2018 Shardball season
Template:Use Australian English
| 2018 ASL premiership season | |
|---|---|
| File:2018SBSlogo.png | |
| Overview | |
| Date | 2 March – 26 August 2018 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers | Adelaide Forge 2nd premiership |
| Runners-up | Melbourne Titans 3rd runners-up result |
| Minor premiers | Adelaide Forge 2nd minor premiership |
| Brownlow Medallist | Zachary Doyle 32 votes |
| Coleman Medallist | Brandon Harper 74 goals |
| Attendance | |
| Matches played | 132 |
| Total attendance | 3,722,703 (28,202 per match) |
| Highest (H&A) | 63,700 (round 22, Melbourne Titans v Adelaide Forge) |
| Highest (finals) | 82,406 (grand final, Adelaide Forge v Melbourne Titans) |
Updated to after 2018 Grand Final. | |
The 2018 Shardball season was the eighth season of the Australian Shardball League (ASL), the highest-level professional competition for Shardball in Australia. It was the second season contested by twelve clubs following the league’s 2017 expansion, and was played across a 22-round home-and-away season followed by a six-team finals series.
The season was won by the Adelaide Forge, who defeated the Melbourne Titans in the 2018 ASL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 17.12 (114) to 14.13 (97). It was Adelaide’s second ASL premiership, following their 2013 title, and made the Forge the third club after Melbourne and Sydney to win multiple premierships. Adelaide also won the minor premiership, finishing the home-and-away season on top of the ladder with a 17–5 record.
The 2018 season was widely regarded as the first true test of the ASL’s expanded competition model. Unlike 2017, which was dominated by the novelty and instability of four new clubs entering the league, 2018 placed greater emphasis on whether the new national structure could produce sustainable crowds, fair travel conditions, and a credible finals race. The established clubs remained strongest at the top of the ladder, but Newcastle Steel became the first expansion club to qualify for the finals, finishing fifth in only their second season.
Background[edit | edit source]
Second year of expansion[edit | edit source]
The 2018 season followed the ASL’s first major expansion in 2017, when the Geelong Granite, Gold Coast Rays, Newcastle Steel, and Western Sydney Wardens joined the competition. The previous year had increased the league from eight to twelve clubs and changed the fixture to a full double round-robin, with each club playing every other team twice.
Although the 2017 expansion was commercially successful, it exposed several structural issues. Travel workloads increased sharply, particularly for Perth, Darwin, and the New South Wales clubs. The player market was stretched, with several clubs relying heavily on younger or state-league recruits before those players were physically ready for full professional competition. The league also faced criticism over the uneven standard of matches involving expansion clubs, especially during the middle part of the season.
Ahead of 2018, the Australian Shardball Commission retained the twelve-team, 22-round format but introduced several support measures for developing clubs. Expansion sides received additional academy funding, a larger rookie list allowance, and access to a mid-year supplementary signing window. Foundation clubs accepted the changes reluctantly, arguing that the expansion teams had already been given generous draft access in 2017.
Broadcast and commercial developments[edit | edit source]
The Seven Network and Foxtel/Kayo continued as the ASL’s national broadcast partners. After the expansion increased the number of matches per round from four to six, the 2018 broadcast schedule placed stronger emphasis on Thursday and Friday night fixtures, derby matches, and games involving clubs from growing markets.
The league also expanded its digital match-centre service, introducing live possession charts, player heat maps, and quarter-by-quarter territory summaries. These features were promoted heavily throughout the year as Shardball’s tactical identity became more sophisticated and analytics-driven.
Commercially, the league focused on consolidating its new markets rather than pursuing further expansion. Newcastle’s crowds were stronger than expected, Geelong regularly drew well at Kardinia Park, and the Brisbane–Gold Coast derby became one of the league’s most marketable regional fixtures. Western Sydney remained the most difficult project, with the Wardens struggling both on the field and in the crowded Sydney sporting market.
League developments[edit | edit source]
The 2018 season retained the six-team finals system introduced in 2017. The Commission reviewed the format during the off-season but chose not to expand to a top-eight model, arguing that a twelve-team competition did not yet justify allowing two-thirds of clubs into finals. The decision placed greater importance on finishing inside the top six and kept the final month of the home-and-away season commercially strong.
Perth’s move to Perth Stadium was one of the most significant venue developments of the year. The Ironfangs retained Subiaco Oval as a training and secondary administrative base but moved all regular-season home matches to the new venue. The change increased the club’s average attendance and gave the league a stronger major-event venue in Western Australia.
The league also formalised its match-day operations protocols for extreme heat after several Darwin and Gold Coast matches in 2017 raised player welfare concerns. New rules allowed additional hydration breaks during high-temperature fixtures and gave the football operations department greater authority to adjust start times in northern markets.
Coach appointments[edit | edit source]
| New coach | Club | Date of appointment | Previous coach | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen Hart | Canberra Sentinels | 18 September 2017 | Michael Kerr | Hart was promoted from the league’s national development pathway after Canberra narrowly missed the finals in 2017. |
| Simon Vardy | Hobart Crags | 24 September 2017 | Andrew McPherson | Hobart appointed Vardy after falling from 2013 Grand Finalists to a lower-table side by the end of the expansion cycle. |
| Nathan Cole | Western Sydney Wardens | 2 October 2017 | Mark Delaney | Cole was appointed to stabilise the Wardens after a difficult 5–17 debut season. |
Player movement and list changes[edit | edit source]
The 2017–18 off-season was the first player movement period after the ASL’s expansion draft rules had been fully tested. Foundation clubs became more cautious with experienced depth players, while expansion clubs targeted mature players who could improve training standards rather than simply fill list spots. Newcastle were the most aggressive of the new clubs, adding defensive and midfield depth to support their second-year finals push.
