AFL round 18 premiership odds and fixture update

The final round of the AFL 2020 regular season kicks off on Thursday, September 17, with six teams already locked in out of the eight who will play finals.

Collingwood guaranteed themselves a place in the finals action with a fighting win over the Gold Coast Suns and heading into the last round they are in sixth place. But the two remaining places in the eight will be fought out between St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and GWS Giants.

In the final round of eight matches, only one match, Hawthorn v Gold Coast in Adelaide on Sunday, can have no bearing on the make-up of the final eight.

Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions have locked up the top two places but could potentially swap spots. Third-placed Richmond and fourth-placed Geelong cannot afford to slip up against Adelaide and Sydney respectively or they risk being overtaken for a top-four spot by West Coast Eagles, who kick off the round against lowly North Melbourne on Thursday night.

---

More: AFL betting 2020
AFL match previews and betting tips

---

Of the teams battling for the spot in the finals, the Saints will make it through if they beat the Giants; Western Bulldogs will be sure of a spot if they beat Fremantle in Cairns on Sunday.

Melbourne and GWS must win and preferably by big margins and then rely on other results falling their way. It could well come down to percentages.

AFL 2020 premiership betting update

Defending premiers Richmond are the ruling $3.50 with PlayUp to win another flag, while Geelong retain second place in the betting despite their defeat at the hands of the Tigers last Friday night.

The Tigers would likely be shorter in betting but for losing ruckman Ivan Soldo to a serious knee injury and forward Tom Lynch to a minor hamstring problem.

Interestingly, the two teams who have locked up first and second places heading into the finals, Port Adelaide and Brisbane, are not among the top two in betting.

The $6.50 available about Port Adelaide is great value when you consider they could qualify for the grand final without leaving Adelaide if all goes to plan.

Meanwhile, the Lions are on course for a grand final on their home ground which is a tremendous advantage, even in this topsy-turvy season.

Of course, only 10 teams remain in the betting and that will become eight after Sunday’s match between Fremantle and Western Bulldogs in Cairns.

Latest 2020 AFL premiership odds

$3.50 Richmond Tigers
$4.50 Geelong Cats
$5 Brisbane Lions 
$6.50 Port Adelaide Power
$8 West Coast Eagles
$15 Collingwood Magpies
$17 Western Bulldogs
$51 GWS Giants, St Kilda Saints, Melbourne Demons

---

AFL Rd 18 Fixture and odds update

AFL round 18 runs from Thursday, September 17, to Monday, September 21. Check out our AFL betting tips before wagering on this week’s games:

Thursday, September 17

• North Melbourne $8.50 v WestCoast $1.07, Metricon Stadium, 7.10pm

Friday, September 18

• St Kilda $1.71 v GWS Giants $2.15, Gabba, 7.50pm

Saturday, September 19

• Essendon $2.70 v Melbourne $1.57, Metricon Stadium, Cairns, 2.10pm
• Adelaide $3.95 v Richmond $1.25, Adelaide Oval, 5.10pm
• Brisbane $1.18 v Carlton $4.90, Gabba, 7.40pm

Sunday, September 20

• Hawthorn $tba v Gold Coast Suns $tba, Adelaide Oval, 1.05pm AEST
• Sydney Swans $4.90 v Geelong $1.18, Metricon Stadium, 3.35pm AEST
• Fremantle $2.80 v Western Bulldogs $1.44, Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns, 6.10pm AEST

Monday, September 21

• Collingwood $tba v Port Adelaide $tba, Gabba, 7.15pm

Relevant news