Unique AFL season set for a fascinating final round

Uncertainty abounds among finals contenders with two rounds of the 2020 AFL season remaining and clubs seeking to maximise their flag hopes.

Fremantle’s Nathan Wilson kicks ahead during the Dockers’ 6.11 (47) to 4.9 (33) win over Melbourne at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns on Monday night. Picture: Getty Images

As Marcus Bontempelli willed a long-range goal over the line on Sunday night to clinch a win for the Western Bulldogs over West Coast, anyone assoicated with clubs at the bottom of the eight was gnashing their teeth.

The triumph by the Bulldogs ensured the battle for the lower rungs in the eight will continue through to the final round, with five sides contending for the bottom three spots.

The race for the top four also remains a thriller, with five clubs still in contention despite the Eagles’ two-point loss to the Bulldogs.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

An enthralling finish to the season is guaranteed in the final round of a unique season, with the schedule for Round 18 expected to be outlined by the AFL this week.

The rub of the green could well determine whether those in contention in the lower reaches of the eight are able to extend their premiership hopes into October.

An ounce of luck here or there could prove all the difference. Or, to borrow from Bontempelli, a “bee’s dick” might mean the difference between playing in an elimination final and extinction in 2020.

The Saints, for example, had ample reason to lament Sunday night’s result despite their win earlier in the day over Hawthorn.

Fremantle did the Saints and their rivals a significant favour by upsetting Melbourne by 14 points in Cairns on Monday night.

The loss is particularly costly for the Demons, who will now struggle to make the eight even if they defeat the Giants on Saturday night in Brisbane and Essendon in the final round.

St Kilda’s Dean Kent in action against Brisbane at the Gabba. Picture: Michael Klein

Regardless of what happens from now on, they will finish with a positive win-loss record in 2020 as a result of that victory. But that may not be enough to play finals, so tight is the race.

St Kilda still needs to beat either West Coast on Thursday or fellow finals rival the Giants in Rd 18 to guarantee their first appearance since 2011.

Had fate fallen their way in some tight finishes — they have won only one of their five matches decided by one goal or less — the spot would already be sewn up.

Had the goal review official ruled against Bontempelli, a key rival would have been eliminated.

Where to look 👀

Enjoy the @wolfblasswines Last Two Minutes between the @westernbulldogs and the @WestCoastEagles. pic.twitter.com/hXxCol2pbX

— AFL (@AFL) September 6, 2020

A glance to the grandstands on Sunday night would scarcely have eased their edge either.

Given the compressed nature of the season, the Eagles opted to rest match-winning ruckman Nic Naitanui against the Bulldog citing a sore back.

Would his presence have made the difference in a match decided by two points? It certainly would not have hurt the Eagles, which are still in contention to earn a double-chance.

But on Thursday night, the superstar Eagle is set to return to the fray against the Saints in Brisbane in what is a critical clash for both clubs.

It should be stressed St Kilda are confident in their ability to clinch a finals berth regardless of the quality of the opposition they face in the final two weeks.

The Eagles record on the east coast is nowhere near as imposing as at home and the Saints have proven themselves capable of scintillating football against all comers this season.

After two narrow losses, the Saints defeated Hawthorn by 14 points on Sunday in a victory that bolstered their belief according to forward Dean Kent.

“This season is all about momentum,” he told RSN 927. “Ratts (coach Brett Ratten) did speak about what it meant for us as a group and where we want to head. It was a talking point. It gave us a little spur and it was good to get the result.”

Collingwood, another side yet to confirm a spot, is set to be boosted by the return of several critical players by the finals.

But they need to qualify first, with clashes against the Suns in Brisbane and the top-placed Port Adelaide far from the easiest draw to contend with for the seventh-placed Magpies.

Chief among the pivotal games in terms of the premiership is Friday night’s clash between reigning premiers Richmond and Geelong.

Josh Jenkins, who played his first match for Geelong in their demolition of Essendon, said there was a significant amount riding on the match, including securing the double-chance.

“You can’t win a final this week, but you can at least give yourself great confidence that you can at least match it with another contender,” he said.

“It will be a test for both sides to cement a top-four or top-two spot, but also to test ourselves against each other and see where we land.”