Round 18 should be an interesting one given every team has won at least two games and Sydney lost to Richmond in Round 3; it’s a nightmare to predict in what has been an even and unpredictable season.
There are two and a half games between third and 13th and third on the AFL ladder, following the completion of Round 17, so there are finals spots up for grabs.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference.
Collingwood v Geelong
Collingwood
Darcy Moore must lead from the front, if Collingwood is to be competitive at all against a Geelong side that has scored 105 and 110 points respectively against Essendon and Hawthorn, in their past two games – even without experienced key forward Tom Hawkins.
The Collingwood captain has been below par this season and must improve against Geelong.
Geelong
Shaun Mannagh had a breakout game against Hawthorn in Round 17; the 26-year-old mature-aged recruit had eight score involvements, five intercept possessions and 14 tackles.
The Round 18 clash with Collingwood is the perfect opportunity for Mannagh to solidify himself in Geelong’s best 22.
Hawthorn v Fremantle
Hawthorn
Cam Mackenzie is a player that has got plenty of scope for growth.
The 20-year-old is a player who has the capability to play more midfield minutes; he’s fearless and attacks the contest with vigour.
Hawthorn will need him to bring an intensity that is capable of when they take on Fremantle.
Fremantle
Luke Jackson will play predominantly in the ruck when Fremantle faces Hawthorn, as Sean Darcy is unavailable due to concussion.
It will be an intriguing matchup; Jackson will face off against former Fremantle ruckman Lloyd Meek, which is a test that Jackson should be up for.
The former Melbourne ruckman/forward has flourished as the number-one ruckman when Darcy has been out of the team this season.
Sydney v North Melbourne
Sydney
Brodie Grundy has turned the clock back this season, but he will face a stern test against North Melbourne, given that they have a ruckman who’s at the peak of his powers, in Tristan Xerri.
Despite that, Grundy is arguably the All-Australian ruckman up until this point of the season and even more so, because Max Gawn is injured.
North Melbourne
Harry Sheezel can be regarded as one of the best players in the competition and should be knocking on the door to be in the All-Australian team; the 19-year-old has kicked nine straight from set shots this season.
Sheezel has maturity beyond his years. He polled ten Coaches’ votes when North Melbourne took on Gold Coast in Round 17.
It’s going to be interesting where he’s deployed against Sydney in what would be an upset win for North Melbourne.
Western Bulldogs v Carlton
Western Bulldogs
Rhylee West has averaged 5.73 score involvements per game and has only missed one game, which came in a seven-point loss in Round 8 against Hawthorn, which the crafty small forward missed due to suspension.
The 23-year-old has kicked 19 goals in 15 games, but he is capable of more.
Carlton
Nic Newman has averaged 5.44 intercepts per game.
Along with that, the former Sydney defender has averaged 4.56 score involvements per game, which is high when taking into account Newman plays in the back line.
The 31-year-old should be in calculations for a spot in the All-Australian team.
Adelaide v St Kilda
Adelaide
Taylor Walker is a player who can kick with both feet and averages the most score involvements per game of any Adelaide player with 6.38.
If he can get the better of Callum Wilkie, it could go a long way to Adelaide winning the game.
At the very least he needs to bring the ball to ground so that Ben Keays can go to work.
Taylor Walker fends off Caleb Windsor. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
St Kilda
Mattaes Phillipou polled all ten Coaches’ votes in his first game back from a lengthy spell in the VFL.
The 19-year-old had an equal game-high ten score involvements, along with Isaac Heeney when St Kilda took on the team on top of the ladder as it stands, Sydney, in Round 17.
When injuries occur it brings opportunity and that’s been the case with Max King being out of the team due to injury, which gave Phillipou the opportunity to show his wares.
The game against Adelaide looms as a game in which the 19-year-old should be looking to prove that his Round 17 display wasn’t an aberration.
Melbourne v Essendon
Melbourne
Caleb Windsor put in a terrific display in Round 17, albeit against a deplorable West Coast team.
