



could not have come at a worse time for the Hawks, who were just regrouping in preparation for a tough run home. The reigning premiers play four of their final eight games against top-four contenders - Fremantle (away), nemesis Geelong, Collingwood and the rampaging Sydney Swans. Finals hopefuls North Melbourne and Adelaide (away) also a wait but Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs should provide some respite. If they can win those four games, and nab wins against Geelong and Collingwood, then the Hawks should secure a top-four berth. But they will need some luck on the injury front.



The run home:

Rd 16: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium

Rd 17: Adelaide at Adelaide Oval

Rd 18: Sydney Swans at the MCG

Rd 19: Western Bulldogs at Aurora Stadium

Rd 20: Melbourne at the MCG

Rd 21: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium

Rd 22: Geelong at the MCG

Rd 23: Collingwood at the MCG



Who's going to make it? Check out the 2014 ladder predictor



2. Port Adelaide

44 points (11 wins, three losses) 141.9 per cent



. It was just their second defeat of the season and they now join the Hawks and the Swans on three losses. Given Port Adelaide's favourable finish though - it plays four bottom-half teams - the club should have no issues locking in a double chance. The challenges for the Power are overcoming the Swans in round 20 and finishing the home and away season with a trip to Perth to face Fremantle. The race will be tight though, with just percentage separating the top three teams.



The run home:

Rd 16: Essendon at Adelaide Oval

Rd 17: Richmond at Etihad Stadium

Rd 18: Melbourne at Adelaide Oval

Rd 19: Collingwood at the MCG

Rd 20: Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval

Rd 21: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium

Rd 22: Carlton at Adelaide Oval

Rd 23: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium



3. Sydney Swans

44 points (11 wins, three losses) 137.9 per cent



and John Longmire’s men have a dream run home. Only two games remain against top-eight sides, although they will be anything but straightforward – Hawthorn and Port Adelaide both away, the only sides above them on the ladder. But they also face strugglers St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs, and have two clashes with Richmond. Anything but a top-four finish would be a shock.



The run home:

Rd 16: West Coast at Patersons Stadium

Rd 17: Carlton at the SCG

Rd 18: Hawthorn at the MCG

Rd 19: Essendon at the SCG

Rd 20: Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval

Rd 21: St Kilda at the SCG

Rd 22: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium

Rd 23: Richmond at ANZ Stadium



4. Fremantle

40 points (10 wins, four losses) 132 per cent



The Dockers have a fantastic draw in the run home and are right in top-four calculations.



The run home:

Rd 16: Melbourne at TIO Stadium

Rd 17: Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium

Rd 18: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium

Rd 19: Carlton at Patersons Stadium

Rd 20: Geelong at Simonds Stadium

Rd 21: Hawthorn at Patersons Stadium

Rd 22: Brisbane Lions at the Gabba

Rd 23: Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium



5. Geelong

40 points (10 wins, four losses) 106.8 per cent



The Cats are just outside the top four on percentage and have a reasonable run home and a rapidly diminishing injury list, so a top-four berth is not out of the question. After back-to-back six day breaks against Gold Coast and Essendon, the draw has now opened up for the Cats. North Melbourne, Fremantle and Hawthorn shape as tough opponents, but rounding out their home and away campaign at home to the Brisbane Lions gives them the chance to hit the finals in top form.



The run home:

