THE JOSTLING for finals places has opened up at the top end of the ladder as Sydney's recent slump has left four teams now sitting just one win or fewer behind it.

Adelaide is among that chasing pack and showing it could be a premiership threat before it opens round 20 against an in-form Collingwood on Thursday night. 

Melbourne can put an undermanned Geelong out of top-six contention when the sides meet on Friday night, while Greater Western Sydney and rival Sydney will both be out to bounce back in their derby the following day.

North Melbourne and St Kilda close the round on Sunday in a clash that will shape the race for wildcard places.

Here is who and what to look out for across round 20 as well as a tip for each match.

Adelaide v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval
Thursday, July 23, 7pm ACST

Last time: Adelaide 13.15 (93) d Collingwood 11.13 (79), R1 2026

What it means

Adelaide (12-6) proved that it is right in the premiership race as it overpowered Sydney when the match was on the line for a stirring victory on the road that made it nine wins from the past 11. The Crows have turned around their horror record against the Magpies with a pair of wins from three matches over the past year but have little margin for error as they push for a top-four finish. 

Collingwood (10-1-7) has got its campaign back on track with five wins from as many matches against sides currently sitting in the bottom half of the ladder. The Magpies have a perfect record from 10 games against the lower half teams this year but are yet to take the scalp of a side now in the top half before a challenging run home that begins with the Crows and includes the Cats, Hawks and Lions. 

Game shapers

Ben Keays has become critical to the Crows since joining from the Lions at the end of 2019 while his durability is shown by playing 150 consecutive matches since his first for his second club. The 29-year-old brings intense pressure whether playing in the engine room or lining up closer to goal and has booted 23 goals this year while averaging 15.2 disposals and 3.2 tackles a game.

Jordan De Goey is enjoying arguably his most consistent stretch of form across a 12-year career with the Magpies as he builds the engine to spend more time in the midfield as well as continuing to make an impact in the forward half. The 30-year-old is averaging 25.8 disposals and 3.2 clearances while also booting eight goals over his past 10 matches as he steamrolls his way to reach 200 matches.

Early tip: Adelaide by 11 points

Melbourne v Geelong, MCG
Friday, July 24, 7.40pm AEST

Last time: Geelong 12.13 (85) d Melbourne 6.10 (46), R4 2025

What it means

Melbourne (12-6) returns to a primetime stage with high hopes of claiming a top-four spot on the back of five wins in its past six matches after overrunning North Melbourne last week. The Demons can turn to a flawless record at the MCG with nine wins from as many matches at the venue this season though percentage remains a concern in their push for a double chance. 

Geelong (10-8) revived its hopes of a top-six finish as it outclassed St Kilda to seal just its second victory in seven matches but paid a huge price with midfielder Max Holmes injured in the win. The Cats have a mounting injury list to manage on the run home but with three matches to come against bottom-six sides the clash with the Demons looms as critical to their hopes of avoiding the wildcard spots.  

Game shapers

Matthew Jefferson had largely flown under the radar in his first 17 matches as a promising key forward with the Demons before a breakout game against the Kangaroos. The 22-year-old presented as a strong marking target and booted a career-high four goals to help his side turn the game against the Roos and now looms as a powerful one-two punch with Jacob van Rooyen for years to come.

Gryan Miers had spent time playing in the VFL while managing a serious knee issue but returned to the Cats' senior line-up with a firm reminder of the value that he adds. The 27-year-old put aside his injury concerns to add a spark with a game-high three goals as well as 22 disposals and 12 score involvements while the Cats' forward line looked much more threatening with Miers back in their side.

Early tip: Melbourne by eight points

Fremantle v West Coast, Optus Stadium
Friday, July 24, 6.10pm AWST

Last time: Fremantle 14.13 (97) d West Coast 5.11 (41), R6 2026

What it means

Fremantle (16-2) continued on its merry way as it blew away a spirited Port Adelaide with five goals in 10 minutes after the main break before cruising to another commanding come-from-behind win. The Dockers are showing few flaws though coach Justin Longmuir will be wary of giving the Eagles a start in the Western Derby after his own side has trailed at half-time in four of its past five matches.

