Follow all the action from Sundayโs 16th round.
Darcy Parish during a match between Essendon and North Melbourne in R16, 2026. Photo: AFL Photos
With IT eyeing a top-10 finish this season, North Melbourne have the chance to claim their eighth win of the season when they face Essendon on Sunday.
North Melbourne (7-7) won seven matches for the first time since 2019 to return to the top 10, although it still has plenty of room for improvement after a pair of unconvincing wins.
KANGAROOS vs BOMBERS Follow it live
The Roos did what they needed to do in an inconclusive clash with the Tigers and can now inflict more misery on the Bombers after snapping a 12-game losing streak against their rivals earlier this year.
Essendon (1-13) had to look for positives to see it through to the end of the year despite a nine-game losing streak before heading into the bye.
The Bombers can point to tighter defending over the past month, having conceded an average of 82 points from their four matches before the break, as they look to remain more competitive for longer and even snatch a win or two on the run home.
North Melbourne v Essendon at Marvel Stadium, 3.15am AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
Hit by injury this year, the Bombers return captain Andy McGrath, midfield duo Gee Caldwell and Darcy Parish and striker Isaac Kako.
Archie Roberts and Kyle Langford are out with injuries, while Elijah Tsatas and Nick Cox are ruled out.
The Roos made three changes, with Callum Coleman-Jones, Wil Dawson and Josh Goater replacing Tristan Xerri, Taylor Goad and Luke McDonald.
After a stunning start to the season, Fremantle return from their bye to take on Gold Coast.
Fremantle (13-1) continued to cruise towards a top-two finish that would have left a pair of home finals in its own hands, giving up a healthy lead to Geelong before storming to the top.
DOCKERS โ SANS Follow it live
The Dockers trailed by as much as 28 points, the most they had been all year, before scoring 10 of the next 12 goals and setting another marker as the team to beat at this point.
Gold Coast (7-7) have been forced to adjust their targets as a season that promised so much now spins out of control after four straight defeats and growing concerns around the midfield.
Fremantle v Gold Coast, Optus Stadium, 3:10pm AEST.
NO LATE CHANGES
The Suns were right against the Hawks heading into the season finale, but they conceded four goals in five minutes, including three from center, and their top-six hopes hung in the balance.
Sean Darcy returned to the Dockers, replacing the missing Mason Cox.
The Suns lost Daniel Rioli to injury and Sam Clohesy to suspension, as well as Oscar Adams and the addition of Wil Powell, Charlie Ballard and Ben Jepson.