So it all comes down to this: AFL braces itself for toughest round in a dozen years
Securing the last spot in the finals – eighth – will be the hardest an AFL team has had to work in 12 years.
Ahead of the last home-and-away round, the Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, and Carlton are set to fill positions five-to-eight heading into September.
Those four teams will start favourites to win their round 24 matches, with the undermanned Blues having rescued their faltering campaign by smashing West Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Carlton coach Michael Voss was thrilled with his sideās response, having lost five of their previous six matches before taking on the Eagles.
They were also missing a host of their best players, including star forwards Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, for the trip to Perth.
āIāll keep coming back to that word āconsistencyā, thatās something weāve got to do,ā Voss said.
āThe competition demands it.
āWeāre facing the tightest competition Iāve ever seen and it looks like you need 14 wins to get in the eight, thatās unheard of.ā
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Itās not unheard of, but it hasnāt happened since 2012 when North Melbourne needed 14 wins to qualify eighth during a 22-game home-and-away season.
There is an extra game this year, factoring in Gather Round, so the Bulldogs, Hawks and Blues could fill out the last three spots inside the top-eight with a 14-9 record, compared to the Kangaroosā 14-8 in 2012.
But Carlton could still fall back out of the eight on Sunday should they lose to surging St Kilda, and Fremantle account for Port Adelaide later that day.
The Dockers were sitting third after winning the derby against West Coast in round 20, but they have dropped to ninth following three-straight losses.
āWhen āFreoā went down, it was in our hands again, which is a nice position to be in,ā Voss said of the Bluesā finals prospects.
āThis next week, weāre going to step into it big and just enjoy it, enjoy the experience and we canāt wait to get there.
āWeāll absorb this one, weāve got to absorb this one then turn our eyes to St Kilda and finish off really strong.ā
The top four also looks set after the Lions botched a golden opportunity to secure a double-chance when they lost to Collingwood by a point on Saturday.
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Brisbane didnāt trail until the 29-minute mark of the last quarter, but were unable to claim the lead back when Beau McCreeryās snap put the Magpies in front.
The Lions should finish fifth, setting up an elimination final at the Gabba against Carlton or Fremantle.
Sydney will claim the minor premiership for the first time since 2016, having recovered from a shock 112-point thumping by Port Adelaide to win their last two matches.
The Power can secure second ā and a double chance home final ā if they beat the Dockers at Optus Stadium.
GWS could take Portās spot, ensuring an-all NSW quinella, if they defeat the Bulldogs in Ballarat on Sunday and the Power stumble.
Geelong appear set to finish fourth and play the Swans in a qualifying final after being upset by the Saints last Saturday night.
The Cats host West Coast this Saturday, having won by a combined margin of 182 points in their past two games against the Eagles at GMHBA Stadium.
POTENTIAL WEEK-ONE FINALS:
* First qualifying final: Sydney v Geelong, SCG
* Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v GWS, Adelaide Oval
* First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton, Gabba
* Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, MCG
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