1. Hawthorn
60 points (15 wins, two losses) 142.4 per cent
The Hawks continued on their winning ways against Essendon, which has kept a game between them and the Cats. They've got the finals-hungry Tigers next week and then the Saints, who may have lost a few important players this week to injury. But then they have three potential finalists to round out the season, which will give them a tough run into September.
The run home:
Rd 19: Richmond at the MCG
Rd 20: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 22: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium
2. Geelong
56 points (14 wins, three losses) 136.8 per cent
The Cats have jumped up into second with the Bombers' loss to the Hawks and their easy win over St Kilda. They made light work of the Saints on Saturday night at their Geelong fortress, which will host three more games for them before the season's end. Their run home is not without hurdles but three at home will help them challenge the Hawks for the minor premiership.
The run home:
Rd 19: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium
Rd 21: West Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 22: Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium
Rd 23: Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium
3. Sydney Swans
54 points (13 wins, three losses, one draw) 143.9 per cent
The 2012 premiers have kept Fremantle at bay for another week with their win over Richmond. Their run home, however, poses some challenges. The Western Bulldogs and St Kilda won't play finals so that breaks up their final five weeks but clashes with Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn will be tough – particularly the Cats at Simonds Stadium in round 22.
The run home:
Rd 19: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Collingwood at ANZ Stadium
Rd 21: St Kilda at the SCG
Rd 22: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Rd 23: Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium
4. Essendon
52 points (13 wins, four losses) 124.4 per cent
The Bombers' heavy loss to the Hawks on Friday night has been overshadowed by the supplements scandal and the resignation of chairman David Evans. They're entrenched in the eight but it's hard to know what will become of them in the coming month with the ASADA report due. They also have a very hard run home with five finals contenders to round out the season and an angry Collingwood next week.
The run home:
Rd 19: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 20: West Coast at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Carlton at the MCG
Rd 23: Richmond at the MCG
5. Fremantle
50 points (12 wins, four losses, one draw) 122.8 per cent
The Dockers just won't leave the Bombers alone. They're right behind them and knocking on the door of the top four. Their run home suggests that is a strong prospect with games against Greater Western Sydney and Melbourne to come in the next three weeks, and St Kilda to round out the season. But they won't have it all their own way with challenges against Carlton and Port Adelaide to come in rounds 19 and 22.
The run home:
Rd 19: Carlton at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium
Rd 21: Melbourne at the MCG
Rd 22: Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium
Rd 23: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
6. Richmond
44 points (11 wins, six losses) 113.3 per cent
The Tigers' win over Freo last weekend gave them some breathing space as they entered into a tough few weeks. Despite Sunday's loss to the Swans they look like playing finals for the first time since 2001 but they'll need to get points against one of Hawthorn, the Brisbane Lions or Carlton before facing the Giants in round 22. They round out their season against Essendon and it remains to be seen how much the Bombers will have to play for in the final round.
The run home:
Rd 19: Hawthorn at the MCG
Rd 20: Brisbane Lions at the MCG
Rd 21: Carlton at the MCG
Rd 22: Greater Western Sydney at Skoda Stadium
Rd 23: Essendon at the MCG
7. Collingwood
44 points (11 wins, six losses) 110.7 per cent
The Pies had the wobbles against the Giants early but straightened up in the final quarter to win the game and shake off last week's shock loss to Gold Coast. They picked up a little bit of percentage with the 40-point win but they would have pencilled in the past two games as hefty boosters ahead of their tough run home against five finals contenders. The top four looks unlikely with 10 points separating them and the Swans.
The run home:
Rd 19: Essendon at the MCG
Rd 20: Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium
Rd 21: Hawthorn at the MCG
Rd 22: West Coast at the MCG
Rd 23: North Melbourne at the MCG
8. Port Adelaide
40 points (10 wins, seven losses) 108.9 per cent
The Power did what they needed to against the Brisbane Lions to keep the Blues a game out of the eight. However, Port's remaining tasks are tougher on paper. A trip to the Cattery and to Perth to play Fremantle are unlikely wins, but the three remaining games are at home. A win in next Sunday's Showdown will be a giant step towards September.
The run home:
Rd 19: Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 20: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Rd 21: Gold Coast at AAMI Stadium
Rd 22: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium
Rd 23: Carlton at AAMI Stadium
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9. Carlton
36 points (nine wins, eight losses) 113 per cent
The Blues did what the Pies couldn't last week, which was beat Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. The win keeps them in touch with the Power and maintains pressure on Ken Hinkley's men given Carlton's superior percentage. Behind them, North Melbourne and West Coast keep lurking but the Eagles' loss to the Western Bulldogs may have taken the wind out of their sails. Assuming the Power slip up twice, the Blues need to win three of their next four games, making Saturday night's clash with Fremantle a must-win. Their final-round fixture against Port could determine who plays into September.
The run home:
Rd 19: Fremantle at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: Richmond at the MCG
Rd 22: Essendon at the MCG
Rd 23: Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
10. North Melbourne
28 points (seven wins, 10 losses) 122.8 per cent
The Kangaroos' win over Melbourne has seen them rise up the ladder given the losses to West Coast, Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions. But it's a rough ride home for the Roos. The Cats are coming off a 101-point win over the Saints and will be ripe to back that up, and then they've got to go to AAMI Stadium to play Adelaide. Essendon, Hawthorn and Collingwood are all challenging as the season wears down. Still, the results of this round have worked in the Roos' favour with the teams around them all losing.
The run home:
Rd 19: Geelong at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 21: Essendon at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Collingwood at the MCG
11. West Coast
28 points (seven wins, 10 losses) 102.7 per cent
All these sides on 28 points face an uphill battle to jag a finals spot and the Eagles made their life difficult by going down to the Dogs. They do host three of their final five matches but Geelong and Adelaide will provide a contest while Gold Coast isn't the easy beat it used to be. Their record at home this season hasn't been brilliant either, having lost seven out of nine matches there.
The run home:
Rd 19: Gold Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 20: Essendon at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: Geelong at Patersons Stadium
Rd 22: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 23: Adelaide at Patersons Stadium
12. Adelaide
28 points (seven wins, 10 losses) 100.9 per cent
The Crows' loss to Freo undid some of the good work their thrilling triumph over the Cats produced. With a percentage lower than two of the four other teams on 28 points, they'll pretty much need to win every game now. It's possible with three at AAMI Stadium and games against no sides in the current top seven but unlikely given they haven't found the consistency to string more than three consecutive wins together this year.
The run home:
Rd 19: Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 20: North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium
Rd 21: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Melbourne at AAMI Stadium
Rd 23: West Coast at Patersons Stadium
13. Brisbane Lions
28 points (seven wins, 10 losses) 82.6 per cent
If the Lions were long shots going into round 18, they've got a mountain to climb now. Out of all the teams on 28 points, their percentage is easily the lowest. While they have a decent draw with three games at the Gabba and St Kilda, Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs to come, it's hard to see them edging past the Cats on the eve of the finals at Simonds Stadium.
The run home:
Rd 19: St Kilda at the Gabba
Rd 20: Richmond at the MCG
Rd 21: Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba
Rd 22: Western Bulldogs at the Gabba
Rd 23: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
