Canberra against GWS, they never really looked like winning

Charlie Curnow's stocks keep rising, and he feasted again on an undermanned Western Bulldogs defence last week, while Errol Gulden now has a couple of games under his belt and looks set to become a genuine weapon on the wing and through the middle for the Swans. His kicking is genuinely game-changing.

Brodie Grundy smashed Timmy English out of the ruck last week and now faces the most dynamic athlete in the sport - Luke Jackson. That clash will be enormous in deciding the game.

So often it’s 4 v 3 at ground level as Jackson joins in on hunting the ball whilst the more immobile opposition ruck is left in his athletic wake.

Freo’s big three forwards (Voss under an injury cloud at time of writing) will be keen to bounce back and prove the difference in this one.

Should Voss miss, maybe we get a look at Mason Cox alongside Treacy and Amiss. Or maybe they go small.

Head-to-head prediction: Fremantle Dockers by 13 points.

Betting tip: Jye Amiss three+ goals.

Collingwood Magpies vs North Melbourne Kangaroos

Friday, July 10, 7:40pm AEST - Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Collingwood did what they do on the Gold Coast last week.

They overcame drama and remained professional throughout a hostile and willing contest.

The Suns challenged them but with Nick Daicos leading the way, the four points travelled back to Melbourne. An important victory, too, as it pursues a Wildcard berth and in the same breath, makes Gold Coast’s life much more painful.

North Melbourne remains a frustration for me.

At times under the pump against Port in Adelaide, they fought back and took a lead deep into the third term before only managing a single behind in the last to go down without a real whimper at all. 

Social media blames Nick Blakey - and he gets plenty from me, too - but the ball lived in the Power’s half meaning none of the Roos forwards did anything without any real supply.

This one looks like a must-win for North. Bizarrely enough, it’s a Pies home game at North’s home ground. North should take that advantage and win the football game.\

But how can you be confident they will?

Head-to-head prediction: Collingwood Magpies by 10 points.

Betting tip: Jordan De Goey 23+ disposals and Luke Parker 23+ disposals.

St Kilda Saints vs Port Adelaide Power

Saturday, July 11, 1:15pm AEST - Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Two squads scrapping for a grip on the Wildcard places collide at Marvel.

The Saints made light work of Essendon last week, with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Brad Hill going wild for 40-plus and a goal apiece, while Max Hill piled on 30+ of his own as the Saints strolled to victory.

This assignment will be considerably tougher, given Port Adelaide have been one of the staunchest defensive units in the competition all season.

They held North Melbourne to a single behind in a tense final term last week to secure the win on home soil and send the Roos home winless from Adelaide Oval.

Jase Burgoyne kept his good mate Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera to 28 disposals earlier this season, so do not be shocked if that story repeats itself here.

At Marvel Stadium, the edge has to go to the Saints, but Port will make them work for absolutely everything, because that is exactly what Josh Carr's men have done all year.

Head-to-head prediction: St Kilda by 13 points.

Betting tip: Jack Higgins three+ goals.

GWS Giants vs Geelong Cats

Saturday, July 11, 4:15pm AEST - ENGIE Stadium, Sydney

Geelong look to make amends here, but they run into the strangest team in the competition to do it.

A week or so ago, most of us had written GWS off after Brent Daniels and others went down with injury. All they did in response was travel to Canberra and beat a team on a 14-game winning streak.

Jake Stringer exploded for seven, and the usual suspects racked up possessions for fun.

Lachie Whitfield will be missing for the Giants, and that is a genuine blow.

Geelong were dominated by Brisbane in the opening term last week and fought back bravely, but never looked like snatching the game away from the back-to-back premiers.

Jeremy Cameron will be eager to find some form against his old club here.

Keep an eye on Toby Bedford too, who might well be given the job on Holmes or Smith, so factor that into any betting decisions on this one.

Head-to-head prediction: Geelong Cats by five points.

Betting tip: Geelong 1-39 points.

