Live: Port forced into last-minute line-up switch ahead of Dockers clash

The 'dockside derby' between Port Adelaide and Fremantle kicks off a big Saturday of football ahead of tonight's clash of old rivals Collingwood and Carlton.

The injury-hit Power are all but out of finals contention, but they could put a small dent in the Dockers' run to the minor premiership with a win at Adelaide Oval.

Later, North Melbourne will face Melbourne at Docklands.

Tonight, the Blues will need a win over the Magpies at the MCG to stay in touch with the top-10. The late game in Perth sees West Coast host Brisbane.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

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Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:09pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:09pm

AFL Round 18 Saturday live scoreboard

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Power vs Dockers

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Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 2:14pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 2:14pm

Freo slowly turning up the heat in second quarter

By Chris De Silva

This second quarter has looked eerily similar to the first term with Port starting well before Freo clicking into gear.

The Dockers have levelled the scores but have just 1.5 for the quarter.

Isaiah Dudley is the latest Docker to spray a shot in front of goal, although that was a difficult chance.

The ball has lived in Freo's half for 64 per cent of the last 10 minutes.

Jye Amiss has Freo's only goal for the quarter.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:58pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:58pm

Berry sends Serong to the shops and kicks a ripper

By Chris De Silva

Oh this is special stuff from Joe Berry!

He hits a loose ball inside 50 at 100km/h and then starts dancing with it.

Poor Caleb Serong, not the most explosive athlete in the AFL, is trying his level best to keep tabs on Berry, but gets shaken out of his boots as Berry hops from left to right.

Berry creates enough space and then turns back towards goal and kicks a ripper.

I'll tell you what. The vibe in this suggests Port has absolutely no intention of going quietly into the night.

Key Event

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:51pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:51pm

QT: Port Adelaide 5.3 (33) leads Fremantle 5.1 (31)

By Chris De Silva

A controversial finish to the opening term here as Hayden Young dribbles one through right on the siren!

There's a bit of a conference between the umpires and eventually the goal is given but my goodness, that's a close call.

It would be right down to frames this one, it's that tight, but to the naked eye, and ear, it looks as though that ball might've still been in Young's hands as the siren sounded.

Nevertheless, two late goals have Fremantle right back in this and Josh Carr would be incredibly annoyed at that after his team played an excellent opening quarter.

Port leads the inside 50 count 15-11 and the clearance count 13-6, including a 7-2 belting out of the centre square.

Freo's Andy Brayshaw leads all players with 11 disposals, while Joe Richards is Port's high man with 10.

Ollie Wines and Jase Burgoyne have combined for seven of Port's 13 clearances so far, with Burgoyne seemingly enjoying some extra midfield time today without the likes of Butters and Horne-Francis out there.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:46pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:46pm

The Prancing Pony hits the scoreboard for Freo!

By Chris De Silva

Some great transition play, kickstarted by Alex Pearce's left-footed kick out of defence, results in a goal to Pat Voss!

It required a little bit of luck on the wing as Freo were able to win the 50-50 ball.

Voss, who is very hit and miss with his set shot kicking, absolutely flushes this one.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:45pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:45pm

Dante makes it two goals in two minutes!

By Chris De Silva

It's Dante again! He slams through his second goal in a matter of minutes after winning a free kick for holding the man.

Freo skipper Alex Pearce has both of Dante's hands held in a marking contest like they're about to do a really romantic tango.

The free kick count currently reads 9-1 and I think I'm hearing faint "RIGGED!!" noises coming from WA.

Port leads the inside 50 count 15-9 and has registered eight scores from those entries. Very efficient stuff.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:43pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:43pm

DANTEEEEEEE GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

By Chris De Silva

Sorry about this headline, I was imitating the Argentina commentators after the winner against England last week.

Dante Visentini gets on the end of a loose ball in Port's goalsquare and toe-pokes it home ahead of a diving defender to extend his side's lead.

A lovely display of dexterity from Port's young big man.

Port continues to look incredibly dangerous every time it goes inside 50 right now.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:41pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:41pm

Richards traps Brayshaw, drills long-range set shot

By Chris De Silva

Joe Richards puts Port back in front!

It was a brilliant tackle from Port's No.35 at the top of the 50m arc as Andy Brayshaw tried to wriggle his way through congestion.

Richards appears to be right on his kicking range here with the set shot, but makes absolutely brilliant contact.

Important goal that for Port after Freo had gotten up a bit of a head of steam.

The key to causing an upset is always to hang around for as long as possible before trying to nick a result at the death. That's exactly what Port is doing right now!

