Collingwood's Imogen Barnett is tackled in round three, 2021, VFLW action. Picture: AFL Photos

AFTER the break there’s still two rounds to go in the VFLW and there is plenty to play out in the race for the last three spots in the top six. Collingwood, Geelong and Port Melbourne have guaranteed themselves a place in the finals with their dominant performances across the season.

That leaves the race for the final three spots wide open with six clubs in the running. Williamstown and Darebin do not have a chance to qualify for the finals this season.

1. COLLINGWOOD
48 points (twelve wins, zero losses), 270.7 per cent
Collingwood made the minor premiership its own for the third season in a row with a 12th straight win before the enforced break. The Pies have appeared in the last two finals series, going all the way in 2019, and will have the opportunity to try and do it again this season. They face two good tests in the final two rounds, coming up against second placed Geelong and a Bulldogs side that needs wins to secure a finals spot.

The run home
R13: Western Bulldogs @ Holden Centre
R14: Geelong @ Victoria Park

2. GEELONG 
36 points (nine wins, three losses), 192.1 per cent
Geelong’s unbeaten run of nine games came to end in round 12 at the hands of Carlton. Despite that loss the Cats have secured their spot in the finals this year with their nine wins and healthy percentage. If Geelong wants to hold onto second it needs to hold off Port Melbourne, sitting one rung lower due only to percentage. The anticipated re-match between the Cats and the undefeated Pies in round 14 will be a good test heading into finals.

The run home
R13: Hawthorn @ Box Hill City Oval
R14: Collingwood @ Victoria Park

Geelong's VFLW side celebrate a goal in round 11, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

3. PORT MELBOURNE
36 points (nine wins, three losses), 124.8 per cent
Port Melbourne’s early season dominance, that saw it unbeaten after seven rounds, has helped secure a finals spot in the club’s inaugural season. Although the Borough have only won two of their last five games, they’ll be looking to finish the season strongly against two opponents sitting below them on the ladder. If they manage two wins in their final two games and Geelong drops just one, Port could find itself in the top two at season’s end. 

The run home
R13: North Melbourne @ ETU Stadium
R14: Hawthorn @ Box Hill City Oval 

4. CASEY DEMONS
28 points (seven wins, five losses), 152.3 per cent
Some big inclusions bolstered the Casey Demons and helped them hit a run of form that took them to fourth on the ladder. However, the Dees have lost their last two games and, while they are still a game clear of fifth and sixth, they need at least one win out of the last two rounds to guarantee a finals spot. It may be unlikely, but if it was to all go wrong and the Demons were to lose their final two games of the season they could find themselves out of the top six after round 14. 

The run home
R13: Darebin @ Casey Fields
R14: Western Bulldogs @ Victoria University Whitten Oval 

Alexandra Kirkwood celebrates a Casey Demons goal in round 10, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

5. ESSENDON
24 points (six wins, six losses), 136.3 per cent
An upset loss to North Melbourne in round 12 put Essendon’s final hopes in jeopardy, but the Bombers’ hardest games are now behind them. Heading into the final two rounds they have won just one of their last five games after sitting as high as third on the ladder this season. Essendon will be confident facing off against 12th and 11th on the ladder and two wins would guarantee it a finals spot. If the Bombers can only manage one they’ll need that win to be by a healthy margin and hope that any of Southern Saints, North Melbourne and Carlton win only one of their last two games of the season. 

The run home
R13: Williamstown @ Downer Oval
R14: Darwin @ Bill Lawry Oval

6. WESTERN BULLDOGS
24 points (six wins, six losses), 81.9 per cent
The Bulldogs found themselves back in the top six after a much-needed victory over the Southern Saints in round 12. Like Essendon, the Dogs are a game clear in finals contention and need to win both games to guarantee making the end-of-season action. They need a percentage boost as well, which will be hard given they have arguably the toughest run home coming up against Casey and ladder-leaders Collingwood. If the Dogs can win one game by a considerable margin and results fall their way they may just hold onto sixth spot, lose two and they could fall out of finals. 

The run home
R13: Collingwood @ Holden Centre
R14: Casey Demons @ Victoria University Whitten Oval

Marguerite Purcell celebrates a Bulldogs goal in round three, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

7. SOUTHERN SAINTS
20 points (five wins, seven losses), 106.1 per cent
After holding onto sixth spot for a few rounds, losses to Geelong and the Western Bulldogs has seen the Saints slip just outside contention in seventh. In its final two games of the season they will have to hold off and beat the two teams still in the finals race below them, which will make for an intriguing end to the season. That means two must-win games for the Saints, who will also need Essendon or the Bulldogs to drop a match to give them a shot at finals. 

The run home
R13: Carlton @ IKON Park
R14: North Melbourne @ Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval

8. CARLTON
20 points (five wins, seven loss), 72.8 per cent
Carlton turned its fortunes around with two big victories over the in-form Casey Demons and Geelong in rounds 11 and 12. The wins keep the Blues in the finals hunt, but a lot will have to go right if they’re to make the top six. Both match ups against Williamstown and the Southern Saints are must-win games, and Carlton needs a percentage boost and other results to go its way if it’s to remain a chance. If they can manage two wins, the Blues’ percentage will be crucial to help them jump into the six should the Dogs or Essendon lose one of their last two matches. 

The run home
R13: Southern Saints @ Ikon Park
R14: Williamstown @ Downer Oval

Courtney Jones celebrates a goal in round 12, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

9. NORTH MELBOURNE
20 points (five wins, seven losses), 70.6 per cent
North Melbourne has found itself in finals contention after two gutsy come from behind wins against Hawthorn and Essendon. North is in the exact same scenario as Carlton, needing to win its final two matches by a healthy margin. It is a much harder prospect for the Roos though, coming up against two sides above them on the ladder, including third-placed Port Melbourne. 

The run home
R13: Port Melbourne @ ETU Stadium
R14: Southern Saints @ Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval

10. HAWTHORN
16 points (four wins, eight losses), 92.7% per cent
It may take a miracle, but the Hawks are not completely out of the finals race. If they can win both of their last two games and have every result go their way, they could just squeeze into that last spot. 

The run home
R13: Geelong @ Box Hill City Oval
R14: Port Melbourne @ Box Hill City Oval