West Coast (4-14) took further steps forward as it gave two-time reigning premier Brisbane a scare before falling to a gallant defeat on home soil. The Eagles have been more competitive in their past seven matches as hosts since being thumped by the Dockers in April in a defeat that extended their horror streak to nine losses by an average 46 points in the past 10 Western derbies.

Game shapers

Hayden Young has been forced to spend much of this season as the icing on the cake while the Dockers have made their way down the path towards the greatest of celebrations. The 25-year-old is no stranger to injury and has only played 10 times this year but with 20 disposals and a goal in a return game against the Suns appears primed for the run home as he reaches 100 matches.

Rhett Bazzo has been a slow burn since joining the Eagles at the end of 2021 and playing 28 matches in his first four season but is finally grabbing his opportunities in defence across nine consecutive games. The 22-year-old is growing in confidence with every game and gave a glimpse into the future with four intercept marks and eight intercept possessions against the Lions.

Early tip: Fremantle by 31 points

Carlton v Gold Coast, Marvel Stadium
Saturday, July 25, 1.05pm AEST

Last time: Gold Coast 13.15 (93) d Carlton 11.8 (74), R22 2025

What it means

Carlton (8-10) has perhaps returned to its true level after starting life under interim coach Josh Fraser with seven consecutive victories as it has since been outclassed in a pair of defeats to Hawthorn and Collingwood. The Blues remain in contention for a wildcard spot but with a poor percentage and the Lions and Dockers still to come, they cannot afford to stumble again against the out-of-sorts Suns. 

Gold Coast (7-11) is on the verge of falling out of contention for even a wildcard spot as a narrow loss to the Western Bulldogs made it eight consecutive defeats and the second-longest streak in Damien Hardwick's coaching career across two clubs. The Suns still hold their finals hopes in their own hands with three matches against clubs in a similar position on the run home starting with the Blues.

Game shapers

Nic Newman has taken a long path to reach 150 matches after starting out as a mature-aged recruit, making a change of clubs from the Swans to the Blues in search of greater opportunities, and suffering injuries that include a pair of serious knee issues. The 33-year-old hits the milestone as an important part of the Blues' back half while adding dash and dare and averaging 22.6 disposals. 

Touk Miller is among the long list of Suns midfielders who have underperformed during their shock form slump even while he continues to find plenty of the ball with an average 25.2 disposals and 3.5 clearances this year. The 30-year-old former skipper has shown in the past that he is just as capable at shutting down the opposition weapons and could be called on to limit the Blues' best ball-winners.

Early tip: Carlton by seven points

Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG
Saturday, July 25, 4.15pm AEST

Last time: Hawthorn 21.19 (145) d Essendon 13.5 (83), R1 2026

What it means

Hawthorn (12-1-5) has tuned up for the run home with a pair of thumping victories over Carlton and Richmond and with other results falling its way is now well-placed to snatch a top-two finish. The Hawks are less concerned with percentage given they have had a draw but will want to put away the Bombers, Roos and Eagles even if their focus is as much on coming clashes with the Lions and Pies.

Essendon (2-16) got back on the winners list for just the second time in 421 days as it stunned Greater Western Sydney with its manic pressure to claim a first victory under interim coach Dean Solomon. The win was enough to lift the Bombers off the bottom of the ladder and above the Tigers on percentage to add to the reasons to avoid huge losses in their remaining games.

Game shapers

Mitch Lewis continues to brush aside speculation over his future at the Hawks as he remains a key to their success whether lining up close to goal or playing higher up the ground as a link between defence and attack. The luckless 27-year-old has already played his most matches in a season in an unbroken run of 18 this year and with five goals against the Tigers now has 30 in this campaign.

