THE RACE for the finals is heating up with just six rounds of the home and away season remaining.
There's only two wins separating eighth-placed Melbourne and 16th-placed Hawthorn, while Collingwood looks very vulnerable in seventh spot.
THINGS WE LEARNED Want to stop Port? Just stop Charlie
The hunt for the top four and the all-important double chance looks set to go down to the wire with six teams duking it out.
Who is still in the mix? Check out your club's finish to the season below.
BARRETT Time for 'Truck' to take charge as Dons crash out
North Melbourne and Adelaide have not been considered
1. Port Adelaide
36 points (nine wins, three losses), 127.5 per cent
Despite the heavy loss to Geelong last Friday night, the Power are still in pole position to not only finish in the top four and get a double chance, but to win the minor premiership. They will start strong favourites against the Hawks and Swans at home in the next fortnight, and if they take care of business there, wins against the Kangaroos and Bombers should follow. The final round against Collingwood is problematic and any slip up along the way could cost them top spot. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R13: Hawthorn @ Adelaide Oval
R14: Sydney @ Adelaide Oval
R15: BYE
R16: North Melbourne @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Essendon @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Collingwood @ TBC
2. Brisbane
36 points (nine wins, three losses), 118.3 per cent
Scraping home against North Melbourne on Saturday should guarantee the Lions a top-four spot with one of the easier finishes to come of all fellow contenders. With an eight-day break ahead of St Kilda and a bye to follow, do they consider giving Charlie Cameron a proper rest after he looked underdone against the Roos? Getting Collingwood at home is a big win and they will enter the final three matches as raging favourites. If Port Adelaide stumbles, the Lions should finish in top spot for the first time in history. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R13: St Kilda @ the Gabba
R14: BYE
R15: Collingwood @ the Gabba
R16: Gold Coast @ the Gabba
R17: Sydney @ Cazalys Stadium
R18: Carlton @ TBC
3. Geelong
32 points (eight wins, four losses), 138.5 per cent
After hammering top-two teams St Kilda and Port Adelaide in the space of four days, the draw now opens up for the Cats. They have a long break before playing winless Adelaide and will be heavy favourites in three of their final five matches. Chris Scott's men are in a great position to finish in the top four. Round 14 against the Bulldogs promises to be a great contrast of styles, while the match against Richmond two weeks later could determine how high Geelong finishes. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R13: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R14: Western Bulldogs @ Metricon Stadium
R15: BYE
R16: Essendon @ the Gabba
R17: Richmond @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Sydney @ TBC
4. West Coast
32 points (eight wins, three losses), 121.1 per cent
The Eagles' 32-point defeat over Hawthorn extended on Sunday night extended their AFL-best winning streak to seven games, after starting the season 1-3. They have some injuries to worry about and are preparing to enter a period where they play five games in 19 days, but they're in a strong position. West Coast is already inside the top four and has a game in hand to the rest of the sides in there, as well as fifth-placed St Kilda. Adam Simpson's men should have learned plenty from how they handled their first Queensland hub experience. - Marc McGowan
The run home
R13: Greater Western Sydney @ Optus Stadium
R14: Richmond @ Metricon Stadium
R15: Essendon @ the Gabba
R16: Western Bulldogs @ Metricon Stadium
R17: St Kilda @ the Gabba
R18: North Melbourne @ TBC
5. St Kilda
32 points (eight wins, four losses), 115.8 per cent
St Kilda remains well and truly in the hunt for a top-four position as its rise up the ladder continues. The Saints have two big weeks that will shape their premiership pursuit. If they can get over the line against the Lions and Demons then they will be in a strong position to hold onto that top-four berth. But if they don't, they face having to come home strong against West Coast and the Giants to secure the spot. Two games clear in the top eight, it would take a massive slide for them not to return to the finals for the first time since 2011. - Callum Twomey
The run home
R13: Brisbane @ the Gabba
R14: Melbourne @ TIO Traeger Park
R15: BYE
R16: Hawthorn @ Metricon Stadium
R17: West Coast @ the Gabba
R18: Greater Western Sydney @ TBC
