We dissect the 10 AFL teams capable of reaching the AFL Finals and tell you what YOUR team needs to do in Round 23 to maximise its chances in September.
Sydney Swans
A win against Richmond on Saturday guarantees top spot on the ladder and a home qualifying final. If the Swans lose to the Tigers, Hawthorn could then leapfrog them into top spot on percentage with a 80-point swing.
Hawthorn and Geelong
Will play each other during the first week of finals if both win. If Geelong lose to Brisbane, combined with a Fremantle win, then the Cats would drop to fourth. A Hawthorn win coupled with a Sydney loss could see the Hawks climb to the AFL summit.
Fremantle and Port Adelaide
In what is the match of the round, Fremantle and Port Adelaide face off at Patersons Stadium in a game most likely to decide who finishes fourth and gets a double chance in September. Fremantle could potentially jump up to third with a win, but cannot drop lower than fifth. A Port Adelaide win will see Ken Hinkley’s side jump the Dockers into fourth.
North Melbourne
More or less locked into sixth place. Would have to annihilate Melbourne by something absolutely ridiculous to jump Port Adelaide into fifth, providing they lose to the Dockers.
Essendon
Guaranteed to play finals, Essendon will stay in seventh with a win, but could drop to eighth with a loss.
Richmond
If the Tigers can overcome the top-of-the-table Swans, finals football is locked in. If Essendon lose to Carlton and the Tigers do the unthinkable and defeat the high-flying Sydney side, then they will leapfrog the Bombers into seventh. If they lose, the only way to stay in the eight is if Adelaide, Collingwood and West Coast all lose.
Collingwood
The best the Magpies can hope for is eighth, but they would have to beat a rampant Hawthorn outfit, as well as hoping Richmond lose. Tough.
West Coast Eagles
The Eagles will climb to eighth with a win over the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday, as long as both Collingwood and Richmond lose. Adelaide could climb over them if they defeat St Kilda by a large margin.
Adelaide Crows
Adelaide can jump into eighth with a win over the Saints on Sunday, but need Collingwood, Richmond and West Coast to lose. Would also require an 80-point over the Eagles.
Gold Coast Suns
Unfortunately for Gold Coast fans, they can forget about September.
The Suns need to defeat West Coast by over 120 points on Sunday, and have Collingwood, Richmond and Adelaide lose. Not happening.
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