Eight of the top nine teams have been predicted to move positions once the home and away season is over. Pivotal games and percentage could be the factors that change multiple spots ahead of the end of the Home and away season.
Some big games hold a lot of ramifications to end the season. A ladder predictor gives us a look at what potentially could be the matchups for the 2025 AFL Finals series.
Adelaide has now taken top spot from Collingwood, and it is predicted that they will win all three of their last games to take home the minor premiership.
They have a run home of the West Coast, Collingwood and North Melbourne. They should take care of West Coast and North Melbourne, which means the big game is against the Pies.
Collingwood vs Adelaide in Adelaide could be the game that decides first on the ladder, and it is predicted that Matthew Nicks leads his side to a big win in front of an amazing crowd.
Brisbane, which just won against Collingwood at the MCG, is predicted to host the other qualifying final. The reigning premiers should win all of their last games against Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn.
Fremantle is hosting the Lions in round 23, which is another game that could shape a lot of the top eight, but the experience of Chris Fagan's team should hold on to win that.
The Cats are also destined to win their last three games as they continue to face teams outside the top eight. Sydney at the SCG would be their hardest game for their run home, and Geelong should take care of business just like they always do.
With Geelong predicted to be tied on record with two other teams, percentage will boost them into 3rd spot.
Collingwood, who have been premiership favourites most of the year, have now dropped to second on the ladder after losing three of the past four. It is predicted that they will drop to fourth on the Ladder come season's end.
As mentioned before, the game that decides quite a lot is against Adelaide. Other than that, they are predicted to hold on to beat Hawthorn and Melbourne. If the Pies do beat Adelaide, it will be hard to see them not finish in the top two.
The Magpies are only hanging on by percentage with Gold Coast right under them. The Suns, who are currently sixth, have an extra game in hand against Essendon at home, and are predicted to finish just short of the top four due to percentage.
Gold Coast have a run home of Carlton, Giants, Port Adelaide, and Essendon, as they are predicted to win all four games, which will see them finish 5th to host an Elimination final for their first-ever appearance in September.
The game against the Giants is another game to shape the eight. This could prove a result either way, but it is predicted that Gold Coast will hold on due to home crowd advantage.
Western Bulldogs are set to jump into the eight, to host the other Elimination Final against their rival, the Giants, who are predicted to finish 7th.
Bulldogs would manage to have the same record as the Giants and Dockers, but their big percentage will see them finish above them.
Fremantle are seemingly set to earn the last spot in September, as they are predicted to face the Suns in that Elimination final.
Hawthorn, who are currently in the top eight, are predicted to be the team that, unfortunately, falls out. Their hard run home of Collingwood, Melbourne and Brisbane makes it tough for them to earn a spot in September.
Then there is a drop off to the final nine teams, who aren't predicted to be close to appearing in September. Sydney seems to finish 10th, just four wins behind 8th spot.
Carlton and Saint Kilda are predicted to finish 11th and 12th, both gaining nine wins; percentage will be the only thing that separates them. Port Adelaide finishes 13th on eight wins.
Melbourne and Essendon aren't predicted to win any more games as they finish 14th and 15th, respectively.
While the bottom three will see some movement, with North Melbourne predicted to beat Richmond at home in Round 23, which would see them jump over them and finish 16th.
Richmond and West Coast are predicted to lose out from here, as they set their eyes on the Draft. This result would see the West Coast gaining Pick one and potentially Pick two, depending on forward Oscar Allen's pending free agency.
Richmond will then gain the next two picks as North Melbourne traded their first-round pick to them last year.
Predicted Final AFL Ladder
1. Adelaide
Current Record: 15-5
Predicted record: 18-5
Predicted Percentage: 143.5
Run Home: WCE (A), COLL (H), NM (A)
2. Brisbane
Current Record: 14-5-1
Predicted record: 17-5-1
Predicted Percentage: 114.4
Run Home: SYD (H), FREO (A), HAW (H)
3. Geelong
Current Record: 14-6
Predicted record: 17-6
Predicted Percentage: 138.7
Run Home: ESS (H), SYD (A), RICH (A)
4. Collingwood
Current Record: 15-5
Predicted record: 17-6
Predicted Percentage: 128.5
Run Home: HAW (A), ADEL (A), MELB (H)
5. Gold Coast
Current Record: 13-6
Predicted record: 17-6
Predicted Percentage: 128.4
Run Home: CARL (A), GWS (H), PORT (A), ESSE (H)
6. Western Bulldogs
Current Record: 12-8
Predicted record: 15-8
Predicted Percentage:138.3
Run Home: MELB (A), WCE (H), FREO (H)
7. GWS
Current Record: 13-7
Predicted record: 15-8
Predicted Percentage: 112.6
Run Home: NM (H), GCS (A), STK (H)
8. Fremantle
Current Record: 14-6
Predicted record: 15-8
Predicted Percentage: 109.9
Run Home: PORT (A), BRIS (H), WBD (A)
9. Hawthorn
Current Record: 13-7
Predicted record: 14-9
Predicted Percentage: 113.7
Run Home: COLL (H), MELB (H), BRIS (A)
10. Sydney
Current Record: 10-10
Predicted record: 11-12
Predicted Percentage: 94.2
Run Home: BRIS (A), GEEL (H), WCE (A)
11. Carlton
Current Record: 7-13
Predicted record: 9-14
Predicted Percentage: 94.2
Run Home: GCS (H), PORT (H), ESS (A)
12. St Kilda
Current Record: 7-13
Predicted record: 9-14
Predicted Percentage: 89.4
Run Home: RICH (A), ESS (A), GWS (A)
13. Port Adelaide
Current Record: 8-12
Predicted record: 8-15
Predicted Percentage: 79.4
Run Home: FREO (H), CARL (A), GCS (H)
14. Melbourne
Current Record: 7-13
Predicted record: 7-16
Predicted Percentage: 91
Run Home: WBD (H), HAW (A), COLL (A)
15. Essendon
Current Record: 6-13
Predicted record: 6-17
Predicted Percentage: 71.1
Run Home: GEEL (A), STK (H), CARL (H), GCS (A)
16. North Melbourne
Current Record: 4-15-1
Predicted record: 5-17-1
Predicted Percentage: 74.6
Run Home: GWS (A), RICH (H), ADEL (H)
17. Richmond
Current Record: 5-15
Predicted record: 5-18
Predicted Percentage: 67.5
Run Home: STK (H), NM (A), GEEL (H)
18. West Coast
Current Record: 1-19
Predicted record: 1-22
Predicted Percentage: 62.5
Run Home: ADEL (H), WBD (A), SYD (H)
