Ross Lyon has already masterminded a return to September motion for St Kilda and he might put a dent in Brisbane’s premiership hopes as early as this weekend.
Ladder leaders Collingwood (68 factors), second-placed Brisbane (64), third-placed Port Adelaide (64) and fourth-placed Melbourne (60) are assured top-four berths and the double probability that comes with it.
But the order stays up within the air.
If Collingwood stumbles towards Essendon on the MCG on Friday evening, Brisbane can snare the minor premiership with victory over St Kilda on the Gabba on Saturday.
But given the Lions are solely proportion forward of Port, Brisbane will little question be content material simply to lock up second spot and a assured two residence finals.
St Kilda, led by Lyon in his second coming on the membership, might wreck Brisbane’s plans and in addition increase their very own possibilities of inflicting havoc in September.
The Saints (52 factors) enter the ultimate spherical in sixth spot, simply half a recreation forward of seventh-placed Sydney (50 factors).
An upset victory over Brisbane would lock in a house elimination for the Saints.
But a loss to Brisbane and a Sydney win over Melbourne on the SCG would lead to St Kilda shedding internet hosting rights.
If Port and Brisbane each slip up, Melbourne might swoop in to steal second spot.
Eighth-placed GWS face arguably the hardest final-round task – a match towards Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The fifth-placed Blues are on a nine-match profitable streak, and are prone to host an elimination last even when they lose to GWS.
The Giants (48) sit a win forward of the ninth-placed Bulldogs (44) however have an inferior proportion.
It implies that if the Bulldogs beat Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday evening, GWS would wish to beat Carlton so as to make the finals.
The Bulldogs have solely themselves accountable for his or her present predicament, given they suffered a shock seven-point loss to strugglers West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Port Adelaide host Richmond on Sunday, and second spot shall be there for the taking if Brisbane lose a day earlier.
Power coach Ken Hinkley says his group will strive their greatest whatever the scenario.
“We set out to qualify as high as we can at the start the year and (Sunday’s match) gives us an opportunity to hopefully still qualify even higher than we are now,” Hinkley stated.
“But to be sitting third after 22 games of football – we’re pretty happy where we sit. But we know the biggest stuff is still coming.”
RUN HOME FOR THE AFL FINALS CONTENDERS:
1. COLLINGWOOD (68 factors, 123.2 per cent) v Essendon (MCG)
2. BRISBANE LIONS (64, 123.2) v St Kilda (G)
3. PORT ADELAIDE (64, 111.5) v Richmond (AO)
4. MELBOURNE (60, 124.8) v Sydney (SCG)
5. CARLTON (54, 116.1) v GWS (MS)
6. ST KILDA (52, 108.9) v Brisbane Lions (G)
7. SYDNEY (50, 111.6) v Melbourne (SCG)
8. GWS (48, 105.6) v Carlton (MS)
———————————————————
9. WESTERN BULLDOGS (44, 107.6) v Geelong (GMHBA)
AO – Adelaide Oval, G – Gabba, MCG, MS – Marvel Stadium, SCG.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
