AFL live ladder: Where every club is placed on the run home

Collingwood is a game behind the fourth-placed Tigers, but they might be about to make a move as the finals arrive early in what could be the AFL’s ‘moving round’. SEE THE LADDER + RUN HOME

Jack Macrae and the Dogs look ahead as Dylan Shiel and the Bombers lament. Picture: AAP

As the race for the top eight and top four goes down to the wire, follow every ladder move — and our finals predictions — across the weekend.

Richmond and West Coast were the big winners on Sunday, as both moved back inside the top four and a game clear.

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But the two teams meet next Sunday and the stakes could barely be higher, with Collingwood ready to leapfrog the Tigers into the top four if they slip up at the MCG.

Essendon sits seventh with two round to play but the Bombers’ finals hopes are in hanging by a thread after one of the worst performances in the club’s history against the Western Bulldogs.

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The Dons entered Saturday’s clash at Marvel Stadium in seventh spot on 44 points with a percentage of 100.1. The Bombers have two tough fixtures to come, against Fremantle in Perth and Collingwood at the MCG, and may need to win both to stay alive.

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Meanwhile, St Kilda all but knocked the Dockers out of finals contention with a nailbiting three-point win yesterday.

In another big result, Geelong reclaimed top spot on percentage thanks to a crushing win over North Melbourne after the Brisbane Lions had earlier briefly jumped to the top of the ladder after thrashing Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, the Giants’ costly annihilation at the hands of Hawthorn leaves them almost no chance of making the top four.

Scroll down to see what herald Sun reporter JON ANDERSON says about your club.

THE RUN HOME

What the final rounds look like for top eight contenders.

1. GEELONG 60 134.3%

Rd 22 Brisbane Lions (Gabba)

Rd 23 Carlton (GMHBA Stadium)

Ando says: There were signs. More speed and better contested numbers, but the Brisbane Lions are rightful favourites on Saturday. Gary Ablett’s 10 tackles gives him 40 in his past six games, while the Cats’ forward line regained its manic pressure of the first 12 rounds. Pace is their friend.

2. BRISBANE LIONS 60 121.8%

Rd 22 Geelong (Gabba)

Rd 23 Richmond (MCG)

Ando says: Not that he plays many bad ones, but Jarryd Lyons was always going to stick it up his old club for letting him go. He is an integral part of the smartest list management currently on display in the AFL. Marcus Adams’ marking down back is another shrewd part of the Lions’ recruiting.

3. WEST COAST 60 117.0%

Rd 22: Richmond (MCG)

Rd 23: Hawthorn (Perth Stadium)

Ando says: I suspect a desperate opposition reduced the quality of the Eagles win, but watching their game against Adelaide wouldn’t have rivals shaking in their boots. Josh Kennedy remains a conundrum, with increasing time between his good and bad games.

Shane Edwards and his Tiger teammates celebrate a goal. Picture: Getty Images

4. RICHMOND 56 112.8%

Rd 22 West Coast (MCG)

Rd 23 Brisbane Lions (MCG)

Ando says: Just wondering if the Tigers are going as well as at the same time in 2017-2018? They still need to settle on their best 22 and remain no morals to make the top four given their run home. Then again, Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin are promising kids who should make a difference on return.

5. COLLINGWOOD 52 113.9%

Rd 22 Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)

Rd 23 Essendon (MCG)

Ando says: Much has been made of the Pies going with a smaller forward set-up, but a pillar is still required, hence Jordan Roughead’s selfless style in a role with which he isn’t unfamiliar. Given Richmond’s draw, the top four remains realistic and don’t discount their hunger after last year.

6. GWS GIANTS 48 116.5%

Rd 22 Western Bulldogs (Giants Stadium)

Rd 23 Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium)

Ando says: How did the Giants manage to produce that spiritless rubbish after three weeks of grit? Yes, they had significant outs, but blah, blah, blah, so did plenty of other teams which at least gave a yelp. Their 2019 flag dreams are all but over. Wonder if it influences Stephen Coniglio’s decision?

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Bailey Dale boosts the Bulldogs’ percentage against Essendon.

7. ESSENDON — 44, 93.8%

Rd 22 Fremantle (PS)

Rd 23 Collingwood (MCG)

Ando says: John Worsfold has never been fully embraced by all facets of the club, so such a loss provides an arsenal of ammunition. Possibly better to allow him a crack at next year with the past two best-and-fairests, Devon Smith and Joe Daniher, fit.