| Player | From | To | Movement type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riley Stone | Canberra Sentinels | Adelaide Forge | Trade | Became an important forward-half pressure player in Adelaide’s premiership side. |
| Mason Bell | Geelong Granite | Perth Ironfangs | Trade | Added outside run to Perth’s midfield rotation. |
| Isaac Holt | Melbourne Titans reserves | Newcastle Steel | Free agency | Played 19 home-and-away matches and helped stabilise Newcastle’s defensive group. |
| Sam Linton | Adelaide Forge reserves | Geelong Granite | Expansion signing | Became part of Geelong’s younger leadership core. |
| Malik Hart | Sydney Shardhawks reserves | Western Sydney Wardens | Free agency | One of Western Sydney’s few consistent ball-winners during a difficult season. |
| Jesse Morrant | Brisbane Breakers | Hobart Crags | Trade | Recruited to address Hobart’s forward depth issues. |
| Cooper Voss | Gold Coast Rays academy | Gold Coast Rays | Academy promotion | Became a vice-captain despite the club’s overall inconsistency. |
| Aidan Bell | Newcastle Steel | Newcastle Steel | Re-signed | Extended his contract before becoming the club’s leading goalkicker. |
Club leadership[edit | edit source]
| Club | Coach | Leadership group | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain(s) | Vice-captain(s) | Other leader(s) | ||
| Adelaide Forge | Peter Lawton | Mitchell Grant | Zachary Doyle, Patrick Laird | Cameron Bishop, Noah Ward, Riley Stone |
| Melbourne Titans | Matthew Horne | Nathan Cross | Dylan Marks, Corey Ellison | Jack Harrington, Lucas Webb, Trent Miles |
| Brisbane Breakers | Craig Morton | Liam Drummond | Connor Hayes, Josh Farrelly | Tyson Cole, Brandon Harper, Marcus Hale |
| Sydney Shardhawks | Daniel Kerrigan | Blake Foster | Aaron Kane, Riley Thomas | Elliot Mercer, Marcus O’Neill, Jordan Vale |
| Newcastle Steel | Adrian Talbot | Patrick Keane | Aidan Bell, Luke Ferris | Cameron Royce, Ben Tranter, Isaac Holt |
| Perth Ironfangs | Darren McIntyre | Owen Marshall | Jared Collins, Kyle Rivers | Heath Stanton, Damien Cole, Mason Bell |
| Canberra Sentinels | Ellen Hart | Ryan Gallagher | Matthew O’Connor, Tom Varcoe | Dean Wallace, Corey Summers, Josh Hammond |
| Geelong Granite | Brett Callinan | Isaac Rourke | Tom Varcoe, Miles Hanley | Aaron Pike, Caleb Doyle, Sam Linton |
| Gold Coast Rays | Simon O’Dea | Marcus Bell | Jayden Walsh, Cooper Voss | Noah Fenwick, Lachlan Reed |
| Hobart Crags | Simon Vardy | Samuel Clarke | Oliver Kent | Matthew Dunbar, Lachlan Frost, Jesse Morrant |
| Darwin Cyclones | Paul Hennessy | Jacob Reynolds | Daniel McCallum | Kieran Hunt, Sean Parker, Aaron Talbot |
| Western Sydney Wardens | Nathan Cole | Daniel Russo | Eli Sayers, Reece Holland | Jonah McBride, Thomas Vale, Malik Hart |
Pre-season[edit | edit source]
The 2018 pre-season was structured around shorter regional matches and controlled training fixtures, with clubs permitted to use extended benches and trial academy-listed players. The league’s official pre-season series was reduced to two weekends after clubs argued that the expanded home-and-away season already created a heavy travel burden.
| 2018 ASL Pre-season Series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue |
| Saturday, 10 February | Geelong Granite | 13.10 (88) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 10.13 (73) | Kardinia Park |
| Saturday, 10 February | Newcastle Steel | 14.12 (96) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 12.10 (82) | Hunter Stadium |
| Sunday, 11 February | Melbourne Titans | 15.9 (99) | def. | Hobart Crags 11.15 (81) | Ikon Park |
| Sunday, 11 February | Adelaide Forge | 14.13 (97) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 12.12 (84) | Norwood Oval |
| Saturday, 17 February | Brisbane Breakers | 13.15 (93) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 10.11 (71) | The Gabba |
| Saturday, 17 February | Perth Ironfangs | 12.16 (88) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 14.8 (92) | Perth Stadium |
Overview[edit | edit source]
Adelaide entered 2018 with a clear tactical shift. After several seasons of being dangerous but inconsistent, the Forge adopted a more balanced style built around forward-half pressure, short-angle kicking, and disciplined defensive recovery. The change reduced the number of heavy scores they conceded and allowed their midfield group, led by Zachary Doyle and Patrick Laird, to control territory for longer periods.
Melbourne again remained one of the competition’s strongest clubs. The Titans finished second and reached another Grand Final, confirming their status as the ASL’s most consistent long-term contender. However, their third Grand Final loss in five seasons renewed criticism that the club was more reliable across home-and-away football than in the highest-pressure finals.
Brisbane stayed in the premiership conversation despite falling short of a third Grand Final appearance in five seasons. Sydney were solid throughout the year but failed to defend their 2017 premiership, losing momentum late in the season and exiting the finals before the preliminary final.
Newcastle became the story of the expanded clubs. After finishing eighth in their debut year, the Steel rose to fifth with a 12–10 record, becoming the first expansion club to reach the finals. Their improvement was built on a mature defensive structure, a settled midfield rotation, and stronger home form at Hunter Stadium.
Perth held the final finals place ahead of Canberra, while Geelong and Gold Coast showed improvement without breaking into September. Hobart continued to decline after their 2013 Grand Final appearance, Darwin finished near the bottom despite another strong goalkicking season from Kieran Hunt, and Western Sydney finished last after a difficult second season.
Home-and-away season[edit | edit source]
Opening rounds[edit | edit source]
The season opened on 2 March with Adelaide defeating Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval, a result that immediately showed the gap between the eventual minor premiers and the league’s least developed expansion side. Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney also began strongly, while Newcastle’s early form suggested that their 2017 foundation year had given them a more stable base than the other expansion clubs.
The first month of the season was notable for the competitive improvement of the middle tier. Canberra, Geelong, and Gold Coast all recorded early wins, while Perth adjusted to its first full season at Perth Stadium. Adelaide and Melbourne separated themselves at the top of the ladder by the end of April, but neither side was dominant enough to remove uncertainty from the finals race.
Mid-season[edit | edit source]
By the middle of the season, Adelaide had become the most balanced side in the competition. Their pressure game denied opponents clean exits, while Mitchell Grant and Riley Stone gave the Forge a more varied forward structure than in previous years. Zachary Doyle’s form through this period made him the clear leader in ASL Medal discussion.
