20/08/2007 11:52 AM
Two rounds to go and only three teams have confirmed their places in September, with Port Adelaide and West Coast sealing their finals berths this week, along with runaway league leaders Geelong.
But the other five spots remain up for grabs with ten teams still in contention.
Here is the run home for the finals contenders.
Geelong: 1st: 17-3, 157.8
TO COME: Port Adelaide (SS), Brisbane (Gabba).
PREDICTION: Has now won its past 15 matches and will play a major role in shaping the top four and the top eight in its last two matches when it meets the second-placed Power and the ninth-placed Lions.
Port Adelaide: 2nd: 13-7, 112.9
TO COME: Geelong (SS), Fremantle (AAMI).
PREDICTION: The Power has sewn up its finals berth but will need to win both its remaining games and stay ahead of the Eagles on percentage to secure the all-important second spot. But even if it loses this weekend as expected, Port should at least finish in the top four by beating Fremantle in the last game.
West Coast: 3rd: 13-7, 112.3
TO COME: St Kilda (Dome), Essendon (S).
PREDICTION: Will need to win its last two and make a slight gain in percentage to overcome Port and finish second if the Power wins both its remaining games. But faces a danger game this week against the eighth-placed Saints in Melbourne.
Hawthorn: 4th: 12-8, 114
TO COME: Bulldogs (Dome), Sydney (SCG).
PREDICTION: The Hawks have blown their hopes of finishing second with their last-gasp loss to Port and may end up having to beat the Swans in Sydney in the last round to hang on to a top four finish while two big losses could yet see them still miss the eight.
Kangaroos: 5th: 12-8, 102.1
TO COME: Carlton (Dome), Bulldogs (Dome).
PREDICTION: With a far easier run home than the Hawks, the Roos look capable of winning both their remaining games to join the Cats, Port and Eagles in the top four at season's end.
Collingwood: 6th, 12-8, 100.7
TO COME: Sydney (MCG), Adelaide (Dome).
PREDICTION: Still needs one more win to secure a finals berth after its unconvincing win over Melbourne on Friday night and if it loses to Sydney this week it could face Adelaide in the last round with both teams needing to win to make the finals. But at least the Pies will have home advantage in both matches.
Sydney: 7th, 11-8-1, 118.7
TO COME: Collingwood (MCG), Hawthorn (SCG).
PREDICTION: A costly last-minute draw with the Lions makes the Swans' task of reaching the top four difficult and even if they beat Hawthorn in the last game, as well as beating Collingwood this week, they will need the Kangaroos to drop one of their remaining two matches or one of the Eagles and Port to lose both - which appears unlikely.
St Kilda: 8th, 10-9-1, 96
TO COME: West Coast (Dome), Richmond (MCG).
PREDICTION: The Saints were the big winners from round 20 and their fate is now in their own hands. Win both matches and Ross Lyon's team cannot miss the finals and it all depends on this week's home clash with the third-placed Eagles at Telstra Dome because they will be hot favourites to beat bottom-placed Richmond in the final round.
Brisbane: 9th, 9-9-2, 110.2
TO COME: Adelaide (AAMI), Geelong (Gabba).
PREDICTION: Faces a tough task following its draw with Sydney because even if it wins its