AFL Round 18 teams: All the ins, outs and latest selection news

A recent Rising Star nominee has been cut, while a Hawks tall has been dumped. Find out the full teams and expert tips for round 18.

Essendon has dropped one of its brightest young stars just over a week after he was nominated for the Rising Star.

Mid-season draftee and Round 16 Rising Star nominee Massimo D’Ambrosio has made way for Mason Redman, who returns to the Bombers side after missing last round through health and safety protocols.

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“Mass’ has been here five weeks and has played four games of AFL footy which is really impressive and credit to him,” coach Ben Rutten said.

“But the last couple of weeks, we’ve got Redman and (Andrew) McGrath back in, so it’s a good problem to have in terms of our selection squeeze.

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Massimo D'Ambrosio has been dropped. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We certainly love what we’ve seen from Mass and he gets an opportunity now to play some good footy in the VFL and put some pressure on again.”

D’Ambrosio has been listed as an emergency, as has last week’s medical sub Brayden Ham, for Sunday’s clash against Gold Coast.

Port Adelaide has recalled Riley Bonner to replace father-sn Jase Burgoyne, while Jake Melksham, Trent Rivers and Adam Tomlinson have been recalled by Melbourne.

Injured star Clayton Oliver, premiership defender Jake Bowey and Harrison Petty (health and safety protocols) make way.

Meanwhile, North Melbourne has quickly recalled No. 1 pick Jason Horne – Francis for Leigh Adams’ first game in charge as interim coach.

The Kangaroos’ star youngster was dumped to the VFL on the back of a two-match suspension but his demotion lasted only one week after an excellent performance in the VFL side last weekend.

It marks the start of a new chapter for North after sacking coach David Noble on Tuesday as the Kangaroos prepare to take on a Richmond side fighting for its spot in the eight.

Linebreaker Tyler Sonsie will make his debut for the Tigers as stars Nick Vlastuin, Trent Cotchin, Josh Gibcus and Noah Balta make their returns.

Tyler Sonsie will make his Tigers. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Injured ruckman Toby Nankervis has been named to play but must be in doubt after hurting his knee in the loss to Gold Coast.

Samson Ryan was named as an emergency and could step into the ruck void if Nankervis does not play.

Bulldog Josh Bruce will play his first senior game in his return from a knee reconstruction.

Both the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda have players ruled out under Covid-19 protocols for their Friday night clash, with Lachie Hunter and Josh Schache and Saints duo Seb Ross and youngster Marcus Windhager out.

The Bulldogs’ hopes of a crucial win in the virtual elimination final were rocked on Thursday night when Aaron Naughton became the latest player ruled out due to Covid protocols.

In all eight players are missing through COVID-19 protocols, including five on Friday night.

Oliver ruled out with injury

— Nick Smart

Brownlow Medal fancy Clayton Oliver has been ruled out of Melbourne’s clash with Port Adelaide in Alice Springs on Sunday after undergoing surgery on his fractured right thumb.

Oliver suffered the injury late in Melbourne’s 28-point loss to Geelong, when Cats captain Joel Selwood accidentally kicked the Demons star’s hand.

Clayton Oliver has been ruled out of Melbourne’s Round 17 clash with the Power. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

SUPERCOACH ADVICE: WHAT TO DO WITH OLIVER NOW

The 24-year-old had his operation last Saturday and the club had said Oliver would be given “every chance” to face the Power.

Although, Demons coach Simon Goodwin hosed down that talk when quizzed on Thursday.

The premiership coach said it was “not worth the risk” to play the midfield ace.

Goodwin did however confirm Oliver would miss just the one game.

HURLEY’S LONG-AWAITED RETURN ARRIVES

Essendon has not ruled out an AFL return for veteran defender Michael Hurley this year as he prepares to make a remarkable comeback in the VFL.

Hurley is set to play his first game in 666 days for Essendon’s reserves in their VFL match against the Gold Coast Suns at Windy Hill on Sunday.

It would be Hurley’s first game of football since Round 18, 2020, with hip and calf injuries having sidelined him for the past two seasons.

Hurley was twice hospitalised with a serious infection in his hip during the 2020-21 off-season and lost more than 10kg at the time.

“He’s looking on track to get to get some game time this week, which is awesome for Hurls,” Essendon coach Ben Rutten said.

“The last game we played in 2020 was his game of footy. So it’s a great story for him – of perseverance and resilience. The way he’s handled that and conducted himself internally and externally has been first class. He’s a great role model for everyone. Everyone’s really pleased to see him back.”

