AFL Rd 18 live updates: Western Bulldogs vs West Coast, Melbourne vs Richmond, Brisbane vs Essendon — blog, scores and stats

The siren sounds and West Coast fall short, the Bulldogs take the premiership points with a 16-point win.

It’s been a huge effort by the Eagles, and they never gave up but the Bulldogs just seemed to have moments of quality when they needed it.

Five goals from Aaron Naughton, a couple of great goals from Marcus Bontempelli helped matters.

For West Coast Harley Reid was huge, and Willem Duursma was right with him. There’s plenty to like about the Eagles, but that win is vital for Bulldogs.

They are now on the fringe of the top six, and it gives them a launch pad for the final weeks of the season.

It’s been a great first quarter at headquarters, and the Demons lead by 11 points at the first change.

Jacob van Rooyen has two goals for Melbourne, as does Jake Melksham who has returned to the side today. Caleb Windsor has the other major.

For Richmond, we told you about Zane Peucker’s goal on debut, also Toby Nankervis kicked his first goal of the season, and Tim Taranto scored from a great snap.

Aaron Naughton has had a big day, and it’s got even better with a huge launch for a mark inside 50.

He’s drilled the goal to make it 18 points, and it should be the sealer with just over three minutes left.

Technically the Eagles are still in range under the Leigh Matthews Rule (goal-a-minute is gettable).

But right now it looks like just one winner.

Time is beginning to run down a bit for West Coast, and they had a chance there with a mark to Jake Waterman on the edge of the left forward pocket.

His kick looked online, but it drifted into the post. Still a 13-point game.

This game has gone pear-shaped for West Coast in the last few minutes.

First the Eagles dynamo Milan Murdock came off holding his shoulder after a contest in the middle.

Then a kick inside 50 found Aaron Naughton, who converted from the pocket for his fourth of the day.

And to top it off, the Dogs pounced once more, going inside the arc to Artie Jones who kicked another to put the home side 14 points up.

There’s enough time, but West Coast are starting to look a little banged-up. They need to hit back quickly here.

At the MCG, it’s an entertaining game in the first quarter, and we’ve had a great moment for Tigers fans.

South Australian draftee Zane Peucker is making his debut for Richmond, and he’s taken adavantage of a handball from Nick Vlastuin to race away through the corridor and thump a goal through from just outside 50.

Big celebrations from the Tigers. Good luck to Peucker, starting as he means to go on!

West Coast’s Bailey Williams has been dominating in the ruck, but the other Bailey Williams has just kicked a goal to put the Bulldogs ahead a few minutes into the final term.

It’s virtually goal for goal here. Who is going to put a gap in this one?

Not great for West Coast at Docklands, with Brandon Starcevich going down in pain after a ground contest.

He seems to be holding his calf or Achilles, and it doesn’t look good.

He comes off the ground.

The Eagles are on here, and you’ll never guess who’s done the damage!

West Coast had a forward 50 stoppage, and Bailey Williams got it out of the ruck and handballed clear to Harley Reid.

The Eagles’ number nine ran outside and then whipped the ball towards the goals on the run from a difficult angle.

It seemed to bend both ways before going through, in a goal that was reminiscent of Gary Ablett Jr or Jason Akermanis in their day.

Not sure who reacted more, the crowd or Reid himself. What. A. Goal. Eagles lead again.

We’re off and running at the MCG, and Melbourne has made a quick start.

It’s been an open, fast opening minute of play, but Changkuoth Jiath took a great intercept mark, fed Jake Melksham who went long inside 50 for Jacob van Rooyen to take a contested mark.

He nailed the set shot, and Melbourne get the opening goal.

With less than a minute left, the Bulldogs were all in on goal, and Jordan Croft kicked for goal / to the square, with Aaron Naughton waiting.

Somehow Rhett Bazzo got a clean fist to it, and didn’t give the free away! Goalsaver.

A frantic final 40 seconds ensued, but when the siren sounded, the Dogs led by three points.

This one is certainly delivering, and neither team can count on the points here. It’s going to come down to energy and composure and moments. Who wins? Don’t go away and you’ll find out!

• R7, 2026: Melbourne by 54 (MCG)

• R7, 2025: Melbourne by 20 (MCG)

• R7, 2024: Melbourne by 43 (MCG)

• R20, 2023: Melbourne by 32 (MCG)

• R6, 2022: Melbourne by 18 (MCG)

• R6, 2022: Melbourne by 22 (MCG)

It’s a reflection of where the Tigers have been that they haven’t won a single game against the Demons in the last six.

But these two teams tend to go in strings of wins. Overall it’s been 14 wins to Melbourne and 11 to Richmond since the last time they’ve played at a venue other than the MCG, a Docklands game in 2008.

We’ve had a few points in the last few minutes, but the Bulldogs have a bit of luck with a free to Cody Weightman in the left forward pocket.

His set shot sprays wide to the right, but it ends up with a mark to Rory Lobb.

Lobb drills the kick, and the Bulldogs lead again.

The Bulldogs are coming. Matthew Kennedy has leaped high on top of Brandon Starcevich for a mark in the pocket, but his kick was wayward and just went through for a point.

We’re in time on, and the Eagles lead by a point.

If you tell me who wins this, I won’t believe you.

This game has lifted in intensity, the crowd are roaring and both sides are into it at Docklands.

A turnover from the Bulldogs was pounced on by West Coast, they swept downfield, and inside 50 but a brilliant couple of smothers from Michael Sellwood and a teammate stopped two snaps at goal.

Huge moments.

And just like that, the Bulldogs lift and the ball comes to Bontempelli off a stoppage, and he snaps just inside the post for a second in as many minutes.

The Bulldogs are ahead! This is shaping as an absolute cracking game at Docklands.

Hello West Coast? Marcus Bontempelli heard you, and he’s just delivered a reply. In spades. Off one step. From 60!

The Bulldogs get a fumbly centre clearance and a clearing kick that bounces to Bont who unloads from the edge of the centre square.

What a goal! Back to eight points.

Well, we have a live one here folks!

The Eagles are doing the opposite of going away. A move out of D50, helped by a 50m penalty, set up a set shot from Jack Graham who boomed it through to get the visitors up and about.

Then from the centre clearance, the Eagles were in again, with Willem Duursma thumping a goal from outside the arc.

Brandon Starcevich’s physical style of play has landed him in a bit of strife, as his head drove into the ground after a contest.

He got up but was bleeding from under the eye.

Eventually he has gone off, not sure if he will need a HIA, but with his concussion history we hope everything is ok.