THE RACE for the finals is heating up with just five rounds of the home and away season remaining.
Carlton's hopes of returning to finals action for the first time since 2013 are still alive after its 33-point win over Gold Coast.
THINGS WE LEARNED The Demons have sucked us in... again
However, the Suns will need a miracle from here to reach the post-season for the first time in their history.
Who is still in the mix? Check out your club's finish to the season below.
Hawthorn, Sydney, North Melbourne and Adelaide have not been considered
1. Port Adelaide
40 points (10 wins, three losses), 126.6 per cent
There are some question marks on the Power after an underwhelming fortnight, but they've built up plenty of credit this year. Toughing out wins late in the home and away season, like Port did against Hawthorn, can be every bit as valuable as comfortable ones. That's what Ken Hinkley will bank on. Travis Boak's stellar campaign raged on with another best-on-ground display and he will be crucial to the club's flag bid. The impending injury returns of Connor Rozee, Ryan Burton and Todd Marshall will provide a boost, while banned duo Dan Houston and Peter Ladhams will be back soon enough. - Marc McGowan
The run home
R14: Sydney @ Adelaide Oval
R15: BYE
R16: North Melbourne @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Essendon @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Collingwood @ TBC
2. Brisbane
40 points (10 wins, three losses), 117.4 per cent
After squeaking home against St Kilda, the Lions now have a 12-day break to prepare for their final four home-and-away matches. With Daniel Rich to come back from a tight hamstring, they are in an ideal position to lock down a top-four spot and perhaps even push for the minor premiership. The Friday night match against bogey team Collingwood could well determine how high up the ladder Brisbane finishes, with the relatively friendly fixture of the Suns, Swans and Blues to round out their campaign. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R14: BYE
R15: Collingwood @ the Gabba
R16: Gold Coast @ the Gabba
R17: Sydney @ Cazalys Stadium
R18: Carlton @ TBC
3. Geelong
36 points (nine wins, four losses), 140.6 per cent
After some nervous moments, an eventual 28-point win over the Crows helped the Cats keep in touch with the race for a top-two spot. Geelong will likely go in as favourites in each of its last four games, but the game against Richmond looms as the clash that could really shake up the top part of the ladder. With the Bulldogs in hot form, the round 14 Friday night clash will also be a danger game. - Jourdan Canil
The run home
R14: Western Bulldogs @ Metricon Stadium
R15: BYE
R16: Essendon @ the Gabba
R17: Richmond @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Sydney @ TBC
4. West Coast
36 points (nine wins, three losses), 121.3 per cent
The Eagles enter their second hub stint as the form side of the competition. But the clash with Richmond off a four-day break – and their second match in a block of five games in 19 days – is likely to decide their top-four hopes. With a game in hand on their double-chance rivals, and a reasonably soft draw to follow, a win over the Tigers will all but guarantee it. Will enter favourites in their final five games while they work on a case to stage a final or two in Perth. If that's granted and their six straight wins at home is anything to go by… look out. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R14: Richmond @ Metricon Stadium
R15: Essendon @ the Gabba
R16: Western Bulldogs @ Metricon Stadium
R17: St Kilda @ the Gabba
R18: North Melbourne @ TBC
5. Richmond
34 points (eight wins, four losses, one draw), 119.0 per cent
The Tigers are on the move and are gunning for a top-four spot. They’ve won seven of their past nine games but Thursday’s clash with West Coast could be a defining one against one of their fellow flag contenders. They'll beat Adelaide in round 18 and should cover off against Fremantle in round 15, so the clash with the Eagles and then against Geelong will go a long way to deciding their top-four chances. - Callum Twomey
The run home
R14: West Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R15: Fremantle @ Metricon Stadium
R16: BYE
R17: Geelong @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Adelaide @ TBC
6. St Kilda
32 points (eight wins, five losses), 114.5 per cent
Next Saturday's match against Melbourne in Alice Springs could be season-defining. Lose and the Saints would be clinging to a spot in the eight ahead of their final three matches. Victory would almost lock up a return to the finals. Following the bye, they play Hawthorn, which on current form they would start favourites in, while the final two rounds against West Coast and GWS are anyone's guess this far out. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R14: Melbourne @ TIO Traeger Park
R15: BYE
R16: Hawthorn @ Metricon Stadium
R17: West Coast @ the Gabba
R18: Greater Western Sydney @ TBC
7. Collingwood
30 points (seven wins, five losses, one draw), 108.9 per cent
Victory over North Melbourne puts a two-game buffer between Collingwood and finals challengers Melbourne, Carlton and Greater Western Sydney. But the task doesn't get any easier. As the Pies prepare to lose Steele Sidebottom for the remainder of the home-and-away season, with the important midfielder set to return to Victoria this week for the birth of his child, pivotal clashes loom. Collingwod faces arch rival Carlton next week in an old fashioned eight-pointer, before taking on premiership fancy Brisbane on its own deck in the very next match. Then there's a bye, where the Demons, Blues and Giants could make up at least one of that two-game gap, before clashes with Gold Coast and the ladder leading Port Adelaide. While one win could be enough, two or three would guarantee finals footy. - Riley Beveridge
