AFL Round 17 Results: Highlights & Expert Analysis

GWS produced the upset of the round to end Fremantle's club-record 14-game winning streak, Carlton and Collingwood escaped with tight results, and St Kilda buried Essendon in a nine-game AFL Round 17.

GWS produced the upset of the round to end Fremantle’s club-record 14-game winning streak, Carlton and Collingwood escaped with tight results, and St Kilda buried Essendon in a nine-game AFL Round 17 with drama from Thursday to Sunday.

AFL 2026: Round 17 in Focus

A full nine-game round with no byes reshaped the run home. Below is our full AFL Round 17 wrap — every result, the standout performers and the head-to-head reads — plus how it all shook up the ladder. Catch up on Round 16 results, track the season in our round-by-round predictions, and see where every side sits on the premiership odds.

GWS stun Fremantle to end the streak

GWS Giants 16.13 (109) def. Fremantle 13.10 (88)

The upset of the round. Ladder-leading Fremantle’s club-record 14-game winning streak is over, GWS — who had lost three in a row — controlling the clearances 42-28 at Manuka Oval. Jake Stringer was unstoppable with a career-high seven goals, and Toby Greene added three from 27 disposals. The Dockers also lost Hayden Young to a groin injury.

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

Carlton edge Richmond in a two-point thriller

Carlton 10.14 (74) def. Richmond 10.12 (72)

A wet-weather MCG classic decided at the death, Carlton getting home by two points for a second narrow 2026 win over the Tigers. Rising Star favourite Jagga Smith (32 disposals) and captain Patrick Cripps (32) drove the Blues, with Taranto and Short prominent for Richmond.

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

Wanganeen-Milera runs riot as St Kilda rout Essendon

St Kilda 17.15 (117) def. Essendon 7.8 (50)

The Saints piled on 10 unanswered goals through the first half and never looked back in a 67-point demolition at Marvel Stadium. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was best afield with a career-high 46 disposals (and 906 metres gained). Essendon (1-15) stay winless under interim coach Dean Solomon — a new low.

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

Lions climb into the four with a fast start at Geelong

Brisbane Lions 19.9 (123) def. Geelong 14.17 (101)

Brisbane kicked eight unanswered goals to lead 48-11 at quarter-time and, despite a Geelong surge that closed it to two points early in the third, held on by 22 to climb into the top four. Josh Dunkley and Charlie Cameron were among the Lions’ best.

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

Curnow’s six seize the Coleman lead as Sydney down the Dogs

Sydney 13.12 (90) def. Western Bulldogs 7.13 (55)

Sydney kicked the first six goals — the Bulldogs scoreless in the opening term — and cruised to a 35-point win at the SCG. Charlie Curnow booted six goals to grab the outright Coleman Medal lead, with Grundy and Heeney also influential. Bailey Dale (32 disposals) battled for the Dogs.

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

Demons end Hawthorn’s Launceston fortress run

Melbourne 19.11 (125) def. Hawthorn 14.6 (90)

Melbourne built a huge early lead behind Max Gawn’s ruck dominance and, after Hawthorn threatened with a mid-game run, pulled away to win by 35 in Launceston. Jacob van Rooyen (five goals, 24 disposals, eight marks) and Bayley Fritsch (five goals) did the damage up forward.

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

Daicos the difference as Pies survive on the Gold Coast

Collingwood 15.14 (104) def. Gold Coast 15.8 (98)

A tight, spiteful contest on the road, and a crucial six-point win for the Pies. Nick Daicos was best-on-ground (31 disposals, a goal and eight clearances), with Tim Membrey kicking three. Zeke and Bodhi Uwland were busy for a Suns side that pushed Collingwood all the way.

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

Crows too strong for West Coast in Perth

Adelaide 15.9 (99) def. West Coast 11.8 (74)

Adelaide raced to a 43-point second-quarter lead at Optus Stadium and did enough to hold off a late West Coast push, winning by 25. Jordan Dawson (27 disposals, nine inside-50s) and Izak Rankine (27 and a goal) starred, with Fogarty kicking four. Harley Reid was again lively for the Eagles.

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

Port grind past North at Adelaide Oval

Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) def. North Melbourne 7.10 (52)

A scrappy, free-kick-heavy affair that was level at three-quarter time before Port kicked the only three goals of the final term to win by 21 and extend North’s Adelaide Oval hoodoo. Jason Horne-Francis and Zak Butters led the way, with Georgiades and Whitlock booting three each.

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

AFL ladder after Round 17

#	Team	W-L-D	Pts	%
1	Fremantle	14-2	56	141.6
2	Sydney	13-3	52	136.9
3	Hawthorn	10-5-1	42	110.0
4	Brisbane Lions	10-6	40	111.7
5	Adelaide	10-6	40	111.4
6	Melbourne	10-6	40	106.3
7	Geelong	9-7	36	117.1
8	Western Bulldogs	9-7	36	90.8

Ladder implications

Fremantle still lead, but the GWS loss ended the streak and cut their buffer over Sydney to four points. Brisbane climbed into the top four with their win at Geelong, and the race for spots four to eight tightened into a logjam: Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne are level on 40 points, with Geelong and the Western Bulldogs a game back on 36. Percentage now separates the pack — the Bulldogs (90.8%) cling to eighth. Build your own run home with the AFL Ladder Predictor.

Round 17 awards

• Performance of the round: Jake Stringer (GWS) — seven goals to end Fremantle’s streak.
• Ball-magnet: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda) — a career-high 46 disposals.
• Coleman watch: Charlie Curnow (Sydney) — six goals to take the outright Coleman Medal lead.

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FAQ

Who won AFL Round 17 2026’s biggest game?

GWS produced the upset of the round, beating ladder-leaders Fremantle 16.13 (109) to 13.10 (88) at Manuka Oval to end the Dockers’ club-record 14-game winning streak.

Is Fremantle still on top of the AFL ladder?

Yes. Despite the loss to GWS, Fremantle (14-2) still lead the ladder, four points clear of Sydney with a game in hand on the chasing pack.

Who leads the Coleman Medal after Round 17?

Charlie Curnow moved to the outright lead after kicking six goals for Sydney against the Western Bulldogs.

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