Rd 19: Essendon at the SCG
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52 points (13 wins, four losses) 138 per cent

The Hawks' win over the Swans and Fremantle's loss to St Kilda has strengthened their hopes of a top-two finish. Hawthorn should comfortably account for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne over the next two weeks, but its bid for a home qualifying final will likely be decided by the following clashes with Freo and Geelong. Collingwood has been the Hawks' whipping boy in recent times and should present few problems in round 23.

Rd 19: Western Bulldogs at Aurora Stadium
Rd 20: Melbourne at the MCG
Rd 21: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium
Rd 22: Geelong at the MCG
Rd 23: Collingwood at the MCG

52 points (13 wins, four losses) 112.1 per cent

The Cats' relatively low percentage effectively puts them a game behind the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn in the top-two race. Geelong has a tough run over the next month with games against North Melbourne, Fremantle, Carlton and Hawthorn, but should be too strong at home for the Brisbane Lions in round 23. Now in the box seat for a top-four finish given Port's poor recent form.
Rd 19: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Fremantle at Simonds Stadium
Rd 21: Carlton at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Hawthorn at the MCG
Rd 23: Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium

4. Fremantle
48 points (12 wins, five losses) 133.2 per cent

The Dockers' shock loss to St Kilda was a massive blow to their hopes of a top-two finish, putting them a game behind the Swans, Hawks and Cats. Freo is likely to rebound strongly against Carlton at home this Thursday night and should be too strong for the Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide in the final two rounds of the season. The Dockers' clashes with Geelong (away) and Hawthorn (home) in rounds 20 and 21 should shape their season. Rd 19: Carlton at Patersons Stadium
Rd 20: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Rd 21: Hawthorn at Patersons Stadium
Rd 22: Brisbane Lions at the Gabba
Rd 23: Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium

48 points (12 wins, five losses) 132.4 per cent

The Power's three-point home victory against Melbourne kept their top four hopes alive, sitting just percentage behind Fremantle outside the four. But the Power can't look too far ahead, with tough away games against top eight hopefuls Collingwood and Gold Coast, as well as a home clash with ladder leaders Sydney, a Friday night blockbuster against Carlton and an away trip to Fremantle to round out the season. The Power's fate is well and truly in its own hands.Rd 19: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 20: Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval
Rd 21: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
Rd 22: Carlton at Adelaide Oval
Rd 23: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium

40 points (10 wins, seven losses) 112.5 per cent

The Roos kissed any hopes of a top-four finish goodbye with their loss to Carlton, but they should still be able to lock up a finals berth given their relatively easy draw. Their biggest remaining tests appear to be against Geelong and Adelaide, but the Roos' struggles against lower ranked teams this year means their clashes with Greater Western Sydney, the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne are far from foregone conclusions.Rd 19: Geelong at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Greater Western Sydney at Startrack Oval
Rd 21: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Adelaide at Blundstone Arena
Rd 23: Melbourne at Etihad Stadium

40 points (10 wins, seven losses) 109.8 per cent

The Bombers have won four of their past five matches and are now odds on to make the finals. Essendon only meets one other current top-eight team in the run home – the Sydney Swans this Friday night at the SCG – and should be too strong in consecutive home games against West Coast and Gold Coast. But traditional rivals Richmond and Carlton could be tougher to get over.Rd 19: Sydney Swans at the SCG
Rd 20: Richmond at the MCG
Rd 21: West Coast at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Carlton at the MCG

9. Collingwood
36 points (nine wins, eight losses) 105 per cent

Collingwood slipped out of the eight for the first time since round five with its loss to Adelaide, having now lost five of its past six games. But Nathan Buckley's men can still right the Pies' ship, with their next four matches highly winnable – an out-of-form Port Adelaide, West Coast, Brisbane Lions and GWS. The Pies would hope to have booked their finals berth by the end of that stretch because they face bogey team Hawthorn in round 23.
Rd 19: Port Adelaide at the MCG
Rd 20: West Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 21: Brisbane Lions at the MCG
Rd 22: Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium
Rd 23: Hawthorn at the MCG
36 points (nine wins, eight losses) 96.1 per cent

Gold Coast's season is spiralling out of control even quicker than Collingwood's, with the Suns' dismal loss to the Brisbane Lions their sixth in the past eight rounds. Their poor percentage also effectively puts them two games out of the eight and means the Suns might need to win four of their remaining five games to reach the finals. Three home games – against St Kilda, Port Adelaide and West Coast – helps their cause, but Carlton at Etihad Stadium will be a tricky assignment and Essendon at the same venue even tougher.

The run home:
Rd 19: St Kilda at Metricon Stadium
Rd 20: Carlton at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium
Rd 22: Essendon at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: West Coast at Metricon Stadium

28 points (seven wins, 10 losses) 106.6 per cent

The Eagles' loss to Richmond put them three games out of the eight and all but ended their finals hopes. West Coast would now need to win all five of its remaining games and hope that other results fall its way. We expect the Eagles' fate will be sealed over the next three weeks, when they face tough away games against Adelaide and Essendon and a home game against Collingwood.

Rd 19: Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Rd 20: Collingwood at Patersons Stadium
Rd 21: Essendon at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Melbourne at Patersons Stadium
Rd 23: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium

Who's going to make it? Check out the 2014 ladder predictor

12. Richmond
28 points (seven wins, 10 losses) 101.3 per cent

The Tigers have given their season a late air of respectability with four straight wins but, like the Eagles, they could win all five of their remaining games and still not make the finals. And given Richmond meets Essendon and has away clashes with Adelaide and the Sydney Swans to come, Damien Hardwick's men can start making their September holiday plans now.

Rd 19: Greater Western Sydney at the MCG
Rd 20: Essendon at the MCG
Rd 21: Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Rd 22: St Kilda at the MCG
Rd 23: Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium