IT'S A massive five-game Saturday as teams jostle for double chances, top-six finishes and the last spot in the wildcard round.

Richmond backed up its rousing victory against West Coast with a brave display in the wet to give top-four contenders Adelaide a huge scare before falling narrowly short. 

TIGERS v SAINTS Follow it LIVE

The Tigers paid the price for some wayward kicking for goal but with improvements in their efforts around the contest they could continue to push for an encouraging end to a tough season against the undermanned Saints.

St Kilda missed an opportunity to put one foot in the wildcard places as it was unable to overcome injuries to key players and was beaten by Carlton in a crunch clash.

Richmond v St Kilda at the MCG, 12.35pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES

The Saints’ finals hopes are now out of their own hands but with a pair of matches to come against bottom-half sides Richmond and Gold Coast, they are well-placed to finish the season with a couple of wins.

The Tigers have recalled Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong in place of Tyler Sonsie and Samson Ryan, while the Saints have made five changes, including the returns of Dan Butler and Jack Macrae while losing Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (hamstring), Mason Wood (calf) and Liam Ryan (managed).

North Melbourne  snapped a hoodoo and finally claimed a big scalp when it stunned Western Bulldogs but now faces the longest losing streak in the competition as it comes up against Geelong.

The Kangaroos have lost their past 15 matches against the Cats by an average of 49 points but they can now turn to improved recent form as they seek a win to keep their faint finals hopes alive.

KANGAROOS v CATS Follow it LIVE

Geelong continued doing all that it can to climb back into the top six for the first time in six weeks as it brushed aside Essendon for a fourth consecutive win.

The Cats need other results to go for them to avoid the wildcard round but with games to come against North Melbourne and Essendon they are well-placed to enter the finals on a strong run of form. 

The Roos go in unchanged as the Cats welcome back captain Patrick Dangerfield and Mitch Edwards while losing Sam De Koning to injury and Jack Martin is managed.

Brisbane bounced back from a humiliating defeat to Carlton in emphatic style as it blew away Hawthorn to remind the competition that it remains a side to be feared as the stakes rise.

The Lions’ thumping victory against the Hawks gave them a healthy percentage boost that was enough to climb back into the top four but they now have no margin for error as they face their arch rivals the Suns.

LIONS v SUNS Follow it LIVE

Gold Coast might be out of the running for a wildcard spot after a dismal second-half of the season but showed that it can still shake up the finals race with a rare victory against GWS.

The Suns might now have little more to play for than pride and laying down a marker for next year but could put a huge dent in their bitter rivals’ hopes for a top-four finish with an upset win against the Lions.

The Lions are unchanged for the clash, with Gold Coast adding Sam Collins and Beau Addinsall, with Zeke Uwland omitted and Jy Farrar out for personal reasons.

Hawthorn missed an opportunity to prove its premiership credentials and saw its top-two hopes all but disappear as it was hammered by Brisbane in a reality check for its standing against the leading teams.

The Hawks are now 2-4 this season against the current top-six sides but can lock in a double chance with wins in both of their games to come against Collingwood and West Coast.

HAWKS v MAGPIES Follow it LIVE

Collingwood clinched its finals spot with a hard-fought win against West Coast that was its seventh in its eight matches as it continued a second-half of the season surge.

The Magpies could enter the finals in ominous form if they can pull off a pair of victories against the Hawks and Lions but would still need other results to fall their way to avoid the wildcard round. 

Jordan De Goey and Scott Pendlebury are back for the Pies in place of Lachie Sullivan and Harvey Harrison, while the Hawks have added Bailey Macdonald and debutant Max Beattie for Ned Reeves and Sam Butler.

Port Adelaide barely gave a whimper after a bright start against Sydney as it went on to be thrashed by 97 points in its worst performance of coach Josh Carr’s first season in charge.

The Power have lost five straight matches as injuries to key players take their toll but they can lay a foundation for next season with a better display against the Demons before facing the Bombers in the last round.

POWER v DEMONS Follow it LIVE

Melbourne continued to push for a top-four finish and proved it is genuine premiership threat with a stunning victory over Fremantle in arguably the game of the year.

The Demons piled on the highest score against the Dockers all season and passed 100 points for the fourth time in six matches with their blistering style enough to strike fear in any opposition let alone the undermanned Power.

Steven King's side is unchanged, while the Power have included Mitch Georgiades and Lachie Jones among four changes, while Darcy Byrne-Jones is out suspended.