With 7 rounds to go here is an analysis on the run down to the finals for the remaining contenders. In ladder order at the completion of round 16

1. Geelong 12/3

Draw: Saints (H) Hawks (MCG) Swans (A) Freo (A) Roos (H) Lions (A) Carl (H)

Medical: No major long term injuries. Cockatoo soon to resume

Recent form: have lost 2 of their last 3 to teams fighting for a finals spot, Port and the mighty & brilliant Bulldogs.

Only play 1 current top 8 side, the Lions at the Gabba, on the run home. They have a relatively soft draw although 3 interstate away games against teams still in contention could ask a few questions of them. I think they have a soft underbelly so it wouldn’t surprise me if they drop a few. But with this draw and easily the best percentage expect them to still finish on top or at least top 2. Yuk!


2. West Coast Eagles 11/4

Draw: Coll (H) Melb (A) North (H) Carl (A) Adel (H) Rich (A) Hawks (H)

Medical: Duggan & Vardy out for the medium term. Venables uncertain.

Recent form: have won 8 of their last 9

They are starting to look ominous and are the team to beat. They play 3 of the current top 8. Two of them, Pies & Crows, are in questionable form. The rest won’t give them nightmares. Natanui is back. Top 2 for sure. Unless the Bulldogs put the 2016 band back together then they will need thick padding for their backsides.


3. Collingwood 10/5

Draw: WCE (A) GWS (A) Rich (H) Suns (H) Melb (MCG) Adel (A) Ess (H)

Medical: Howe, Langdon, Wells, Beams, Reid & Dunn are on the indefinite/unavailable list.

Recent form: have lost 3 of their last 5 to teams contending (Freo, North, Hawks)

The next 3 rounds will probably dictate their prospects as they play top 6 teams, 2 of them interstate. Then they face the Crows away & meet 2 other rival teams. They have injury & form worries. Will be tough to hang on to a top 4 spot. BTW! Who fell asleep at the AFL to give them 3 away games in the last part of the season? Whoever he is, he’s a dead man walking if they fail.


4. Brisbane 10/5

Draw: Port (A) North (H) Hawks (A) Dogs (H) Suns (H) Cats (H) Rich (A)

Medical: practically a clean bill of health (Dogs! Hire the guy responsible)

Recent form: have won 4 from their last 5. The one loss was to Carlton but made a statement by beating GWS away last round. (loved it, I had an extra beer!)

Chris Fagan has brought the Hawthorn intel to Brisbane. This team of youthful exuberance, are firing well. They have no injuries and ready to play finals again. They have a challenging draw for an inexperienced finals team but on current form should hold their ground. If they swap their jumpers for the brown and yellow vertical stripes they will win the premiership.


5. GWS 9/6

Draw: Rich (A) Coll (H) Port (A) Swans (H) Hawks (H) Dogs (H) Suns (A)

Medical: Ward is out for the season. Kelly, De Boer and Patton are out for at least a few weeks. Several fringe players are out likewise. Hard to find this info. Perhaps they want us to think everyone is fit and the sky is orange. Pewk!

Recent form: Have lost 3 of their last 4 (Adel, Ess, Lions). Isn’t that great?

Having had to go firstly to the Pies website for info, I then had to endure going to the website of these flogs to analyse their prospects for this year. The things I do for you people! Don’t you love the cushy draw to finish their season of 3 home games followed by a weekend in the sun their Dad gave them? I hate them & so should you.


6. Richmond 9/6

Draw: GWS (H) Port (H) Coll (MCG) Melb (MCG) Carl (H) WCE (H) Lions (H)

Medical: Rance for the season is the big one. Nankervis should come back.

Recent form: Have won their last 2 to easy beats but lost previous 3 to contenders.

Have a tough run home playing 5 of their last 7 games v teams currently in the 8. This includes 3 of the top 4 as it stands. They will be comforted by the fact that all their remaining games are at the MCG. Isn't that nice of the AFL?


