AFL Round 20 2026

Matty and Spida are back for Round 20 of In The Pocket, and with just a handful of rounds remaining before September, the AFL finals race is reaching another level. Fremantle continue to hold a firm grip on top spot after extending their winning run, while Hawthorn, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne are all mounting serious challenges as the battle for top-four positions intensifies. Behind them, the race for the remaining finals places remains wide open, with little separating several clubs chasing a September berth.The boys unpack all the biggest talking points from Round 19, including Fremantle's impressive road win over Port Adelaide, Adelaide's statement victory over Sydney at the SCG, and Brisbane's sixth straight win as the Lions continue their surge up the ladder. They also discuss Hawthorn's 70-point demolition of Richmond, Collingwood's continued climb after accounting for Carlton, and Geelong's important response against St Kilda as the Cats look to remain firmly in the finals mix.As always, Spida delivers his trademark no-nonsense take on the competition, breaking down which teams are genuine premiership threats and which clubs still have question marks hanging over them. With Fremantle establishing itself as the benchmark, Brisbane and Adelaide building momentum, and Hawthorn continuing to pile on wins, the boys debate who is best equipped to challenge for the flag as the season enters its most important stretch.There's also plenty of focus on the teams fighting to stay alive. Geelong has worked its way back into contention, while St Kilda, GWS, Carlton and North Melbourne are all running out of opportunities to close the gap on the top eight. Gold Coast's slide continues to be a major talking point, and the boys discuss whether any of the chasing pack can still make a late-season charge.Looking ahead to Round 20, Matty and Spida preview another massive weekend of footy, headlined by a blockbuster clash between Adelaide and Collingwood that could have major top-eight implications. They also look at Geelong's crucial test against Melbourne, assess Fremantle's latest challenge as they look to cement top spot, and discuss whether Brisbane can continue its red-hot run of form. With rivalry games, finals contenders colliding and plenty of teams facing must-win situations, there is no shortage of storylines across the competition.To wrap things up, the boys lock in their tips for the round and reveal which clubs they believe are best positioned to make a serious charge towards September. If you're after all the biggest AFL talking points, ladder analysis, finals projections and plenty of strong opinions, In The Pocket has everything you need heading into another huge round of footy.