WITH just four rounds remaining of season seven's AFLW home and away season, the competition is heating up. For the first time in history, there are eight finals spots up for grabs and 18 teams vying for a place.
A top band of teams has started to establish itself, but a surging pack is out to disrupt the status quo. Meanwhile, with a ten-round season, the difficulty of each side's remaining fixture varies.
Will we see Richmond make its first finals series? What about Geelong challenging for the top four? Check out your club's final month of the season below.
1. Brisbane
20 points (five wins, one loss), 288.2 per cent
The Lions bounced back from their first loss by beating Essendon on Sunday, with the 44-point margin not quite representative of just how dominant they were. They have already beaten last season's grand finalist Melbourne, but still have the tough trio of North Melbourne, Adelaide, and Collingwood to come, albeit the latter two will be at their home away from home of Metricon Stadium.
The run home
R7: North Melbourne at Arden Street
R8: Adelaide at Metricon Stadium
R9: Hawthorn at Skybus Stadium
R10: Collingwood at Metricon Stadium
2. Adelaide
20 points (five wins, one loss), 255.1 per cent
Adelaide has really hit its straps in recent weeks, slamming home 23 goals in the past fortnight without conceding any. This has boosted their percentage significantly, landing them second on the ladder. With fellow top eight sides Richmond, North Melbourne and Collingwood already beaten, and a loss to Melbourne the only blemish on their record, their round eight match against Brisbane looms as a top-four shaper.
The run home
R7: Fremantle at Unley Oval
R8: Brisbane at Metricon Stadium
R9: Geelong at Norwood Oval
R10: St Kilda at RSEA Park
3. Melbourne
20 points (five wins, one loss), 166.0 per cent
The Demons have quite a straightforward run home, playing just one team currently sitting inside the top eight - the Western Bulldogs this week for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup. They will also enjoy that three of their final four games are scheduled for their Casey Fields fortress. Melbourne will be feeling fairly confident, having beaten Adelaide and North Melbourne, only falling to Brisbane.
The run home
R7: Western Bulldogs at Casey Fields
R8: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
R9: Essendon at Casey Fields
R10: West Coast at Casey Fields
AFLW FIXTURE Who does your team play in season seven?
4. Collingwood
20 points (five wins, one loss), 153.0 per cent
Collingwood has played just two top eight sides over the opening six rounds - Geelong and Adelaide - for one win and one loss and are yet to leave Victoria. In their final month, however, they will travel to both Western Australia and Queensland and face fellow finals contenders North Melbourne and Brisbane in what is a crucial final fortnight.
The run home
R7: Greater Western Sydney at Victoria Park
R8: Fremantle at Fremantle Oval
R9: North Melbourne at Victoria Park
R10: Brisbane at Metricon Stadium
5. North Melbourne
16 points (four wins, two losses), 189.6 per cent
The Kangaroos had a tough start to the season, copping both of last season's grand finalists, Melbourne and Adelaide, within the first three rounds, which they lost by two and 14 points respectively. Since then, however, they have been able to play some consistent footy, culminating in an 11-goal win over the Swans on Sunday. The challenges keep coming, though, with Brisbane, Collingwood and Richmond all in their final month.
The run home
R7: Brisbane at Arden Street
R8: Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval
R9: Collingwood at Victoria Park
R10: Richmond at Arden Street
6. Geelong
16 points (four wins, two losses), 158.0 per cent
While Geelong has posted two losses against fellow finals contenders Collingwood and North Melbourne, they have been by just four and 12 points, and they have claimed wins against both Richmond and the Western Bulldogs. An inadvertent advantage of their 12th placed finish last season is that their final month includes two expansion sides - Essendon and Sydney - and last season's wooden spooners West Coast. That being said, they must also undertake the toughest trip in AFLW footy, to South Australia to face the Crows.