Rutten said that at the peak of Hurley’s hip infection it was “looking pretty grim” that he would ever get back to playing football or any competitive sport but he was a “driven guy” who never “thought of throwing the towel in”.

With the Bombers’ finals hopes over, a farewell game at AFL level for Hurley is a possibility if he can stay injury-free and find some form in the VFL over coming weeks.

“He’s still taking it one step at a time a little bit,” Rutten said.

“But if we could see that, that would be fantastic.”

Bomber favourite Michael Hurley is expected to run out against the Gold Coast Suns in the VFL on Sunday.

PIES CONFIDENT OF MOORE RETURN

Collingwood star Darcy Moore will return this weekend but will be without another gun defender for its trip to Adelaide.

Moore, who missed last’s week win over North Melbourne with a knee injury, trained strongly at the AIA Centre on Thursday.

“He’s still got to pull up well tomorrow but he trained really well,” Magpies coach Craig McRae said.

“We’ll name him tonight and we’re confident he’ll play.

“Funnily enough we thought he was a chance last week but he didn’t quite get to the line.

“Today he trained really well and he has a smile on his face.”

The news is not so good for Isaac Quaynor, who will miss the clash with the Crows due to Covid.

Darcy Moore is likely to return against the Crows on the weekend. Picture: Getty Images

Carlton’s clash with Geelong could have a huge say on the top-four.

ROUND 18 TEAMS

WESTERN BULLDOGS v ST KILDA

Friday July 15, 7:50pm at Marvel Stadium

BULLDOGS

B: Richards, Gardner, Khamis

HB: Hannan, Keath, Dale

C: Williams, Liberatore, Macrae

HF: West, Bruce, Smith

F: Bontempelli, Naughton, Weightman

FOLL: English, Dunkley, Treloar

I/C: Johannisen, Ugle-Hagan, Garcia, McNeil

EMG: O’Brien, Cleary, Smith, Sweet

IN: Khamis, Bruce, Smith, McNeil

OUT: Bedendo (omitted), Scott (injured), McComb (sub), Schache (HS Protocol), Hunter (HS Protocol)

SAINTS

B: Wilkie, Battle, Paton

HB: Highmore, Webster, Sinclair

C: Billings, Gresham, Hill

HF: Membrey, Wood, Butler

F: Marshall, King, Higgins

FOLL: Ryder, Steele, Crouch

I/C: Byrnes, Sharman, Wanganeen-Milera, Jones

EMG: Long, Lienert, Joyce, Connolly

IN: Paton, Byrnes, Sharman

OUT: Long, Joyce (both omitted), Ross (HS Protocol), Windhager (HS Protocol)

ADELAIDE v COLLINGWOOD

Saturday 1.10pm, Adelaide Oval

CROWS

B: T.Doedee, J.Butts, W.Hamill

HB: B.Smith, N.Murray, J.Dawson

C: M.Hinge, R.Laird, C.Jones

HF: S.McAdam, D.Fogarty, J.Soligo

F: N.McHenry, T.Walker, L.Murphy

FOLL: R.O’Brien, S.Berry, B.Keays

INT: R.Thilthorpe, H.Schoenberg, W.Milera, P.Parnell

EMERG: B.Davis, E.Himmelberg, J.Rowe, J.Hately

In: M.Hinge, S.McAdam, L.Murphy

Out: J.Hately (Omitted), J.Rowe (Omitted), M.Crouch (Omitted), B.Davis (Medi-Sub)

PIES

B: N.Murphy, J.Howe, D.Moore

HB: S.Pendlebury, B.Maynard, T.Bianco

C: J.Daicos, J.Crisp, J.Noble

HF: J.Elliott, M.Cox, B.Mihocek

F: B.McCreery, P.Lipinski, W.Hoskin-Elliott

FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Sidebottom, N.Daicos

INT: J.Carmichael, A.Johnson, J.Ginnivan, T.Ruscoe

EMERG: O.Henry, F.Macrae, W.Kelly, C.Poulter

In: D.Moore, T.Bianco, A.Johnson

Out: O.Henry (Omitted), T.Adams (Injured), T.Brown (Medi-Sub), I.Quaynor (HS Protocol)

GWS GIANTS v BRISBANE LIONS

Saturday July 16, 1:45pm at Manuka Oval

GIANTS

B: Idun, Taylor, Cumming

HB: Himmelberg, Keeffe, Ward

C: O’Halloran, Green, Ash

HF: Kelly, Haynes, Riccardi

F: Taranto, Hogan, Greene

FOLL: Flynn, Hopper, Coniglio

I/C: Lloyd, Peatling, Bruhn, Wehr

EMG: Preuss, Brown, Brander, Sproule

IN: Idun, Riccardi, Hopper

OUT: Brown (omitted), Kennedy, Davis, Whitfield (all injured)