Carlton Blues vs Hawthorn Hawks

Saturday, July 11, 7:35pm AEST - MCG, Melbourne

Seven wins on the trot, and now the Blues face a real test against a hungry Hawks side desperate to atone for last week's whitewash.

Carlton's game has come an enormously long way, with improved ball use, improved run, and personnel changes that all feel far more in line with the way footy is played in 2026. For the most part we have loved Hawthorn's output too, especially at the MCG, but last week was truly bizarre viewing.

Will Day versus Patrick Cripps looms as a genuine highlight, and that should be an excellent contest in its own right. George Hewett will likely line up alongside Jai Newcombe as that battle plays out.

The Hawks are mixing and matching their key forward posts, some through injury and some through form, and that is an area where they can stretch the Blues. But Dean, presuming he returns, along with Cowan and even Lewis Young last week, have all stood tall when called upon.

This feels like the most likely game where the Blues come back to earth, but an eighth straight win here would blow the lid clean off the joint.

Head-to-head prediction: Hawthorn Hawks by 12 points.

Betting tip: Dylan Moore two+ goals.

Adelaide Crows vs Gold Coast Suns

Saturday, July 11, 8:10pm AEST - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

The Suns keep setting fire to season 2026 while Adelaide return to the winners' list, if hardly in emphatic fashion.

This trip to Adelaide feels like close to Gold Coast's last real chance to salvage what remains of a season slipping away fast.

They have made some subtle changes through the midfield, but the group remains far too easy to beat around the stoppages.

Adelaide's forward mix continues to be something of a mystery. Darcy Fogarty has genuinely found form, but the continuity around him is nowhere to be seen.

For both clubs, this is a must-win. Nothing else will do.

Head-to-head prediction: Adelaide Crows by 13 points.

Betting tip: Izak Rankine 24+ disposals.

Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles

Sunday, July 12, 1:10pm AEST - Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

The Dogs were never seriously threatened in Sydney last week as Curnow ran riot yet again.

Meanwhile, the Eagles keep getting more competitive, with far fewer stretches where they are simply blown off the park. Their progress has been slow and occasionally painful, but you can genuinely see the personnel improving and the game style evolving.

Brady Hough will likely be tasked with running with Bontempelli or Richards, and he has struggled to contain the big names across the past fortnight. As we said, this is evolution rather than instant success.

A Dogs win keeps the scent of top six action alive, while a loss adds real pressure to their spot inside the Wildcard 10.

Head-to-head prediction: Western Bulldogs by 28 points.

Betting tip: Ryley Sanders 28+ disposals.

Melbourne Demons vs Richmond Tigers

Sunday, July 12, 3:15pm AEST - MCG, Melbourne

The Dees ambushed and obliterated Hawthorn in Tasmania last week, and that was with the foot off the gas for large chunks of it.

Job done on the road and their place in the 2026 finals picture becomes more likely week on week.

Now they head back to the 'G for a look at a struggling Tigers outfit. They will need to approach this the right way, but if they do, a big scoreline is theirs for the taking.

This might also be another chance to play dual rucks and ease Max Gawn's workload, because believe it or not, Melbourne look like a genuine finals team this season.

What a mark Steven King has left on this club in six months.

Head-to-head prediction: Melbourne Demons by 51 points.

Betting tip: Melbourne total points over.

Brisbane Lions vs Essendon Bombers

Sunday, July 12, 4:40pm AEST - The Gabba, Brisbane

The Lions went 2-0 across a huge fortnight against fellow contenders in Sydney and Geelong.

Now they get a draw that opens the door for them to make their tilt towards the top four and a shot at a third straight premiership.

The less said about Essendon this season, the better. The deeper we go, the worse things look. So much so that Kevin Sheedy was reportedly herding fans back to their seats as they tried to leave Marvel Stadium early while the Saints piled on goal after goal against minimal resistance.

Anything less than a Lions romp here would be genuinely stunning.

Head-to-head prediction: Brisbane Lions by 55 points.

Betting tip: Lions 40+ and Zac Bailey 22+ disposals.

Odds are subject to change. *