Rd 16: Western Bulldogs at Simonds Stadium

Rd 17: Melbourne at the MCG

Rd 18: Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium

Rd 19: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium

Rd 20: Fremantle at Simonds Stadium

Rd 21: Carlton at Etihad Stadium

Rd 22: Hawthorn at the MCG

Rd 23: Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium



44 points (11 wins, three losses) 147.9 per cent Another hamstring injury to Cyril Rioli could not have come at a worse time for the Hawks, who were just regrouping in preparation for a tough run home. The reigning premiers play four of their final eight games against top-four contenders - Fremantle (away), nemesis Geelong, Collingwood and the rampaging Sydney Swans. Finals hopefuls North Melbourne and Adelaide (away) also a wait but Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs should provide some respite. If they can win those four games, and nab wins against Geelong and Collingwood, then the Hawks should secure a top-four berth. But they will need some luck on the injury front.Rd 16: North Melbourne at Etihad StadiumRd 17: Adelaide at Adelaide OvalRd 18: Sydney Swans at the MCGRd 19: Western Bulldogs at Aurora StadiumRd 20: Melbourne at the MCGRd 21: Fremantle at Patersons StadiumRd 22: Geelong at the MCGRd 23: Collingwood at the MCG44 points (11 wins, three losses) 141.9 per cent The Power were knocked from top spot on Sunday following a loss to arch-rivals Adelaide . It was just their second defeat of the season and they now join the Hawks and the Swans on three losses. Given Port Adelaide's favourable finish though - it plays four bottom-half teams - the club should have no issues locking in a double chance. The challenges for the Power are overcoming the Swans in round 20 and finishing the home and away season with a trip to Perth to face Fremantle. The race will be tight though, with just percentage separating the top three teams.Rd 16: Essendon at Adelaide OvalRd 17: Richmond at Etihad StadiumRd 18: Melbourne at Adelaide OvalRd 19: Collingwood at the MCGRd 20: Sydney Swans at Adelaide OvalRd 21: Gold Coast at Metricon StadiumRd 22: Carlton at Adelaide OvalRd 23: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium44 points (11 wins, three losses) 137.9 per cent The Swans are in red-hot form having won their past 10 games and John Longmire’s men have a dream run home. Only two games remain against top-eight sides, although they will be anything but straightforward – Hawthorn and Port Adelaide both away, the only sides above them on the ladder. But they also face strugglers St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs, and have two clashes with Richmond. Anything but a top-four finish would be a shock.Rd 16: West Coast at Patersons StadiumRd 17: Carlton at the SCGRd 18: Hawthorn at the MCGRd 19: Essendon at the SCGRd 20: Port Adelaide at Adelaide OvalRd 21: St Kilda at the SCGRd 22: Western Bulldogs at Etihad StadiumRd 23: Richmond at ANZ Stadium40 points (10 wins, four losses) 132 per centThe Dockers have a fantastic draw in the run home and are right in top-four calculations. After a narrow win in the derby against the Eagles , Fremantle now has a relatively easy month. The Dockers face Melbourne, GWS, St Kilda and Carlton and should beat all four. The toughest task for the Dockers comes in the final four rounds - they face Geelong away, Hawthorn at home, the Lions in Brisbane and then Port Adelaide at home in round 23.Rd 16: Melbourne at TIO StadiumRd 17: Greater Western Sydney at Patersons StadiumRd 18: St Kilda at Etihad StadiumRd 19: Carlton at Patersons StadiumRd 20: Geelong at Simonds StadiumRd 21: Hawthorn at Patersons StadiumRd 22: Brisbane Lions at the GabbaRd 23: Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium40 points (10 wins, four losses) 106.8 per centThe Cats are just outside the top four on percentage and have a reasonable run home and a rapidly diminishing injury list, so a top-four berth is not out of the question. After back-to-back six day breaks against Gold Coast and Essendon, the draw has now opened up for the Cats. North Melbourne, Fremantle and Hawthorn shape as tough opponents, but rounding out their home and away campaign at home to the Brisbane Lions gives them the chance to hit the finals in top form.Rd 16: Western Bulldogs at Simonds StadiumRd 17: Melbourne at the MCGRd 18: Greater Western Sydney at Spotless StadiumRd 19: North Melbourne at Etihad StadiumRd 20: Fremantle at Simonds StadiumRd 21: Carlton at Etihad StadiumRd 22: Hawthorn at the MCGRd 23: Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium

The Cats are set for another finals campaign but Chappy and the Dons may find it tough. Picture: AFL Media







6. Collingwood

36 points (nine wins, five losses) 114.1 per cent



combined with the Kangaroos' slip-up in Brisbane leaves the Pies with a surer foothold in the top eight. But a testing period lies ahead, with one game against Hawthorn remaining, one against Port Adelaide and Saturday's away clash against Gold Coast shaping as tough assignments. The Pies also have, to use a golfing analogy, tricky three-footers against Essendon, Adelaide and West Coast at Patersons Stadium. The only wins to pencil in are the games against the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney. Five wins would be enough for a finals spot but Collingwood is long odds to finish top four.

