1. Richmond

44 points (11 wins, three losses), 135.3 per cent
It looks good from here for the Tigers. Virtually unbeatable at the MCG, Richmond plays just three times away from its home base for the remainder of the season. Two of those games are against the lowly St Kilda (at Etihad Stadium) and Gold Coast (at Metricon Stadium). A road trip to Greater Western Sydney could be Richmond's toughest test in the final eight matches. Win that and there's a genuine chance they go unbeaten from now until September. Next on their list is the grand final rematch against the Crows on Friday night. - Riley Beveridge

The run home
R16: Adelaide @ MCG
R17: Greater Western Sydney @ Spotless Stadium
R18: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Collingwood @ MCG
R20: Geelong @ MCG
R21: Gold Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R22: Essendon @ MCG
R23: Western Bulldogs @ MCG

LADDER PREDICTOR Where will your club finish?

2. Collingwood

40 points (10 wins, four losses), 121.9 per cent
A massive five weeks coming up for the Pies that will show just how legitimate their premiership chances are. They play fellow top-four teams West Coast, Richmond and Sydney in that stretch and also hungry North Melbourne. However the most immediate concern is next week's blockbuster against the in-form Bombers. We've seen the Magpies best footy is definitely good enough to play finals, but just how far they can go will be revealed in the coming weeks. A month of matches at the MCG won't hurt. - Michael Whiting

The run home
R16: Essendon @ MCG
R17: West Coast @ MCG
R18: North Melbourne @ MCG
R19: Richmond @ MCG
R20: Sydney @ SCG
R21: Brisbane @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Port Adelaide @ MCG
R23: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium

THINGS WE LEARNED Pies need to lift their game

3. West Coast

40 points (10 wins, four losses), 121.0 per cent
After losing their past three games, the next fortnight doesn't get any easier for the Eagles. The Giants and the Magpies will both be stern opposition. Eagles coach Adam Simpson isn't sure if Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras or Tom Barrass will return to face the Giants, while Jack Darling is a few weeks away. - Lee Gaskin

The run home
R16: Greater Western Sydney @ Optus Stadium
R17: Collingwood @ MCG
R18: Western Bulldogs @ Optus Stadium
R19: North Melbourne @ Blundstone Arena
R20: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R21: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R22: Melbourne @ Optus Stadium
R23: Brisbane @ Gabba

Are the Eagles' top-four chances in jeopardy? Picture: AFL Photos

4. Sydney

40 points (10 wins, four losses), 120.8 per cent
Defeat on Thursday night leaves Sydney's place in the top four wide open for its rivals. A tough final few weeks lie ahead for the Swans, who will take on six genuine finals contenders in their last eight matches. They'll meet the Cats, the Pies and the Hawks at the SCG, but it's interstate trips to face the Kangaroos and the Demons that could decide whether they earn the double chance. An imposing clash with the Giants at Spotless Stadium will also ensure a difficult little period before September. - Riley Beveridge

The run home
R16: Geelong @ SCG
R17: North Melbourne @ Etihad Stadium
R18: Gold Coast @ SCG
R19: Essendon @ Etihad Stadium
R20: Collingwood @ SCG
R21: Melbourne @ MCG
R22: Greater Western Sydney @ Spotless Stadium
R23: Hawthorn @ SCG 

FROM THE TWOS Who put their hand up in the second tier?

5. Port Adelaide

40 points (10 wins, four losses), 115.0 per cent
The Power's win over Carlton had them momentarily inside the top four before Collingwood defeated Gold Coast hours later. But, they still have a good chance to prove their credentials for a finals double chance with their next five games against bottom-eight teams going into round 15. Despite two tough asks late in the season – West Coast and Collingwood in rounds 21 and 22 – they finish off the home-and-away fixture with three of their last four games at home, where they've won six of seven games this year. - Jennifer Phelan

The run home
R16: St Kilda @ Adelaide Oval
R17: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R18: Greater Western Sydney @ Adelaide Oval
R19: Western Bulldogs @ Mars Stadium, Ballarat
R20: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R21: West Coast @ Adelaide Oval
R22: Collingwood @ MCG
R23: Essendon @ Adelaide Oval

FANTASY FORM WATCH Dumbest call of the year? 

6. Greater Western Sydney

34 points (eight wins, five losses, one draw), 113.7 per cent

The win over the Hawks was massive for the Giants' season and catapulted them into the top eight for the first time since round seven. Their immediate schedule is still a tough one, but with four wins in a row they'll head to Perth confident of making it five, especially with their elite midfield looking ominous. Things looked grim a month ago but if they can get some points out of the next three, anything could happen. - Adam Curley

The run home
R16: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R17: Richmond @ Spotless Stadium
R18: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R19: St Kilda @ Spotless Stadium
R20: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium
R21: Adelaide @ UNSW Canberra Oval
R22: Sydney @ Spotless Stadium
R23: Melbourne @ MCG

How far can the Giants go in 2018? Picture: AFL Photos

7. Melbourne

32 points (eight wins, six losses), 124.4 per cent
A shock loss to St Kilda will make the Demons' run home even harder reading for Simon Goodwin. A trip to play Fremantle at the neutral TIO Stadium, rather than the MCG, has come at a bad time and the Western Bulldogs look set to cause a ruckus in the final eight games. Round 18 against Geelong looms as an eight-point match before crucial interstate clashes against Adelaide and West Coast. And if last year wasn't hard enough to swallow, the Demons' season looks set to come down the final game again. - Mitch Cleary