Melbourne remained the league’s most dangerous scoring team, regularly producing heavy totals at the MCG. Brisbane’s defence again ranked among the best in the competition, although the Breakers were less efficient in attack than their 2014 premiership team or 2017 Grand Final side.
Newcastle’s rise became a central story of the season. The Steel won key matches against Perth, Canberra, and Geelong, moving inside the top six by Round 13 and staying there for the rest of the year. Their improvement changed the perception of the 2017 expansion, which had initially been criticised as too ambitious.
Run home[edit | edit source]
The final month was dominated by the fight for the minor premiership and the final two finals positions. Adelaide and Melbourne traded first place through July before Adelaide sealed top spot with a Round 22 victory over Perth, while Melbourne’s win over Adelaide one week earlier ensured they remained within striking distance entering the finals.
Brisbane and Sydney secured third and fourth positions, giving both clubs home elimination finals under the six-team system. Newcastle and Perth finished level on wins, with Newcastle’s stronger percentage placing them fifth. Canberra again missed finals, finishing seventh after losses in two of their final three matches.
Games[edit | edit source]
| Round 1 – 2018 ASL Season (Opening Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 2 March (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 18.9 (117) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 12.10 (82) | Adelaide Oval (33,905) |
| Saturday, 3 March (1:45 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 14.9 (93) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 18.10 (118) | TIO Stadium (17,640) |
| Saturday, 3 March (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 18.8 (116) | def. | Hobart Crags 13.10 (88) | The Gabba (32,340) |
| Saturday, 3 March (7:20 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 13.9 (87) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 12.9 (81) | Carrara Stadium (22,540) |
| Sunday, 4 March (1:10 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 11.12 (78) | lost to | Geelong Granite 12.10 (82) | Hunter Stadium (25,480) |
| Sunday, 4 March (3:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 16.12 (108) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 14.9 (93) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
| Round 2 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 9 March (7:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 12.7 (79) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 16.11 (107) | TIO Stadium (17,640) |
| Saturday, 10 March (1:45 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 11.9 (75) | lost to | Hobart Crags 13.11 (89) | Parramatta Stadium (17,690) |
| Saturday, 10 March (4:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 12.11 (83) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 16.11 (107) | Carrara Stadium (22,540) |
| Saturday, 10 March (7:20 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 15.11 (101) | def. | Geelong Granite 10.11 (71) | The Gabba (26,380) |
| Sunday, 11 March (1:10 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 15.11 (101) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 14.10 (94) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
| Sunday, 11 March (3:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 17.12 (114) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 14.10 (94) | Hunter Stadium (25,480) |
| Round 3 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 16 March (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 15.12 (102) | def. | Hobart Crags 11.8 (74) | Adelaide Oval (35,256) |
| Saturday, 17 March (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 16.8 (104) | lost to | Darwin Cyclones 19.10 (124) | Carrara Stadium (18,141) |
| Saturday, 17 March (4:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 10.9 (69) | lost to | Geelong Granite 14.9 (93) | Parramatta Stadium (17,633) |
| Saturday, 17 March (7:20 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 14.10 (94) | def. | Melbourne Titans 13.12 (90) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
| Sunday, 18 March (1:10 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 19.7 (121) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 14.10 (94) | The Gabba (32,340) |
| Sunday, 18 March (3:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 17.12 (114) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 15.10 (100) | Hunter Stadium (25,480) |
| Round 4 – 2018 ASL Season (Gather Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 23 March (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 13.9 (87) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 18.12 (120) | Adelaide Oval (42,968) |
| Saturday, 24 March (1:45 pm) | Hobart Crags | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Geelong Granite 17.11 (113) | Norwood Oval (19,684) |
| Saturday, 24 March (4:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 17.12 (114) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 13.9 (87) | Barossa Park (17,640) |
| Saturday, 24 March (7:20 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 13.7 (85) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 18.12 (120) | Mount Gambier Oval (15,680) |
| Sunday, 25 March (1:10 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 15.8 (98) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 18.10 (118) | Adelaide Oval (44,497) |
| Sunday, 25 March (3:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 20.10 (130) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 17.8 (110) | Whyalla Oval (16,660) |
| Round 5 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 30 March (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 17.10 (112) | def. | Geelong Granite 12.12 (84) | Adelaide Oval (33,979) |
| Saturday, 31 March (1:45 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 13.9 (87) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 9.12 (66) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
| Saturday, 31 March (4:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 18.9 (117) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 17.8 (110) | Bellerive Oval (19,391) |
| Saturday, 31 March (7:20 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 15.7 (97) | lost to | Darwin Cyclones 15.10 (100) | Hunter Stadium (20,471) |
| Sunday, 1 April (1:10 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 14.9 (93) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 20.8 (128) | Parramatta Stadium (23,520) |
| Sunday, 1 April (3:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 16.12 (108) | def. | Melbourne Titans 15.11 (101) | The Gabba (32,340) |
| Round 6 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 6 April (7:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 13.11 (89) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 18.12 (120) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
| Saturday, 7 April (1:45 pm) | Geelong Granite | 17.8 (110) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 14.7 (91) | Kardinia Park (24,820) |
| Saturday, 7 April (4:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 12.11 (83) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 14.10 (94) | Hunter Stadium (24,025) |
| Saturday, 7 April (7:20 pm) | Hobart Crags | 9.12 (66) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 14.11 (95) | Bellerive Oval (17,121) |
| Sunday, 8 April (1:10 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 15.7 (97) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 12.9 (81) | The Gabba (32,340) |
| Sunday, 8 April (3:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 11.10 (76) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 17.7 (109) | Parramatta Stadium (20,924) |
| Round 7 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 13 April (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 21.7 (133) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 14.11 (95) | Adelaide Oval (41,160) |
| Saturday, 14 April (1:45 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 14.10 (94) | Hunter Stadium (25,480) |
| Saturday, 14 April (4:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 17.7 (109) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 15.11 (101) | Kardinia Park (26,948) |
