An enticing encounter kicks off AFL game week 18, as Sydney host the Western Bulldogs. The Sydney Swans have endured a tough campaign, struggling to put together any sort of consistency and form – which is reflected in their lowly league position.
For the Western Bulldogs, this is a proposition that they will be eager to take on, having run Collingwood and Port Adelaide close in recent weeks.
Whilst the Sydney Swans will be roared on by their home support at the SCG, the Western Bulldogs have been in good form lately and they could win on the road.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Total Points – Over 164.5 | $1.90 | |
 | Winning Margin: Western Bulldogs 13-24 | $6.50 |
 | Western Bulldogs to win the match | $2.10 |
Sydney: Braeden Campbell, Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Errol Gulden, Harry Cunningham, Hayden McLean, Isaac Heeney, Jake Lloyd, James Rowbottom, Joel Amartey, Lewis Melican, Logan McDonald, Nick Blakey, Oliver Florent, Robbie Fox, Ryan Clarke, Tom Papley.
Western Bulldogs: Aaron Naughton, Adam Treloar, Alex Keath, Anthony Scott, Bailey Dale, Bailey Smith, Bailey Williams, Caleb Daniel, Cody Weightman, Jack Macrae, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Laitham Vandermeer, Liam Jones, Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Hannan, Oskar Baker, Rhylee West, Rory Lobb, Taylor Duryea, Tim English, Tim O'Brien, Tom Liberatore.
The biggest game of the game week sees 4th place Melbourne host 3rd placed Brisbane at the MCG. The hosts have had a very strong season, picking up results consistently but there have been a few signs of cracks within the system in recent weeks.
By contrast, Brisbane have been firing on all cylinders lately, frequently putting teams to the sword and they will be eager to put even more distance between themselves and the chasing pack here.
This should be an absolute whopper, between two sides that will give it their all but Brisbane could sneak the win in this one.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Joe Daniher – First Goal scorer | $8.50 | |
| Brisbane to win the match. | $2.20 |
| Total Points – Over 161.5 | $1.78 |
Melbourne: Alex Neal-Bullen, Angus Brayshaw, Bayley Fritsch, Brodie Grundy, Christian Petracca, Christian Salem, Ed Langdon, Harrison Petty, Jack Viney, Jacob Van Rooyen, Jake Lever, James Jordon, Joel Smith, Judd McVee, Kade Chandler, Kysaiah Pickett, Lachie Hunter, Max Gawn, Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Tom Sparrow, Trent Rivers.
Brisbane: Brandon Starcevich, Cameron Rayner, Charlie Cameron, Conor McKenna, Darcy Wilmot, Deven Robertson, Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage, Jack Payne, Jarrod Berry, Joe Daniher, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Neale, Lincoln McCarthy, Oscar McInerney, Ryan Lester, Zac Bailey.
Table-topping Collingwood will be looking to keep their excellent winning streak going, as they welcome Fremantle to the MCG.
The Magpies were pushed hard by the Western Bulldogs last weekend and will take heart from being able to get over the line when it mattered most.
Fremantle meanwhile are a plucky outfit, who truly do not know when they are beaten and they tend to revel in underdog status in games such as this.
However, Collingwood are too good for most currently and they will have too much for Fremantle.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Collingwood to be winning at HT and FT | $1.35 | |
| Winning Margin: Collingwood 25-36 | $5.50 |
| Total Points – Under 159.5 | $1.90 |
Collingwood: Ashley Johnson, Bobby Hill, Brayden Maynard, Brody Mihocek, Darcy Cameron, Darcy Moore, Harvey Harrison, Isaac Quaynor, Jack Crisp, Jamie Elliott, Jeremy Howe, John Noble, Josh Daicos, Mason Cox, Nathan Murphy, Nick Daicos, Oleg Markov, Patrick Lipinski, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams, Tom Mitchell, W. Hoskin-Elliott.
Fremantle: Alex Pearce, Andrew Brayshaw, Brandon Walker, Brennan Cox, Caleb Serong, Ethan Hughes, Hayden Young, Jaeger O'Meara, Jordan Clark, Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss, Lachlan Schultz, Liam Henry, Luke Jackson, Luke Ryan, Matthew Johnson, Michael Walters, Michael Frederick, Nat Fyfe, Neil Erasmus, Sam Switkowski, Sean Darcy.
Out of form St Kilda travel to the Gold Coast, looking to force their way back into the top 4, with the season drawing to a close.
