1st: Geelong
76 points (19 wins, one loss), 159.11 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: North Melbourne at Skilled Stadium
Rd 22: West Coast at Skilled Stadium
Now a whopping four games clear on top, with two warm-ups remaining on home turf ahead of the finals. By way of comparison, last year’s Geelong side won the minor premiership by only 12 points.
2nd: Hawthorn
60 points (15 wins, five losses), 125.78 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: West Coast at Subiaco Oval
Rd 22: Carlton at Telstra Dome
Sunday’s slip-up against Richmond was academic, with the Hawks assured of a qualifying final, almost certainly against the Bulldogs.
3rd: Western Bulldogs
58 points (14 wins, five losses, one draw), 118.49 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Essendon at Telstra Dome
Rd 22: Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
In a terrible slump, having lost four of their last five. However, a healthy percentage means the Dogs would need to be walloped in both remaining games to lose third spot.
4th: North Melbourne
50 points (12 wins, seven losses, one draw), 102.23 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Geelong at Skilled Stadium
Rd 22: Port Adelaide at the MCG
The Roos are now favourites to hang on to fourth spot for the second consecutive year. They can afford to lose to Geelong next week, assuming both Adelaide and the Swans slip up.
5th: Adelaide
48 points (12 wins, eight losses), 113.01 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: St Kilda at Telstra Dome
Rd 22: Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium
Five losses in a row, and now four straight wins. The in-form Crows have two tough games remaining, with an elimination final more likely than a top-four finish.
6th: Sydney Swans
46 points (11 wins, eight losses, one draw), 112.77 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Collingwood at Telstra Dome
Rd 22: Brisbane Lions at the SCG
The wheels are off for the Swans, with last week’s nailbiter against Fremantle keeping them within reach of fourth. Next week’s opponent bounced the Swans out of last year’s finals series. An omen?
7th: Collingwood
44 points (11 wins, nine losses), 111.03 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Sydney Swans at Telstra Dome
Rd 22: Fremantle at Subiaco Oval
A win over the Swans on Saturday night will book the Pies’ finals place, with the percentage gap over St Kilda worth as much as a game. Lose heavily, however, and round 22’s trip to Perth could yet be a nervous one.
8th: St Kilda
44 points (11 wins, nine losses), 102.56 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Adelaide at Telstra Dome
Rd 22: Essendon at the MCG
Has one foot in the finals after Sunday's impressive win in Perth. Next week's match is a tester, but the Saints will be favoured to win and perhaps secure their spot.
9th: Brisbane Lions
40 points (10 wins, 10 losses), 101.17 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Carlton at the Gabba
Rd 22: Sydney Swans at the SCG
Resuscitated their finals campaign with Saturday’s upset win over the Bulldogs. Will be barracking hard for Adelaide next week, but must beat Carlton first.
10th: Richmond
38 points (nine wins, 10 losses, one draw), 93.16 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Fremantle at the MCG
Rd 22: Melbourne at the MCG
With games at the MCG to come against two of the league’s also-rans, the Tigers still have a sniff. Results must go their way, which means two losses for either St Kilda or Collingwood and at least one for the Lions. Percentage is no concern thanks to round five's draw with the Bulldogs.
11th: Carlton
36 points (nine wins, 11 losses), 96.88 per cent
The run home:
Rd 21: Brisbane Lions at the Gabba
Rd 22: Hawthorn at Telstra Dome
Sunday’s dumping by North Melbourne leaves the Blues needing calamitous slumps by the sides above them. A win at the Gabba on Saturday would keep things interesting, but St Kilda would still need to lose twice and Richmond at least once for the Blues to make it.
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The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
