THERE are just six rounds to go in a riveting Smithy’s VFL season, and the action is heating up with 13 teams still fighting for top eight spots.

While Casey Demons and Southport have cleared out at the top of the ladder and appear certain to secure top four positions, there are just three wins separating Brisbane Lions in third and Geelong in 14^th, and it looks like it will take at least an 11-7 record to taste finals football.

Some teams still have six matches to play and others have as few as four, meaning the fight for finals spots is taking on a different look for everybody.

So who is likely to fill the six available spots at the business end of the season?

1^st, 14-0, 168.00%

STREAK: Won 14

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def Geelong (11pts, GMHBA); def Port Melbourne (58, Casey Fields); def Gold Coast (76, Austworld); bye; def Collingwood (52, Casey Fields)

TO COME: bye; Footscray (Whitten); Northern Bullants (Casey); bye; Carlton (Casey); Brisbane Lions (TBC)

SUMMARY: Undefeated and mostly unchallenged, the Demons only need two more wins to guarantee the minor premiership. Not the easiest run home, with the final round clash against the Lions shaping up to be a blockbuster not to be missed.

PREDICTION: 17-1 (1^st)

2^nd, 11-2, 149.20%

STREAK: Won 7; Won 10/11

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def Box Hill (15, Box Hill); bye; def Frankston (80, Fankhauser); def Northern Bullants (68, Genis); def Sandringham (44, Fankhauser)

TO COME: Sydney (Fankhauser); Essendon (Fankhauser); Collingwood (Vic Park); bye; Gold Coast (Metricon); Coburg (TBC)

SUMMARY: On a seven-match winning streak, the Sharks have a couple of big challenges to come, starting with the in-form Swans on Friday night. The trip to Victoria Park and the Coast Clash should also be must-watch footy.

PREDICTION: 16-2 (2^nd)

3^rd, 9-3, 140.16%

STREAK: Won 4; Won 8/9

LAST FIVE WEEKS: bye; def Footscray (25, Moreton Bay); def Collingwood (25, AIA); bye; def Frankston (6, Skybus)

TO COME: GWS (Blacktown); Gold Coast (Moreton Bay); Richmond (Swinburne); Werribee (Moreton Bay); Sandringham (Barker); Casey (TBC)

SUMMARY: Huge game on Saturday against the Giants can put the Lions in the box seat for a top four finish, although there are no easy games to come, with all opponents still fighting for spots in the finals or even the double chance.

PREDICTION: 14-4 (3^rd)

4^th, 8-4-1, 115.21%

STREAK: Won 2; Won 3/4

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def Williamstown (18, Williamstown); def Box Hill (31, Giants); bye; lost to Gold Coast (56, Metricon); def North Melbourne (40, Blacktown)

TO COME: Brisbane Lions (Blacktown); Carlton (Ikon); Sydney (SCG); Essendon (Giants); bye; Footscray (TBC)

SUMMARY: Just one more trip out of Sydney gives the Giants the ideal chance to lock down a top-four spot, with the next three weeks being vital to them achieving that goal. Get through those and they will be favourites in the last two.

PREDICTION: 11-6-1 (6^th)

5^th, 8-4, 126.28%

STREAK: Won 3; Won 6/7

LAST FIVE WEEKS: bye; def Essendon (59, Windy Hill); def Sandringham (21, Lakeside); def Williamstown (111, Blacktown); bye

TO COME: Southport (Fankhauser); Frankston (Lakeside); GWS (SCG); North Melbourne (Aegis); Collingwood (SCG); Box Hill (TBC)

SUMMARY: The Swans have had their last bye so have a full run of six games into the finals. With a near full list to pick from, they should be confident of a strong finish. Friday night is a huge challenge, while Round 22 could decide their top-four fate.

PREDICTION: 12-6 (5^th)

6^th, 8-5, 122.42%

STREAK: Won 2; Won 6/7

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def Coburg (62, Avalon); def North Melbourne (47, Avalon); lost to Port Melbourne (3, ETU); def Geelong (63, Avalon); def Richmond (37, Swinburne)

TO COME: Box Hill Hawks (Box Hill); bye; Footscray (Avalon); Brisbane Lions (Moreton Bay); Essendon (Windy Hill); Northern Bullants (TBC)

SUMMARY: Back in form after a slow start, this week presents a huge opportunity to steal a march for a top four spot. The Lions in Round 20 looms as a massive test of the Tigers’ premiership credentials.

