Round 18 of the AFL season serves up a ripper of a Thursday night with Fremantle hosting Sydney in a genuine top-of-the-table clash, and the rest of the round is stacked with just as many prop-betting angles.

Brisbane welcome back a Bomber-turned-Lion for a reunion clash, St Kilda and Port Adelaide look set for another arm-wrestle at Marvel, and the Western Bulldogs skipper heads west after a quiet one against the Swans.

There are plenty of players to keep an eye on every week and Round 18 is no different.

Whether you're chasing a ruckman on the rise, a ball-magnet in career-best form, or a forward who's found a new lease on life, we've got you covered.

For the inside lane on the best AFL bets, check out Kate McCarthy’s  Round 18 analysis and betting tips below.

AFL's Best Players to Watch in Round 18

Luke Jackson - Fremantle Dockers vs Sydney Swans

Luke Jackson isn't just winning the ruck duels these days, he's quietly become one of the most dangerous forward options in the competition.

The Docker has kicked two or more goals in each of his last four outings, doing plenty of his damage without ever looking like the headline act.

Thursday night's clash with Sydney throws up a mouth-watering match-up against Brodie Grundy, and Jackson's aerial work and craft at ground level should give the Swans' tall defenders plenty to think about all night.

Betting tip: Luke Jackson two-plus goals.

Hugo Garcia - St Kilda Saints vs Port Adelaide Power

Some players creep up on you, and Hugo Garcia is exactly that type.

Across his last five games he's been racking up 28 disposals on average, and he's an even better watch at Marvel Stadium, where his five-game average sits at 27.2.

With St Kilda set to host Port Adelaide on their favoured home deck, we like Garcia to push well past that number again.

Betting tip: Hugo Garcia 26-plus disposals.

Marcus Bontempelli - Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles

The Bont only managed 19 touches against the Swans last week but write him off at your own risk.

Bontempelli doesn't tend to have back-to-back quiet ones, and the Bulldogs' trip west against the Eagles looks the perfect ground to bounce back on.

Expect the skipper to take control through the middle and rack up plenty of the footy.

Betting tip: Marcus Bontempelli 28-plus disposals.

Port Adelaide the Value Play at the Line

Port Adelaide's ladder position tells only half the story this season, with plenty of their losses coming by the barest of margins.

They've been the wrong end of several nail-biters in 2026, and results like that can turn just as quickly the other way.

We think the Power are well and truly in this contest against St Kilda, and there's a genuine chance they walk away with the four points.

Betting tip: Port Adelaide at the line.

Kate McCarthy’s AFL Round 18 Best Bet

Conor McKenna - Brisbane Lions vs Essendon Bombers

Conor McKenna has found a new gear as a defensive forward this season and he's making life difficult for opponents at both ends of the ground.

He's kicked two or more goals in three straight matches and this week brings an extra edge given it's a reunion with his old club.

We think McKenna does some damage this weekend against the Bombers.

Betting tip: Conor McKenna two-plus goals.

Odds are subject to change.