Selling hope: One positive from each bottom nine team in Round 18

What went well for the bottom dwellers in Round 18?

While September may be off the cards for nine of the 18 teams, encouraging signs are destined to feature within the remaining rounds of the 2025 AFL season as they look beyond the year that was.

Each week, the SEN.com.au team will locate the biggest positive from each bottom nine side, identifying what's working ahead of their reset in 2026.

See the positives for each club below:

Sydney

The season isn’t dead yet

Although they are a long way back with a difficult run home, the Swans pulled off a heist against the Saints to keep their season alive - just.

With six games remaining, Sydney are comfortably the best of the rest, three wins outside the cut off however arguably carrying the best form in the AFL.

Having now won four of their last five games with North Melbourne at the SCG to come, the Swans have comfortably proven that with Errol Gulden back in the lineup, Sydney can match up with any side in the AFL.

Even if 2025 dies out, beware of the Swans in ‘26.

Jaiden Sciberras

Port Adelaide

Joe Richards has become a top role player

The recruit is evidently paying off the Power for the consistent opportunities at AFL level.

Joe Richards has transitioned into a vital cog in Port Adelaide’s forward half. 23 disposals and two goals from five scoring shots, the 25-year-old is the perfect role player that could propel the Power back up the AFL ladder.

While his disposal use may need work, there’s no doubt that the recruit’s energy will prove crucial over the coming years, particularly over the run home in the absence of Jason Horne-Francis.

Jaiden Sciberras

Carlton

Marc Pittonet can anchor the ruck position

With the Blues preparing for life without Tom De Koning, Marc Pittonet has taken on a significant role in Carlton’s midfield, and on Thursday night, he performed very well.

Beyond his barrel from well beyond the arc, Pittonet was the dominant ruckman over Lions pairing Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort, kicking two majors and excelling in the hit-out count.

While he is far from the athletic beast of De Koning, Pittonet’s strength offers far more to Carlton’s contested game, an area where the Blues can and have dominated in the past.

The Blues may avoid any serious damage in De Koning’s absence if Pittonet can continue to perform.

Jaiden Sciberras

Melbourne

Stars getting back to form

Bayley Fritsch and Christian Petracca both found form again in Melbourne’s latest win against North Melbourne.

The premiership players had a field day with ball in hand, with Fritsch (20 disposals and three goals) and Petracca (31 disposals and one goal) both being the main catalyst to the Demons breaking their five-game losing streak.

Harvey Langford’s (24 disposals and five marks) was another performance worth mentioning, as the first year midfielder continues to press his claim for the rising star award this year.

Zac Sharpe

Essendon

Yet another debutant

Essendon’s injury list is diabolical so they’ve got no choice but to play the kids.

They had yet another debutant in Oskar Smartt - their 12th of 2025 - and had another five who have played less than 10 AFL games in the loss to Richmond.

There’s not much else Brad Scott can do right now so he might as well keep pumping minutes into the youngsters. It’s good too see so many new faces even if the performances are a bit hard for Dons fans to watch.

Andrew Slevison

St Kilda

Marcus Windhager can anchor the future

A team often potted for their lack of talent, the Saints have most certainly found a number of future gems, and Marcus Windhager could be the best of the lot.

At 22 years old, Windhager has been freed up from his typical tagger role and has exploded, with a ridiculous 36-disposal performance highlighting what has been a very strong month of football.

Having cleaned up his disposal, furthering his forward impact while maintaining his physical prowess, Windhager could certainly develop into a top player within the walls of Moorabbin.

Jaiden Sciberras

North Melbourne

Cooper Harvey has arrived

The son of a gun has announced himself in a big way.

Having struggled for game time in his three seasons at the club, Cooper Harvey was handed his well-earnt opportunity in Round 17, and in Round 18, he may have done enough to cement his position in the side for the foreseeable future.

The small forward was dynamic in the front half, with 13 disposals and four goals from six scoring shots, looking as dangerous as any on the ground in just his fifth career game.

Alongside Paul Curtis, Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar, the Kangaroos’ front half is beginning to look frightening.

Jaiden Sciberras

Richmond

Talented Taj’s composed debut

Tigers fans waited patiently to see Taj Hotton at AFL level and they weren’t disappointed.

In just over 50 per cent game time, Hotton had 10 disposals, six contested possessions, three inside 50s, three score involvements and kicked a crucial first-quarter goal.

He was the ninth Tiger cub to debut in 2025 and barely put a foot wrong.

Throw in Luke Trainor’s Rising Star and a win and it was a positive night overall for the Tigs.

Andrew Slevison

West Coast

Hall and Harry show plenty

After a Rising Star nomination in Round 16, Clay Hall added another strong performance to his growing CV.

The 20-year-old picked up 21 disposals (at 76.2%), had four clearances and three tackles against a quality Power midfield.

Harry Edwards also played a pivotal role in defence.

He took a game-high 11 marks (three contested), and had a game-high 12 intercept possessions from his 17 touches, picking up five coaches votes for his efforts.

Andrew Slevison