Preview of AFL Round 18 matches (all times AEST).
FRIDAY, July 25
West Coast v Richmond at Patersons Stadium 8.40pm
Head to Head: Eagles 23 Tigers 15
Last clash: Round 10 2013 – Tigers 16.7 (103) bt Eagles 8.14 (62) at Patersons Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Eagles $1.50 Tigers $2.60
Sportingbet: Eagles $1.53 Tigers $2.50
The 12th-placed Tigers have won their past three games and are playing their best football of the season. West Coast have seven victories, one more than Richmond, and the Eagles are also in winning form having beaten Brisbane at the Gabba last round. The Tigers need forwards Sam Lloyd, Ty Vickery and Jack Riewoldt to give repeat performances after their dominant displays last-start against Port Adelaide.
Key: West Coast have spent the week paying tribute to six-time All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox, who will retire at the end of the season. Cox is sure to provide some inspiration this week, along with marking power up forward and clever tap-work.
Tip: Eagles by 12 points
SATURDAY, July 26
Brisbane v Gold Coast at Gabba 4.40pm
Head to Head: Lions 5 Suns 2
Last clash: Round 3 2014 – Suns 17.12 (114) bt Lions 9.7 (61) at Metricon Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $2.75 Suns $1.45
Sportingbet: Lions $2.70 Suns $1.47
Brisbane are determined to play a role in spoiling Gold Coast’s push for a maiden finals campaign. The 16th-placed Lions are also hoping to stop the Suns claiming a 2-0 clean sweep against their Queensland rivals. But Brisbane onballers Tom Rockliff and Pearce Hanley could find the visitors’ strong midfield led by David Swallow, Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia hard to counter.
Key: There’s a lot on the line for Gold Coast, not just for their finals chances but to prove to themselves they can win for the first time without skipper Gary Ablett. It could be seventh time lucky for the emerging Suns who are 0-6 without Gaz.
Tip: Suns by 14 points
Hawthorn v Sydney at MCG 7.40pm
Head to Head: Hawks 86 Swans 68 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 8 2014 – Swans 15.17 (107) bt Hawks 13.10 (88) at ANZ Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Hawks $2.10 Swans $1.75
Sportingbet: Hawks $2.15 Swans $1.72
The return of Hawthorn’s 2013 club champion Josh Gibson after missing eight games with a chest injury comes just in time for Saturday night’s blockbuster with ladder leaders Sydney and their star forward Lance Franklin, who claimed his second premiership medallion at Hawthorn last season. Gibson faces a tough assignment on Franklin or man mountain Kurt Tippett. Hawthorn’s big-game players such as Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell will be busy at half-back as the Swans, chasing a club-record 13th consecutive win, launch attack after attack.
Key: Hawthorn’s Luke Breust, Jack Gunston and 200-gamer Jarryd Roughead have all kicked 40 goals or more this season. But Sydney’s blue-collar backline concedes an average of less than 68 points per game and the Swans will find a way to bring the high-flying Hawks back to earth.
Tip: Swans by 19 points
SUNDAY, July 27
Collingwood v Adelaide at MCG 4.40pm
Head to Head: Magpies 25 Crows 12
Last clash: Round 9 2014 – Crows 10.16 (76) bt Magpies 7.13 (55) at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Magpies $1.75 Crows $2.10
Sportingbet: Magpies $1.82 Crows $2.00
It’s a new era for Collingwood, who will go into battle without 2010 premiership skipper Nick Maxwell (retired) and Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan (injury) for the first time since round 12 in 2006. Tenth-placed Adelaide trail Collingwood by one win, which means both sides will have a clearer picture of where their finals’ hopes stand by Sunday night. The Magpies have home-ground advantage but are lacking confidence, having lost four of their past five games.
Key: Collingwood have regained small forward Jamie Elliott and swingman Ben Reid, who has been named in a forward pocket alongside Travis Cloke. However James Podsiadly, Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins will give the visitors plenty of tall targets to aim for in what’s expected to be a tense, scrappy affair.
Tip: Crows by 14 points
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Another milestone for the Magpies champion!
A bit of spice between the Pies veteran and young Don Ben Hobbs!
A wonderful show of emotion from the Magpies coach on a sacred day.
West Coast's tribunal appeal for Tom Barrass' dangerous tackle failed, with the club arguing similar "exceptional and compelling circumstances" that got Brisbane's Charlie Cameron…
North star Nick Larkey tried his impression of AFL journo Damian Barrett on the '200 PLUS' podcast and left Bomber Sam Draper in stitches.
The AFL has confirmed the right decision was made after a ball ricocheted off a boundary umpire's leg during the third quarter of Melbourne's…
