The AFL run home has intrigue now more than ever with the introduction of the Wildcard Round, and extended top 10 in the post-season.
A race for the top four is alive more than ever, with reigning premiers Brisbane storming into contention with incredible form over the past two months, while Geelong has withered under pressure.
Surprise packets Melbourne continue to push under new coach Steven King while Collingwood is in striking distance.
Each week on Zero Hanger between now and the end of the regular season, we will tip the week ahead, take stock of what's left, run through every club's trip to the finish line, and predict the final ladder.
Here is how the final six weeks of the run home are shaping for every team, as well as the best and worst-case scenarios available to each outfit.
Here are the tips for Round 19.
Geelong Cats beat St Kilda Saints
Sydney Swans beat Adelaide Crows
Port Adelaide Power lose to the Fremantle Dockers
North Melbourne Kangaroos lose to Melbourne Demons
Collingwood Magpies beat Carlton Blues
West Coast Eagles lose to Brisbane Lions
Richmond Tigers lose to Hawthorn Hawks
Gold Coast Suns lost to Western Bulldogs
Essendon Bombers lose to GWS Giants
1. Fremantle Dockers
Current position: 1st, 60 points, 142.3%
Remaining games
Round 19: Port Adelaide (away)
Round 20: West Coast (home)
Round 21: Western Bulldogs (home)
Round 22: Melbourne (away)
Round 23: Adelaide (home)
Round 24: Carlton (away)
The Dockers established themselves as the run-away favourites for the 2026 flag after downing the second-placed Swans at home last weekend.
Fremantle struggled to kick straight early in the contest, but when the ball started rolling, and 'Wharfie' time began ringing around Optus Stadium, it was a train Sydney couldn't catch.
An intriguing match-up with Port Adelaide awaits, while Justin Longmuir's men don't face anyone in the top four for the remainder of the season, and will look to lock up the minor premiership as they sit two games clear of second.
Likely finish: 1st
Change from last week: Nil
2. Sydney Swans
Current position: 2nd, 52 points, 131.2%
Remaining games
Round 19: Adelaide (home)
Round 20: GWS Giants (away)
Round 21: St Kilda (away)
Round 22: Port Adelaide (home)
Round 23: Essendon (away)
Round 24: North Melbourne (home)
The Swans were handed humble pie after they were smashed by the ladder leaders Fremantle, making it two losses in three weeks.
But there's no reason to panic, as Dean Cox sits two games clear of Hawthorn and Brisbane in third and fourth positions.
The Swans' scratchy performance must be improved ahead of an important fortnight against Adelaide and cross-town rivals GWS.
Following the Giants clash, Sydney has a relatively soft-run home, including a Round 23 match-up with Essendon.
Likely finish: 2nd
Change from last week: Nil
3. Hawthorn Hawks
Current position: 3rd, 46 points, 114.2%
Remaining games
Round 19: Richmond (away)
Round 20: Essendon (home)
Round 21: North Melbourne (home)
Round 22: Brisbane (away)
Round 23: Collingwood (home)
Round 24: West Coast (away)
It took a while for Hawthorn to get going against Carlton on a miserable night at the MCG, but when the final siren sounded, it was a resounding victory.
The Hawks are building nicely and have some stars to return from injury, meaning they have plenty of scope to improve ahead of September action.
But an intriguing last six weeks await, and the Round 22 clash against Brisbane poses as crucial to secure a top-four berth, with Adelaide and Melbourne nipping at their heels.
Aside from that, the Hawks will begin favourites in every encounter.
Likely finish: 4th
Change from last week: Nil
4. Brisbane Lions
Current position: 4th, 44 points, 117.1%
Remaining games
Round 19: West Coast (away)
Round 20: Port Adelaide (home)
Round 21: Carlton (away)
Round 22: Hawthorn (home)
Round 23: Gold Coast (home)
Round 24: Collingwood (away)
It's becoming apparent Brisbane means business, and a three-peat of premierships is well and truly on the cards.
