Position: First
Season record: 14-5, 131.2%
To play: Kangaroos (TD), Brisbane (Gabba), Fremantle (TD).
Predicted finish: 16-6. The Saints again have their hopes of a top two finish in their own hands after rising from third to first this weekend, following losses for Melbourne and Brisbane. But to ensure they stay there and earn two home finals in September, the Saints will have to beat the Lions at the Gabba in round 21. And while the Eagles showed this weekend the Lions are beatable on their own turf, the reigning premiers are likely to have both Jonathan Brown and Alastair Lynch back in their line-up by then and will still be favoured to win that game. But even if the Saints lost that game they could still finish second as long as they stay in front of the Lions on percentage, with just one per cent currently separating the sides.
Port Adelaide
Second: 14-5, 127.1%
To play: Western Bulldogs (Marrara), Collingwood (MCG), Adelaide (AAMI). Predicted finish: 17-5. The Power were the big winners from the weekend and now look set to once again finish in the top two and earn the chance to play both the qualifying final and the preliminary final in Adelaide. While Port's entire season will be judged rightly or wrongly by how it performs in the finals, given it has lost home finals in the past three seasons, they now look likely to finish the home and away season on top given they play three teams out of finals contention in the run home. And that in itself would be a tremendous effort given the club's shocking run with injuries this year.
Melbourne
Third: 14-5, 119.5%
To play: Sydney (TD), Carlton (Optus), West Coast (Subiaco).
Predicted finish: 16-6. The Demons' humiliating loss to Port - and the resultant percentage loss - suddenly has Neale Daniher's side in danger of missing out on a top four spot. If they won all three remaining matches they would probably finish top two but if the Demons cannot beat a West Coast side, suddenly right in finals contention, in Perth in the final game - and their record on the road this year suggests they won't - then they are in danger of falling to fifth if Geelong can catch them on percentage. And as a result they would then face a cut-throat elimination final in the first week.
Brisbane Lions
Fourth: 13-6, 130.2%
To play: Hawthorn (MCG), St Kilda (Gabba), Kangaroos (Gabba).
Predicted finish: 16-6. The Lions suddenly look vulnerable in fourth spot after the weekend's shock home loss to the Eagles but with Alastair Lynch and Jonathan Brown set to return they will be a different side in the run home. However their hopes of a top four and top two finish depend on beating St Kilda at the Gabba in round 21. If they win that the Lions will probably finish second or third but if they lose they would probably finish fifth and miss out on the double chance, which would be a huge setback to their hopes of winning a record-equalling fourth successive premiership.
Geelong
Fifth: 13-6, 116.4%.
To play: Fremantle (Skilled), Adelaide (AAMI), Hawthorn (Skilled).
Predicted finish: 16-6. With 13 wins in the past 15 games, the Cats are the form side of the competition and now have a great chance of making the top four and earning the double chance. To do so they will have to win their last three games and by big margins but with two of those games in Geelong plus struggling Adelaide in Adelaide they certainly look capable of doing just that.
Fremantle
Sixth. 11-8, 108.7%.
To play: Geelong (Skilled), West Coast (Subiaco), St Kilda (TD)
Predicted finish: 11-11. The Dockers might still be sixth despite their shock home loss to Collingwood on Friday night but with just a one game break over teams seven to ten they might not even make the finals at all, given their tough run home. The Dockers are unlikely to beat top four contenders St Kilda or Geelong on the road but if they win the western derby in round 21 they would probably make the eight due to their good percentage. But lose that game - and the Eagles with five wins in their past six games are hitting form at the right time - and the Dockers will be spectators come September.
Kangaroos
Seventh: 10-9, 112.0%
To play: St Kilda (TD), Bulldogs (TD), Brisbane (Gabba).
Predicted finish: 11-11. The Roos performed miracles to beat Sydney on Saturday night but it might still not be enough to secure Dean Laidley's side a finals berth, despite the Kangas clearly having the best percentage of the teams battling for spots six to eight. While they will beat the Bulldogs in round 21, the Roos will still have to beat either St Kilda at Telstra Dome or the Lions at the Gabba to get the extra win they need to make the eight and that appears unlikely.
Sydney
Eighth: 10-9, 101.8%.
To play: Melbourne (TD), Essendon (Telstra Stadium), Richmond (MCG).
Predicted finish: 12-10. The Swans are hanging onto their place in the eight by just 0.6 of a percent but should make the finals as long as they beat Essendon in round 21, particularly with struggling Richmond to come in the last round.
Essendon
Ninth: 10-9, 101.2%
To play: Collingwood (MCG), Sydney (Telstra Stadium), Bulldogs (TD).
Predicted finish: 12-10. The Bombers are in danger of missing the finals for the first time since 1997 following their shock loss to Carlton on Saturday. But the Bombers should make the eight, even if they lose to Sydney in round 21, provided they beat Collingwood this week and the Bulldogs in the last round.
West Coast Eagles
Tenth. 10-9, 95.8%
To play: Carlton (Subiaco), Fremantle (Subiaco), Melbourne (Subiaco).
Predicted finish: 13-9. With just five wins from the first 13 games, the Eagles looked to have no hope of making the finals but coach John Worsfold is on the verge of pulling off a miracle. With five wins in their past six games, the Eagles not only look like making the eight but could even finish sixth and possibly earn a home final if they win their last three games. But with all those games to be played in Perth, who would now bet against the Eagles continuing their late-season surge, particularly with local rivals Fremantle looking vulnerable while round 22 opponents Melbourne have struggled on the road all season.
