AFL round 18 2026, scores, results, odds, stats and start time from Marvel Stadium

Magpies coach Craig McRae clearly likes what he is seeing from his side after their fourth-straight win and their second-straight close win.

“Winning is important and it changes the mood. Small moments, small margins. Two in a row winning close games. Momentum is important,” McRae told Kayo Sports.

When Jonathan Brown joked to him that the kings of the late games were back after losing some close games earlier in the year, McRae agreed.

“We are back mate,” McRae said with a laugh before.

Magpies star Josh Daicos has hailed tonight’s win over North Melbourne as one of the club’s best in 2026.

“We were under the pump, but we never go down [without] fighting and over the four quarters, it was a great game,” Josh Daicos told Kayo Sports.

“It’s one of our best wins.

“The Roos are pretty shifty; they look one way and kick the other, so I was just happy to be on the end of one [and take an intercept mark].

“We get in too many of these games; it takes a while to calm down and recover. We saw it last week on the Gold Coast and tonight too.”

Forget the wildcard round, Collingwood coach Craig McRae believes his men are good enough for a top-six finish.

And the manner in which they have won their past four games suggests that’s more than possible, their latest triumph a stirring four-point win over North Melbourne on Friday night.

On an evening the resurgent Kangaroos returned to Friday night football for the first time since 20, 2019, the Magpies spoiled the Marvel Stadium party with a victory which featured dash, discipline and a leg injury to defensive forward Lachie Schultz.

Nick Daicos was at his brilliant best, his run and carry late leading to a Tim Membrey mark and set-shot goal which gave the Magpies a three-point lead with just over three minutes remaining. The Magpies hung on.

Roos captain Nick Larkey spoke to Seven post game.

Just take us through your reaction to that and how the last five minutes played out?

We gave ourselves a chance to win. It comes down to moments, I guess, they just took a few more than we did. Yeah. Disappointing. I had my chance in front of goal. Would have loved to kick a bit better but that’s footy. The good thing is we’re in these games to the very end and giving ourselves a chance. They play an attacking brand of footy. We just couldn’t really stop a lot of their flow through the middle of the ground. So yeah, learnings again. But yeah, it’s we’re a constant, constant process getting better each week. So that’s about to be the focus this week.

How proud are you just of the effort, and especially some of the younger guys that are able to stand up on their first time in a massive Friday night stage?

Unbelievable. You know, I thought Finn O’Sullivan wow. Like a mate. What a player. There’s lots to like all across the ground. Matt we’re getting Matty Whitlock in Zac Banch. There’s lots to like all around the ground. I was proud of how everyone gave it their all today.

Nick Daicos spoke to Seven post game.

You had some massive moments, but just talk us through what’s going on with the body. Plenty of work with the physios, plenty of stretching out on the ground.

Yeah, just one of those days. Body is feeling a little bit average. But I tell you what, when it gets late in the game and the Magpies Army is going nuts, your body just finds an extra gear. As I said, we are building some momentum.

How important is this now? Four wins off the bye. Do you feel like this group is just starting to get things rolling at the right time of year?

Yeah, absolutely. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, but we just need to keep banking wins. We want to be there in that wildcard window. And, at the moment, we’re putting ourselves in the position to. So it’s good. We’re enjoying it.

Lipinski looked to have booted a goal from 50m out and regained the lead for the Pies.

But Cam Zurhaar got back on the line and the goal umpire ruled he got a finger to the ball before it went over the line.

The video check was not certain either way, so the umpire’s call stood.

Moments later, Larkley soccered home a goal for the Roos.

Roos 84, Pies 76 with 10 minutes to go.

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