The Run Home: What results in Round 20 mean for your team

CAN Essendon, Sydney or Adelaide still sneak into the top eight? Could the Cats miss the finals? After a crazy weekend, it’s time to get the calculator out. FINALS PREDICTION

Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett lead the Bombers off the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

CAN Essendon, Sydney or Adelaide still sneak into the top eight? Could the Cats miss the finals? Time to get the calculator out.

An incredible Round 20 has presented a dizzying range of possibilities over the final three rounds but the reality is the Bombers, Swans and Crows still need a miracle.

The Swans are back in the eight after a remarkable win against Collingwood but it probably won’t be for long, with matches against Melbourne (MCG), GWS Giants (SS) and Hawthorn (SCG) to come.

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That opens the door for the Cats, who have a dream run home while arch-enemy Hawthorn has an eye on a top-four finish.

The Hawks could jump Collingwood or the Giants and claim the double chance to cap what has to be the quickest rebuild in footy history, but they’ll need to knock off the Cats next week. Get your tickets early for that one.

Jack Gunston knows how big this win was for Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Klein

The most vulnerable side in the eight is Port Adelaide — no wonder Ken Hinkley was so filthy the goal review allowed Josh Jenkins’ matchwinning snap to stand.

The Power has two games at home which should be enough but slip up against the Eagles next week or the Bombers in Round 23 and it’s game on, with North Melbourne the most likely to snatch the final spot in September.

The Giants would have been cheering hard for the Crows and Swans on Saturday and can jump to third with a win against Carlton today. How big will the decision not to award a free kick to Jake Carlisle in Round 5 turn out to be?

Scroll down to see our predictions for the final three rounds and what the first week of finals will look like.

1. Richmond 60 135.7

v Gold Coast (Metricon) W

v Essendon (MCG) W

v Western Bulldogs (MCG) W

The MCG kings extended their home venue steak to 19 and with their healthy percentage now cannot miss a top-two spot. Will some sore soldiers get a rest this week?

2. West Coast* 52 121.3

v Fremantle (Perth) W

v Port Adelaide (AO) L

v Melbourne (Perth) W

v Brisbane Lions (Gabba) W

Even without Josh Kennedy, the Perth derby today should fire up the Eagles again and move them a step closer to hosting a qualifying final.

3. Hawthorn 48 121.4

v Geelong (MCG) L

v St Kilda (ES) W

v Sydney (SCG) W

Took a huge step towards playing finals yesterday and now face traditional rivals Geelong at the ’G on Saturday. Win that and a double chance is back in the mix for Clarko’s men.

4. Collingwood 48 118.1

v Sydney (SCG) L

v Brisbane Lions (MCG) W

v Port Adelaide (MCG) W

v Fremantle (Perth) W

The injury-hit Pies might have missed their shot at finishing second thanks to some Tom McCartin magic last night. One more win might be enough to see the black and white army in the finals but they could be travelling to Perth in week one.

5. Port Adelaide 48 114.9

v West Coast (AO) W

v Collingwood (MCG) L

v Essendon (AO) W

Not only lost SA bragging rights yesterday, but now face a tricky final three weeks just to make finals. Two wins at home will be enough to make September.

Charlie Dixon and Jack Watts rue a missed opportunity. Picture: Sarah Reed

6. Sydney 44 109.9

v Collingwood (SCG) W

v Melbourne (MCG) L

v GWS Giants (SS) L

v Hawthorn (SCG) L

The Swans were hoping for a bit of Alex Johnson inspiration last night. But their poor percentage could even mean they need to win 14 games to make the finals.

7. GWS Giants* 46 113.6

v Carlton (ES) W

v Adelaide (Canberra) W

v Sydney (SS) W

v Melbourne (MCG) L

The form team of the comp should make it eight wins from nine games today and can make finals a certainty the following week. One of the biggest winners of the round, likely to sit in the top four tonight.

8. Melbourne* 44 127.3

v Gold Coast (MCG) W

v Sydney (MCG) W

v West Coast (Perth) L

v GWS Giants (MCG) W

The Dees huge percentage means they are likely to need just two more wins to break their 12-year finals drought and one of them should come today.

9. Geelong 44 118.8

v Hawthorn (MCG) W

v Fremantle (GMHBA) W

v Gold Coast (GMHBA) W

How are the Cats still out of the eight? Forget Friday night, the Cats are pretty much home-and-hosed, provided they get payback for Easter Monday against the Hawks.

10. North Melbourne 44 110.1

v Western Bulldogs (ES) W

v Adelaide (AO) L

v St Kilda (ES) W

Having conquered West Coast and the Lions at the Gabba, the Roos are still alive. But poor percentage means any slip up could be terminal for finals. Crows away their major hurdle.

So close … Essendon needs a miracle to make it from here. Picture: Michael Klein

11. Essendon 40 102.3

v St Kilda (ES) W

v Richmond (MCG) L

v Port Adelaide (AO) L

Sorry Hirdy. As good as the Dons have been since their Round 8 loss to the Blues, yesterday’s defeat makes it almost impossible. Would need to win all three and by big margins.

12. Adelaide 40 98.6

v GWS Giants (Canberra) L

v North Melb (AO) W

v Carlton (ES) W

The Crows have a pulse! Mathematically still alive but will need to upset the Giants in Canberra and then spank the Roos and Blues to sneak through on percentage. Seems unlikely but this season, who knows?

* yet to play in Round 20

PREDICTED FINAL LADDER

1. Richmond 18-4 72

2. West Coast 16-6 64

3. Collingwood 15-7 60

4. GWS Giants 14-1-7 58

5. Melbourne 14-8 56

6. Hawthorn 13-9 56

7. Geelong 14-8 56

8. Port Adelaide 15-7 56

9. North Melbourne 13-9 52

10. Sydney 12-10 48

11. Adelaide 11-11 48

12. Essendon 12-10 44

FIRST WEEK OF FINALS

QF 1: Richmond vs GWS Giants

QF 2: West Coast vs Collingwood

EF1: Melbourne vs Port Adelaide

EF2: Hawthorn vs Geelong