Race to September’s top-eight finals could allow for early confirmation of Round 23 fixture

ROUND 23 — the close of the AFL home-and-away series — already appears ready to be locked in at AFL House.

Adelaide’s Rory Laird tackles former Crow Matthew Wright in May. They face off again in the last round. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

AFL commanders of the league fixture might be able to bring out their whiteboard for the home-and-away closer on Round 23 early this season.

The AFL has declared the match-ups and venues for Round 23, but not the timing of the matches. This was not ratified until the start of August last season.

But the race to September’s top-eight finals already appear to have delivered easy decisions for the AFL on how to spread the nine games across three dates from Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26.

Port Adelaide should host Essendon in a Saturday night finish to the home-and-away series at Adelaide Oval on August 25. The AFL is still to lock in the timings of the nine games for the home-and-away closing round in late August. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Friday Night Football can set the agenda for the much-valued top-four rankings and eighth spot with Sydney hosting Hawthorn at the SCG. The Swans would be looking for a top-four finish; the Hawks for eighth spot.

Four of the five games across Saturday would involve teams seeking to lock in their top-eight ranking to September’s finals playing sides that are out of contention.

Top-four contending Port Adelaide would play Essendon at Adelaide Oval with Power chiefs preferring this to be night game to secure the best crowd figures.

The other three games would be — Geelong against also-ran Gold Coast at Kardinia Park; Melbourne preparing for its first AFL final series since 2006 by closing the home-and-away series with GWS at the MCG; and top-four contender Collingwood playing Fremantle in Perth.

Bryce Gibbs embraces former teammate Dale Thomas after the Adelaide recruit’s first match against his former club. Picture SARAH REED

The dead rubber would be of also-rans Carlton and Adelaide at Etihad Stadium. The Crows’ challenge of winning six of their remaining seven home-and-away games to qualify for a fourth consecutive finals series seems beyond Adelaide.

The three Sunday games could all decide top-eight rankings — and have North Melbourne in a must-win game to tip Hawthorn out of the top eight, just as West Coast did to Melbourne last year by beating minor premier Adelaide in Perth — and replacing the Demons in eighth spot on percentage.

Brisbane would host top-four contender West Coast at the Gabba; North Melbourne would know if it is playing for a finals berth when it faces St Kilda at Etihad Stadium and Richmond would take its first VFL-AFL minor premiership since 1982 while playing the also-ran Western Bulldogs at the MCG.

There will be a pre-finals bye for the third consecutive year at the end of the home-and-away series. This removes the concern created with finalists on long road trips in Round 23, such as Collingwood in Perth and West Coast in Brisbane.

HOW ROUND 23 MIGHT LOOK

Friday, August 24

Sydney v Hawthorn (SCG)

Saturday, August 25

PORT ADELAIDE v Essendon (Adelaide Oval)

Geelong v Gold Coast (Kardinia Park)

Melbourne v GWS (MCG)

Fremantle v Collingwood (Perth Stadium)

Carlton v ADELAIDE (Etihad Stadium)

Sunday, August 26

Brisbane v West Coast (Gabba)

St Kilda v North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium)

Richmond v Western Bulldogs (MCG)

Originally published as Race to September’s top-eight finals could allow for early confirmation of Round 23 fixture