7. Port 8/7

Draw: Lions (H) Rich (A) GWS (H) Ess (A) Swans (H) North (A) Freo (H)

Medical: Harder to find than GWS injury list.

Recent form: they just seem to go WLWLWLWLWL

First thing I noticed when I went to the Port site was an article about how their youngsters had re-signed. There is a pic of these youngsters with their signatures emblazoned on their photos but it looks more like pre school scrawl. Do youngsters know how to write anymore or is this what happens when you go to Port? They have 3 tough games coming up against top 6 sides followed by games vs teams that could still be in contention. Won’t be easy for these pre-schoolers


8. Adelaide 8/7

Draw: Suns (A) Ess (H) Carl (A) Saints (H) WCE (A) Coll (H) Dogs (A)

Medical: Doedee (season) & Lynch for the short term.

Recent form: lost last 2 badly but had 3 good wins in a row prior.

They have 4 very winnable games coming up which should set them up for a finals berth as they could go to 12/7. Finish with 3 tough assignments. If they don’t make it it’s there own fault!


9. Essendon 8/7

Draw: North (H) Crows (A) Suns (A) Port (H) Dogs (H) Freo (A) Coll (MCG)

Medical: Daniher & Bellchambers are long term

Recent form: have won 4 of their last 5

Only play 1 top 4 team on the run home. Most other games are against middle tier teams. Not a scary draw especially if any of the middle tier teams drop off. This week’s game v North could be defining. I won't be happy if they make the finals, just saying.


10. North Melb 7/8

Draw: Ess (A) Lions (A) WCE (A) Hawks (H) Cats (A) Port (H) Melb (Tas)

Medical: Hall & Jacobs headline a lengthy list of players out indefinitely. Higgins will miss a few.

Recent form: have won 5 of their past 6

Have been in sparkling form since they got rid of their coach. They have a tough run home though starting with Bombers this week and play 3 of the top 4 sides. They have a lengthy injury list so their depth will be tested. If they make it to the finals it could be the story of the season.


11. Fremantle 7/8

Draw: Hawks (A) Swans (H) Dogs (A) Cats (H) Saints (H) Ess (H) Port (A)

Medical: I had to watch a video for this info. I’m not that dedicated!

Recent form: Have lost their past 3 games incl stinkers v Melb & Carlton

The draw isn’t unkind to them but they seem to be unkind to themselves. Freo are weird. They will probably beat us coz that’s what they do.


12. Bulldogs 7/8

Draw: Melb (H) Saints (Marvel) Freo (H) Lions (A) Ess (H) GWS (A) Crows (H)

Medical: Wallis & Morris are back in VFL, Libba is close, Daniel a few weeks away

Recent form: we have won 3 of our last 4

The great wins v Cats & Port have set us up for possibly a thrilling finish to the season. We have 5 very winnable games & our list is in good shape. Tough away games to Lions & GWS could be defining and we need to boost our percentage. Smashing Melb this week by 140 points will help!


The following teams still have a mathematical chance

13. Hawthorn 6/9

Draw: Freo (H) Cats (MCG) Lions (H) North (A) GWS (A) Suns (H) WCE (A)

As they say “No Wingard, No Hawthorn!” Also no Mitchell & Roughead is old.

14. Sydney 6/9

Draw: Carl (H) Freo (A) Cats (H) GWS (A) Port (A) Melb (A) Saints (H)

They should play Allir Allir at Full forward

15. Saints 6/9

Draw: Cats (H) Dogs (A) Melb (H) Crows (A) Freo (H) Carl (A) Swans (A)

It all depends on when they decide to get rid of their coach!

16. Melbourne 5/10

Draw: Dogs (A) WCE (H) Saints (A) Rich (H) Coll (H) Swans (H) North (A)

It all could depend on when they decide to get rid of their coach! They should swap coaches with the Saints.