The run home
R16: Fremantle @ TIO Stadium, Darwin
R17: Western Bulldogs @ MCG
R18: Geelong @ GMHBA Stadium
R19: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R20: Gold Coast @ MCG
R21: Sydney @ MCG
R22: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R23: Greater Western Sydney @ MCG 

8. Geelong 

32 points (eight wins, six losses), 123.2 per cent
The Cats' shock loss to the lowly Western Bulldogs – to chalk up yet another defeat after a mid-season bye – has caused enormous damage to their hopes of making the top four and perhaps even the top eight. They face season-defining clashes with Sydney (next round at the SCG for the first time in four years), Melbourne, reigning premier Richmond and Hawthorn. Back-to-back trips to Sydney and Adelaide on Thursday nights before a home clash with Melbourne loom as a crucial three-week block. – Ben Collins

The run home
R16: Sydney @ SCG
R17: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Melbourne @ GMHBA Stadium
R19: Brisbane @ GMHBA Stadium
R20: Richmond @ MCG
R21: Hawthorn @ MCG
R22: Fremantle @ GMHBA Stadium
R23: Gold Coast @ GMHBA Stadium 

9. North Melbourne

32 points (eight wins, six losses), 113.4 per cent
Given the results on the weekend, this was a missed opportunity for the Kangas, as it was for a few teams around them. Gold Coast at home next week represents a chance to get back on the winner's list and add some percentage, but they'll be a lot more confident about playing finals if they can beat one or more of Sydney, Collingwood and West Coast to follow. - Ashley Browne

The run home
R16: Gold Coast @ Etihad Stadium
R17: Sydney @ Etihad Stadium
R18: Collingwood @ MCG
R19: West Coast @ Blundstone Arena
R20: Brisbane @ Gabba
R21: Western Bulldogs @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R23: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium

10. Hawthorn

32 points (eight wins, six losses), 113.2 per cent

A tight loss to the Giants cost the Hawks a top eight berth, and they now face the in-form Bulldogs, who have played some of their best footy over the past fortnight. They should get Jack Gunston back from a calf issue, which will add star power at either end of the ground, and if they can topple the Dogs, three more wins should follow after that. It was a missed opportunity against GWS but not a season-killer by any means. - Adam Curley

The run home
R16: Western Bulldogs @ Etihad Stadium
R17: Brisbane @ University of Tasmania Stadium
R18: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R20: Essendon @ MCG
R21: Geelong @ MCG
R22: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R23: Sydney @ SCG 

11. Adelaide

28 points (seven wins, seven losses), 101.2 per cent

The Crows have breathed life into their season following their gutsy come-from-behind 10-point win against West Coast on Saturday. They will hope to carry that momentum into Friday night's massive encounter with reigning premier Richmond at the MCG. Forward Tom Lynch should be available to return from concussion, while midfielder David Mackay (ribs) is in doubt. The Crows also face Geelong, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne in a challenging run home. - Lee Gaskin

The run home
R16: Richmond @ MCG
R17: Geelong @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Brisbane @ Gabba
R19: Melbourne @ Adelaide Oval
R20: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R21: Greater Western Sydney @ UNSW Canberra Oval
R22: North Melbourne @ Adelaide Oval
R23: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium 

Can the Crows force their way into the eight? Picture: AFL Photos

12. Essendon

28 points (seven wins, seven losses), 95.2 per cent
The Bombers are back in the finals race, thanks to a win and some fortunate other results on the weekend. But they need to keep winning, starting with the biggest non-Anzac Day clash against Collingwood in some time. Bring that same slick ball movement and scoring power to the MCG next week and they have every chance of winning. There are big games to come after that but for Essendon, it really is all about the Pies next Sunday. - Ashley Browne

The run home
R16: Collingwood @ MCG
R17: Gold Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Fremantle @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Sydney @ Etihad Stadium
R20: Hawthorn @ MCG
R21: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Richmond @ MCG
R23: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval 

13. Fremantle

24 points (six wins, eight losses), 85.3 per cent
The finals were already a slim possibility at best for the Dockers, but Sunday's loss to Brisbane means they can only afford to drop one or two of their remaining matches. They will also be without their superstar captain Nat Fyfe, and possibly ruckman Aaron Sandilands in the short-term. Carlton in round 22 shapes as the last match in which they will go in favourites, but their season could already be over by then, with tough clashes against Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Essendon and Hawthorn looming in the next month. Two losses in that run and finals can be ruled out. - Nathan Schmook 

The run home
R16: Melbourne @ TIO Stadium, Darwin
R17: Port Adelaide @ Optus Stadium
R18: Essendon @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Hawthorn @ Optus Stadium
R20: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R21: Carlton @ Optus Stadium
R22: Geelong @ GMHBA Stadium
R23: Collingwood @ Optus Stadium 

14. Western Bulldogs

20 points (five wins, nine losses), 76.7 per cent
The Dogs mathematically kept their slimmest of finals hopes alive by knocking off Geelong, albeit after Cat Harry Taylor missed a shot after the siren. Luke Beveridge’s men also have a paltry percentage so they don't want many more close margins. Who are we kidding? Have a look at their next month of opponents. – Ben Collins

The run home
R16: Hawthorn @ Etihad Stadium
R17: Melbourne @ MCG
R18: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R19: Port Adelaide @ Mars Stadium, Ballarat
R20: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R21: North Melbourne @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium
R23: Richmond @ MCG