Saturday’s AFL 2018 Round 18 match is between Essendon Bombers and Fremantle Dockers. The opening kick is set to commence at 16:35 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The home team Essendon Bombers are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and Fremantle Dockers.
When: 16:35 | Saturday 21/07/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
Bombers have kept their flickering top 8 hopes intact and they have a good draw, so with Hawthorn, Geelong and North losing last week, the door has opened up slightly for them.
Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker were able to neutralise Gold Coast’s attacking forays and they are as good a duo in defence as any other pair in the competition.
It was a great win for the Dockers at home against Port last week, but they still struggled to kick a big score.
It will be a different story in Melbourne against the Bombers this week.
KEY BATTLE: Michael Walters v Adam Saad
Two exciting players going at it should be fun to watch.
The Verdict
Essendon, who have a 5-3 (62.5 percent) record at Etihad after a win since 2017, love Etihad and will win easily.
Unibet Odds:
Essendon Bombers at $1.19
Fremantle Dockers at $4.90
Odds:
Tip: Essendon Bombers at $1.13
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Cameron McCarthy at $12.00
More Info:
Teams:
Essendon Bombers: 
B: Dea, Hooker, Guelfi
HB: Saad, Hurley, Goddard
C: Colyer, Z. Merrett, McGrath
HF: Smith, McKernan, Heppell
F: McDonald-Tipungwuti, Brown, Myers
FOLL: Bellchambers, Parish, Fantasia
I/C: Zaharakis, Langford, Baguley, McNiece
EMG: Francis, Ridley, J. Merrett, Long
IN: Fantasia, Zaharakis
OUT: Long, McKenna
Fremantle Dockers: 
B: Hughes, Hamling, A. Pearce
HB: Ryan, Wilson, Sheridan
C: Langdon, Walters, Duman
HF: B. Hill, Banfield, Cerra
F: Tucker, Cox, Giro
FOLL: Darcy, Neale, Mundy
I/C: Sutcliffe, McCarthy, Jones, Matera
EMG: Johnson, Crowden, D. Pearce, Grey
IN: Duman, Tucker
OUT: S. Hill, Nyhuis
AFL News:
Essendon have done enough after a sloppy start to avoid an upset loss on the Gold Coast and keep their AFL finals hopes alive.
Needing a win to stay within reach of the top eight, the Bombers misfired early to trail by five at the break on Saturday night.
But the tiring Suns couldn’t go with them and Essendon prevailed 13.17 (95) to 6.15 (51) as the Coast managed just 16 points after halftime.
Essendon were off the boil in the opening half and the Suns hungrier as they threatened to end a 10-game losing streak and sink the Bombers’ season.
But the visitors shot to the lead immediately after the main break through Darcy Parish before Mitch Brown’s left-foot snap edged them further ahead.
Mark Baguley (three goals) then marked strongly before kicking his second to shoot clear and allow the Bombers to cruise through the final quarter.
Michael Hurley was good early for Essendon, while Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett finished with 36 touches each and former Sun Adam Saad wasn’t missed in his first visit back to the Gold Coast.
Suns workhorse Nick Holman hassled Saad to good effect in the first half and kicked three on his way to being one of the host’s best.
Gold Coast captain Steven May (hip) struggled through the second half in what could be more bad news for the 3-13 side.
Neither side could hit a target early, with even the shortest of kicks sprayed on a relatively cold night at Metricon Stadium.
Bomber Shaun McKernan broke the deadlock with the game’s first goal after 14 minutes before Devon Smith provided some welcome polish.
Smith trapped, ducked a tackle and curled a grubbing kick from the pocket for a champagne goal that defied an otherwise sloppy contest.
The Suns then got their teeth into the game, Aaron Young kicking the first of his two goals before Holman opened his account.
The Suns’ 4.11 first half wasn’t as wasteful as it read but there were enough costly misses to ensure a five-point buffer was quickly swallowed up.