| Saturday, 14 April (7:20 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 18.12 (120) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 13.9 (87) | The Gabba (32,340) |
| Sunday, 15 April (1:10 pm) | Hobart Crags | 12.9 (81) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 19.7 (121) | Bellerive Oval (20,580) |
| Sunday, 15 April (3:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 9.12 (66) | lost to | Darwin Cyclones 13.11 (89) | Parramatta Stadium (16,725) |
| Round 8 – 2018 ASL Season (Heritage Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 20 April (7:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 11.10 (76) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 12.10 (82) | Hunter Stadium (25,480) |
| Saturday, 21 April (1:45 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 16.8 (104) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 13.10 (88) | Perth Stadium (41,563) |
| Saturday, 21 April (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 17.7 (109) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 15.8 (98) | The Gabba (30,946) |
| Saturday, 21 April (7:20 pm) | Geelong Granite | 13.10 (88) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 18.7 (115) | Kardinia Park (29,400) |
| Sunday, 22 April (1:10 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 8.10 (58) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 13.8 (86) | Parramatta Stadium (17,647) |
| Sunday, 22 April (3:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Darwin Cyclones 14.8 (92) | Bellerive Oval (18,471) |
| Round 9 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 27 April (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 12.7 (79) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 10.10 (70) | Adelaide Oval (39,505) |
| Saturday, 28 April (1:45 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 13.11 (89) | def. | Newcastle Steel 11.12 (78) | The Gabba (32,340) |
| Saturday, 28 April (4:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 13.9 (87) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 18.9 (117) | Perth Stadium (37,367) |
| Saturday, 28 April (7:20 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 11.12 (78) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 16.10 (106) | Parramatta Stadium (22,437) |
| Sunday, 29 April (1:10 pm) | Geelong Granite | 11.9 (75) | lost to | Darwin Cyclones 14.11 (95) | Kardinia Park (20,904) |
| Sunday, 29 April (3:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 11.10 (76) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 13.9 (87) | Bellerive Oval (14,525) |
| Round 10 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 4 May (7:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 17.10 (112) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 20.8 (128) | The Gabba (32,340) |
| Saturday, 5 May (1:45 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 17.10 (112) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 20.8 (128) | Sydney Football Stadium (35,280) |
| Saturday, 5 May (4:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 14.7 (91) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 17.10 (112) | Parramatta Stadium (19,083) |
| Saturday, 5 May (7:20 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 14.10 (94) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 10.12 (72) | Perth Stadium (38,895) |
| Sunday, 6 May (1:10 pm) | Hobart Crags | 15.10 (100) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 18.8 (116) | Bellerive Oval (18,523) |
| Sunday, 6 May (3:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 17.10 (112) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 18.7 (115) | Kardinia Park (24,406) |
| Round 11 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 11 May (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 13.11 (89) | def. | Melbourne Titans 10.9 (69) | Adelaide Oval (41,160) |
| Saturday, 12 May (1:45 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 14.9 (93) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 17.10 (112) | Parramatta Stadium (16,334) |
| Saturday, 12 May (4:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 16.11 (107) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 13.7 (85) | Sydney Football Stadium (29,878) |
| Saturday, 12 May (7:20 pm) | Hobart Crags | 13.10 (88) | def. | Newcastle Steel 12.7 (79) | Bellerive Oval (17,965) |
| Sunday, 13 May (1:10 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 12.9 (81) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 15.10 (100) | Perth Stadium (33,228) |
| Sunday, 13 May (3:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 15.8 (98) | Kardinia Park (25,967) |
| Round 12 – 2018 ASL Season (Expansion Derby Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 18 May (7:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 10.11 (71) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 15.9 (99) | Parramatta Stadium (23,520) |
| Saturday, 19 May (1:45 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 18.10 (118) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 11.11 (77) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (55,190) |
| Saturday, 19 May (4:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 10.7 (67) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 16.11 (107) | Bellerive Oval (20,580) |
| Saturday, 19 May (7:20 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 17.8 (110) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 13.11 (89) | Sydney Football Stadium (34,250) |
| Sunday, 20 May (1:10 pm) | Geelong Granite | 11.9 (75) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 16.7 (103) | Kardinia Park (26,570) |
| Sunday, 20 May (3:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 13.11 (89) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 12.10 (82) | Perth Stadium (35,633) |
| Round 13 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 25 May (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 15.7 (97) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 10.9 (69) | Adelaide Oval (37,589) |
| Saturday, 26 May (1:45 pm) | Hobart Crags | 16.8 (104) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 18.12 (120) | Bellerive Oval (16,759) |
| Saturday, 26 May (4:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 18.11 (119) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 13.9 (87) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (42,463) |
| Saturday, 26 May (7:20 pm) | Geelong Granite | 16.10 (106) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 15.11 (101) | Kardinia Park (25,867) |
| Sunday, 27 May (1:10 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 17.7 (109) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 12.9 (81) | Sydney Football Stadium (35,280) |
| Sunday, 27 May (3:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 15.10 (100) | def. | Newcastle Steel 14.8 (92) | Perth Stadium (44,594) |
| Round 14 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 1 June (7:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 13.8 (86) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 20.8 (128) | Bellerive Oval (20,580) |
| Saturday, 2 June (1:45 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 13.7 (85) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 13.11 (89) | TIO Stadium (13,770) |
| Saturday, 2 June (4:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 14.10 (94) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 15.12 (102) | Kardinia Park (21,440) |
| Saturday, 2 June (7:20 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 17.12 (114) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 15.7 (97) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (48,960) |
| Sunday, 3 June (1:10 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 20.7 (127) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 17.10 (112) | Perth Stadium (44,759) |
| Sunday, 3 June (3:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 16.12 (108) | def. | Newcastle Steel 12.9 (81) | Sydney Football Stadium (35,280) |
| Round 15 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 8 June (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 15.9 (99) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 11.12 (78) | Adelaide Oval (37,698) |
| Saturday, 9 June (1:45 pm) | Geelong Granite | 11.10 (76) | lost to | Hobart Crags 13.8 (86) | Kardinia Park (23,703) |
| Saturday, 9 June (4:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 14.7 (91) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 12.7 (79) | TIO Stadium (15,700) |
