ON A WEEKEND in which the top eight could have been decided, upset wins have kept Richmond and the Brisbane Lions in the hunt.

The Lions trailed at every change before roaring home ahead of the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba on Saturday night, arresting a three-game losing streak.

The Lions will be barracking fiercely for Adelaide to beat St Kilda next Sunday. If, like this week, the Crows win at Telstra Dome, a win against Carlton would put the Lions back in the eight.

Last week’s thrashing at AAMI Stadium left Richmond dependant on fortune, but the Tigers did their bit by toppling Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday. Their fate hangs by the thinnest thread, thanks to St Kilda’s revival at Subiaco Oval in the round closer. Another win to the Saints and it’s all over for Terry Wallace’s men.

A rung below Richmond sits Carlton, whose hopes were all but shattered at Telstra Dome on Sunday. Essendon, in 12th place, is definitely out of the running.

At the top of the ladder, North Melbourne remains the form team behind minor premier Geelong, but all that could change when the sides meet at Skilled Stadium next week.

If North loses, the Crows could slip into fourth, although they have two tough games remaining against St Kilda and the Bulldogs.

The Sydney Swans continue to falter, and could wave goodbye to the double chance unless they buck recent tradition and beat Collingwood next Saturday.

Here’s who plays who in the final three weeks of home-and-away footy.

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The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.