LIONS

B: Gardiner, Payne, Answerth

HB: Starcevich, Andrews, Coleman

C: Ah Chee, Robinson, McCluggage

HF: Bailey, Hipwood, McCarthy

F: McStay, Daniher, Cameron

FOLL: Fort, Lyons, Neale

I/C: Cockatoo, Rayner, Sharp, Mathieson

EMG: Robertson, Madden, Fullarton, Tunstill

IN: Gardiner, Answerth, Andrews, Coleman, Ah Chee, McStay

OUT: Madden, Tunstill, Lester, Michael, Fullarton (all omitted), Adams (injured), McInerney (HS Protocol)

NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND

Saturday July 16, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium

KANGAROOS

B: Scott, McKay, Young

HB: McDonald, Corr, Bonar

C: Powell, Davies-Uniacke, Greenwood

HF: Curtis, Larkey, Horne-Francis

F: Zurhaar, Ziebell, Taylor

FOLL: Goldstein, Simpkin, Anderson

I/C: Stephenson, Coleman-Jones, Spicer, Perez

EMG: Mahony, Turner, Lazzaro, Dawson

IN: Horne-Francis

OUT: Mahony (sub), Lazzaro (omitted)

TIGERS

B: Grimes, Miller, Tarrant

HB: Broad, Vlastuin, Rioli

C: Pickett, Short, McIntosh

HF: Graham, Bolton, Baker

F: Riewoldt, Cumberland, Balta

FOLL: Nankervis, Prestia, Cotchin

I/C: Ralphsmith, Gibcus, Edwards, Sonsie

EMG: Mansell, Aarts, Dow, Ryan

IN: Vlastuin, Balta, Cotchin, Gibcus, Sonsie

OUT: Rioli, Aarts, Dow, Castagna (all omitted), Lynch, Soldo (both injured)

CARLTON v GEELONG CATS

Saturday, 7:25pm at MCG

BLUES

B: Newman, Young, Saad

HB: Newnes, Weitering, Plowman

C: Hayes, Cripps, Cerra

HF: Kennedy, McKay, Silvagni

F: Durdin, C.Curnow, Fisher

FOLL: De Koning, Walsh, Hewett

I/C: Stocker, Docherty, Cottrell, Motlop

EMG: Setterfield, Durdin, Honey, O’Brien

IN: Stocker

OUT: Honey, O’Brien (both omitted)

CATS

B: Z.Guthrie, De Koning, Kolodjashnij

HB: Henry, Blicavs, Tuohy

C: Duncan, Atkins, Smith

HF: Rohan, Cameron, Dangerfield

F: Close, Hawkins, Stengle

FOLL: Stanley, C.Guthrie, Selwood

I/C: O’Connor, Holmes, Menegola, Miers

EMG: Stephens, Bews, Ratugolea, Neale

IN: Kolodjashnij

OUT: Bews (managed), Narkle (sub)

FREMANTLE v SYDNEY SWANS

Saturday, 7:30pm at Optus Stadium

DOCKERS

B: Clark, Cox, Young

HB: Walker, Ryan, Chapman

C: Mundy, Brayshaw, Acres

HF: Schultz, Fyfe, Frederick

F: Taberner, Lobb, Walters

FOLL: Darcy, Brodie, Serong

I/C: Aish, Banfield, Colyer, Logue

EMG: Hughes, Erasmus, Meek, Wilson

IN: Chapman, Acres

OUT: Henry (sub), Hughes, Wilson (both omitted)

SWANS

B: Rampe, T.McCartin, P.McCartin

HB: Lloyd, McInerney, Fox

C: Blakey, Parker, Mills

HF: Stephens, Reid, Heeney

F: Amartey, Franklin, Papley

FOLL: Hickey, Warner, Rowbottom

I/C: Florent, Hayward, Clarke, Gulden

EMG: Campbell, McLean, Melican, Cunningham

IN: Hickey

OUT: Ladhams (injured), Cunningham (sub)

HAWTHORN v WEST COAST EAGLES

Sunday, 1:10pm, MCG

HAWKS

B: Jiath, Blanck, Grainger-Barras

HB: Scrimshaw, Hardwick, Sicily

C: Ward, Newcombe, Impey

HF: Moore, O’Meara, Breust

F: Lewis, McEvoy, Macdonald

FOLL: Reeves, Mitchell, Nash

I/C: Morrison, Day, Maginness, Morris,

Shiels, Serong, Koschitzke, Hartigan

IN: Day

OUT: Koschitzke (omitted), Shiels (sub)

