Has Damien Hardwick Lost The Playing Group? | AFL Round 18 Review

Buddy Franklin is officially BACK — he's laced up the boots for the 2026 Legends Match, and the boys have a huge Round 18 to break down! In this Round 18 Review. From Fremantle's terrifying 15-goal second half against Sydney that has Shane rating them above Brisbane as premiership favourites, to the Giants' stunning nine-goal final quarter comeback over a wounded Geelong. The boys don't hold back on Damien Hardwick's extraordinary week — his "mathematically can't make finals" claim and THAT mums' basement spray — with Buddy's blunt message: focus on the craft. Plus, what's happened to Nick Larkey's goalkicking, the Ross Lyon and Lachie Neale saga takes another twist, Buddy declares Pendlebury and Sidebottom are "probably both done" at Collingwood, the head-rub free kick sends the boys into meltdown (put the whistle away!), and Buddy drops a bombshell on Carlton's season. Don't miss Buddy's Young Star of the Week, the Better Beer Big Moment, the Kia Real Deal Player of the Month, and plenty more. Like, subscribe and drop your tips in the comments! 🎙️ NEW EPISODES every Monday & Thursday 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss Buddy's Thursday tips 📞 GOT A HOT TAKE? Send us a voice memo — best one gets played on the show: memo.fm/buddyandshane ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 — Buddy joins the Legends Match! 04:25 — What's Happened to Nick Larkey's Goalkicking? 07:55 — Can Essendon Be Fixed? 11:22 — Better Beer Big Moment 16:45 — Scary Fremantle: 15 Goals in a Half 20:16 — The Head-Rub Rule & Umpiring Meltdown 23:47 — The Giants' Comeback & Finals Run 28:20 — The Brownlow Top 5 30:20 — Kia Real Deal Player of the Month 31:42 — Gone in 60 Seconds: 'The Blues Are Done' 40:30 — Young Star of the Week 💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is Fremantle now scarier than Brisbane? Has Hardwick lost the plot or is he protecting his players? And are Pendlebury and Sidebottom really done? 👍 Smash like if Buddy and Crawf are calling it right. 📲 FOLLOW US TikTok: @thebuddyandshaneshow Instagram: @thebuddyandshaneshow Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The Buddy & Shane Show 🍺 Thanks to Better Beer — proud partners of the Big Moment of the Week: http://www.betterbeer.com.au #AFL #AFL2026 #BuddyFranklin #ShaneCrawford #BuddyAndShane #Round18 #AFLRound18 #AFL #Fremantle #Flagmantle #DamienHardwick #goldcoastsuns #GWSGiants #Geelong #NickDaicos #HarleyReid #LachieNeale #Collingwood #AFLPodcast #FootyPodcast