Despite the slow start, the Lions look poised to lock away a double chance and secure a top-four spot, and they should win the next three weeks with relative ease following a 90-point win over Essendon on Sunday.
The final three weeks will determine where they finish up, as well as their opponents. The clash against Hawthorn could decide the top four order, while Collingwood could still be pushing for September football and may need to win to keep their season alive.
Likely finish: 3rd
Change from last week: Nil
5. Adelaide Crows
Current position: 5th, 44 points, 116.9%
Remaining games
Round 19: Sydney (away)
Round 20: Collingwood (home)
Round 21: Essendon (away)
Round 22: Richmond (home)
Round 23: Fremantle (away)
Round 24: GWS (home)
The Crows cemented their spot in the race for a double chance after downing the middling Gold Coast in front of a home crowd.
But with a pair of clashes against the top two on the AFL ladder, how will Adelaide fare?
Adelaide should lock in two victories against Essendon and Richmond, and will need to defeat Wildcard fancies Collingwood and GWS to ensure a top-four finish.
If not, they could find themselves in the Wildcard conversation.
Likely finish: 6th
Change from last week: Nil
6. Melbourne Demons
Current position: 6th, 44 points, 109%
Remaining games
Round 19: North Melbourne (away)
Round 20: Geelong (home)
Round 21: Gold Coast (away)
Round 22: Fremantle (home)
Round 23: Port Adelaide (away)
Round 24: Western Bulldogs (home)
The surprise packet of the season continues to surprise, and Melbourne is two points away from third on the ladder. However, one slip up, and they can fall into Wildcard Round areas.
The Demons knocked Richmond with ease, but have no easy run-ins for the remainder of the year.
North Melbourne, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide are danger games, but clashes with Geelong, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs to finish will make or break Steven King's debut season.
Either way, it's been a King success.
Likely finish: 5th
Change from last week: Nil
7. Western Bulldogs
Current position: 7th, 40 points, 92.3%
Remaining games
Round 19: Gold Coast (away)
Round 20: Richmond (home)
Round 21: Fremantle (away)
Round 22: North Melbourne (home)
Round 23: Carlton (home)
Round 24: Melbourne (away)
A sleeping Giant in the premiership race, but the Bulldogs are still in shot of a top six spot, if everything goes to plan.
Aside from a game against Fremantle (Round 21), Luke Beveridge's men have the right to start as favourites in every game leading into September.
But there's plenty of banana peel games, including this coming week against Gold Coast, as well as North Melbourne and Carlton.
The Round 24 match-up with Melbourne could determine where either club finishes on the ladder.
Likely finish: 7th
Change from last week: +1
8. Collingwood Magpies
Current position: 8th, 38 points, 104.4%
Remaining games
Round 19: Carlton (home)
Round 20: Adelaide (away)
Round 21: Geelong (home)
Round 22: West Coast (away)
Round 23: Hawthorn (away)
Round 24: Brisbane (home)
Rule out Collingwood at your own peril.
After four consecutive wins, the Pies are entrenched inside the Wildcard Round slots, and won't die wondering in their push for a top six spot. But everything needs to go right.
A winnable month ahead for Collingwood will decide its fate, although the trip to Adelaide to face the Crows in two weeks is no easy feat.
Then comes a fortnight of fury against genuine flag contenders in Hawthorn and Brisbane to finish the home and away season. You'd think if the Pies can claim one scalp, that will lock up post-season attendance.
Likely finish: 10th
Change from last week: +1
9. Geelong Cats
Current position: 9th, 36 points, 115.2%
Remaining games
Round 19: St Kilda (home)
Round 20: Melbourne (away)
Round 21: Collingwood (away)
Round 22: Essendon (home)
Round 23: North Melbourne (away)
Round 24: Richmond (home)
Things are going from bad to worse for Geelong, and the injury woes to Jeremy Cameron and Tanner Bruhn only add to the plight of the struggling Cats.