| Saturday, 9 June (7:20 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 12.10 (82) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 13.10 (88) | Perth Stadium (31,522) |
| Sunday, 10 June (1:10 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 17.10 (112) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 18.11 (119) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (47,598) |
| Sunday, 10 June (3:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 19.7 (121) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 16.10 (106) | Sydney Football Stadium (32,360) |
| Round 16 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 15 June (7:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 15.7 (97) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 21.12 (138) | Kardinia Park (27,222) |
| Saturday, 16 June (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 16.10 (106) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 14.8 (92) | Carrara Stadium (20,989) |
| Saturday, 16 June (4:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 14.11 (95) | def. | Hobart Crags 11.9 (75) | Perth Stadium (35,050) |
| Saturday, 16 June (7:20 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 18.9 (117) | TIO Stadium (15,472) |
| Sunday, 17 June (1:10 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 18.8 (116) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 12.12 (84) | Sydney Football Stadium (30,655) |
| Sunday, 17 June (3:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 18.10 (118) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 13.11 (89) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (49,731) |
| Round 17 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 22 June (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 14.11 (95) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 11.11 (77) | Adelaide Oval (36,747) |
| Saturday, 23 June (1:45 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 15.10 (100) | def. | Geelong Granite 13.12 (90) | Perth Stadium (33,628) |
| Saturday, 23 June (4:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 14.12 (96) | Carrara Stadium (21,635) |
| Saturday, 23 June (7:20 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 18.11 (119) | def. | Hobart Crags 15.9 (99) | Sydney Football Stadium (29,226) |
| Sunday, 24 June (1:10 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 8.12 (60) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 13.9 (87) | TIO Stadium (17,640) |
| Sunday, 24 June (3:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 17.7 (109) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 11.9 (75) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (55,569) |
| Round 18 – 2018 ASL Season (Rivalry Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 29 June (7:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 17.8 (110) | def. | Adelaide Forge 14.10 (94) | Perth Stadium (46,060) |
| Saturday, 30 June (1:45 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 15.8 (98) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 15.11 (101) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
| Saturday, 30 June (4:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 15.11 (101) | def. | Geelong Granite 10.12 (72) | Sydney Football Stadium (35,280) |
| Saturday, 30 June (7:20 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 15.7 (97) | Carrara Stadium (22,540) |
| Sunday, 1 July (1:10 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 16.8 (104) | def. | Hobart Crags 12.7 (79) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (52,595) |
| Sunday, 1 July (3:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 12.10 (82) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 13.12 (90) | TIO Stadium (17,640) |
| Round 19 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 6 July (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 16.9 (105) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 18.10 (118) | Adelaide Oval (38,854) |
| Saturday, 7 July (1:45 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 15.8 (98) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 13.7 (85) | Sydney Football Stadium (29,507) |
| Saturday, 7 July (4:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 16.9 (105) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 14.9 (93) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
| Saturday, 7 July (7:20 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 20.9 (129) | def. | Geelong Granite 16.8 (104) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (58,015) |
| Sunday, 8 July (1:10 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 14.10 (94) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 16.11 (107) | Carrara Stadium (16,923) |
| Sunday, 8 July (3:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Hobart Crags 13.9 (87) | TIO Stadium (11,632) |
| Round 20 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 13 July (7:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 20.12 (132) | def. | Adelaide Forge 16.7 (103) | Sydney Football Stadium (35,280) |
| Saturday, 14 July (1:45 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 15.9 (99) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 13.11 (89) | Hunter Stadium (25,480) |
| Saturday, 14 July (4:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 13.7 (85) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 16.11 (107) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (44,427) |
| Saturday, 14 July (7:20 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 15.8 (98) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 18.10 (118) | Manuka Oval (17,519) |
| Sunday, 15 July (1:10 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 11.9 (75) | lost to | Geelong Granite 14.9 (93) | TIO Stadium (14,249) |
| Sunday, 15 July (3:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 15.7 (97) | lost to | Hobart Crags 18.11 (119) | Carrara Stadium (18,879) |
| Round 21 – 2018 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 20 July (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 14.8 (92) | Adelaide Oval (39,453) |
| Saturday, 21 July (1:45 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 15.11 (101) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 18.12 (120) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (63,234) |
| Saturday, 21 July (4:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 16.9 (105) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 12.9 (81) | Hunter Stadium (22,340) |
| Saturday, 21 July (7:20 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 12.9 (81) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 16.9 (105) | TIO Stadium (17,295) |
| Sunday, 22 July (1:10 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 9.10 (64) | lost to | Hobart Crags 11.12 (78) | Manuka Oval (16,928) |
| Sunday, 22 July (3:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Geelong Granite 15.12 (102) | Carrara Stadium (22,540) |
| Round 22 – 2018 ASL Season (Finals Race Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 27 July (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 19.8 (122) | def. | Adelaide Forge 17.10 (112) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (63,700) |
| Saturday, 28 July (1:45 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 21.12 (138) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 14.12 (96) | The Gabba (29,062) |
| Saturday, 28 July (4:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 16.9 (105) | TIO Stadium (17,640) |
| Saturday, 28 July (7:20 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 21.12 (138) | def. | Hobart Crags 14.8 (92) | Hunter Stadium (25,480) |
| Sunday, 29 July (1:10 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 14.11 (95) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 16.11 (107) | Carrara Stadium (22,540) |
| Sunday, 29 July (3:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 13.9 (87) | lost to | Geelong Granite 14.8 (92) | Manuka Oval (18,620) |
Round-by-round ladder progression[edit | edit source]
The 2018 ladder changed shape several times across the opening half of the season before Adelaide and Melbourne separated from the rest of the competition. Brisbane and Sydney remained inside the finals positions for most of the year, while Newcastle’s rise from expansion side to finalist became clear after the middle of the season.
