Roy WardUpdated July 12, 2026 — 1:27pm,first published 1:08pm1.27pmNaughton kicks two majorsBy Just when things looked a bit tough for the Bulldogs, Aaron Naughton has kicked two goals.One was a shot from a mark and the other a piece of smart thinking as he tracked the bouncing ball to the goal line and soccered it home.Couldn’t have had a better start.Bulldogs 18, Eagles 8 with 12 mins to go in Q1.Ed Richards of the Bulldogs kicks the ball.AFL Photos via Getty Images1.20pmCroft respondsBy Jordan Croft is showing a lot of promise for the Dogs and after an Eagles turnover, he was first to react snapping a goal from the pocket.Like Shanahan, he has a great leap so this is a fun start.Eagles 7, Dogs 6 with 14 mins to go in Q1.Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs (C) leads the team out.Getty Images1.19pmEagles strike firstBy The Dogs defence is a little smaller today as Rory Lobb will be needed in the ruck and Jobe Shanahan has taken his first chance pulling in a mark on the lead and kicking the opening goal.He’s a strong mark, if the Dogs let him lead all day, he will feast on them.Eagles 6, Dogs 0 with 16 mins to go in Q1.1.11pm No English for DogsBy The Bulldogs will be without star ruckman Tim English as he continues to battle a back issue.Coach Luke Beveridge told Kayo Sports pregame that English had trained a bit on Thursday but still wasn’t completely past an ongoing back issue.He hopes that by sitting out this week, English could be right to face the Gold Coast next round.Time will tell. The game has started.1.08pmFormer Lions star winless at Eagles, but still loves itBy He’s gone from winning two straight flags to being winless as an Eagle, but hard-nosed defender Brandon Starcevich predicts big things are to come at West Coast.Starcevich made the tough decision to leave Brisbane at the end of last year after appearing in three straight grand finals and winning two flags with the Lions.Charlie Cameron of the Lions and Brandon Starcevich of the Lions celebrate winning the 2025 grand final.AFL Photos via Getty ImagesThe lure to return home to Perth on a four-year deal and help nurture West Coast in their rebuilding phase proved too hard to resist, despite enjoying a 70 per cent winning ratio in his 132 games at the Lions.It hasn’t been smooth sailing so far out west, with a serious calf injury keeping Starcevich sidelined until round 13.1.08pm‘Get out of the basement, mate’: AFL coach lashes fansBy Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says some fans are “peanuts” after clashing with Adelaide Oval spectators.Hardwick says he “has to be better” after confronting some fans as the Suns crashed to a 19.14 (128) to 7.7 (49) loss to Adelaide on Saturday night.Suns coach Damien Hardwick.AFL Photos via Getty Images“It’s not ideal to be honest, walking through here,” Hardwick said post-game.“And I understand people are going to say stuff and I have got to be better.”1.08pmGood afternoonBy G’day everyone. It’s Roy Ward here and I’ll be in the chair for three AFL matches today as we complete round 18 of the AFL season.We start with the Bulldogs and Eagles at Marvel Stadium from 1.15pm AEST, followed by the Demons and Tigers at the MCG at 3.20pm before the Bombers and Lions finish the round at the Gabba at 4.40pm.Enjoy the matches to come.1 of 1