PREDICTION: 12-6 (4^th)

7^th, 8-5, 121.73%

STREAK: Lost 1; Won 2/3

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to Port Melbourne (3, ETU); bye; def Coburg (4, Ikon); def Footscray (19, Ikon); lost to Essendon (9, Windy Hill)

TO COME: Geelong (Ikon); GWS (Ikon); Williamstown (Williamstown); bye; Casey (Casey Fields); Collingwood (TBC)

SUMMARY: The Blues’ top-four chances took a hit last week, but they will start favourites in their next three games before a huge test against the Demons on the road. Imagine this – Carlton v Collingwood in the last round with a top-four or top-eight spot on the line.

PREDICTION: 11-7 (7^th)

8^th, 8-5, 112.63%

STREAK: Won 2

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def North Melbourne (18, AIA); def Richmond (4, Swinburne); lost to Brisbane Lions (25, AIA); bye; lost to Casey (52, Casey Fields)

TO COME: Port Melbourne (ETU); bye; Southport (Vic Park); Williamstown (AIA); Sydney (SCG); Carlton (TBC)

SUMMARY: Needs to beat in-form Port Melbourne this week potentially to stay in the box seat for a finals position given tough matches to come against the Sharks, Swans and Blues. As mentioned above, the clash with Carlton could become an elimination final a week early.

PREDICTION: 11-7 (9^th)

9^th, 7-6, 114.36%

STREAK: Lost 3

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to Southport (15, Box Hill); lost to GWS (31, Giants); lost to Footscray (48, Whitten); bye; def Port Melbourne (6, Box Hill)

TO COME: Werribee (Box Hill); Northern Bullants (Genis); bye; Frankston (Skybus); Geelong (Box Hill); Sydney (TBC)

SUMMARY: The Hawks are in a slump they will need to break very quickly as the season is in danger of slipping away. They haven’t beaten the Tigers in five attempts, making this week vital, while that last-round game against the Swans could be for a finals berth.

PREDICTION: 11-7 (8^th)

10^th, 7-6, 106.08%

STREAK: Lost 1; Won 2/3

LAST FIVE WEEKS: bye; lost to Collingwood (4, Swinburne); def Geelong (14, GMHBA); def Coburg (52, Piranha); lost to Werribee (37, Swinburne)

TO COME: North Melbourne (Aegis); Williamstown (Swinburne); Brisbane Lions (Swinburne); Northern Bullants (Genis); bye; Frankston (TBC)

SUMMARY: Will start strong favourites to win four of their last five games and will be hoping to build their percentage in the next two weeks – although it would be unwise to underestimate what any of those four teams could do. Win the Lions match and they should make the finals.

PREDICTION: 11-7 (10^th)

11^th, 7-6, 97.73%

STREAK: Won 1; Lost 2/3

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def Frankston (4, Metricon); lost to Coburg (24, Piranha); lost to Casey (76, Austworld); def GWS (56, Metricon); bye

TO COME: Essendon (Windy Hill); Brisbane Lions (Moreton Bay); Port Melbourne (Metricon); bye; Southport (Metricon); North Melbourne (TBC)

SUMMARY: Not much room to move for the Suns given important games lost to Williamstown and Coburg in Melbourne. Those defeats look like they’ll be fatal unless they can upset the Lions and Sharks. It could be all over by Sunday afternoon.

PREDICTION: 9-9 (11^th)

12^th, 6-6-1, 92.39%

STREAK: Lost 4

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to Footscray (54, Trevor Barker); bye; lost to Sydney (21, Lakeside); lost to Essendon (14, Trevor Barker); lost to Southport (44, Fankhauser)

TO COME: Coburg (Piranha); Port Melbourne (Barker); bye; Geelong (GMHBA); Brisbane Lions (Barker); Williamstown (TBC)

SUMMARY: The Zebras have had a habit of falling away in the second half of seasons recently and it is threatening to happen again. Now need to win their last five games to make the finals, which looks a big ask.

PREDICTION: 7-10-1 (13^th)

13^th, 6-8, 98.40%

STREAK: Won 1; Won 2/3

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def Sandringham (54, Trevor Barker); lost to Brisbane Lions (25, Moreton Bay); def Box Hill (48, Whitten); lost to Carlton (19, Ikon); bye

TO COME: bye; Casey (Whitten); Werribee (Avalon); Coburg (Whitten); bye; GWS (TBC)

SUMMARY: With two byes still to come the Bulldogs are too far back to launch an assault on the top eight, but they can have a big say on who does with games against Werribee and GWS on the agenda.

PREDICTION: 7-11 (14^th)

14^th, 6-7, 89.76%

STREAK: Lost 5

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to Casey (11, GMHBA); lost to Frankston (56, Skybus); lost to Richmond (14, GMHBA); lost to Werribee (63, Avalon); bye

TO COME: Carlton (Ikon); bye; Coburg (GMHBA); Sandringham (GMHBA); Box Hill (Box Hill); Port Melbourne (TBC)

SUMMARY: Five losses in a row as injuries hit hard, but there were signs of life against the Demons last week. Must win all five to stand a chance, so this week’s game against the Blues is do-or-die.