The run home
R7: Essendon at Reid Oval (Warrnambool)
R8: West Coast at Ikon Park
R9: Adelaide at Norwood Oval
R10: Sydney at GMHBA Stadium
7. Western Bulldogs
16 points (four wins, two losses), 128.7 per cent
After going undefeated for the first month, the Western Bulldogs have fallen in the past fortnight to top eight sides North Melbourne and Geelong. They are yet to beat a side sitting higher than 13th and need to show that they can play their best against good sides, with this weekend an opportunity to do so against Melbourne. Outside of the Demons, however, they only play sides in the bottom half of the ladder, so should make a surge toward finals.
The run home
R7: Melbourne at Casey Fields
R8: St Kilda at Mars Stadium
R9: West Coast at Mineral Resources Park
R10: Carlton at Ikon Park
AFLW INJURY LIST How healthy is your team?
8. Richmond
16 points (four wins, two losses), 127.4 per cent
The Tigers have done the opposite of the Western Bulldogs so far this season. After two losses in their opening fortnight, they have gone on a tear, winning four consecutive games including a crucial one over Brisbane. They just have one current top eight side left to play - North Melbourne in round 10 - and are better placed than ever to make their first ever finals series. They are another side who is yet to leave their home state after six rounds, with trips to Perth and Mildura on the cards for the final month.
The run home
R7: West Coast at Mineral Resources Park
R8: Carlton at Ikon Park
R9: Greater Western Sydney at Mildura Sporting Precinct
R10: North Melbourne at Arden Street
9. Gold Coast
12 points (three wins, three losses), 80.8 per cent
A narrow loss to Richmond last weekend has just made life a little harder for Gold Coast, now sitting a game and significant percentage outside the top eight as it pushes for its second-ever finals series. The Suns' other losses this season have come against other finals contenders North Melbourne and Brisbane, while they have bagged wins against West Coast, St Kilda and Port Adelaide. With Melbourne their only remaining top eight side to come, the Suns can feasibly surge home and still challenge for a place in finals.
The run home
R7: Sydney at Henson Park
R8: Melbourne at Metricon Stadium
R9: Carlton at Metricon Stadium
R10: Greater Western Sydney at Henson Park
10. Essendon
8 points (two wins, four losses), 109.7 per cent
Arguably the most impressive expansion side of the season, Essendon has registered two wins, both by more than four goals, and been highly competitive in all but one match - last weekend against Brisbane. In the final month of their first home and away season the Bombers have two matches against fellow expansion sides Sydney and Port Adelaide, but also must face tougher opponents in Geelong and Melbourne, the latter at Casey Fields. A place in finals is a big ask from here, but not out of the realm of possibility, given the Bombers are the only side with two wins to have a percentage over 100.
The run home
R7: Geelong at Reid Oval (Warrnambool)
R8: Sydney at Ikon Park
R9: Melbourne at Casey Fields
R10: Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval
11. St Kilda
8 points (two wins, four losses), 95.7 per cent
It seemed like the Saints had turned the tide when they posted 29 and 53-point wins in the first fortnight of the season, albeit against expansion sides Sydney and Hawthorn. Once they were challenged by tougher opponents and some injury concerns, however, that all changed, and they have now lost their last four in a row. While they get to play at home in three of the final four weeks and have winnable fixtures against Carlton and Port Adelaide, they also must play the Western Bulldogs and - toughest of all - Adelaide.
The run home
R7: Carlton at RSEA Park
R8: Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium
R9: Port Adelaide at RSEA Park
R10: Adelaide at RSEA Park
12. West Coast
8 points (two wins, four losses), 69.7 per cent
A tight loss to Hawthorn last Friday has made the Eagles lose touch with the top eight despite evident improvement this season, while 33 and 52-point losses in rounds two and three have decimated their percentage. Life doesn't get any easier for West Coast, either, with four top eight sides still to come, including two trips to Victoria. It will all be about continuing signs of improvement for the rest of the season for the Eagles now.