A gutsy loss to GWS put Geelong's spot inside the top 10 in jeopardy, but solace can be found in its run home.
The Cats will start as favourites in the next six weeks, but Melbourne and Collingwood are no easy beats.
Games against Essendon and Richmond to come.
Likely finish: 8th
Change from last week: -2
10. St Kilda
Current position: 10th, 32 points, 106.1%
Remaining games
Round 19: Geelong (away)
Round 20: North Melbourne (away)
Round 21: Sydney (home)
Round 22: Carlton (home)
Round 23: Richmond (away)
Round 24: Gold Coast (home)
A win over Port Adelaide kept St Kilda in touch, and put them in 10th spot by percentage. The Saints have turned their season around since the mid-season bye, but can they keep the ball rolling?
Ross Lyon doesn't leave Victoria for the remainder of the season, and will be confident in claiming wins over North Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond and Gold Coast.
Likely finish: 11th
Change from last week: +2
11. GWS Giants
Current position: 11th, 32 points, 101.6%
Remaining games
Round 19: Essendon (away)
Round 20: Sydney (home)
Round 21: Port Adelaide (away)
Round 22: Gold Coast (home)
Round 23: West Coast (home)
Round 24: Adelaide (away)
You never know whether you're Arthur or Martha with the Giants. A come-from-behind win over Geelong has kept the AFL's youngest side's seasons alive, and are percentage outside the top 10.
They could leapfrog the Saints with an upcoming clash against Essendon, which should be a percentage booster.
And as it stands, GWS will enter the final six weeks with extreme confidence, albeit a clash against Sydney and Adelaide to come.
Likely finish: 9th
Change from last week: +2
12. Carlton Blues
Current position: 12th, 32 points, 91.9%
Remaining games
Round 19: Collingwood (away)
Round 20: Gold Coast (home)
Round 21: Brisbane (home)
Round 22: St Kilda (away)
Round 23: Western Bulldogs (away)
Round 24: Fremantle (home)
Reality hit the Blues, and hit the Blues hard. Hawthorn demolished Carlton at the MCG, sending the club back down to earth.
The question is, where do they sit?
A crucial fortnight could determine the club's 2026 season, and whether they're a genuine chance to play finals football. It may also help decide what Carlton does with interim coach Josh Fraser..
Brisbane and Fremantle match-ups bookend a final month, which have St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs sandwiched in between. The Blues are more than capable of knocking off the latter pair.
Likely finish: 13th
Change from last week: -2
13. North Melbourne
Current position: 13th, 32 points, 91.4%
Remaining games
Round 19: Melbourne (home)
Round 20: St Kilda (home)
Round 21: Hawthorn (away)
Round 22: Western Bulldogs (away)
Round 23: Geelong (home)
Round 24: Sydney (away)
North Melbourne weren't able to hold off Collingwood in a thrilling contest last weekend, but there season is fare from over.
The Kangaroos' home stretch will test where the club is at in terms of its development, and how much they've improved in 2026.
Chalk up losses to Hawthorn and Sydney, which leaves games against Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs as season deciding encounters.
A question mark remains over Geelong and where both sides sit in Round 23.
Likely finish: 14th
Change from last week: -2
14. Gold Coast Suns
Current position: 14th, 28 points, 95.6%
Remaining games
Round 19: Western Bulldogs (home)
Round 20: Carlton (away)
Round 21: Melbourne (home)
Round 22: GWS Giants (away)
Round 23: Brisbane (away)
Round 24: St Kilda (away)
Suns coach Damien Hardwick ruled out his club's finals chances, especially the way they are playing.
After seven losses in a row, Gold Coast has fallen from flag fancies to cellar dwellers, and it's hard to reason how they turn it around.
There's thought that games against Western Bulldogs, Carlton, GWS and St Kilda are winnable, and yet, they're predicted to fall further down the ladder by season's end.