Gold Coast find themselves 13th in the table, with a top 8 finish looking to be on their minds, although they will be all too aware that they need to start stringing results together soon.
St Kilda meanwhile have only won 1 of their last 4, a triumph over lowly West Coast and there has been an inauspicious nature to their performances in recent weeks.
This will be a very tight one, potentially low scoring and it looks very tough to call.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Total Points – Under 161.5 | $1.81 | |
| Winning Margin: St Kilda 1-12 | $5.50 |
| St Kilda to win the match | $2.50 |
Gold Coast: Bailey Humphrey, Ben Ainsworth, Ben King, Ben Long, Brandon Ellis, Brayden Fiorini, Charlie Ballard, Darcy MacPherson, David Swallow, Hewego Paul Oea, Jack Lukosius, Jarrod Witts, Lachie Weller, Levi Casboult, Mac Andrew, Malcolm Rosas, Matthew Rowell, Nick Holman, Noah Anderson, Sam Collins, Sam Flanders, Wil Powell.
St Kilda: Anthony Caminiti, Ben Paton, Brad Crouch, Bradley Hill, Callum Wilkie, Dan Butler, Dougal Howard, Jack Higgins, Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele, Jade Gresham, Jimmy Webster, Josh Battle, Liam Stocker, Marcus Windhager, Mason Wood, Mattaes Phillipou, Max King, Mitchito Owens, N. Wanganeen-Milera, Rowan Marshall, Ryan Byrnes.
The games come thick and fast for Port Adelaide, as they look to keep up with the pace at the top of the table with Collingwood.
They travel to a Carlton side who sit 11th in the table, with an inconsistent recent record but they won well at Fremantle last time out.
Port Adelaide meanwhile have been imperious this season, winning all but two of their matches and they will just want to keep the cogs turning, with the end of the campaign around the corner.
This should be a decent one and whilst Carlton won’t fold over, Port Adelaide should prevail here.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Port Adelaide to win the match | $1.65 | |
| Total Points – Over 161.5 | $1.90 |
| Winning Margin: Port Adelaide 13-24 | $5.50 |
Carlton: Adam Cerra, Adam Saad, Alex Cincotta, Blake Acres, Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, David Cuningham, Harry McKay, Jack Martin, Jacob Weitering, Jordan Boyd, Lachie Fogarty, Marc Pittonet, Matthew Cottrell, Matthew Kennedy, Matthew Owies, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman, Paddy Dow, Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh, Tom De Koning.
Port Adelaide: Aliir Aliir, Charlie Dixon, Connor Rozee, Dan Houston, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Dylan Williams, J. Horne-Francis, Jed McEntee, Jeremy Finlayson, Josh Sinn, Kane Farrell, Miles Bergman, Ollie Wines, Quinton Narkle, Ryan Burton, Sam Powell-Pepper, Scott Lycett, Todd Marshall, Travis Boak, Trent McKenzie, Willem Drew, Zak Butters.
Two sides fully immersed in the top 8 battle face off, as Geelong host Essendon – looking to overtake them in the table by the end of the game week.
Geelong just haven’t possessed the consistency needed to sustain a top 4 challenge this term but they are fully in the mix to finish in the top 8 this term.
Essendon meanwhile won impressively at Adelaide last time out and are flying high in the top 6, a position they will be eager to maintain as the season closes in.
This should be a really good game and whilst most sportsbooks favour Geelong, Essendon could get the job done here.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Essendon to win the match | $3.00 | |
| Winning Margin: Essendon 13-24 | $9.00 |
| Total Points – Over 166.5 | $1.90 |
Geelong: Bradley Close, Gary Rohan, Isaac Smith, Jack Bowes, Jack Henry, Jake Kolodjashnij, Jed Bews, Jeremy Cameron, Max Holmes, Mitch Duncan, Sam De Koning, Tom Atkins, Tom Hawkins, Tom Stewart, Tyson Stengle, Zach Guthrie, Zach Tuohy.
Essendon: Andrew McGrath, Andrew Phillips, Archie Perkins, Ben Hobbs, B. Zerk-Thatcher, Darcy Parish, Dyson Heppell, Jake Kelly, Jake Stringer, Jayden Laverde, Jordan Ridley, Jye Caldwell, Kyle Langford, Mason Redman, Matt Guelfi, Nic Martin, Nick Bryan, Peter Wright, Sam Durham, Sam Weideman, Will Snelling, Zach Merrett.
