CARLTON and Fremantle open a four-game Saturday when they meet at Marvel Stadium for their final hitout before finals.

The Blues (11-1-10) put a new spin on winners and losers coming from a draw, as the stalemate with the Western Bulldogs was enough for it to lock in a top-10 spot with a round to play.

BLUES v DOCKERS Follow it LIVE

Carlton has won 10 games and had a draw in 13 matches under coach Josh Fraser but will need to pull off its biggest win yet against the Dockers, and hope the Dogs lose to the Demons, to climb up to ninth spot.

Fremantle (19-3) overcame a challenge from Adelaide in a game mostly played at finals-like intensity to bounce back from a rare defeat and secure its second minor premiership in club history.

The Dockers have little to play for other than continuing to fine-tune for a pair of home finals, although they can also use this trip as a trial run for what they hope will be a return to Melbourne late in September. 

Ollie Hollands and Lewis Young are back for the Blues in place of injured pair Will Hayward and Nick Haynes.

The Dockers have decided to rest three players in Heath Chapman, Jye Amiss and Sam Switkowski, with Judd McVee, Bailey Banfield and debutant Tobyn Murray coming into their side.

Fellow finals sides Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs meet at the MCG in the twilight fixture.

DEMONS v BULLDOGS Follow it LIVE

The Demons (15-7) have a top-six place in their own hands, and could even grab a double chance with a win over the Western Bulldogs if at least one of Brisbane or Hawthorn slip up in the final round.

Melbourne can turn to an ominous record on its home turf after winning 10 of its 11 games at the MCG this season, although a loss could see them drop as low as seventh and into a wildcard spot.

The Bulldogs (12-1-9) are locked into a wildcard spot, but the draw with Carlton leaves them with plenty to play for as they aim to avoid a potential interstate trip in their first final.

The Dogs could climb as high as eighth with a win over the Demons while hoping that the Magpies lose, but their own defeat combined with a Blues victory would see Luke Beveridge's side drop as low as 10th place.

Jacob van Rooyen is out suspended for the Dees and has been replaced by Xavier Lindsay, while the Bulldogs have made four changes.

Marcus Bontempelli and Bailey Dale return in a huge boost, as do Connor Budarick and Ryan Gardner, while Tom Liberatore has been managed and the Dogs have dropped Louis Emmett, Jordan Croft and Lachie Jaques.

Geelong hosts Richmond under lights at GMHBA Stadium as the Cats prepare for another premiership tilt.

CATS v TIGERS Follow it LIVE

Geelong (14-8) was in serious danger of losing its grip on a top-six spot as North Melbourne made a blistering start before the Cats turned the tables to claim a rousing victory.

The Cats have now won five in a row and can avoid the wildcard round with a victory against the Tigers, while holding out hope that multiple other results fall their way to hand them a double chance. 

Richmond (3-19) gave up some of the gains it had made with a win against West Coast, then a narrow loss to Adelaide as it was largely uncompetitive in a defeat to St Kilda.

The Tigers head to the Cats' fortress having lost on their past seven visits to the venue, stretching back more than 20 years with faint hopes of ending a challenging season on a high. 

The Cats are boosted by the returns of Jeremy Cameron, Sam De Koning and Jack Martin, while James Worpel, Mark Blicavs and Oliver Wiltshire are out.

The Tigers have made four changes with retired pair Dion Prestia and Nathan Broad making way with Sam Lalor and Harry Armstrong, while Kane McAuliffe, Samson Ryan, Campbell Gray and Maurice Rioli come in.

In the final game of the day, Adelaide welcomes Greater Western Sydney to the Adelaide Oval with a top-six berth on the line. 

The Crows (14-8) lost their grip on a top-six spot after failing to keep pace with Fremantle when the game was on the line, with the defeat sending them sliding down to seventh place.

CROWS v GIANTS Follow it LIVE

They can climb back out of the wildcard places and avoid the longer route through the finals with a win over the Giants while hoping that at least one of the four teams immediately above them loses in the last round.  

Greater Western Sydney (10-12) put aside its disappointment over falling out of the finals race to avenge its costly early-season defeat to West Coast with a thumping victory against the same side.

The Giants should relish one last opportunity this season to show their best can compete with any side in the competition as they look to take some positivity into the off-season and end the Crows' top-six hopes.   

Wayne Milera, Taylor Walker and Alex Neal-Bullen are back for the Crows in place of James Peatling, Toby Murray and Callum Ah Chee.

The Giants have made just one change with Xavier O'Halloran replacing the injured Cody Angove.