EAGLES

B: Hurn, Barrass, Bazzo

HB: Jones, Edwards, Duggan

C: Hough, Kelly, Gaff

HF: Cripps, Darling, Culley

F: Waterman, Kennedy, Ryan

FOLL: Williams, Redden, Shuey

I/C: Witherden, O’Neill, Foley, Nelson,

EMERG: Petrevski-Seton, Trew, Clark, Jamieson

IN: Cripps, Culley, Jamieson, Witherden, O’Neil

OUT: Rioli (personal reason), Naitanui, Petruccelle (both injured), Trew, Petrevski-Seton (both omitted), Clark (sub)

MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE

Sunday 3:20pm, TIO Traeger Park

DEMONS

B: Hibberd, May, Tomlinson

HB: Harmes, Lever, Salem

C: Brayshaw, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Sparrow, Gawn, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, Brown, Spargo

FOLL: Jackson, Viney, Pickett

I/C (from): Bedford, Melksham, Jordon, Rivers

Dunstan, Weideman, Chandler, Hunt

IN: Tomlinson, Melksham, Rivers

OUT: Petty (HS Protocol), Oliver (injured), Bowey (omitted), Hunt (sub)

POWER

B: Burton, Jonas, Clurey

HB: Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Houston

C: Amon, Drew, Farrell

HF: Butters, Marshall, Rozee

F: Gray, Dixon, Powell-Pepper

FOLL: Finlayson, Wines, Boak

I/C: Bergman, Georgiades, Bonner, Mead

EMERG: Motlop, Duursma, McKenzie, Burgoyne

IN: Bonner

OUT: McEntee (omitted), Burgoyne

ESSENDON v GOLD COAST SUNS

Sunday 4:40pm, Marvel Stadium

BOMBERS

B: Ridley, Laverde, Zerk-Thatcher

HB: Hind, McGrath, Kelly

C: Durham, Shiel, Heppell

HF: Martin, Guelfi, Langford

F: Wright, Stringer, Jones

FOL: Draper, Merrett, Caldwell

I/C: Redman, Hobbs, Snelling, Phillips

EMERG: Waterman, Menzie, D’Ambrosio, Ham

IN: Redman

OUT: D’Ambrosio (omitted), Ham (sub)

SUNS

B: Graham, Collins, Lemmens

HB: Bowes, Ballard, Ellis

C: Flanders, Anderson, Swallow

HF: Ainsworth, Chol, Lukosius

F: Rankine, Holman, Casboult

FOL: Witts, Rowell, Miller

I/C: Day, Fiorini, Markov, Oea

EMERG: Farrar, Atkins, Macpherson, Sharp

IN: Rankine, Markov

OUT: Rosas (Injured), Sharp (omitted), Atkins (sub)

