1. HAWTHORN68 points (17 wins, three losses) 138.5 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium
If the Hawks win next week:
- They are certain of a top-two finish and a home qualifying final.
- They can only fall from top spot if they lose in round 23 and Geelong wins both games by a large enough margin to overtake them on percentage.
If they lose next week:
- They're safe in the top four, regardless of other results.
- They can still finish on top by beating the Swans in round 23 and hoping the Cats don't win both games and overtake them on percentage.
- But they could also finish as low as fourth if they lose to the Swans, the Swans beat Geelong, the Cats beat the Lions by enough to overtake them on percentage, and Fremantle wins both of its games.
Predicted finish: first
Predicted finals match-up: Hawthorn v Sydney Swans, first qualifying final, MCG
2. GEELONG
64 points (16 wins, four losses) 136.4 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium
Rd 23: Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium
If the Cats win next week: - They will still need to beat the Brisbane Lions in round 23 to be assured of finishing above Fremantle and locking in a home qualifying final.
- They could finish on top if they win in round 23 and Hawthorn loses both games, or loses one game and falls behind on percentage.
- They are still likely to drop out of the top two if they lose in round 23.
If they lose next week:
- They are safe in the top four but cannot finish on top if Hawthorn beats North Melbourne.
- They can still finish second if they beat the Lions in round 23, the Swans lose to Hawthorn and the Dockers drop a game against either Port Adelaide or St Kilda.
Predicted finish: second
Predicted finals match-up: Geelong v Fremantle, second qualifying final, Etihad Stadium
3. SYDNEY SWANS
62 points (15 wins, four losses, one draw) 140.7 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Rd 23: Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium
If the Swans win next week:
- They have a chance of finishing on top if they beat Hawthorn in round 23 and stay ahead of Fremantle on percentage.
- They could still finish as low as fourth with a loss to the Hawks.
If they lose next week:
- They cannot make the top two, even with all other results going their way.
- They are safe in the top four and could finish third if they beat Hawthorn, and Fremantle drops a game.
Predicted finish: fourth
Predicted finals match-up: Hawthorn v Sydney Swans, first qualifying final, MCG
4. FREMANTLE 62 points (15 wins, four losses, one draw) 138.2 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium
Rd 23: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
If the Dockers win next week:
- They'll finish in the top two if they win in round 23 and other results go their way.
- They're still likely to miss the top two if they lose in round 23, unless other results go their way and they finish ahead of the Swans on percentage.
If they lose next week:
- They're safe in the top four even if they lose in round 23 as well.
- Their only chance to make the top two and get a home qualifying final would be if they thrash St Kilda in round 23, Geelong loses its remaining two games, and then Hawthorn thrashes the Swans, moving them ahead of the Swans on percentage.
Predicted finish: third
Predicted finals match-up: Geelong v Fremantle, second qualifying final, Etihad Stadium.
5. RICHMOND 52 points (13 wins, seven losses) 114.6 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: Greater Western Sydney at Skoda Stadium
Rd 23: Essendon at the MCG
If the Tigers win next week:
- They'll stay in the top six, but would need to win the following week to guarantee staying there.
- Their highest possible finish is fifth.
If they lose next week:
- They can finish anywhere from fifth to eighth.
Predicted finish: fifth
Predicted finals match-up: Richmond v Essendon, first elimination final at the MCG.
6. COLLINGWOOD
52 points (13 wins and seven losses) 113.4 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: West Coast at the MCG
Rd 23: North Melbourne at the MCG
If the Magpies win next week:
- They will lock in an elimination final in Melbourne
- They can still finish as high as fifth, earning a 'home' elimination final
If they lose next week:
- They can mathematically finish as low as eighth
- They can still finish as high as fifth, but would need Richmond to lose at least one of its final two matches
Predicted finish: sixth
Predicted final match-up: Collingwood v Port Adelaide, second elimination final, MCG
7. ESSENDON 52 points (13 wins, seven losses) 109.8 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: Carlton at the MCG
Rd 23: Richmond at the MCG
If the Bombers win next week:
- They can't finish lower than seventh and will lock in an elimination final in Melbourne, assuming they retain their premiership points
- They can still finish as high as fifth, but will be relying on Richmond and Collingwood to each lose one of their final two games
If they lose next week:
- They can finish as low as eighth
- They can still finish fifth, but would need Richmond to suffer a shock upset against GWS on Sunday
- They can still finish sixth, but would need Collingwood to lose to West Coast at the MCG on Friday night
Predicted finish: eighth
Predicted final match-up: Richmond v Essendon, first elimination final, MCG
8. PORT ADELAIDE
48 points (12 wins, eight losses) 107.0 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium
Rd 23: Carlton at AAMI Stadium
If the Power win next week:
- They will secure their first finals appearance since 2007
- They can still finish sixth and earn a home elimination final, but will be relying on Collingwood to lose its final two matches
If they lose next week:
- They will still be guaranteed a finals berth if Carlton loses to Essendon in round 22
- They will face a play-off for eighth spot against Carlton in round 23, assuming the Blues beat the Bombers on Saturday night
- They can finish ninth but still play finals if Essendon is stripped of premiership points
Predicted finish: seventh
Predicted final match-up: Collingwood v Port Adelaide, second elimination final, MCG
-------------------------------------------------
9. CARLTON
40 points (10 wins, 10 losses) 107.6 per cent
The run home:
Rd 22: Essendon at the MCG
Rd 23: Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
If the Blues win next week:
- They can set up a play-off for eighth spot against Port Adelaide in round 23, assuming the Power lose to Fremantle on Saturday night
- They can finish as high as seventh if Port Adelaide loses its final two matches and Essendon is stripped of premiership points
If they lose next week:
- They can only play finals if the Bombers are stripped of premiership points
- They can fall to 10th if North Melbourne beats Hawthorn on Saturday at Etihad Stadium
Predicted finish: ninth