After the Hawks, the Lions will face the Western Bulldogs, Carlton and the Sydney Swans. But what awaits their rivals? Read on to find out…
1. Geelong (17-1, 153.62 per cent)
Last five: WWWWW
To come:
Melbourne; Sydney Swans (in Sydney); North Melbourne; West Coast
Comment: Deserves to be premiership favourite. Looks certain to beat last year’s 18-4 home-and-away record and finish the regular season in top spot.
2. Western Bulldogs (14-3-1, 122.76 per cent)
Last five: WWLLW
To come:
North Melbourne, Brisbane Lions (at the Gabba), Essendon, Adelaide (in Adelaide)
Comment: Arrested a mini-form slump by beating the Swans in Canberra last week. Not an easy run home but certain to finish in the top three.
3. Hawthorn (14-4, 125.63 per cent)
Last five: WWLLW
To come:
Brisbane Lions (in Launceston); Richmond; West Coast (in Perth); Carlton
Comment: Easily put paid to Collingwood last week and host the Lions this week in Tasmania. Handy run home from there – another side certain to finish in the top three.
4. Sydney Swans (10-7-1, 117.30 per cent)
Last five: LLWLL
To come:
Fremantle, Geelong, Collingwood (in Melbourne), Brisbane Lions
Comment: Form has certainly tapered off and will be glad to be playing the in-form Fremantle in Sydney rather than Perth. Likely finalists, but will have to battle for a top-four spot.
5. North Melbourne (10-7-1, 98.37 per cent)
Last five: LWWWW
To come:
Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Geelong, Port Adelaide
Comment: Stock continues to rise following an unlikely comeback victory against the Lions at Carrara last week. Testing run home but should be eyeing at least two wins and a finals berth.
6. Adelaide (10-8 106.35 per cent)
Last five: LLLWW
To come:
Richmond, Essendon (in Melbourne), St Kilda (in Melbourne), Western Bulldogs
Comment: Look to have righted the ship over the past couple of weeks and appear capable of winning their next two and possibly their next three. Every conceivable hope of making it.
7. St Kilda (10-8., 101.08 per cent)
Last five: WWWLW
To come:
Collingwood, Fremantle (in Perth), Adelaide, Essendon
Comment: Scraped home against Port Adelaide and now faces a crucial showdown with Collingwood. Run home, including Freo in Perth, is much harder than it might have looked six weeks ago.
8. Collingwood (9-9, 109.44 per cent)
Last five: WWLLL
To come:
St Kilda, Port Adelaide (in Adelaide), Sydney Swans, Fremantle (in Perth)
Comment: The wheels have come off, on and off the field. The Magpies have lost three straight and look no certainties to win any of their last four outings.
10. Richmond (8-9-1, 94.25 per cent)
Last five: LWWWL
To come: Adelaide (in Adelaide), Hawthorn, Fremantle, Melbourne
Comment: Looked good early last week, but soon found out just how well the Cats are going. Remains in the finals hunt but must win one of the next two.
11. Carlton (8-10, 95.74 per cent)
Last five: WLLWL
To come: Port Adelaide, North Melbourne, Brisbane Lions (at the Gabba), Hawthorn.
Comment: Should be kicking themselves after last week – except they might miss! If they’d kicked straight and beaten Adelaide, the Blues would be level on points with eighth-placed Collingwood.
12. Essendon (8-10, 87.52 per cent)
Last five: WWLWW
To come: West Coast (in Perth), Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda
Comment: Appeared only mathematical chances a week ago but, in true Steven Bradbury style, everyone else is falling over. On current form could hope to win at least three of the next four.
