The AFL season is heating up, and with six rounds left, the race for the top six is more intense than ever. As Geelong stumbles, a new favourite emerges for the last wildcard spot, and the game that will decide who makes the top six is coming into focus. This is The Run Home, where we analyse every club's remaining fixture and predict how the rest of the year will play out, ahead of the AFL's first 10-team finals series.
The Race for the Top Six
With Fremantle mathematically locked into the finals and almost certainly the minor premiers, the focus shifts to the battle for second place. Sydney remains two games clear of third, and as long as they win at least one of their next two games, they should finish second. Hawthorn and Brisbane have easier remaining draws than Adelaide and Melbourne, with the Crows still to play Sydney and Freo away, while the Demons host Geelong and Freo.
Geelong, meanwhile, seems to have forgotten that it doesn't matter if you've got an easy run home if, by the time you reach the easy part, you've fallen too far down the ladder. They will definitely still make the top 10, but their season has basically fallen apart, little by little. They have to catch someone, probably Melbourne given they play them in a fortnight's time, though passing the Dees will still rely on Steven King's men dropping one extra game (likely against Fremantle).
The Wildcard Race
The wildcard race is tight, with four teams in the mix: GWS, Carlton, St Kilda, and North Melbourne. GWS has been on a hot streak, with five wins over the top half of the ladder and three wins over the bottom half. They're on track for the wildcard, with four very winnable games (Bombers, Power, Suns, Eagles) that'd get them to the magic number of 12. Carlton, meanwhile, needs to beat Collingwood and St Kilda to have any chance of making the finals. St Kilda, despite avoiding the 'teal banana peel', still needs to hold off GWS.
The Bottom Four
At the bottom, Port Adelaide and West Coast Eagles are struggling, with the Eagles favoured against the Tigers in a few weeks' time after a strong road trip performance. Richmond and Essendon are also in the mix, with the Tigers having a very tough remaining fixture. Essendon, meanwhile, is struggling, with a very tough remaining fixture and only one win projected.
In conclusion, the AFL season is heating up, and the race for the top six is more intense than ever. With six rounds left, the wildcard race is also tight, and the bottom four are struggling. As the season approaches its climax, the battle for the top six and the wildcard spots will be decided in the coming weeks.