8. PORT ADELAIDE — 40, 109.0%

Rd 22 North Melbourne (Marvel)

Rd 23 Fremantle (AO)

Ando says: Has there been a draft since 2004 where better players than Sam Walsh, Jack Lukosius and Connor Rozee were taken in the top five? Todd Marshall is such an exciting mobile key forward and Peter Ladhams looks ready to accept the No.1 rucking role for 2020.

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9. ADELAIDE — 40, 107.5%

Rd 22 Collingwood (AO)

Rd 23 Western Bulldogs (Ballarat)

Ando says: Darcy Fogarty must have been doing a lot wrong to have spent so long in the SANFL. Trading either or both Crouch brothers is lunacy. The Crows just need to compliment their skill set with outside run via trade week and the draft. Because their contested ball-winning skills are priceless.

10. WESTERN BULLDOGS — 40, 102.2%

Rd 22 GWS Giants (GS)

Rd 23 Adelaide (Ballarat)

Ando says: The evidence is becoming compelling that Sydney should have matched the pick 25 used on Josh Dunkley in 2015. Like several members of his team, big possessions are the norm. Hopefully Aaron Naughton and Josh Schache can grow together up forward.

The Hawks need a miracle, but we’re not prepared to write off Alastair Clarkson.

11. HAWTHORN — 36, 102.2%

Rd 22 Gold Coast (Marvel)

Rd 23 West Coast (PS)

Ando says: So much to like from the Hawks’ young faces, with Conor Nash and Chad Wingard producing their most significant games for the club. It keeps their dream flickering, which makes it a harder call to give Jarryd Roughead a farewell game on Sunday at Docklands.

12. FREMANTLE — 36, 95.8%

Rd 22 Essendon (PS)

Rd 23 Port Adelaide (AO)

Ando says: Giving up a three-goal start will often prove the difference, especially when you are playing interstate. The Dockers are now effectively two games out of the eight, so no finals this year. Even if they did they would have been making up the numbers, but September experience counts for a young side.

Jack Billings and Brett Ratten enjoy the caretaker coach’s third win. Picture: Getty Images

13. ST KILDA — 36, 85.3%

Rd 22 Carlton (MCG)

Rd 23 Sydney (SCG)

Ando says: The Saints’ coaching position may be the most open of the “interims”, so every win has to count for Brett Ratten. When a team is obviously playing for a coach, as the Saints are, and that coach is so well versed, as Ratten is, it makes it so much harder not to appoint him.

14. NORTH MELBOURNE — 32, 94%

Rd 22 Port Adelaide (Marvel)

Rd 23 Melbourne (Hobart)

Ando says: Scott Thompson is going out the right way as a player who achieved much more than many thought possible. Sadly his team played a drab style of football, with soccer the only football code you normally win by kicking one goal. Ben Brown’s Coleman chances are all but gone.

15. SYDNEY — 24, 91.6%

Rd 22 Melbourne (MCG)

Rd 23 St Kilda (SCG)

Ando says: Just going through the motions as the Swans play out the season for not much reward. Isaac Heeney should challenge Jake Lloyd and Dane Rampe for the Bob Skilton Medal, while Ollie Florent is set for a monster 2020. Finals next year? Why not, but the Swans will need everything to go right.

16. CARLTON — 24, 86.1%

Rd 22 St Kilda (MCG)

Rd 23 Geelong (GMHBA)

Ando says: Three months ago the Blues would have been totally blown away in the same situation, but this is a very different team. It’s likely only one of Dale Thomas or Kade Simpson will get a new one-year deal, but on yesterday’s showing, both deserve to go around again.

17. MELBOURNE — 20, 79.7

Rd 22 Sydney (MCG)

Rd 23 North Melbourne (Hobart)

Ando says: Just more of the same from a side that sits an embarrassing 17th on the ladder. A full pre-season will help many, but is there the cattle to work with? Suspect there are more crossbreeds than pure black angus. As a team, the Demons don’t break enough lines.

18. GOLD COAST — 12, 62.8%

Rd 22 Hawthorn (Marvel)

Rd 23 GWS (Metricon)

Ando says: The Suns are out of petrol and in a sorry state. So given the AFL is committed to their costly cause, why shouldn’t they receive assistance because they have never played finals and never really looked like it. Otherwise their existence is pointless.