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:35pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:35pm

Treacy puts Freo in front for the first time today

By Chris De Silva

The Big Cohuna is activated!

Jye Amiss, after kicking the first goal of the afternoon for Freo, this time sends the ball inside 50 to his running mate, Josh Treacy, who takes a good mark going back with the flight of the ball.

Treacy makes no mistake on the short-range set shot for his 42nd goal of the season.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:31pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:31pm

Frederick levels the scores as Freo starts to get ticking

By Chris De Silva

The ladder-leaders have gotten warmed right up in the last five minutes!

Michael Frederick drills a set shot to level the scores with 10 minutes left in the opening term.

Freo veteran Jaeger O'Meara leads all players with seven disposals so far.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:29pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:29pm

Amiss gets Freo on the board after free kick

By Chris De Silva

This time it's Fremantle's turn to take advantage of a free kick deep inside 50!

Jye Amiss is manhandled in a marking contest around 20m out from goal directly in front, and he drills the set shot via a snap.

A little steadier for Freo.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:28pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:28pm

Alex Pearce is pulling out the party tricks here

By Chris De Silva

Fremantle may have started slowly, but their skipper has taken a brilliant mark going back with the flight of the ball.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:26pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:26pm

Whitlock goals after winning free kick deep insied 50

By Chris De Silva

Jack Whitlock sends Port's second goal through after winning a free kick inside 50!

It was a good kick inside 50 from Ollie Wines, who put it to the advantage of Whitlock, and his defender Heath Chapman just panicked and held onto the big man a little too long in that marking contest.

Very handy start this for Port. Although, as we saw last week, Freo doesn't get too fazed by slow starts.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:23pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:23pm

Port's midfield on top early in encouraging start

By Chris De Silva

Josh Carr's got to be thrilled with what he's seen over the first five minutes here.

Port leads the clearance count 5-0 and Ollie Wines has already racked up three by himself.

Wines also has four disposals to lead all players. The Brownlow Medal winner is turning back the block in the absence of his star running mates.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:18pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:18pm

Zadow strikes from long, looooong range!

By Chris De Silva

What a perfect start this is for Port!

They get the first centre clearance of the match and Mitch Zadow takes a good mark on the lead right on the 50m arc on a tough angle.

Zadow sets it up towards the top of the square, but the ball floats all the way past the outstretched Dockers arms on the goal line!

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:17pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:17pm

Could this match be closer than we think?

By Chris De Silva

Yeah Chris . On paper you’d think a thrashing is on the cards but Port’s percentage is pretty good so maybe it’ll be closer than we .think

- Phillip

I think this would be a genuine banana-skin game for Freo if Port were fully fit. They're a tough out at the Adelaide Oval despite their paltry record.

However, this is going to be a really tough ask. Can they make up for the talent disparity with sheer heart and grit? Let's see!

Key Event

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:15pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:15pm

Play underway between Port Adelaide and Fremantle!

By Chris De Silva

Here we go, live action to kick off the AFL's version of Super Saturday!

Willem Drew tossing the coin for Port this afternoon due to the absence of several of Port's regular leaders.

Aliir Aliir has started with Josh Treacy in Port's backline.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:10pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:10pm

The two teams are out ahead on the ground warming up

By Chris De Silva

We're not far from the first bounce here in Adelaide and I must say the conditions look spectacular out there.

Surely the AFL's ladder-leaders, Fremantle, don't stumble in this one against a decimated Port Adelaide side.

A nice moment for Freo as Brennan Cox led the ladder-leaders out ahead of his 150th game.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:04pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:04pm

Recent history between Port Adelaide and Fremantle

By Chris De Silva

Here's a look at how the last five matches between these two teams have gone:

R22, 2025: Fremantle 13.14 (92) def. Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) @ Adelaide Oval

R11, 2025: Fremantle 15.10 (100) def. Port Adelaide 7.9 (51) @ Perth Stadium

R24, 2024: Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) def. Fremantle 9.13 (67) @ Perth Stadium

R5, 2024: Port Adelaide 9.12 (66) def. Fremantle 9.9 (63) @ Adelaide Oval

R23, 2023: Port Adelaide 11.8 (74) def. Fremantle 8.10 (58) @ Perth Stadium

Key Event

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:00pm

Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 1:00pm

Port Adelaide vs Fremantle — Power forced into another change

By Chris De Silva

There's been carnage on the injury front of late for Port Adelaide, and it's continued in the lead-up to this match.

Harrison Ramm will miss this afternoon's clash due to illness and has been replaced in the line-up by Jacob Wehr.

Fremantle will line up as originally selected.

Here's a look at the final team line-ups for both sides.