Likely finish: 12th
Change from last week: Nil
15. Port Adelaide
Current position: 15th, 24 points, 101.3%
Remaining games
Round 19: Fremantle (home)
Round 20: Brisbane (away)
Round 21: GWS Giants (home)
Round 22: Sydney (away)
Round 23: Melbourne (home)
Round 24: Essendon (away)
The Power are bottom four in the competition, but have a remarkable percentage, indicating their ability to play in close games.
Saturday's loss to St Kilda was another close one, although the concerns weren't on the scoreboard. They were to the injury list, which includes Zak Butters (likely for the remainder of the year) and Mitch Georgiades (concussion).
They've run close to rivals all year, but locking in only one win against Essendon in the final round to leapfrog Gold Coast.
Likely finish: 14th
Change from last week: Nil
16. West Coast Eagles
Current position: 16th, 16 points, 72%
Remaining games
Round 19: Brisbane (home)
Round 20: Fremantle (away)
Round 21: Richmond (away)
Round 22: Collingwood (home)
Round 23: GWS Giants (away)
Round 24: Hawthorn (home)
The Eagles, on a whole, would be chuffed with their performances in 2026, but can confidently say they left wins on the table.
A close loss to the Western Bulldogs was one that when begging, which all but locks them in 16th spot for the remaining six weeks.
Round 21 against Richmond at the MCG should have West Coast as favourites, which is sandwiched between games against top-four sides Brisbane, Fremantle and Hawthorn.
Likely finish: 16th
Change from last week: Nil
17. Richmond Tigers
Current position: 17th, 8 points, 63%
Remaining games
Round 19: Hawthorn (home)
Round 20: Western Bulldogs (away)
Round 21: West Coast (home)
Round 22: Adelaide (away)
Round 23: St Kilda (home)
Round 24: Geelong (away)
The Tigers are looking for little wins in a six-game loss streak.
Many positives from the performances of the young brigade, but consistency throughout matches is what Adem Yze is searching for, and Sunday's loss to Melbourne was no different.
Round 21 shapes as the sole clash when Richmond can enter the venue with confidence, facing West Coast at the MCG.
Likely finish: 17th
Change from last week: Nil
18. Essendon Bombers
Current position: 18th, 4 points, 66.6%
Remaining games
Round 19: GWS Giants (home)
Round 20: Hawthorn (away)
Round 21: Adelaide (home)
Round 22: Geelong (away)
Round 23: Sydney (home)
Round 24: Port Adelaide (home)
Not many highlights from the Bombers on the weekend, but the re-signing of Nate Caddy until the end of 2031 did put a momentary smile on the fans.
A big loss to Brisbane continued a wretched run of form, and there's no clash ahead of them which looks win-worthy.
A wooden spoon is on the horizon.
Likely finish: 18th
Change from last week: Nil
Predicting final AFL 2026 ladder
- Fremantle Dockers - 84 points
- Sydney Swans - 76 points
- Brisbane Lions - 68 points
- Hawthorn Hawks - 66 points
- Melbourne Demons - 64 points
- Adelaide Crows - 56 points
- Western Bulldogs - 56 points
- Geelong Cats - 52 points
- GWS Giants - 52 points
- Collingwood Magpies - 50 points
- St Kilda Saints - 48 points
- Gold Coast Suns - 32 points
- Carlton Blues - 32 points
- North Melbourne Kangaroos - 32 points
- Port Adelaide Power - 28 points
- West Coast Eagles - 16 points
- Richmond Tigers - 12 points
- Essendon Bombers - 4 points
Prediction Week 1 finals
Wildcard Round 1: Western Bulldogs (7th) vs Collingwood (10th)
Wildcard Round 2: Geelong (8th) vs GWS Giants (9th)
Qualifying Final 1: Fremantle (1st) vs Hawthorn (4th)
Qualifying Final 2: Sydney (2nd) vs Brisbane (3rd)
Elimination Final 1: Melbourne (5th) vs lowest ranked Wildcard Round winner
Elimination Final 2: Adelaide (6th) vs highest ranked Wildcard Round winner
