Mathematically the top eight can still be shaped by 12 clubs. Realistically only nine are left in the race to the flag.
The four teams outside the eight all vying for spots are Richmond, Collingwood, Gold Coast and West Coast.
The latter club is sitting two games out, on nine wins (but a very healthy percentage), whilst the other three are only one game out.
Port Adelaide take on Carlton Friday night at Adelaide Oval, and a win there is essential for the Power’s top four chances. Coming into this round it sat one game out of the four and must win its remaining games to give it a chance at the illustrious double chance.
North Melbourne and Adelaide will face off on Saturday. North Melbourne will be without champion midfielder Brent Harvey, who was rubbed out for three weeks due to a misconduct charge against Bulldog Liam Picken in last week’s clash. North Melbourne has all but consolidated its September berth but is still a mathematical chance for a top four spot, and a win will keep those hopes alive. Adelaide, on the other hand, needs to win this one, keeping its neck inside the eight by percentage alone, with a rampant Richmond right on its tail.
Essendon hosts the Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium, and should do enough to take away the four points. Essendon’s Brownlow Medal fancy Dyson Heppell was ruled out for one week, after having surgery on a fractured hand he suffered earlier in the week at training. Heppell has averaged 28 touches a game this season.
Club doctor Bruce Reid was confident the playmaker would feature next week.
“Dyson sustained a fracture in his hand during training this morning (Wednesday) but we were extremely fortunate that Greg Hoy was available to operate on his hand within the hour,” Reid said on the Bombers’ website.
“The surgery was a success, Dyson had a plate and screws inserted into his hand and we’re confident his recovery time will be minimal.”
Meanwhile, Collingwood travels to western Sydney on Saturday to take on the Giants, without a string of its stars, that could spell a shock win for the locals. After two consecutive 10 goal drubbings, at the hands of West Coast and the Brisbane Lions, Collingwood must win to hope any miracle of featuring in finals footy is left ajar. Against the Lions it lost forward Travis Cloke, utility Ben Reid and midfielder Dayne Beams (and captain Scott Pendlebury pre-game), with Reid and Beams set to miss the remainder of 2014. The Magpies have lost seven of their past nine.
West Coast will host Melbourne on Saturday, and after a disappointing three point loss to Essendon last week, having led by 34 early into the third quarter, the Eagles need to come away with four points to keep their very slim September hopes alive. After some promising signs earlier in the season, Melbourne has found itself sitting above last spot by percentage alone.
Hawthorn and Geelong at the MCG on Saturday is undoubtedly game of the round, and knowing these two could be match of the season, with a great deal at stake. A Hawthorn loss will spell the end of its top-two aspirations and a home final in week of the finals. A Hawthorn win will just about guarantee that these two teams will meet again in the week of the finals. The game’s modern arch-rivals will undeniably give spectators another classic, with so much riding on this result.
Sunday will see Brisbane host Fremantle, the Western Bulldogs take on Sydney at Etihad Stadium and Richmond clashing with St Kilda at the MCG. It is hard to go beyond the favourites in all three games, with Fremantle, Sydney and Richmond seemingly too strong for their opponents.