The 19-year-old polled seven Coaches’ votes in that game, finishing the game with 25 disposals, seven score involvements and four intercept possessions.
The number seven pick in in the 2023 AFL draft will be looking to prove that he can perform well against an Essendon team that currently sit in the top four.
Essendon
Dylan Shiel looked back to his best in Round 17 against Collingwood; the former GWS midfielder has been made to earn his spot in the team and played a key role in Essendon winning that game.
The 31-year-old had 26 disposals, seven score involvements and four intercept possessions.
There’s no disputing that Shiel has been made to earn his spot, which was vindicated by his performance against Collingwood.
The Essendon midfielder needs to prove that he warrants a permanent spot in their best 22 when they take on Melbourne.
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide
Gold Coast
Ben King may have kicked 43 goals in 15 games and sitting second on the Coleman Medal, but he has only averaged 4.80 score involvements per game.
The King twin seems to drift in and out of games, which was evident on the weekend, given the key forward kicked just one goal against North Melbourne in Round 17; the 24-year-old had his colours lowered.
At the very least he needs to bring the ball to ground when Gold Coast takes on Port Adelaide so that Ben Long can go to work, in a game that his team can’t afford to lose, if they’ve got finals aspirations.
Ben King of the Suns celebrates a goal. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Port Adelaide
Connor Rozee put in a Captain’s knock when Port Adelaide took on Western Bulldogs in Round 17.
Remarkably, the 24-year-old had 18 disposals in the first quarter of that game.
The natural leader didn’t rest on his laurels as he finished the game with 36 disposals, seven score involvements and four intercept possessions.
Gold Coast should struggle to curtail the influence of Rozee, given he should take plenty of confidence from his display against Western Bulldogs.
Richmond v GWS
Richmond
Nathan Broad will have plenty of work to do when Richmond takes on GWS; he may get the matchup of Jesse Hogan and Jake Riccardi at times.
Broad needs to be at his best against a GWS team that had a remarkable win in Round 17 in a two-goal thriller over a Carlton team that has been in great form and led GWS by 39 points in the first quarter.
GWS
Stephen Coniglio put in a performance that should give him plenty of confidence from when GWS beat Carlton in Round 17; the midfielder finished the game with nine score involvements.
The 30-year-old appears to be in good health and his importance to the GWS team needs him to lead in the absence of Josh Kelly, when GWS takes on Richmond.
West Coast v Brisbane
West Coast
Liam Duggan needs to lead from the front and put in a four-quarter effort. it’s never nice to see a coach get sacked, but it was inevitable.
What will be interesting to see is how West Coast will play in what may be Adam Simpson’s last game as their coach and whether they will be competitive against Brisbane.
Brisbane
Zac Bailey has averaged 4.82 score involvements per game and is a player with plenty of x-factor, but can improve.
The perfect opportunity to get into form will be against a lacklustre West Coast team.
Brisbane needs him to show his wares in Round 18; there’s no disputing that he needs to hit the scoreboard more because ten goals in 11 games isn’t good enough for a player of his talent.
Collingwood Magpies
v
Geelong Cats
AFL : Head To Head
Fri, 12 Jul 2024, 19:40
Hawthorn Hawks
v
Fremantle Dockers
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 13 Jul 2024, 13:45
Sydney Swans
v
North Melbourne Kangaroos
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 13 Jul 2024, 13:45
Western Bulldogs
v
Carlton Blues
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 13 Jul 2024, 16:35
Adelaide Crows
v
St Kilda Saints
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 13 Jul 2024, 19:30
Melbourne Demons
v
Essendon Bombers
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 13 Jul 2024, 19:31
Gold Coast Suns
v
Port Adelaide Power
AFL : Head To Head
Sun, 14 Jul 2024, 13:10
Richmond Tigers
v
Greater Western Sydney Giants
AFL : Head To Head
Sun, 14 Jul 2024, 15:20
West Coast Eagles
v
Brisbane Lions
AFL : Head To Head
Sun, 14 Jul 2024, 16:40
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