THERE are only two weeks left in the home and away season and the top eight is not even close to being finalised. 

Only the current top four are locked into finals, but where they will finally stand in a fortnight’s time is still up for debate. 

At the other end, the race for the eight is well and truly on. The bottom half of the top eight are all fighting to keep their spots, but there are a few teams making a late run who will do everything in their power to cause an upset. 

We're in for a blockbuster end to the season, as we take a look at some of the biggest games that will shape the eight. 

ROUND 11

Geelong v Fremantle, Saturday, October 24 at 3.05pm AEDT

CATS v DOCKERS Get your tickets now

After its win over St Kilda, Fremantle is sitting in the top eight… for now. With just percentage separating the Dockers from Adelaide in ninth and Hawthorn in 10th, they'll want to go back-to-back if they want to solidify their chance at a finals campaign. 

But facing much-improved Geelong on its home deck of GMHBA Stadium is a hard task. The Cats have locked themselves into finals, but it doesn't mean they're locked into the top four. After a round of upsets, the in-form Cats shouldn't be resting on their laurels if they want to hold onto a home final come November.  

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Saturday, October 24 at 7.15pm AEDT 

BULLDOGS v DEMONS Get your tickets now

The Western Bulldogs' rapid rise in 2026 has them currently sitting in fourth after their commanding win over Carlton, but the Dogs face a tough challenge in Melbourne and Geelong on their run home. 

The Dees are looking likely to retain skipper Kate Hore this week which will be a welcome addition and they were back to their dominant best against Richmond last week. But everyone saw them drop a game against Gold Coast in round nine, which shows they're vulnerable against the top sides. If they want home final privileges back, they can't be making mistakes and will hope either Geelong or North Melbourne drop a game on the way.  

Sydney v West Coast, Sunday, October 25 at 12.35pm AEDT

SWANS v EAGLES Get your tickets now

Much like last year, Sydney v West Coast in round 11 is going to have an impact on finals, but in a slightly different way. While it was West Coast's turn for finals in 2025, this year the Swans are the side with a spot in the top eight and are trying their best to keep it with two weeks to go. 

West Coast is pretty much all but ruled out of a finals run, but if everything goes its way it can still mathematically make it, believe it or not. It will need commanding wins over its next two opponents to raise its percentage and will need big losses from Fremantle and Adelaide to raise its position on the ladder.

North Melbourne v Adelaide, Sunday, October 25 at 1.05pm AEDT

KANGAROOS v CROWS Get your tickets now

'Poor Adelaide' was on everybody's lips when they saw their run home involving Gold Coast, North Melbourne and Melbourne. But after its 10-point upset win over the Suns in round 10, the Crows now firmly believe anything is possible as they make a late run for finals. They can mathematically make finals without winning their next two, but that would involve relying heavily on the outcomes of Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn's matches. 

The reigning premier North Melbourne has already pencilled in its regularly scheduled slot in finals this November, but it has shown it is a bit more vulnerable in 2026. If it wants to keep its spot on the top of the ladder, it will have to start with taking out the Crows at North Hobart Oval. 

ROUND 12

Geelong v Western Bulldogs, Friday, October 30 at 7.15pm AEDT

CATS v BULLDOGS Get your tickets now

It'll be a Dogs v Cats rivalry for the ages, with the Dogs either looking to cement themselves into their top four position or fight their way back into it. Keep an eye on high-scoring, attacking footy from the Dogs, who might be looking to bolster their percentage to jump either Carlton or Gold Coast, depending on the outcomes of round 11.  

Geelong will likely retain its top-four position even if it loses to Fremantle in round 11 but may be using this game to fight for a home final. Keep an eye on its attacking footy too as it will be after a percentage booster should it come into this game off a loss.   

West Coast v Hawthorn, Saturday, October 31 at 4.15pm AWST

EAGLES v HAWKS Get your tickets now

Hawthorn will be rueing its loss to the Giants in round 10, as it was expected to have one of the easier runs home. If it wins against Essendon in round 11, it will be on track to re-enter the race for finals but will also now want to add a win against the Eagles. 

After two years in the top four, the Hawks will need to prove it's now or never if they want to obtain that elusive finals win.  

If everything went the way of the Eagles in round 11, then they'll need to follow up with a huge win over the Hawks if they want to sneak in for a consecutive finals campaign. But even if chances of that happening are slim, they could still be the side that does all the damage to the teams left in the race.   

Adelaide v Melbourne, Sunday, November 1 at 2.35pm ACDT 

CROWS v DEMONS Get your tickets now

This game for Adelaide will be entirely dependent on what has come before it, but there is a scenario where the Crows make the eight with a win over the Dees. They'll want to hope there's been a loss (or two) to Hawthorn, and that Fremantle also couldn't get over Geelong before they (for the Crows' sake), hopefully lose to Sydney later in the afternoon. 

If the Dees have lost to the Dogs in round 11, dropped their percentage and there are a few other wins to their rivals, they may need to fight back to the top four with a win over the Crows. If they're coming in off the back of a win, Melbourne will want to at least fire a warning shot ahead of finals, even if this game won't budge their position out of the top four.  

Fremantle v Sydney, Sunday, November 1 at 2.05pm AWST

DOCKERS v SWANS Get your tickets now

A team's flag dreams could very well hang in the balance of the final game of the season. A lot will be riding on the eight games that come before it in round 12, and truthfully, the nine the week before. But this match could be the difference for if Fremantle or Sydney play finals in 2026. 

Either way, get the live ladder out for this one.