Sam Durham showed once again that he is a key part of the Bombers' future as the inspirational midfielder played a starring role in the breakthrough win against the Giants. The 25-year-old battled hard and put his body on the line as he gathered 25 disposals in typical fashion and showed a touch of class when pulling down a huge mark ahead of a clash with their fierce rivals this week.

Early tip: Hawthorn by 59 points

Greater Western Sydney v Sydney, Engie Stadium
Saturday, July 25, 4.35pm AEST

Last time: Sydney 17.5 (107) d Greater Western Sydney 8.18 (66), R6 2026

What it means

Greater Western Sydney (8-10) let its tenuous grip on a wildcard spot loosen as it added a shock loss to Essendon to earlier defeats to lesser lights West Coast, St Kilda (twice), Carlton and Gold Coast. The Giants have proven that they are at their best against the best with wins over the Dockers, Lions, Hawks, Demons and Cats, and need to bounce back against the Swans to revive their finals hopes.

Sydney (13-5) has dropped back into the pack in the race for a top-two finish as it added a loss to premiership rivals Adelaide to defeats to Fremantle and Brisbane over the past month. The Swans' troubles are starting at the coalface as they have been hammered in clearance and contested ball but they can turn to an ominous recent record against the Giants with six wins in the past seven matches.

Game shapers

Finn Callaghan has been left to do much of the heavy lifting in an undermanned midfield this season but will have even more weight on his shoulder with skipper Toby Greene added to the injury list. The 23-year-old has stood up alongside the likes of Clayton Oliver in the engine room with a career-high average of 28.5 disposals this year but will need to lift again as the Giants face their cross-town rivals.

Tom Papley has had to endure a pair of frustrating campaigns due to injury but showed signs of being back to his combative best as he helped keep the Swans in the game with four goals and 24 disposals in the loss to the Crows. The firebrand forward has booted 20 majors in 13 matches in an interrupted season but appears to be hitting top form at just the right time for the under-fire Swans.

Early tip: Sydney by 22 points

Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Marvel Stadium
Saturday, July 25, 7.40pm AEST

Last time: Western Bulldogs 21.9 (135) d Richmond 8.8 (56), R15 2025

What it means

The Western Bulldogs (11-7) keep getting the job done as they have added a pair of scrappy victories over West Coast and now Gold Coast to six wins by a goal or less earlier in the season. The Dogs might not be the most convincing of the top-six contenders but they can all but book a finals spot with a win over the Tigers especially with the Kangaroos and Blues still to come.

Richmond (2-16) at times appeared to be going through the motions as it was blown away by Hawthorn before the main break to extend its losing streak to seven matches by an average 47 points. The Tigers have paid a huge price for their recent lack of competitiveness as they have been jumped by the embattled Bombers and now sit on the bottom of the ladder on percentage. 

Game shapers

Bailey Williams has made the most of his versatility across more than a decade with the Bulldogs but showed all of his value when playing more permanently in the back half against the Suns. The 28-year-old stepped up in the absence of Bailey Dale to add drive out of defence as he gathered 29 disposals and an equal career-high 11 rebounds in a role he remains well-suited to for the run home. 

Sam Lalor has not been able to have the impact he would have wanted as injuries struck again in his second season with the Tigers. But the 19-year-old was quick to give a reminder of his promise as he returned for his first game in 12 weeks and immediately looked at home with 14 disposals and a goal in limited minutes to give the Tigers some much-needed hope for the future.

Early tip: The Western Bulldogs by 41 points

Brisbane v Port Adelaide, Gabba
Sunday, July 26, 1.10pm AEST

Last time: Brisbane 18.12 (120) d Port Adelaide 14.8 (92), R17 2025

What it means

Brisbane (12-6) fired another warning shot across the competition as it claimed a sixth consecutive win even while rarely getting out of third gear in the victory against West Coast. The Lions can again eye a top-two finish as other results fall their way and they have three matches against sides from the bottom half of the ladder to come including the Power and later the Blues and Suns.