PREDICTION: 9-9 (12^th)

15^th, 5-8, 94.58%

STREAK: Lost 1; Lost 5/6

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to Gold Coast (4, Metricon); def Geelong (56, Skybus); lost to Southport (80, Fankhauser); bye; lost to Brisbane Lions (6, Skybus)

TO COME: Northern Bullants (Skybus); Sydney (Lakeside); bye; Box Hill (Skybus); Port Melbourne (ETU); Richmond (TBC)

SUMMARY: The Dolphins still have plenty to play for and could really shape the top eight with games against the Swans, Hawks and Tigers to come. The clash with Port Melbourne also looms as a must-see clash as the Borough look for revenge for a 2021 thrashing.

PREDICTION: 7-11 (15^th)

16^th, 5-8, 85.49%

STREAK: Won 1; Won 2/3

LAST FIVE WEEKS: def Carlton (3, ETU); lost to Casey (58, Casey Fields); def Werribee (3, ETU); bye; lost to Box Hill (6, Box Hill)

TO COME: Collingwood (ETU); Sandringham (Barker); Gold Coast (Metricon); bye; Frankston (ETU); Geelong (TBC)

SUMMARY: In great form and can land a crippling blow to Collingwood’s finals hopes on Sunday, while they will eye the Dolphins’ game as a chance to show how far they’ve come since last year.

PREDICTION: 5-13 (17^th)

17^th, 4-9, 78.76%

STREAK: Lost 1; Won 4/5

LAST FIVE WEEKS: bye; lost to Sydney (59, Windy Hill); def Williamstown (38, Williamstown); def Sandringham (14, Trevor Barker); def Carlton (9, Windy Hill)

TO COME: Gold Coast (Windy Hill); Southport (Fankhauser); North Melbourne (Windy Hill); GWS (Giants); Werribee (Windy Hill); bye

SUMMARY: The improving Bombers will see a couple of chances to shape the top eight, starting with a Suns team that has shown vulnerability in Melbourne. Wins over the Giants and Tigers might not be beyond them either.

PREDICTION: 6-12 (16^th)

18^th, 3-10, 68.16%

STREAK: Lost 1; Lost 3/4

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to Werribee (62, Avalon); def Gold Coast (24, Piranha); lost to Carlton (4, Ikon); lost to Richmond (52, Piranha); bye

TO COME: Sandringham (Piranha); bye; Geelong (GMHBA); Footscray (Whitten); North Melbourne (Piranha); Southport (TBC)

SUMMARY: Inconsistency has plagued the Lions this year with some great wins mixed in with some big defeats. Should be aiming to win their last two home games and if they can pinch one on the road it will be a confidence boost for next year.

PREDICTION: 5-13 (18^th)

19^th, 3-10, 64.18%

STREAK: Lost 2; Lost 9/10

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to Collingwood (18, AIA); lost to Werribee (47, Avalon); def Northern Bullants (42, Aegis); bye; lost to GWS (40, Blacktown)

TO COME: Richmond (Aegis); bye; Essendon (Windy Hill); Sydney (Aegis); Coburg (Piranha); Gold Coast (Aegis)

SUMMARY: Leigh Adams’ promotion to the AFL job gives Tom Lynch a chance to put together his own audition for next season. They will see most of these games as winnable, with the opportunity first up to cripple Richmond’s season. They also won at Windy Hill last year.

PREDICTION: 3-15 (20^th)

20^th, 2-12, 68.32%

STREAK: Lost 1; Lost 7/8

LAST FIVE WEEKS: lost to GWS (18, Williamstown); def Northern Bullants (25, Genis); lost to Essendon (38, Williamstown); lost to Sydney (111, Blacktown); bye

TO COME: bye; Richmond (Swinburne); Carlton (Williamstown); Collingwood (AIA); bye; Sandringham (TBC)

SUMMARY: The one team outside the finals race who will have the biggest say in who does make it, with all four games against finals contenders. They will think all are winnable.

PREDICTION: 3-15 (19^th)

21^st, 1-12, 65.22%

STREAK: Lost 9; Lost 12/13

LAST FIVE WEEKS: bye; lost to Williamstown (25, Genis); lost to North Melbourne (42, Aegis); lost to Southport (68, Genis); bye

TO COME: Frankston (Skybus); Box Hill (Genis); Casey (Casey Fields); Richmond (Genis); bye; Werribee (TBC)

SUMMARY: A tough finish to the season for the Bullants and it is unlikely they will match last season’s three wins. But that won’t mean they haven’t made steps forward. Could they repeat last year’s win over Richmond or sink Box Hill’s finals hopes?

PREDICTION: 1-17 (21^st)

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

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