AFL Expert Tips and Predictions for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 12, 2026, 10:20AM | Published: Jul 5, 2026, 11:21AM
Looking for AFL tips for Round 18? We have AFL Round 18 tips 2026 for every match this week.
Gain an edge in AFL tipping leagues with the help of our data-driven AFL expert tips for Round 18 of the 2026 AFL season, which are the result of simulating each AFL match 10,000 times.
AFL Round 18 Expert Tips 2026
There are nine games in Round 18 of the 2026 AFL season, beginning with Fremantle vs Sydney on Thursday and concluding with Brisbane vs Essendon on Sunday.
Our AFL footy tips and predictions are powered by cutting-edge data and analytics, making our AFL tips Round 18 2026 a go-to resource for AFL fans.
AFL Tips Round 18 2026: Who Will Win
Featured below are our predictions for each AFL game in Round 18, based on 10,000 simulations per match.
Fremantle vs Sydney
Round 18 AFL action kicks off with Fremantle taking on Sydney at Optus Stadium on Thursday. Our predictive analytics model projects Fremantle as having a 68% chance of winning, while Sydney has a 32% projected win chance.
Fremantle vs Sydney is at Optus Stadium on Thursday, July 9 at 8:10pm. All times mentioned in this article are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
GWS vs Geelong
In this week's game between GWS and Geelong, the Cats are the more likely winners, with our predictive model projecting a 52% chance for Geelong. GWS, on the other hand, has a 48% chance of winning.
GWS vs Geelong is at Giants Stadium on Saturday, July 11 at 4:15pm.
More: AFL Premiership 2026 Tips
Carlton vs Hawthorn
We are tipping Hawthorn to win its game against Carlton this week, with our powerful AFL model projecting a 58% win probability for the Hawks. Carlton has a 42% chance of winning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Carlton vs Hawthorn is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, July 11 at 7:35pm.
Adelaide vs Gold Coast
With a win probability of 73%, our tip for this game is Adelaide, while its opponent, Gold Coast, has a projected win chance of 27%.
Adelaide vs Gold Coast is at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, July 11 at 8:10pm.
More: AFL Player Ratings
Melbourne vs Richmond
The Demons have an 89% chance of winning this week, compared to Richmond's 11% chance of victory. This makes Melbourne the team to tip at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Melbourne vs Richmond is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, July 12 at 3:15pm.
Collingwood vs North Melbourne
Collingwood is favoured to win its Round 18 game, with our predictive analytics model giving them a 69% chance, while North Melbourne enters the weekend with a 31% chance of causing an upset at Marvel Stadium.
Collingwood vs North Melbourne is at Marvel Stadium on Friday, July 10 at 7:40pm.
More: AFL Strength of Schedule
St Kilda vs Port Adelaide
According to our predictive analytics model, St Kilda is the team to beat in this game, with the Saints' win probability at 59%. Port Adelaide, on the other hand, has a 41% chance of winning.
St Kilda vs Port Adelaide is at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, July 11 at 1:15pm.
Western Bulldogs vs West Coast
Our model is tipping the Bulldogs in this game, with the Western Bulldogs given an 87% chance of winning, while West Coast has a 13% chance of an upset win.
Western Bulldogs vs West Coast is at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, July 12 at 1:10pm.
Brisbane vs Essendon
The last game of Round 18 sees Brisbane take on Essendon at The Gabba.
We are tipping Brisbane with a win probability of 99%, while Essendon is projected to have a win chance of 1%.
Brisbane vs Essendon is at The Gabba on Sunday, July 12 at 4:40pm.
AFL Tipping Round 18 2026: Who to Tip
- Fremantle
- Geelong
- Hawthorn
- Adelaide
- Melbourne
- Collingwood
- St Kilda
- Bulldogs
- Brisbane
Related: Predictions for Every AFL Game
AFL Round 18 Games to Tip On
- Fremantle Dockers vs Sydney Swans
- GWS Giants vs Geelong Cats
- Carlton Blues vs Hawthorn Hawks
- Adelaide Crows vs Gold Coast Suns
- Melbourne Demons vs Richmond Tigers
- Collingwood Magpies vs North Melbourne Kangaroos
- St Kilda Saints vs Port Adelaide Power
- Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles
- Brisbane Lions vs Essendon Bombers
The AFL footy tips Round 18 2026 and probabilities in this article are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Stats Insider is renowned in Australia for providing expert AFL tips. Our AFL expert tips 2026 are generated by an in-house team of skilled data scientists and analysts who use cutting-edge technology and machine learning to simulate each game 10,000 times and determine the most likely outcomes. This meticulous approach ensures our predictions are accurate and reliable, helping you make informed decisions when it comes to AFL tipping.
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