Port Adelaide (6-12) found a new way to impress under first-year coach Josh Carr even without claiming a win as an undermanned midfield helped give Fremantle a scare before losing touch with the ladder-leaders. The Power gave up 100 points for just the second time this season, and the first since round one, and their defensive gameplan is enough to give hope of an upset against the Lions. 

Game shapers

Charlie Cameron has put a frustrating 2025 campaign behind him and carried on from his starring role in last year's Grand Final with a return to form that has included booting 38 goals this season. The 32-year-old has hit the scoreboard in all but one match to again be a critical part of the Lions' well-balanced forward line as he reaches 200 matches for the club.

Jase Burgoyne has found some consistent form for the Power this season and got his chance in the middle last week with the likes of Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis absent. He had 24 disposals, six clearances, five tackles and kicked a goal in an impressive display against Fremantle. Burgoyne's versatility remains crucial for Port and he is averaging a career-high 20.7 disposals this season as the 23-year-old continues to improve.

Early tip: Brisbane by 27 points

North Melbourne v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium
Sunday, July 26, 3.15pm AEST

Last time: St Kilda 11.12 (78) d North Melbourne 10.9 (69), R21 2025

What it means

North Melbourne (8-10) continues to frustrate as it added Melbourne to the finals contenders that it has at least challenged before suffering a defeat that extended its record of failing to beat a side currently sitting in the top 10. The Kangaroos' wildcard hopes are hanging by a thread as the clash with the Saints is their last match-up against a bottom-half side in a tough run home. 

St Kilda (8-10) missed an opportunity to claim a first big scalp of the season and put its finals hopes in its own hands as it failed to truly challenge an injury-hit Geelong and was left clinging to 10th spot. The Saints are one of four sides yet to beat a team currently in the top 10, along with the Roos, Eagles and Tigers, but with four matches to come against sides now below them are well-placed for a finals berth.

Game shapers

Dylan Stephens is finally looking at home in his seventh season as he averages a career-high 20 disposals and 3.2 inside 50s while playing every game for the Roos this year. The 25-year-old is holding down a role on the wing as his tireless running helps link defence to attack while his improved ball use is an added bonus as the former Swans reaches 100 matches. 

Rowan Marshall showed all of his worth as a No.1 ruck as he perhaps put on an audition in front of the Cats with 31 disposals, 26 contested possessions, 12 clearances, 30 hitouts and two goals for the Saints. The 30-year-old is also capable of playing forward and hitting the scoreboard but should relish the opportunity to stake his claim to the role in a battle with Roos ruck Tristan Xerri.

Early tip: North Melbourne by nine points

HE WATCHED Nick Watson and Mitch Lewis cash in last Sunday against Richmond, but on Saturday, Jack Gunston made Essendon pay in a big way to reignite his pursuit of the Coleman Medal.

The 34-year-old has missed six games due to a lingering foot injury, but heading into August, Gunston remains in the hunt after booting seven goals to dismantle the Bombers by 93 points at the MCG.

HAWKS v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats 

After signing a one-year extension in recent days to lock in a 18th season in the AFL, Gunston overtook triple premiership teammate Luke Breust for career goals when he snapped two set shots in two minutes from the same spot at the city end to get moving in the second quarter.

Gunston added a third before half-time from the goal line, but then slotted four goals in a brilliant third quarter burst to become just the 37th player in V/AFL history to reach 600 goals, equalling his personal best of seven before the final break.

Two-time Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow kicked four more on Saturday in the Sydney Derby to take the lead back off Ben King and remains the man to beat with four games to play.

But no one has averaged more goals per game in 2026 than Gunston, who has is going at 4.3 per game, but missing so many games with a mid-foot sprain might prove costly when it comes to him becoming the first Hawk since Jarryd Roughead in 2013 to win the Coleman Medal. Not that he will care.