ROUND 18 TIPS: HERALD SUN EXPERTS NAME THEIR WINNERS

Jane Bunn Total: 108

St Kilda 5

Collingwood 10

Brisbane Lions 10

Richmond 25

Geelong 10

Fremantle 5

Hawthorn 20

Melbourne 15

Essendon 3

Last Week 7

Rebecca Williams 105

St Kilda 9

Collingwood 10

Brisbane Lions 11

Richmond 15

Geelong 5

Fremantle 12

Hawthorn 6

Melbourne 12

Essendon 7

Last Week 6

Scott Gullan 104

Western Bulldogs 1

Collingwood 25

Brisbane Lions 17

Richmond 44

Geelong 13

Fremantle 4

Hawthorn 9

Port Adelaide 2

Essendon 3

Last Week 6

Jay Clark 103

Western Bulldogs 18

Collingwood 5

Brisbane Lions 20

Richmond 40

Geelong 6

Fremantle 10

Hawthorn 8

Melbourne 12

Essendon 4

Last Week 7

Tim Watson 103

St Kilda 6

Collingwood 12

Brisbane Lions 15

Richmond 30

Geelong 12

Fremantle 14

Hawthorn 16

Melbourne 21

Gold Coast 6

Last Week 6

Sam Landsberger 102

Western Bulldogs 12

Collingwood 1

Brisbane Lions 12

Richmond 32

Geelong 20

Fremantle 12

Hawthorn 22

Melbourne 11

Gold Coast 20

Last Week 7

Glenn McFarlane 101

Western Bulldogs 1

Collingwood 7

Brisbane Lions 5

Richmond 30

Geelong 1

Fremantle 6

Hawthorn 25

Melbourne 9

Gold Coast 3

Last Week 6

Jon Ralph 101

St Kilda 4

Collingwood 16

GWS Giants 3

Richmond 27

Geelong 3

Fremantle 4

Hawthorn 28

Melbourne 15

Gold Coast 1

Last Week 7

Gerard Whately 101

St Kilda 3

Collingwood 6

Brisbane Lions 18

Richmond 40

Geelong 1

Fremantle 2

Hawthorn 20

Melbourne 4

Gold Coast 10

Last Week 5

Lauren Wood 101

Western Bulldogs 17

Collingwood 9

Brisbane Lions 4

Richmond 9

Geelong 6

Fremantle 13

Hawthorn 18

Melbourne 7

Essendon 12

Last Week 4

Simeon Thomas-Wilson 99

St Kilda 6

Collingwood 12

Brisbane Lions 18

Richmond 26

Geelong 12

Fremantle 18

Hawthorn 24

Melbourne 23

Gold Coast 6

Last Week 6

Mark Robinson 98

St Kilda 11

Collingwood 23

Brisbane Lions 31

North Melbourne 5

Geelong 5

Fremantle 21

Hawthorn 11

Melbourne 26

Essendon 1

Last Week 5

Ebony Marinoff 97

Western Bulldogs

Adelaide

Brisbane Lions

Richmond

Geelong

Fremantle

Hawthorn

Port Adelaide

Essendon

Last Week 7

Liz Walsh 95

Western Bulldogs 6

Collingwood 18

Brisbane Lions 15

Richmond 31

Geelong 12

Fremantle 15

Hawthorn 21

Melbourne 18

Gold Coast 6

Last Week 7

Mick Malthouse 95

St Kilda 2

Collingwood 12

Brisbane Lions 25

Richmond 31

Geelong 12

Fremantle 15

Hawthorn 18

Melbourne 16

Gold Coast 6

Last Week 6

Our expert tipsters are expecting a close clash between St Kilda and Western Bulldogs.

Chris Cavanagh 93

St Kilda 1

Collingwood 18

Brisbane Lions 18

Richmond 24

Geelong 12

Fremantle 12

Hawthorn 6

Melbourne 6

Essendon 1

Last Week 5

Sally Capp 92

Western Bulldogs 15

Collingwood 20

Brisbane Lions 24

Richmond 30

Geelong 20

Fremantle 22

Hawthorn 19

Melbourne 28

Gold Coast 18

Last Week 6

James Hird 91

Western Bulldogs 6

Collingwood 8

GWS Giants

Richmond 6

Geelong 10

Fremantle 12

Hawthorn 15

Melbourne 12

Essendon 6

Last Week 6

Sarah Jones 91

St Kilda 2

Collingwood 15

GWS Giants 10

Richmond 29

Carlton 1

Fremantle 9

Hawthorn 34

Melbourne 12

Gold Coast 1

Last Week 7

Kath Loughnan 91

St Kilda 12

Collingwood 15

GWS Giants 6

North Melbourne 6

Geelong 9

Fremantle 15

Hawthorn 12

Melbourne 16

Gold Coast 6

Last Week 5

Dermott Brereton 90

St Kilda 10

Collingwood 25

Brisbane Lions 12

Richmond 36

Geelong 15

Fremantle 6

Hawthorn 7

Port Adelaide 3

Gold Coast 2

Last Week 5

Mick McGuane 90

St Kilda 5

Collingwood 16

Brisbane Lions 3

Richmond 27

Geelong 15

Sydney 5

Hawthorn 22

Melbourne 13

Gold Coast 14

Last Week 5

Matt Turner 90

Western Bulldogs 6

Collingwood 12

Brisbane Lions 16

Richmond 31

Geelong 12

Fremantle 15

Hawthorn 18

Melbourne 14

Essendon 6

Last Week 5

Graham Cornes 89

Western Bulldogs 12

Adelaide 6

Brisbane Lions 15

Richmond 28

Carlton 6

Fremantle 12

Hawthorn 17

Port Adelaide 6

Essendon 6

Last Week 5

David King 89

St Kilda 10

Collingwood 20

Brisbane Lions 5

Richmond 22

Geelong 20

Sydney 1

Hawthorn 2

Melbourne 20

Essendon 1

Last Week 4

Chloe Molloy 84

St Kilda

Collingwood

GWS Giants

Richmond

Carlton

Fremantle

Hawthorn

Melbourne

Gold Coast

Last Week 4

Kiss of Death 45

St Kilda 13

Adelaide 13

GWS Giants 13

North Melbourne 13

Carlton 13

Sydney 13

West Coast 13

Port Adelaide 13

Essendon 13

Last Week 2