6. Richmond
30 points (seven wins, one draw, four losses), 119.0 per cent
The Tigers are ready to pounce on a top-four spot. Despite all the injuries, they're just two points adrift of the crucial double chance with destiny now in their own hands. They should take care of Essendon at the Dreamtime game in Darwin on Saturday night and then comes a monster clash against West Coast five days later that has huge implications for both teams. Geelong also awaits in the penultimate round. With Bachar Houli's return just around the corner, and Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis also to slot back in, the Tigers are poised to make a tilt at another premiership. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R13: Essendon @ TIO Stadium
R14: West Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R15: Fremantle @ Metricon Stadium
R16: BYE
R17: Geelong @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Adelaide @ TBC
7. Collingwood
26 points (six wins, five losses, one draw), 104.9 per cent
The Magpies are now precariously placed to make the finals after their heavy loss to Melbourne. The big cloud that hangs over Nathan Buckley's team is its injury list, with luckless Ben Reid (hamstring) and Brody Mihocek (concussion) casualties from the weekend. They should beat North Melbourne next up, but desperately need some star power back ahead of playing an improved Carlton and Brisbane before heading into the bye. Those two games could well determine their fate. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R13: North Melbourne @ the Gabba
R14: Carlton @ the Gabba
R15: Brisbane @ the Gabba
R16: BYE
R17: Gold Coast @ the Gabba
R18: Port Adelaide @ TBC
8. Melbourne
24 points (six wins, five losses), 118.2 per cent
Beating Collingwood has put Melbourne right back in the thick of the finals race – and now its fate is in its own hands. The next fortnight could have a huge bearing on where the Demons finish, with crunch clashes against the Bulldogs and Saints. Expecting captain Max Gawn back for Saturday's clash is a huge boost for the Dees. Melbourne has quite a bit of travel ahead of it too, with a journey to Alice Springs and two flights to Cairns. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R13: Western Bulldogs @ Metricon Stadium
R14: St Kilda @ TIO Traeger Park
R15: Sydney @ Cazalys Stadium
R16: Fremantle @ Cazalys Stadium
R17: GWS @ the Gabba
R18: Essendon @ TBC
9. Greater Western Sydney
24 points (six wins, five losses), 98.2 per cent
Leon Cameron invited the critics after his side dished up "tripe" and lost a whopping 6.5 per cent against the Swans on Thursday night to fall outside the top eight. But they'll come even harder if they're embarrassed again against the red-hot Eagles. With Fremantle's season all but done, the Giants will be hoping to bank the points there before heading east and if they can't beat Carlton and Adelaide, they don't deserve to be playing finals. Melbourne in round 17 looms as an eight-point game and it's a tough finish against the Saints in a match they may need to rely on to secure their fate. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R13: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R14: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R15: Carlton @ Metricon Stadium
R16: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R17: Melbourne @ the Gabba
R18: St Kilda @ TBC
10. Western Bulldogs
24 points (six wins, six losses), 97.9 per cent
The Bulldogs are right in the mix to chase the eighth spot after gaining eight percentage points with a huge win over Adelaide. With Hayden Crozier, Jason Johannisen and Zaine Cordy set to return soon, the Bulldogs will have most of their best 22 available for a finals charge. Geelong and West Coast will be tough, but the Dogs could grab that seventh or eighth place with wins over Melbourne, Hawthorn and Fremantle. - Jourdan Canil
The run home
R13: Melbourne @ Metricon Stadium
R14: Geelong @ Metricon Stadium
R15: BYE
R16: West Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Hawthorn @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Fremantle @ TBC
11. Essendon
22 points (five wins, five losses, one draw), 86.1 per cent
The Bombers have a game up their sleeve on most of the other sides competing for a top-eight spot and they'll need it if they are to get back to the finals this season. Their draw against Gold Coast almost cancels out their very poor percentage but the biggest issue is upcoming games against premiership contenders Richmond, West Coast, Geelong, Port Adelaide and the improving Melbourne. The only game at the moment you could see Essendon winning in its current form is against Hawthorn in round 14. - Callum Twomey