The run home
R7: Richmond at Mineral Resources Park
R8: Geelong at Ikon Park
R9: Western Bulldogs at Mineral Resources Park
R10: Melbourne at Casey Fields
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13. Greater Western Sydney
8 points (two wins, four losses), 62.9 per cent
The Giants have registered both their biggest win in club history (47 points against Sydney in round three) and biggest loss (96 points against Adelaide in round five) this season, highlighting how hot and cold they have been. With a percentage in the 60s and two games out of the top eight, finals are pretty much out of the picture, but on a good day the Giants could feasibly beat any of the teams they have coming in the final month of the home and away season to regain some pride.
The run home
R7: Collingwood at Victoria Park
R8: Hawthorn at Henson Park
R9: Richmond at Mildura Sporting Precinct
R10: Gold Coast at Henson Park
14. Carlton
8 points (one win, three losses, two draws), 62.9 per cent
Carlton is in the same position as the Giants with just eight premiership points and a low percentage, not helped by several injuries and a 42-point loss to Melbourne a fortnight ago. In their final four weeks of the season, they must face two top eight sides and the Suns who are knocking on the door of finals, so remaining competitive and not getting blown away will be important.
The run home
R7: St Kilda at RSEA Park
R8: Richmond at Ikon Park
R9: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
R10: Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park
15. Hawthorn
8 points (two wins, four losses), 49.1 per cent
With two narrow wins in the bank, Hawthorn is only let down by significant losing margins across its opening month, each greater than four goals. Having already played two of their fellow expansion sides in Essendon and Sydney for a loss and a win, the Hawks will take on the final new side Port Adelaide this weekend. Their final fortnight, however, gets tricky with a rampaging Brisbane and improving Fremantle still to come.
The run home
R7: Port Adelaide at Skybus Stadium
R8: Greater Western Sydney at Henson Park
R9: Brisbane at Skybus Stadium
R10: Fremantle at Fremantle Oval
16. Port Adelaide
6 points (one win, four losses, one draw), 81.1 per cent
Port Adelaide has been highly competitive in all but one of its opening games but has only been able to get over the line once, against fellow first-timers Sydney. In their run home the Power still has expansion teams Hawthorn and Essendon to come, as well as a St Kilda side that is dealing with its own concerns. Their biggest challenge as they round out their first ever AFLW season is North Melbourne in round eight, albeit at their home of Alberton Oval.
The run home
R7: Hawthorn at Skybus Stadium
R8: North Melbourne at Alberton Oval
R9: St Kilda at RSEA Park
R10: Essendon at Alberton Oval
17. Fremantle
6 points (one win, four losses, one draw), 57.5 per cent
It's been a hard season for the Dockers, whose slow start really put an end to their run toward a fourth consecutive finals series. In recent weeks they have gotten back to the impressive side we've seen in recent seasons, but still sit with just one win and a draw after six weeks. Their next fortnight will prove tough, against a strong Adelaide side and Collingwood, who has lost just once despite being challenged at times. But in the final fortnight they will take on expansion teams Sydney and Hawthorn and look likely to regain the important Ebony Antonio so will be looking forward to finishing the season with strength.
The run home
R7: Adelaide at Unley Oval
R8: Collingwood at Fremantle Oval
R9: Sydney at Henson Park
R10: Hawthorn at Fremantle Oval
18. Sydney
0 points (zero wins, six losses), 27.7 per cent
It hasn't been an easy first season for the Swans, still winless after six rounds and on the receiving end of two 11-goal losses in the past three weeks. Their run home isn't the hardest, but it's certainly not an easy one, with an up and about Gold Coast side, a resurgent Fremantle team and big improvers Geelong still to come. This last month will be about the little wins for Sydney above all else.
The run home
R7: Gold Coast at Henson Park
R8: Essendon at Ikon Park
R9: Fremantle at Henson Park
R10: Geelong at Kardinia Park