| Round | Ladder leader | Sixth place | Last place | Biggest margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide Forge | Geelong Granite | Western Sydney Wardens | Adelaide Forge def. Western Sydney Wardens by 35 |
| 2 | Adelaide Forge | Hobart Crags | Western Sydney Wardens | Brisbane Breakers def. Geelong Granite by 30 |
| 3 | Adelaide Forge | Geelong Granite | Western Sydney Wardens | Adelaide Forge def. Hobart Crags by 28 |
| 4 | Adelaide Forge | Newcastle Steel | Western Sydney Wardens | Perth Ironfangs def. Western Sydney Wardens by 35 |
| 5 | Adelaide Forge | Newcastle Steel | Western Sydney Wardens | Sydney Shardhawks def. Western Sydney Wardens by 35 |
| 6 | Adelaide Forge | Sydney Shardhawks | Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Titans def. Western Sydney Wardens by 33 |
| 7 | Adelaide Forge | Darwin Cyclones | Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Titans def. Hobart Crags by 40 |
| 8 | Adelaide Forge | Darwin Cyclones | Western Sydney Wardens | Gold Coast Rays def. Western Sydney Wardens by 28 |
| 9 | Adelaide Forge | Geelong Granite | Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Titans def. Perth Ironfangs by 30 |
| 10 | Adelaide Forge | Darwin Cyclones | Western Sydney Wardens | Perth Ironfangs def. Darwin Cyclones by 22 |
| 11 | Adelaide Forge | Geelong Granite | Western Sydney Wardens | Sydney Shardhawks def. Darwin Cyclones by 22 |
| 12 | Adelaide Forge | Geelong Granite | Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Titans def. Darwin Cyclones by 41 |
| 13 | Adelaide Forge | Gold Coast Rays | Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Titans def. Gold Coast Rays by 32 |
| 14 | Adelaide Forge | Sydney Shardhawks | Western Sydney Wardens | Adelaide Forge def. Hobart Crags by 42 |
| 15 | Adelaide Forge | Gold Coast Rays | Western Sydney Wardens | Adelaide Forge def. Gold Coast Rays by 21 |
| 16 | Adelaide Forge | Gold Coast Rays | Western Sydney Wardens | Adelaide Forge def. Geelong Granite by 41 |
| 17 | Adelaide Forge | Perth Ironfangs | Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Titans def. Western Sydney Wardens by 34 |
| 18 | Adelaide Forge | Perth Ironfangs | Western Sydney Wardens | Sydney Shardhawks def. Geelong Granite by 29 |
| 19 | Adelaide Forge | Newcastle Steel | Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Titans def. Geelong Granite by 25 |
| 20 | Adelaide Forge | Canberra Sentinels | Western Sydney Wardens | Sydney Shardhawks def. Adelaide Forge by 29 |
| 21 | Adelaide Forge | Perth Ironfangs | Western Sydney Wardens | Newcastle Steel def. Western Sydney Wardens by 24 |
| 22 | Adelaide Forge | Perth Ironfangs | Western Sydney Wardens | Newcastle Steel def. Hobart Crags by 46 |
Form progression[edit | edit source]
The following table shows each club’s win–loss record at key checkpoints across the home-and-away season. Adelaide’s consistency after Round 11 was the major difference between the Forge and the other premiership contenders, while Newcastle’s improvement was built on avoiding the long losing runs suffered by the other expansion clubs.
| Club | Round 6 | Round 11 | Round 16 | Round 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Forge | 6–0 | 11–0 | 16–0 | 17–5 |
| Melbourne Titans | 4–2 | 8–3 | 12–4 | 16–6 |
| Brisbane Breakers | 6–0 | 10–1 | 11–5 | 15–7 |
| Sydney Shardhawks | 2–4 | 3–8 | 8–8 | 14–8 |
| Newcastle Steel | 2–4 | 3–8 | 6–10 | 12–10 |
| Perth Ironfangs | 1–5 | 3–8 | 7–9 | 12–10 |
| Canberra Sentinels | 5–1 | 9–2 | 9–7 | 10–12 |
| Geelong Granite | 4–2 | 5–6 | 6–10 | 9–13 |
| Gold Coast Rays | 2–4 | 6–5 | 8–8 | 8–14 |
| Hobart Crags | 2–4 | 3–8 | 4–12 | 7–15 |
| Darwin Cyclones | 2–4 | 5–6 | 6–10 | 6–16 |
| Western Sydney Wardens | 0–6 | 0–11 | 3–13 | 6–16 |
Key home-and-away matches[edit | edit source]
| Round | Match | Venue | Crowd | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Melbourne Titans v Adelaide Forge | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 63,700 | Largest home-and-away crowd of the season |
| 21 | Melbourne Titans v Sydney Shardhawks | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 63,234 | Top-four preview late in the home-and-away season |
| 19 | Melbourne Titans v Geelong Granite | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 58,015 | Major commercial rivalry fixture |
| 17 | Melbourne Titans v Western Sydney Wardens | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 55,569 | Finals race fixture involving a direct contender |
| 12 | Melbourne Titans v Darwin Cyclones | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 55,190 | Expansion-era benchmark crowd |
| 18 | Melbourne Titans v Hobart Crags | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 52,595 | Established rivalry with national broadcast focus |
| 16 | Melbourne Titans v Brisbane Breakers | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 49,731 | High-scoring MCG fixture |
| 14 | Melbourne Titans v Canberra Sentinels | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 48,960 | Important result in the minor premiership race |
| 15 | Melbourne Titans v Newcastle Steel | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 47,598 | Major South Australian/Victorian ratings fixture |
| 18 | Perth Ironfangs v Adelaide Forge | Perth Stadium | 46,060 | Late-season form test |
Ladder[edit | edit source]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide Forge | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2336 | 1969 | 118.6 | 68 | Finals series |
| 2 | Melbourne Titans | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2424 | 2075 | 116.8 | 64 | |
| 3 | Brisbane Breakers | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2326 | 2082 | 111.7 | 60 | |
| 4 | Sydney Shardhawks | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2325 | 2077 | 111.9 | 56 | |
| 5 | Newcastle Steel | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2175 | 2046 | 106.3 | 48 | |
| 6 | Perth Ironfangs | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2170 | 2157 | 100.6 | 48 | |
| 7 | Canberra Sentinels | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2065 | 2080 | 99.3 | 40 | |
| 8 | Geelong Granite | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2018 | 2157 | 93.6 | 36 | |
| 9 | Gold Coast Rays | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1965 | 2182 | 90.1 | 32 | |
| 10 | Hobart Crags | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 1908 | 2234 | 85.4 | 28 | |
| 11 | Darwin Cyclones | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 1854 | 2123 | 87.3 | 24 | |
| 12 | Western Sydney Wardens | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 1898 | 2282 | 83.2 | 24 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) points for
Finals series[edit | edit source]
The 2018 finals series was the second played under the six-team format introduced after the league’s expansion to twelve clubs. Adelaide and Melbourne entered as the top two teams and met in the qualifying final, while Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, and Perth entered the elimination section of the bracket.