The run home
R14: Carlton @ the Gabba
R15: Brisbane @ the Gabba
R16: BYE
R17: Gold Coast @ the Gabba
R18: Port Adelaide @ TBC
8. Western Bulldogs
28 points (seven wins, six losses), 101.4 per cent
The four points claimed over Melbourne on Saturday was huge if you take the view that only one of the Dogs, Demons, Carlton, Greater Western Sydney or Essendon can claim the final spot in the eight. And to grab a win over Geelong or West Coast either side of the bye will go a long way to keeping the other sides – all with a game in hand – at bay. Given the race they're in, the Dogs may be in a fight for percentage in the final two rounds given they need to make up more than 10 per cent on the Demons and the Blues are around the same mark. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R14: Geelong @ Metricon Stadium
R15: BYE
R16: West Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Hawthorn @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Fremantle @ TBC
9. Melbourne
24 points (six wins, six losses), 112.1 per cent
Incredibly, the Demons could be in the eight after round 14 if they knock off the Saints and the Dogs lose to Geelong. The percentage gained in three consecutive wins by more than 50 points will act as an extra win in the race for eighth spot, provided they can hold onto it. If they fall to the Saints then games against Sydney and Fremantle become non-negotiables. Depending on how other results fall, then the Giants clash in round 17 will go a long way to deciding the make-up of the eight before Essendon in round 18 who could be out of the race by that stage. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R14: St Kilda @ TIO Traeger Park
R15: Sydney @ Cazalys Stadium
R16: Fremantle @ Cazalys Stadium
R17: GWS @ the Gabba
R18: Essendon @ TBC
10. Carlton
24 points (six wins, six losses), 100 per cent
How's the prospect of taking on arch rival Collingwood in a game to keep the season alive? That's the tasty prospect facing Blues fans in round 14. Carlton squandered a chance to pile on some much-needed percentage against the Suns and David Teague's mob will need to keep chasing big wins against Sydney (R16) and Adelaide (R17) if they are to stand a chance of claiming a finals berth. - Michael Rogers
The run home
R14: Collingwood @ the Gabba
R15: Greater Western Sydney @ Metricon Stadium
R16: Sydney @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Adelaide @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Brisbane @ TBC
11. Greater Western Sydney
24 points (six wins, six losses), 96.8 per cent
Who would've predicted a round 14 clash with Fremantle would have such consequences on a place in the top eight? Given the Giants' lack of percentage, which took a mammoth hit in the round 12 loss to Sydney, the date with the Dockers will have major ramifications on their season. A win over Carlton is a must, while it will be a case of chasing percentage against the Crows. If they've taken care of the Dockers, then the final two rounds will be mini-elimination finals for Leon Cameron's men. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R14: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R15: Carlton @ Metricon Stadium
R16: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R17: Melbourne @ the Gabba
R18: St Kilda @ TBC
12. Essendon
22 points (five wins, six losses, one draw), 85.9 per cent
Essendon is a game outside of the top eight but it is hard to see how the Bombers can get back in there for a finals shot given their late-season run of games. This week's clash with Hawthorn in Adelaide will be tough on the back of their trip to Darwin last week, before they face three premiership contenders in a row. The finals winning drought looks set to extend another year. - Callum Twomey
The run home
R14: Hawthorn @ Adelaide Oval
R15: West Coast @ the Gabba
R16: Geelong @ the Gabba
R17: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Melbourne @ TBC
13. Fremantle
20 points (five wins, seven losses), 93.5 percent
Don't turn off the lights on Fremantle's season just yet. A third win in four matches gives the Dockers some hope, albeit probably fleeting. Justin Longmuir's side would likely need to run the table to give itself a chance of securing an unlikely finals berth – a task made all the more difficult with games against both of last year's Grand Finalists in its next two matches. Maybe – just maybe – its outlook could've looked different had it held on against Carlton in round 12. But don't expect a promising season to be defined by that Jack Newnes goal. - Riley Beveridge
The run home
R14: Greater Western Sydney @ Optus Stadium
R15: Richmond @ Metricon Stadium
R16: Melbourne @ Cazalys Stadium
R17: North Melbourne @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Western Bulldogs @ TBC
14. Gold Coast
18 points (four wins, eight losses, one draw), 94.1 per cent
The Suns are the roughest of rough chances to make the finals and they'll definitely be out of the running if they can't account for a struggling North Melbourne in round 14. Stuart Dew's men looked tired in their loss to Carlton in Darwin and a bye in round 15 can't come soon enough. They'll need to emerge rejuvenated if they are to stand any chance of knocking off the high-flying Lions in round 16 and keep their unlikely finals bid alive. - Michael Rogers
The run home
R14: North Melbourne @ Metricon Stadium
R15: BYE
R16: Brisbane @ the Gabba
R17: Collingwood @ the Gabba
R18: Hawthorn @ TBC
