ST KILDA has shut the door on the final eight, beating Adelaide at Telstra Dome on Sunday to secure its first finals series in two years.

The Saints’ win dashes the finals hopes of Richmond, the Brisbane Lions and Carlton, which wrecked the Lions’ chances on Saturday night. It also sets up a possible trio of rematches in the opening week of the 2008 Toyota AFL Finals Series.

If the ladder stays unchanged, Geelong will play North Melbourne in a qualifying final, which would be both a rematch of Sunday’s game and of last year’s first qualifying final, which the Cats won by 106 points.

Collingwood and the Swans are poised to face off once again in an elimination final. The Pies won last year’s version by 38 points, and bettered that result by seven points on Saturday.

To cap a downright spooky series of coincidences, as things stand St Kilda and Adelaide will meet again, in an elimination final at AAMI Stadium.

While the top three is decided, fourth spot remains up for grabs, with the incumbent, North Melbourne, hosting Port Adelaide in its final home-and-away game. A win would secure fourth, while a loss would allow Collingwood, Adelaide or even the Sydney Swans to pinch the double chance.

Only one final match-up is confirmed ahead of round 22. The Western Bulldogs, which warmed up against Essendon on Friday night, will meet Hawthorn in a qualifying final.

The Bulldogs and Adelaide are the only top-eight sides to meet in round 22.

Here’s how things could change in the final round of home-and-away footy.

 

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The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.