36 points (nine wins, five losses) 114.1 per cent Sunday's win over Carlton combined with the Kangaroos' slip-up in Brisbane leaves the Pies with a surer foothold in the top eight. But a testing period lies ahead, with one game against Hawthorn remaining, one against Port Adelaide and Saturday's away clash against Gold Coast shaping as tough assignments. The Pies also have, to use a golfing analogy, tricky three-footers against Essendon, Adelaide and West Coast at Patersons Stadium. The only wins to pencil in are the games against the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney. Five wins would be enough for a finals spot but Collingwood is long odds to finish top four.





The run home:

Rd 16: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium

Rd 17: Essendon at the MCG

Rd 18: Adelaide at the MCG

Rd 19: Port Adelaide at the MCG

Rd 20: West Coast at Patersons Stadium

Rd 21: Brisbane Lions at the MCG

Rd 22: Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium

Rd 23: Hawthorn at the MCG



7. North Melbourne

32 points (eight wins, six losses) 110 per cent



The Roos have had an inconsistent year and



The run home:

Rd 16: Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium

Rd 17: St Kilda at Blundstone Arena

Rd 18: Carlton at Etihad Stadium

Rd 19: Geelong at Etihad Stadium

Rd 20: Greater Western Sydney at Startrack Oval

Rd 21: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium

Rd 22: Adelaide at Blundstone Arena

Rd 23: Melbourne at Etihad Stadium



8. Gold Coast

32 points (eight wins, six losses) 101.2 per cent



The Suns are holding onto that final spot in the eight with Essendon breathing down their necks. A shock win over the Cats helped their cause greatly a fortnight ago but a



The run home:

Rd 16: Collingwood at Metricon Stadium

Rd 17: Western Bulldogs at Cazaly's Stadium

Rd 18: Brisbane Lions at the Gabba

Rd 19: St Kilda at Metricon Stadium

Rd 20: Carlton at Etihad Stadium

Rd 21: Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium

Rd 22: Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Rd 23: West Coast at Metricon Stadium Rd 16: Gold Coast at Metricon StadiumRd 17: Essendon at the MCGRd 18: Adelaide at the MCGRd 19: Port Adelaide at the MCGRd 20: West Coast at Patersons StadiumRd 21: Brisbane Lions at the MCGRd 22: Greater Western Sydney at Spotless StadiumRd 23: Hawthorn at the MCG32 points (eight wins, six losses) 110 per centThe Roos have had an inconsistent year and a shock loss to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night has all but shut the door on a top-four finish. They should, however, make the finals comfortably with a relatively easy draw. Five of the Roos' eight remaining games are against this year's bottom-six sides. They play just two top-eight teams in Hawthorn and Geelong, which will prove a challenge but North should still finish comfortably in the top eight.Rd 16: Hawthorn at Etihad StadiumRd 17: St Kilda at Blundstone ArenaRd 18: Carlton at Etihad StadiumRd 19: Geelong at Etihad StadiumRd 20: Greater Western Sydney at Startrack OvalRd 21: Western Bulldogs at Etihad StadiumRd 22: Adelaide at Blundstone ArenaRd 23: Melbourne at Etihad Stadium32 points (eight wins, six losses) 101.2 per centThe Suns are holding onto that final spot in the eight with Essendon breathing down their necks. A shock win over the Cats helped their cause greatly a fortnight ago but a disappointing performance against Hawthorn on Saturday wasn't ideal. The task doesn't get any easier, with a meeting against Collingwood next weekend at Metricon Stadium. But following that, Gold Coast has a favourable run home although there are several danger games including away matches against Carlton and Essendon and Port Adelaide at home.Rd 16: Collingwood at Metricon StadiumRd 17: Western Bulldogs at Cazaly's StadiumRd 18: Brisbane Lions at the GabbaRd 19: St Kilda at Metricon StadiumRd 20: Carlton at Etihad StadiumRd 21: Port Adelaide at Metricon StadiumRd 22: Essendon at Etihad StadiumRd 23: West Coast at Metricon Stadium



Gary Ablett could lead the Suns to their maiden September appearance. Picture: AFL Media















