The initially maligned Wildcard Round has all of a sudden gathered tremendous interest as the AFL enters the final stretch of the 2026 season.

Increasing post-season games from a top eight to top 10 had plenty of detractors, but to the AFL's credit, it has kept more teams alive in the season, going down to Port Adelaide in 15th position.

Every week, there's many consequential games, like Gold Coast and Collingwood, with the winner, being the latter on Saturday, entrenching themselves firmly inside the Wildcard Round placings (7th to 10th). As for the Suns, they slipped to 14th.

It begs the question, of the 63 games remaining in the season, which will have the greatest impact?

Going through the final seven weeks of the fixture, 17 matches have been donned the proverbial 'eight-point' game, exciting the AFL for what is to come.

Round 23

North Melbourne (11th) vs Geelong (7th), Marvel Stadium

If Geelong win, it could go a long way to locking up a top-six spot.

The result goes the other way, and the Kangaroos may be looking at September action.

Out with the old: Cats well-placed for supremacy beyond 2022
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: Zach Guthrie of the Cats runs with the ball during the round 16 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium on July 02, 2022 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Western Bulldogs (8th) vs Carlton (10th), Marvel Stadium

Another eight-point game.

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