Adelaide defeated Melbourne in the qualifying final to advance directly to the Grand Final. The Forge controlled the match through stoppage pressure and late-quarter scoring, while Melbourne were forced into the preliminary final pathway despite finishing only one win behind Adelaide on the ladder.
Brisbane defeated Perth in the first elimination final, while Sydney narrowly defeated Newcastle in the second. Newcastle’s loss ended the first finals appearance by an expansion club, but the Steel were widely praised for reaching September in their second season. Brisbane then defeated Sydney in the semi-final before Melbourne beat Brisbane in the preliminary final to set up a Grand Final rematch with Adelaide.
| Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-final | Preliminary final | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Brisbane Breakers | 15.14 (104) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Adelaide Forge | 15.13 (103) | 4 | Sydney Shardhawks | 12.15 (87) | |||||||||
| 2 | Melbourne Titans | 14.11 (95) | 2 | Melbourne Titans | 16.12 (108) | |||||||||
| 3 | Brisbane Breakers | 14.15 (99) | ||||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | Brisbane Breakers | 16.10 (106) | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Perth Ironfangs | 12.14 (86) | Grand Final | |||||||||||
| 1 | Adelaide Forge | 17.12 (114) | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Melbourne Titans | 14.13 (97) | ||||||||||||
Grand Final[edit | edit source]
The 2018 ASL Grand Final was played on 26 August 2018 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between the Adelaide Forge and the Melbourne Titans. Adelaide entered the match as minor premiers and qualifying final winners, while Melbourne reached the decider after defeating Brisbane in the preliminary final.
The match was framed as a contest between Adelaide’s pressure system and Melbourne’s attacking power. Melbourne began quickly, using corridor movement and aggressive forward entries to create early scoreboard pressure. Adelaide settled late in the first quarter and began to slow the Titans by forcing stoppages near the boundary.
The second and third quarters were controlled by Adelaide. Zachary Doyle and Patrick Laird repeatedly won contested possession through the middle of the ground, while Mitchell Grant became the most influential forward on the field. Melbourne remained within reach until three-quarter time, but Adelaide kicked four of the first five goals of the final quarter to break the match open.
Adelaide won 17.12 (114) to 14.13 (97), securing their second premiership and completing the club’s first minor premiership–premiership double since 2013. Mitchell Grant won the Grand Final Best on Ground Medal after kicking five goals and applying heavy forward pressure.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Forge | 3.4 | 8.7 | 13.10 | 17.12 (114) |
| Melbourne Titans | 4.2 | 7.6 | 11.9 | 14.13 (97) |
Finals match details[edit | edit source]
| Week | Date | Match | Venue | Crowd | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying and elimination finals | Friday, 10 August | Adelaide Forge v Melbourne Titans | Adelaide Oval | 47,260 | Adelaide Forge 15.13 (103) def. Melbourne Titans 14.11 (95) |
| Qualifying and elimination finals | Saturday, 11 August | Brisbane Breakers v Perth Ironfangs | The Gabba | 34,810 | Brisbane Breakers 16.10 (106) def. Perth Ironfangs 12.14 (86) |
| Qualifying and elimination finals | Sunday, 12 August | Sydney Shardhawks v Newcastle Steel | Sydney Football Stadium | 39,420 | Sydney Shardhawks 13.16 (94) def. Newcastle Steel 13.10 (88) |
| Semi-final | Saturday, 18 August | Brisbane Breakers v Sydney Shardhawks | The Gabba | 36,075 | Brisbane Breakers 15.14 (104) def. Sydney Shardhawks 12.15 (87) |
| Preliminary final | Sunday, 19 August | Melbourne Titans v Brisbane Breakers | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 74,118 | Melbourne Titans 16.12 (108) def. Brisbane Breakers 14.15 (99) |
| Grand Final | Sunday, 26 August | Adelaide Forge v Melbourne Titans | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 82,406 | Adelaide Forge 17.12 (114) def. Melbourne Titans 14.13 (97) |
Awards[edit | edit source]
| Award | Winner | Club | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL Medal | Zachary Doyle | Adelaide Forge | 32 votes |
| Coleman Medal | Brandon Harper | Brisbane Breakers | 74 goals |
| Grand Final Best on Ground Medal | Mitchell Grant | Adelaide Forge | 5 goals, 18 disposals, 7 score involvements |
| Rising Star Award | Lachlan Reed | Gold Coast Rays | First-year midfielder-forward |
| Coach of the Year | Peter Lawton | Adelaide Forge | Led Adelaide to minor premiership and premiership |
| Mark of the Year | Jordan Vale | Sydney Shardhawks | Round 15 against Melbourne Titans |
| Goal of the Year | Aidan Bell | Newcastle Steel | Round 19 against Perth Ironfangs |
Leading goalkickers[edit | edit source]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Harper | Brisbane Breakers | 74 |
| 2 | Jack Harrington | Melbourne Titans | 70 |
| 3 | Mitchell Grant | Adelaide Forge | 66 |
| 4 | Blake Foster | Sydney Shardhawks | 62 |
| 5 | Kieran Hunt | Darwin Cyclones | 59 |
| 6 | Aidan Bell | Newcastle Steel | 55 |
| 7 | Owen Marshall | Perth Ironfangs | 51 |
| 8 | Marcus Bell | Gold Coast Rays | 48 |
Statistics[edit | edit source]
Highest team scores[edit | edit source]
| Rank | Club | Score | Opponent | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle Steel | 21.12 (138) | Hobart Crags | 22 |
| 2 | Brisbane Breakers | 21.12 (138) | Western Sydney Wardens | 22 |
| 3 | Adelaide Forge | 21.12 (138) | Geelong Granite | 16 |
| 4 | Adelaide Forge | 21.7 (133) | Perth Ironfangs | 7 |
| 5 | Sydney Shardhawks | 20.12 (132) | Adelaide Forge | 20 |
| 6 | Brisbane Breakers | 20.10 (130) | Sydney Shardhawks | 4 |
| 7 | Melbourne Titans | 20.9 (129) | Geelong Granite | 19 |
| 8 | Sydney Shardhawks | 20.8 (128) | Western Sydney Wardens | 5 |
| 9 | Melbourne Titans | 20.8 (128) | Sydney Shardhawks | 10 |
| 10 | Adelaide Forge | 20.8 (128) | Hobart Crags | 14 |
Attendance by club[edit | edit source]
| Club | Home matches | Total home attendance | Average | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Forge | 11 | 415,306 | 37,755 | 41,160 |
| Melbourne Titans | 11 | 581,482 | 52,862 | 63,700 |
| Brisbane Breakers | 11 | 329,428 | 29,948 | 32,340 |
| Sydney Shardhawks | 11 | 362,276 | 32,934 | 35,280 |
| Newcastle Steel | 11 | 289,693 | 26,336 | 44,497 |
| Perth Ironfangs | 11 | 422,299 | 38,391 | 46,060 |
| Canberra Sentinels | 11 | 201,047 | 18,277 | 18,620 |
| Geelong Granite | 11 | 277,247 | 25,204 | 29,400 |
| Gold Coast Rays | 11 | 252,235 | 22,930 | 42,968 |
| Hobart Crags | 11 | 204,179 | 18,562 | 20,580 |
| Darwin Cyclones | 11 | 176,318 | 16,029 | 17,640 |
| Western Sydney Wardens | 11 | 211,193 | 19,199 | 23,520 |
Club summaries[edit | edit source]
Adelaide Forge[edit | edit source]
Adelaide produced the strongest season in club history, finishing first on the ladder and winning the premiership. The Forge were more balanced than in previous years, combining pressure football with cleaner forward entries and a deeper midfield rotation. Zachary Doyle won the ASL Medal, while Mitchell Grant delivered a decisive Grand Final performance.