The run home
R13: Richmond @ TIO Stadium
R14: Hawthorn @ Adelaide Oval
R15: West Coast @ the Gabba
R16: Geelong @ the Gabba
R17: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Melbourne @ TBC
12. Carlton
20 points (five wins, six losses), 95.5 percent
Carlton lives to see another day. A thrilling victory over Fremantle keeps its unlikely finals chances alive, but more daunting tests loom. With winnable games against cellar-dwellers Sydney and Adelaide among its run home, its next fortnight appears crucial. Beat fellow finals contenders Gold Coast and Collingwood, while taking care of business later in the year, and a nine-win season could be enough. Lose one of the next two and those slim hopes of progressing deeper into the season could be over. GWS and Brisbane haven't necessarily set the world alight, but Carlton would start both games as underdogs. - Riley Beveridge
The run home
R13: Gold Coast @ TIO Stadium
R14: Collingwood @ the Gabba
R15: Greater Western Sydney @ Metricon Stadium
R16: Sydney @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Adelaide @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Brisbane @ TBC
13. Gold Coast
18 points (four wins, one draw, eight losses), 98 per cent
As far as fixtures go, this one is pretty friendly for the Suns. To be any chance of sneaking into the finals they have to run the table, starting with Friday night's game against the Blues in Darwin off a four-day break. With David Swallow and Jarrod Harbrow returning from a rest, they'd fancy their chances, as they will nine days later against the Kangaroos. Following a bye to freshen up, Gold Coast will tackle the Lions and Magpies in successive weeks with some degree of confidence, but they need A LOT to go their way from here. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R13: Carlton @ TIO Stadium
R14: North Melbourne @ Metricon Stadium
R15: BYE
R16: Brisbane @ the Gabba
R17: Collingwood @ the Gabba
R18: Hawthorn @ TBC
14. Fremantle
16 points (four wins, seven losses), 88.3 percent
Finals are probably out of the equation for Fremantle. Victory over Carlton might have provided Justin Longmuir's team with some semblance of hope. But now, it must record near-perfection to get anywhere close. Although the side would probably expect to start favourites against both Sydney and North Melbourne within its run home, a four-match streak in Queensland to end the year will complicate matters. It could be all over now. - Riley Beveridge
The run home
R13: Sydney @ Optus Stadium
R14: Greater Western Sydney @ Optus Stadium
R15: Richmond @ Metricon Stadium
R16: Melbourne @ Cazalys Stadium
R17: North Melbourne @ Metricon Stadium
R18: Western Bulldogs @ TBC
15. Sydney
16 points (four wins, seven losses), 84.8 per cent
Thursday night's shock win over their crosstown rivals has kept the door slightly ajar but it remains a massive mountain to climb. Already two games outside the eight, the Swans' lack of percentage will effectively act as another game after some heavy defeats earlier in the season. Season goes on the line against Fremantle, while Port Adelaide will be a massive task on their home deck. If the Swans can somehow pull a rabbit out of the hat – and maybe, just maybe – get Lance Franklin back for the final two games, they could consider themselves outside chances against Brisbane and Geelong to finish the season. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R13: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R14: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R15: Melbourne @ Cazalys Stadium
R16: Carlton @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Brisbane @ Cazalys Stadium
R18: Geelong @ TBC
16. Hawthorn
16 points (four wins, seven losses), 82.5 per cent
Alastair Clarkson's Hawks remain a mathematical finals chance, but are as good as certain to miss post-season action for the third time in the past four years. They were gallant against the strong Eagles, but scoring efficiency was again an issue. Hawthorn has some big list decisions to make at season's end, some of which may be shaped in these final six rounds. The Hawks haven't finished in the bottom four since 2005, in Clarkson's first year at the helm, but it's looking a good chance of happening again. Getting another quality young kid in is exactly what they need. - Marc McGowan
The run home
R13: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R14: Essendon @ Adelaide Oval
R15: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R16: St Kilda @ Metricon Stadium
R17: Western Bulldogs @ Adelaide Oval
R18: Gold Coast @ TBC