Another top 8 chasing side in the form of Adelaide will be desperate to keep the season ending momentum going, as they take on Greater Western Sydney Giants.
Essendon had too much for Adelaide last weekend, a result that has left them in 9th and they will be desperate to respond this week.
GWS Giants meanwhile are sat just one place behind Adelaide heading into this one, level on points with their opponents – following four straight wins.
Calling this one is tough, as GWS Giants have been in good form but Adelaide should prevail at home.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Adelaide to win the match | $1.42 | |
| Total Points – Under 173.5 | $1.89 |
| Taylor Walker First Goal Scorer | $7.50 |
Adelaide: Ben Keays, Brodie Smith, Chayce Jones, Darcy Fogarty, Izak Rankine, Jake Soligo, Jordan Dawson, Jordon Butts, Josh Rachele, Josh Worrell, Lachlan Murphy, Lachlan Sholl, Luke Pedlar, Max Michalanney, Mitchell Hinge, Nick Murray, Reilly O'Brien, Riley Thilthorpe, Rory Laird, Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker, Wayne Milera.
Greater Western Sydney: Aaron Cadman, Callan Ward, Callum M Brown, Connor Idun, Daniel Lloyd, Finn Callaghan, H. Himmelberg, Harry Perryman, Jack Buckley, Jake Riccardi, Josh Kelly, Kieren Briggs, Lachie Ash, Lachie Whitfield, Lachlan Keeffe, Nick Haynes, Sam Taylor, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Bedford, Toby Greene, Tom Green, Xavier O'Halloran.
Two sides languishing at the foot of the table face off, as Hawthorn travel to North Melbourne.
It has been a bleak campaign for Hawthorn, who have won only 4 matches and recent form will be a cause for concern for all associated with the club.
They take on a North Melbourne side that have endured a horrid season of their own, losing their last 15 matches and they need to snap out of their rough run of form sooner rather than later.
Confidence will be low in both camps but Hawthorn should just about get the job done.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Hawthorn to win the match | $1.53 | |
| Total Points – Under 172.5 | $1.75 |
| Winning Margin: Hawthorn 1-12 | $6.00 |
North Melbourne: Aidan Corr, Bailey Scott, Ben McKay, C. Coleman-Jones, Cameron Zurhaar, Eddie Ford, George Wardlaw, Griffin Logue, Harry Sheezel, Hugh Greenwood, Jack Ziebell, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jy Simpkin, Liam Shiels, Luke McDonald, Nick Larkey, Paul Curtis, Phoenix Spicer, Tarryn Thomas, Todd Goldstein, Tom Powell, Will Phillips
Hawthorn: Blake Hardwick, Cameron Mackenzie, Connor MacDonald, Conor Nash, Dylan Moore, Jack Scrimshaw, Jacob Koschitzke, Jai Newcombe, James Blanck, James Worpel, Jarman Impey, Josh Weddle, Karl Amon, Lachie Bramble, Lloyd Meek, Luke Breust, Mitchell Lewis, Ned Reeves, Sam Frost, Seamus Mitchell, Tyler Brockman, Will Day.
Wooden spoon favourites will be looking to find some form, as they take on Richmond. One win throughout the campaign is representative of the struggles West Coast have endured this term and a recent thumping by Brisbane won’t have improved the mood in the camp.
Richmond meanwhile had way too much for Sydney last week, a result that should give them increased impetus heading into this one.
West Coast will be up for the battle at home, but Richmond should prevail in this one.
| Bookmaker | Sam’s Tip | Odds |
| Richmond to win the match | $1.11 | |
| Total Points – Over 175.5 | $2.00 |
| Oscar Allen First Goal Scorer | $8.50 |
West Coast: Alex Witherden, Andrew Gaff, Bailey J. Williams, Brady Hough, Dom Sheed, Elijah Hewett, Elliot Yeo, Jack Darling, Jack Petruccelle, Jack Williams, Jayden Hunt, Liam Duggan, Luke Edwards, Luke Shuey, Noah Long, Oscar Allen, Reuben Ginbey, Rhett Bazzo, Ryan Maric, S. Petrevski-Seton, Thomas Barrass, Tim Kelly.
Richmond: Daniel Rioli, Dustin Martin, Dylan Grimes, Hugo Ralphsmith, Jack Graham, Jack Riewoldt, Jack Ross, Jayden Short, Judson Clarke, Kamdyn McIntosh, Liam Baker, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin, Noah Balta, Samson Ryan, Tim Taranto, Toby Nankervis, Trent Cotchin.