Melbourne Titans[edit | edit source]
Melbourne remained the league’s most consistently successful club but suffered another Grand Final defeat. The Titans finished second, ranked near the top of the competition for scoring, and again drew the league’s biggest crowds. Their inability to defeat Adelaide in the Grand Final intensified scrutiny of their finals record.
Brisbane Breakers[edit | edit source]
Brisbane finished third and reached the preliminary final. The Breakers retained one of the best defensive structures in the competition, but their attack became more dependent on Brandon Harper, who won the Coleman Medal. Their season ended with a nine-point preliminary final loss to Melbourne.
Sydney Shardhawks[edit | edit source]
Sydney’s premiership defence was competitive but incomplete. The Shardhawks finished fourth and won an elimination final against Newcastle, but they were beaten by Brisbane in the semi-final. Elliot Mercer and Blake Foster remained influential, though the club lacked the same late-season sharpness that carried it to the 2017 title.
Newcastle Steel[edit | edit source]
Newcastle became the first expansion club to qualify for the finals. The Steel finished fifth with a 12–10 record and were competitive in their elimination final loss to Sydney. Their rise was viewed as proof that the expansion model could produce meaningful on-field progress within a short period.
Perth Ironfangs[edit | edit source]
Perth finished sixth and returned to the finals but were eliminated by Brisbane. The Ironfangs were strong at home and adjusted well to Perth Stadium, but their away form remained inconsistent. The season confirmed Perth as a stable finals-calibre club rather than the surprise contender they had been earlier in the decade.
Canberra Sentinels[edit | edit source]
Canberra narrowly missed the finals for the second consecutive year. Under new coach Ellen Hart, the Sentinels played more organised football and improved defensively, but late-season losses to direct rivals prevented them from entering the top six.
Geelong Granite[edit | edit source]
Geelong improved in their second season, finishing eighth with a 9–13 record. Kardinia Park became one of the stronger expansion venues, and the Granite developed a reputation for difficult, physical home matches. Their away form remained the biggest barrier to a finals push.
Gold Coast Rays[edit | edit source]
Gold Coast showed flashes of exciting attacking football but remained inconsistent. The Rays won eight matches and were stronger at Carrara Stadium than in their debut season, but defensive lapses and poor second halves cost them several winnable matches.
Hobart Crags[edit | edit source]
Hobart continued to decline after their 2013 Grand Final appearance. The Crags were competitive at Bellerive Oval but struggled badly on the road and lacked scoring depth. The appointment of Simon Vardy brought structural change but not immediate results.
Darwin Cyclones[edit | edit source]
Darwin finished eleventh despite another strong individual season from Kieran Hunt. The Cyclones remained dangerous in high-scoring matches but conceded heavily and struggled to close out games. Their travel load remained one of the most difficult in the competition.
Western Sydney Wardens[edit | edit source]
Western Sydney finished last with a 6–16 record. The Wardens improved marginally on their debut season but continued to struggle for defensive stability and crowd traction. The club’s long-term value to the league remained commercial rather than competitive at this stage of the expansion project.
Notable events[edit | edit source]
- Adelaide won both the minor premiership and premiership for the second time.
- Adelaide became the third club to win multiple ASL premierships.
- Newcastle became the first expansion club to qualify for the finals.
- Melbourne reached its fifth Grand Final and lost its third.
- Perth played its first full season at Perth Stadium.
- Zachary Doyle became the first Adelaide player to win the ASL Medal.
- Brandon Harper became the first Brisbane player to win the Coleman Medal.
- Western Sydney finished last for the first time.
Attendance[edit | edit source]
The home-and-away season drew a total attendance of 3,722,703 across 132 matches. The highest-attended home-and-away match was the Round 22 meeting between Melbourne Titans and Adelaide Forge, which drew 63,700 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Grand Final drew 82,406 spectators to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The strong attendance was viewed as a positive result for the league because neither Sydney nor Brisbane, two of the ASL’s strongest television markets, appeared in the decider.
Media coverage[edit | edit source]
The 2018 season was broadcast nationally by the Seven Network and Foxtel/Kayo. Seven focused on Friday night fixtures, marquee rivalry matches, and the finals series, while Foxtel/Kayo continued to broadcast every match live. The league’s digital match-centre expanded significantly, offering live team-pressure ratings, quarter-by-quarter territory charts, and player movement maps.
Newcastle’s finals qualification became a major broadcast story late in the year, as it was the first time an expansion club had reached September. Adelaide’s return to premiership contention also lifted viewership in South Australia, while Melbourne remained the league’s most reliable national ratings club.
Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Template:2018 Australian Shardball League season Template:Shardball