AFL Round 16 Results: Highlights & Expert Analysis

Below is BettingPro’s full AFL Round 16 wrap: every result, the standout performers and the talking points. Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs all had the bye.

AFL 2026: Round 16 in Focus

Upsets and statements in equal measure. Port Adelaide produced the shock of the round, thumping rivals Adelaide in Showdown LX, while ladder leaders Fremantle made it 14 straight and Carlton banked a sixth consecutive win. Nick Daicos was at his brilliant best, the reigning premier Brisbane opened with a statement, and Hawthorn climbed into the top four.

Port Adelaide stun Adelaide in Showdown LX

Port Adelaide 13.19 (97) def. Adelaide 11.5 (71)

The upset of the round. Stand-in skipper Zak Butters was unanimous best-on-ground (37 disposals, 13 clearances) as Port, second-bottom coming in, dismantled their cross-town rivals 97-71 at Adelaide Oval. Jason Horne-Francis (29 touches, 10 clearances) was superb alongside him and the Power won clearances 42-22. Crows coach Matthew Nicks called it Adelaide’s worst showing of the year.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Port Adelaide and Adelaide, check out our full Port Adelaide vs Adelaide head-to-head record & tips →.

Fremantle make it 14 straight

Fremantle 11.14 (80) def. Gold Coast 3.11 (29)

The ladder leaders rolled on, holding Gold Coast to 29 — the Suns’ lowest-ever score against Fremantle — in a 51-point win at Optus Stadium. Caleb Serong was enormous with 35 disposals, a game-high 13 clearances and nine tackles as Freo stretched their winning run to 14.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Fremantle and Gold Coast, check out our full Fremantle vs Gold Coast head-to-head record & tips →.

Carlton roll on with their biggest win of the year

Carlton 17.15 (117) def. West Coast 9.10 (64)

Carlton posted their highest score of 2026 and a sixth straight win under interim coach Josh Fraser, beating West Coast 117-64 at Marvel Stadium. Sam Walsh (33 disposals) and Patrick Cripps (31 disposals, nine clearances) ran the midfield as the Blues won the clearance count 34-20.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Carlton and West Coast, check out our full Carlton vs West Coast head-to-head record & tips →.

Daicos runs the show as the Pies down the Tigers

Collingwood 15.16 (106) def. Richmond 11.6 (72)

Nick Daicos was best afield with 37 disposals, three goals and 14 score involvements — later polling the maximum coaches’ votes for the round — as Collingwood beat Richmond 106-72 at the MCG. Lachie Schultz kicked four; Tim Taranto’s four was a rare highlight for the Tigers.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Collingwood and Richmond, check out our full Collingwood vs Richmond head-to-head record & tips →.

Brisbane open with a statement over Sydney

Brisbane Lions 19.12 (126) def. Sydney 12.11 (83)

The reigning premiers controlled the Thursday-nighter from the first bounce, leading at every change on the way to a 43-point win at the Gabba. Brisbane’s defence-first effort turned their mid-season break into a complete performance; Chad Warner’s third-quarter goal was a brief bright spot for the Swans.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Brisbane Lions and Sydney, check out our full Brisbane Lions vs Sydney head-to-head record & tips →.

Hawthorn hold off the Giants to climb into the four

Hawthorn 14.12 (96) def. GWS 12.10 (82)

Hawthorn led by 30 at the main break, built on a 38-16 inside-50 stranglehold, and held off a spirited GWS fightback to win 96-82 at the MCG. Nick Watson’s three-goal burst brought up his career century and Jack Ginnivan piled on, while the Giants lost two players to injury in a costly afternoon.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between Hawthorn and GWS, check out our full Hawthorn vs GWS head-to-head record & tips →.

North make it three in a row over Essendon

North Melbourne 10.19 (79) def. Essendon 9.11 (65)

A scrappy, error-strewn contest went the Kangaroos’ way 79-65 at Marvel Stadium, North surviving a late Bombers scare. Harry Sheezel was best afield with 43 disposals and eight tackles as North banked an eighth win and a third straight victory — their first such streak since 2019.

For the complete statistical head-to-head between North Melbourne and Essendon, check out our full North Melbourne vs Essendon head-to-head record & tips →.

AFL ladder after Round 16

#	Team	W-L	%	Pts
1	Fremantle	14-1	148.2	56
2	Sydney	12-3	135.7	48
3	Hawthorn	10-4-1	113.7	42
4	Geelong	9-6	120.5	36
5	Brisbane	9-6	111.0	36
6	Adelaide	9-6	110.0	36
7	Melbourne	9-6	104.2	36
8	Western Bulldogs	9-6	92.8	36
9	North Melbourne	8-7	92.2	32
10	Collingwood	7-7-1	104.2	30

Ladder implications

Fremantle (14-1) sit clear on top and are a near-unbackable minor-premiership favourite. Behind Sydney and Hawthorn, a remarkable five-team logjam on 36 points — Geelong, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs — is split only by percentage, with Brisbane’s big win and Adelaide’s Showdown loss reshuffling the order. North Melbourne (8 wins) and Collingwood are pressing the eight from ninth and tenth.

Round 16 awards

• Performance of the round: Zak Butters’ Showdown masterclass (37 disposals, 13 clearances) in Port’s upset of Adelaide.
• Individual brilliance: Nick Daicos — 37 disposals and three goals against Richmond, and the maximum coaches’ votes for the round.
• Form watch: Fremantle’s 14th straight win keeps the Dockers rampant at the top.

Looking for the best bookmakers to bet on the AFL?

Round 16 underlined how quickly the picture shifts — a genuine Showdown boilover and a five-team logjam in the four. Compare promotions, odds and markets across the best AFL betting sites before you lock anything in.

FAQ

What was the biggest win in AFL Round 16?
Carlton’s 53-point win over West Coast (117-64) was the largest margin of the round, just ahead of Fremantle’s 51-point win over Gold Coast.

What were the closest AFL Round 16 games?
Hawthorn beat GWS by 14 and North Melbourne beat Essendon by 14 — the tightest results of the round.

Did ladder leaders Fremantle win in Round 16?
Yes — Fremantle beat Gold Coast by 51 points for a 14th consecutive win and stay clear on top.

Which teams had the bye in AFL Round 16?
Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs.

More AFL Content

• AFL Tips & Hub — all AFL match tips and weekly previews
• AFL Round 15 Results — last week’s wrap and analysis
• AFL Round-by-Round Predictions — every round’s previews and results
• AFL Premiership Odds — flag & futures market
• AFL Round 16 Preview — our pre-round tips and best bets

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