2026 AFL Round 18 Tips & Predictions

Huge litmus test for two sides that still have a bit left to prove in many people’s eyes. The Dockers were entitled to an off day in last week’s loss to the Giants in Canberra, but there are some big concerns on the injury front with Hayden Young a cahnce at missing this game with a groin issue. After copping some flack for their all gas, no brakes approach to attacking footy, the Swans showed they can indeed defend last week and play some patient footy in a 35-point romping over the Dogs. With the Dockers unbeaten at home, Sydney goes into this one as rightful underdogs, but the potential inclusion of Tom Papley is a big boost for the visitors with a two-goal head start. 

Prediction: Swans to Cover (+12.5 Points) @ $1.90 

Value: Swans to Win @ $2.65 

Player Pick: Isaac Heeney 2+ Goals @ $1.90 

The scenes in the sheds post-game last week told us all we needed to know about Collingwood. It wasn’t pretty, but the Pies are well and truly alive in the finals race after knocking off the Suns on the Gold Coast, and they now set their sights on a North Melbourne hoping to bounce back from a goalless final term against Port Adelaide. The Pies have won six in a row over the Roos dating back to 2020 and are playing with a real chip on their shoulder, particularly through the midfield. Nick Daicos is a man on a mission and he could be in for another big collect on the disposal front with North’s star midfielder George Wardlaw in trouble with a hamstring injury. 

Prediction: Collingwood 1-39 @ $2.15 

Value: Collingwood to Win & Under 174.5 Total Points @ $2.55 

Player Pick: Nick Daicos 35+ Disposals @ $1.98 

Maybe not the best game on paper, but by far the most important with both sides looking to keep their faint finals hopes alive. The Saints came good last week with a 67-point thumping over Essendon, while Port ran out three-goal winners to continue North’s misery at the Adelaide Oval. The Power have been an incredibly tough out across the entirety of the season and this should be a fascinating battle through the midfield with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Zak Butters locking horns. Neither team has been lighting up the scoreboard this year, and both like to get their hands on the footy and push forward through uncontested marks. The Saints are tough to trust and the Power have made a habit of losing one-score games, so the Under is probably the best way to play this one. 

Prediction: Under 171.5 Total Points @ $1.88 

Value: Either team to win by less than 15.5 points @ $2.65 

Player Pick: Mattaes Phillipou Anytime Goal Kicker @ $1.90 

For those playing at home, the Giants have held the wood over the Cats, winning four on the trot dating back to 2023. Last week’s three-goal win over top of the table Fremantle will do wonders for the Giants’ confidence, particularly with Geelong coming in off a blowout loss at the Cattery to Brisbane. Jeremy Cameron’s form has come under the microscope, with some asking Chris Scott to make a bold selection call up forward. All of this could lend itself to a classic Cats bounce back, but they’ll need to be at their best with the Giants dominating the clearances last week against the best side in the competition. At the same time, GWS was smashed in the hit-outs against the Dockers, and that could be their downfall if Mitch Edwards and Sam De Koning have their way. 

Prediction: Geelong to Win @ $1.60 

Value: Geelong 1-39 @ $2.30 

Player Pick: Finn Callagan 30+ Disposals @ $1.90 

Interim coach Josh Fraser might be handed a blank cheque if the Blues win this one on Saturday night. Carlton’s turnaround post Michael Voss has been nothing short of stunning; the Blues winning their seventh game on the trot last week narrowly over Richmond. The Hawks are up next, and Sam Mitchell’s side should be playing with a point to prove after falling behind by 12 goals at half time last week in a shock upset against Melbourne. Hawthorn’s body language and overall interest level was off from the get-go, although there were some positives to draw in the second half when the Hawks kicked 12 unanswered. Nick Watson is a good chance to return this week in front of what should be a big crowd at the ‘G. The Hawks responded to a loss to Melbourne earlier in the year with an 11-point win over Adelaide, and we could see this one decided by a similar margin after what should have been a hard week at training for the brown and gold. 

Prediction: Hawthorn to Cover (-13.5 Points) @ $1.90 

Value: Hawks 1-39 @ $2.15 

Player Pick: Dylan Moore 2+ Goals @ $2.85 

Most of have already put a red pen through the Gold Coast’s finals chances after a sixth consecutive loss last week to Collingwood. Something is seriously off behind the scenes at the Suns and their inability to get back and defend could be exposed further on Saturday against a Crows side set to welcome back Wayne Milera and Callum Ah Chee. Ben Long’s suspension compounds things further for the Gold Coast, not to mention their ugly 0-8 record at the Adelaide Oval against the Crows. Matthew Nicks’ side were far from their best against West Coast last week, but with a couple of big inclusions, they should be hard to beat this week. 

Prediction: Crows to Win & Under 165.5 Total Points @ $2.60 

Value: Jordan Dawson 30+ Disposals @ $3.40 

Player Pick: Taylor Walker 3+ Goals @ $2.90 

West Coast left a lot to be desired defensively last week against the Crows, allowing Adelaide 56 entries inside 50. They fell behind by five goals at quarter time and have made a bad habit of starting games slowly, a worrying sign against a Bulldogs outfit facing a must-win scenario as far as finals are concerned. The Dogs were a big let down last week against Sydney and there are a couple of big selection changes coming due to injury. The Bulldogs have whacked West Coast by more than 13 goals across their last two meetings, and while the Eagles are much-improved on last year, this one figures to get out of hand if the Dogs can get their ruck personnel right around Tim English. 

Prediction: Bulldogs to Cover (-35.5 Points) @ $1.90 

Value: Bulldogs to Win & Over 175.5 Total Points @ $2.05 

Player Pick: Tom Liberatore 25+ Disposals @ $2.20  

The Dees have been the surprise story of the 2026 season so far, and they can take another big step to sewing up a finals spot on Sunday. Last week’s 35-point margin over Hawthorn doesn’t do Steven King’s side any justice after a dominant opening half that saw the Hawks trail by 12 goals. Max Gawn was outstanding in the ruck and both Jacob van Rooyen and Bayley Fritsch enjoyed career-best games, slotting five goals each. Richmond, meanwhile, went very close to knocking off old rivals Carlton, kicking three goals in the final term to fall two points short. The Tigers were huge out of the middle, winning the centre clearances and taking more contested marks overall. Finding the chest of Tom Lynch more often would help the Tigers improve even more, and given we’ve seen Melbourne stumble at times this year, there’s a case to be made for them to at least keep this respectable. 

Prediction: Richmond to Cover (+41.5 Points) @ $1.90 

Value: Melbourne 1-39 @ $2.45 

Player Pick: Tom Lynch 2+ Goals @ $1.70 

Another enormous ask for the Bombers following last week’s 67 point thumping against St Kilda. Brisbane is another class of opponent entirely, as the Swans and Cats have found out over the last fortnight. The Lions look right back to their Premiership-winning best in the matter of a fortnight, and it’s about to get even more scary with Hugh McCluggage and Dayne Zorko both likely to return on Sunday. The Bombers will be boosted by the potential return of Archie Roberts, but this still looks like an enormous ask. 

Prediction: Lions to Cover (-62.5 Points) @ $1.90 

Player Pick: Zac Bailey 2+ Goals @ $1.75