In another AFL season that has been filled with uncertainties and changes due to COVID, it is only fitting that fans can expect the unexpected.
After the bye rounds that concluded at the cessation of Round 14, the top eight looked pretty set.
Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs were flying, Geelong and Brisbane rounded out the top four, and few would think that Port Adelaide, Sydney, West Coast or Richmond would drop out of the eight come season's end given the talent that those teams possess and the form that they were in.
However, fast forward to the conclusion of Round 17, and the eight is anything but set.
West Coast and Richmond have both hit serious form slumps, and sides outside the eight such as Fremantle, GWS, St. Kilda and Essendon are all starting to hit their strides as they have all started to make a legitimate push for finals.
Check out below as we analyse the sides from 7th to 12th in terms of strength of schedule, form, and see who is the most likely two teams to round out the eight come finals time.
Greater Western Sydney
The Giants are very hard to read at the moment due to their inconsistency. The last three-weeks they have lost to the struggling Hawks, then beat the ladder leading Demons, then lost to the struggling Suns.
They'll need to find some consistency if they want to make the eight.
Remaining schedule: [Fourth easiest run home]
- Round 18 - Home vs Sydney
- Round 19 - Away vs Essendon
- Round 20 - Home vs Port Adelaide
- Round 21 - Away vs Geelong
- Round 22 - Home vs Richmond
- Round 23 - Away vs Carlton
As it is hard to tip GWS due to their inconsistency, it is hard to say whether they will make finals or not.
They have the talent to do so, and their draw helps separate themselves from the teams around them, but they'll have to beat the teams around them in Richmond, Essendon and Carlton to make the eight.
Verdict: Won't make finals
