As we’ve all come to expect for the last few months, the home and away season is officially going right down to the wire – a team’s whole 2024 campaign could be made or broken by this round alone. There are still nine teams in the running to play in September, if you don’t count Collingwood’s mathematical-only, preposterous assignment – and results from eight of the nine games are going to have a crucial bearing on how the finals series unfolds. Here is what your team needs to do to not only achieve their best possible finish.
.. but also avoid their worst-case scenario.
1. Sydney (vs Adelaide @ the SCG) Best Case: 1st Worst Case: 3rd (but highly unlikely) The Swans did all the hard work at the start of the season to set themselves up for a catch-me-if-you-can campaign, and even through their nightmare run of five losses in six matches, they haven’t been caught. A win over Adelaide will simply be enough to secure top spot and the minor premiership.
More AFL Most likely, even a loss will be good enough as well, as the only two teams that can catch Sydney are Port Adelaide and GWS. Both will need huge wins AND a big loss by the Swans to make up 12.1 and 14.
6 percentage points respectively to dislodge Sydney from the top. It’s a bit of a fantasy scenario. Most likely: 1st 2.
Port Adelaide (vs Fremantle @ Optus Stadium) Best Case: 1st (but highly unlikely) Worst Case: 4th The Power have a virtually impossible chance of stealing the minor premiership, but we’ll sk.