Gunston finished with 73 goals in 2025 in his second season back at the Hawks – after that one season north at Brisbane – and looks destined for a third All-Australian blazer - and second in two seasons at 33 and then 34 - after moving up to 47 goals.

And while the attention was focused inside 50 on Gunston’s growing bag, Jarman Impey produced a brilliant performance from start to finish that should remind All-Australian selectors of his form this year.

Impey amassed 37 disposals across half-back and generated 836 metres gained, finishing with 11 score involvements, nine inside 50s and seven intercepts in a performance that could prevent Gunston from collecting three votes on Brownlow Medal night. 

With Michael Tuck, Rodney Eade, John Platten and many of the 1986 premiership team involved pre-game and at half-time to celebrate the 40th reunion of the flag under Allan Jeans, Sam Mitchell’s men did what they needed to do to move one step closer to securing a top four spot ahead of September. 

Will Day is yet to play in a single final, but the star midfielder banked another important performance in just his seventh game of the season, returning after missing round 19 with a corked calf.

The 25-year-old dominated early, kicking two goals the first quarter, stunning the crowd by keeping a ball in that looked almost out, danced around two Bombers, then snapped his second in a moment of individual brilliance. 

Those two goals were kicked either side of a five-minute delay when Lewis was concussed while tackling Essendon’s Jaxon Artemis. Lewis stood for minutes, while the medicart was called, but then walked off the MCG with the help of a few trainers. 

When the game restarted Nate Caddy reignited the contest by running back with the flight and hauling in a courageous grab, before importantly snapping the goal. 
 
Caddy was locked in an intriguing battle with Josh Weddle and Noah Mraz at different times and finished with three goals in another eye-catching display from the young spearhead, who like Gunston and Lewis is part of a group of key forwards across the competition who signed new deals in July.  
 
Essendon started well and responded briefly after half-time but a spate of injuries made a tough task even more difficult. First the Bombers lost Jordan Ridley to a foot injury, then Sullivan Robey to a knee concern, before Archer Day-Wicks hobbled off.
 
This game didn’t have quality or intensity of the rivalry, but Hawthorn sharpened its weapons ahead of another finals series under Sam Mitchell. 

Big week ends early for key Hawk
One of the most significant weeks of Mitch Lewis’ career ended early on Saturday when the key forward exited the game in the first quarter with a nasty concussion. Six days earlier, Lewis booted five goals against Richmond – the second most of his career and most since recovering from a knee reconstruction – and then on Wednesday turned his back on rival free agency offers to re-sign with Hawthorn for four more years. But now the spearhead will miss at least next weekend’s trip to Launceston to play North Melbourne. 

Another issue for luckless Don
Jordan Ridley’s nightmare injury run continued at the MCG on Saturday with the defender sitting out the second half with a foot injury. The club believes it’s on the minor end, but the 2020 Crichton Medallist just can’t stay on the park. Ridley has managed only seven appearances this year after 10 in 2025 and nine in 2024. 

Rivalry game lacks traditional punch
This game lacked the intensity and passion this rivalry deserves. It also lacked the crowd it traditionally pulls. Just over 42,000 turned up on Saturday, which is the lowest crowd for a game between these two teams at the MCG since 2006. Essendon’s two-win season is clearly a factor in that number. 

HAWTHORN        3.5    9.8    14.14    19.18 (132)
ESSENDON          2.3    2.5    3.6        5.9 (39)
  
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 7, Watson 3, Day 2, Chol 2, Morrison, Mackenzie, Ginnivan, Moore, Impey
Essendon: Caddy 3, Wright 2
 
BEST
Hawthorn: Impey, Gunston, Ward, Newcombe, Sicily, Mackenzie
Essendon: Caddy, Sharp, McGrath, Blakiston

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Lewis (concussion)
Essendon: Ridley (foot), Robey (knee), Day-Wicks (TBC)
 
Crowd: 42,509 at the MCG