Get your head around all the finals permutations as Collingwood prepares to take on Fremantle with a spot in the top four up for grabs.
Third: Collingwood 56 points (14 wins, seven losses), 120.7 per cent
“Any lingering doubt about the Magpies' finals status was slammed shut with Saturday's emphatic 51-point mauling of Port Adelaide, after the game was in the balance late in the third term. The Pies are now in the box seat for a top-four finish, with a horribly out-of-sorts Fremantle to come in round 23, albeit in the west. A win will lock in the double chance, while they could finish as high as second if the Eagles lose to Brisbane,” - Marc McGowan
The run home
R23: Fremantle at Optus Stadium
Chris Mayne, Nathan Buckley and Travis Varcoe leave the MCG after sewing up Collingwood's first finals berth since 2013.
The rest of the competition
1st. Richmond 68 points (17 wins, four losses), 138.3 per cent
“The minor premiership and the resultant home final are sewn up – a mighty platform from which to launch their assault on back-to-back premierships – but there will be no going through the motions for the Tigers against the Bulldogs. They will regain captain Trent Cotchin, David Astbury and Dion Prestia and attempt to iron out a couple of minor kinks in their game before the real stuff begins” - Ben Collins
The run home
R23: Western Bulldogs at the MCG
2nd. West Coast 60 points (15 wins, six losses), 120.8 per cent
“West Coast had too few contributors against Melbourne and will need all hands on deck for a tricky assignment at the Gabba. The equation for the Eagles is simple – beat the Lions and they will hold onto second spot and earn a home qualifying final. Lose, and their fate rests in the hands of rivals. Adam Simpson's side could finish as low as fourth if Collingwood and Hawthorn both win. It will be a nervy final day of the season.”
The run home
R23: Brisbane at the Gabba
4th. Hawthorn 56 points (14 wins, seven losses), 120.5 per cent
“It should come as a surprise to no one that a Sydney v Hawthorn clash will be absolutely massive. The winner will stitch up a spot in the top four and grab the crucial double chance. Flying up to Sydney will hold no fears for the Hawks, who have won their past four matches at the SCG. They did just enough to win on Saturday night against St Kilda, but have been victors for five straight games, while the Swans carry their own strong form with three wins on the trot,” - Dinny Navaratnam
The run home
R23: Sydney at the SCG
5th. Sydney 56 points (14 wins, seven losses), 110.6 per cent
“Sydney locked in a finals berth with victory over the Giants on Saturday night. A win against Hawthorn at the SCG next Saturday night will cement the Swans' place in the top four. If Collingwood slips up against Fremantle at Optus Stadium, the Swans could finish as high as third. Sydney have won only five of their 10 home games this year, so the fact their final-round clash is at the SCG is not necessarily a major advantage,” – Riley Stuart
The run home
R23: Hawthorn at the SCG
6th. Greater Western Sydney 54 points (13 wins, seven losses, one draw) 118.1 per cent
“GWS is assured of finals action, but its round 23 clash against Melbourne looms as critical in shaping the top eight. The Giants can still make the top four, but they need other results to go their way. By the time their game against Melbourne starts on Sunday at the MCG, the Giants will know what they're playing for. If Fremantle upsets Collingwood at Optus Stadium on Saturday, GWS can cement a double chance with a victory over the Demons. Meanwhile, in the unlikely event Sydney and Hawthorn draw at the SCG on Saturday, the Giants could sneak into the top four on percentage with a win against Melbourne,” Riley Stuart
The run home
R23: Melbourne at the MCG
7th. Melbourne 52 points (13 wins, eight losses), 129.8 per cent
“The Dees secured a finals return for the first time in 12 long years thanks to a gutsy performance against West Coast and will host an elimination final if they can knock over the Giants in the final round. A top-four finish is still a remote possibility – if Collingwood lost to Fremantle – but the most likely scenario with another win is a clash with Geelong in the first round of finals. Lose and they could be on the road against the Giants, so there's plenty at stake.”
The run home
R23: Greater Western Sydney at the MCG
8th. Geelong 48 points (12 wins, nine losses), 125.7 per cent
“Geelong can book its 11th finals series in 12 seasons by beating Gold Coast at home. From there, they could play one of four different opponents, thanks to the percentage-boosting 133-point pummeling of Fremantle on Saturday. The most likely scenario will have the Cats finishing eighth and playing the winner of Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney in an elimination final. However, if Simon Goodwin's side falls to the Giants and the Cats make up 4.1 per cent (winning by more than eight goals), they can take the Demons' seventh spot. Should that play out, they would play the loser of Hawthorn and Sydney in the first week of September. If Port Adelaide loses to Essendon on Friday night, the Cats' finals berth will already be secured,” – Mitch Cleary
The run home
R23: Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium
9th. Port Adelaide 48 points (12 wins, nine losses), 109.6 per cent
“Tight losses, big defeats – none of them matter anymore. The Power can only look ahead and must roll Essendon at Adelaide Oval on Friday night to have any chance of qualifying for September. Do that and then the Power need Gold Coast to upset Geelong down at the Cattery to sneak into eighth spot. It's looking like it'll be unlucky 13 for Port,” - Marc McGowan
The run home
R23: Essendon at The Adelaide Oval
10th. North Melbourne 44 points (11 wins, 10 losses), 108.1 per cent
“The Roos' slim finals hopes were extinguished on Sunday when they fell to Adelaide and the Demons beat West Coast. They are likely to finish with 12 wins, which is an impressive return for a team tipped to be bottom four at the start of the year.”
The run home
R23: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
11. Essendon 44 points (11 wins, 10 losses), 104.1 per cent
“The Bombers left their run too late and will miss out on playing finals. The best they can finish is equal on points with Geelong, but they won't be able to make up the 21.6 percentage points,” - Ben Collins
The run home
R23: Port Adelaide at The Adelaide Oval
The run home: What to expect
Get your head around all the finals permutations as Collingwood prepares to take on Fremantle with a spot in the top four up for grabs.