Brisbane's shock loss to Carlton has opened the door to the fourth spot, which has been snatched by Adelaide.
The Lions' defeat also gives Geelong another opportunity to secure a double chance.
As for the Blues, the win further enhances their hopes to make the Wildcard Round and hold onto the 10th spot ahead of a mouth-watering clash with St Kilda this week.
The Giants and the Saints are still in the hunt for the finals, while North Melbourne and Gold Coast are all but confirmed to miss out on September footy, despite being mathematically possible to make the top 10.
Hawthorn and Sydney will jostle for a home qualifying final, which is set to be one of the match-ups.
Fremantle has secured the minor premiership.
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 three 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 22.
Western Bulldogs defeat North Melbourne
Brisbane Lions defeat Hawthorn
Melbourne lose to Fremantle
Sydney defeat Port Adelaide
Geelong defeat Essendon
Adelaide defeat Richmond
GWS defeat Gold Coast
West Coast lose to Collingwood
St Kilda lose to Carlton
1. Fremantle Dockers
Current position: 1st, 72 points, 147.3%
Remaining games
Round 22: Melbourne (away)
Round 23: Adelaide (home)
Round 24: Carlton (away)
The Dockers have all but locked up the minor premiership after securing a victory over the Western Bulldogs.
Fremantle's monstrous second half was once again on show, putting the sword to the visitors as 'Wharfie time' sounded out through Optus Stadium.
A pair of trips to Victoria sandwich an intriguing home clash against Adelaide.
Will Justin Longmuir start managing some of his stars?
Likely finish: 1st
Change from last week: Nil
2. Sydney Swans
Current position: 2nd, 60 points, 129.5%
Remaining games
Round 22: Port Adelaide (home)
Round 23: Essendon (away)
Round 24: North Melbourne (home)
The Swans hold onto second spot but have Hawthorn nipping at their heels.
A win over St Kilda, coupled with a favourable draw, has Dean Cox looking at a home qualifying final.
Hosting Port Adelaide next week before a fortnight against Essendon and North Melbourne should yield three victories, and therefore a top-two finish.
If not, the Hawks, who are two points behind Sydney, may snatch the home qualifying final.
Nevertheless, the pair of clubs are set to face each other in the first week of September.
Likely finish: 2nd
Change from last week: Nil
3. Hawthorn Hawks
Current position: 3rd, 58 points, 123.7%
Remaining games
Round 22: Brisbane (away)
Round 23: Collingwood (home)
Round 24: West Coast (away)
The Hawks keep their top-two finish alive with a gutsy win over a brave North Melbourne.
Hawthorn has the advantage of a draw in hand, and sits two points behind Sydney. They'll need the Swans to slip up, although it seems unlikely given their run home.
However, the Hawks need to win at least two of the next three games to lock away third spot, with the next fortnight extremely important to their premiership hopes.
A tough clash with Brisbane in Queensland is next before a banana peel game against Collingwood.
Likely finish: 3rd
Change from last week: Nil
4. Adelaide Crows
Current position: 4th, 52 points, 117.6%
Remaining games
Round 22: Richmond (home)
Round 23: Fremantle (away)
Round 24: GWS (home)
The Crows jumped into the top four, by percentage, after a monstrous win over Essendon.
They should take care of Richmond and GWS at home in the next three weeks, but a trip to Perth to face Fremantle is no easy feat.
Although when Adelaide takes on the Dockers in Round 23, who have locked up the minor premiership, they may take the foot off the gas, opening the door for a surprise victory.
If the Crows win the next three, they'll claim a double chance.
If they make a mistake, Brisbane, Melbourne and Geelong will be pushing for their position.
Likely finish: 5th
Change from last week: +1
5. Brisbane Lions
Current position: 5th, 52 points, 114.8%
Remaining games
Round 22: Hawthorn (home)
Round 23: Gold Coast (home)
Round 24: Collingwood (away)
The Lions' shock loss to Carlton has dropped Chris Fagan's men outside the top four, and puts their double chances in jeopardy.
A tricky three-week block starts with a fortnight at home against Hawthorn and Gold Coast.
If Brisbane were to secure a top-four spot, they must win all three matches, but one mistake will result in an elimination final.
Likely finish: 4th
Change from last week: -1
6. Melbourne Demons
Current position: 6th, 52 points, 107.8%
Remaining games
Round 22: Fremantle (home)
Round 23: Port Adelaide (away)
Round 24: Western Bulldogs (home)
The Demons won't be away, and their gutsy win over Gold Coast keeps their double chances alive.
They'll host Fremantle at the MCG, which will be a litmus test for the club before a pair of tricky games against Port Adelaide (away) and the Western Bulldogs.
Regardless of their finish, 2026 has been a success for Steven King and the Demons.
Likely finish: 7th
Change from last week: Nil
7. Geelong Cats
Current position: 7th, 48 points, 117.2%
Remaining games
Round 22: Essendon (home)
Round 23: North Melbourne (away)
Round 24: Richmond (home)
The sleeping giant in the AFL has awoken, and they're perfectly placed to finish in the top four.
After taking care of Collingwood, the Cats should lock in three wins, all by healthy margins to boost their percentage.
Geelong is one game outside the top four, but the Crows, Lions and Demons all have at least one tough game ahead of them.
Likely finish: 5th
Change from last week: +2
8. Western Bulldogs
Current position: 7th, 48 points, 94.8%
Remaining games
Round 22: North Melbourne (home)
Round 23: Carlton (home)
Round 24: Melbourne (away)
The Bulldogs were no match for the Dockers in Perth, but showed plenty of strong signs as the major underdog.
Luke Beveridge's men can still get a run on, and with Marcus Bontempelli in his team, they can shake September up.
But when Sam Darcy went down earlier in the year, so did the club's premiership chances.
However, one more win will lock away a spot in the finals.
Likely finish: 8th
Change from last week: Nil
9. Collingwood Magpies
Current position: 9th, 46 points, 105.6%
Remaining games
Round 22: West Coast (away)
Round 23: Hawthorn (away)
Round 24: Brisbane (home)
The Pies need one win to lock away a spot in the finals, and it should come this week against West Coast.
If not, a tough fortnight against Hawthorn and Brisbane could spell charges for Craig McRae's men.
Likely finish: 9th
Change from last week: -1
10. Carlton Blues
Current position: 10th, 40 points, 97%
Remaining games
Round 22: St Kilda (away)
Round 23: Western Bulldogs (away)
Round 24: Fremantle (home)
The Blues are on a high, and they should be after dismantling the reigning premiers on Saturday.
The surprise victory put Carlton back inside the top 10, with a game in hand, although their percentage (97), despite the monster win, doesn't measure up to St Kilda (104.3) or GWS (99).
This week's clash with the Saints poses as an elimination final, and the following week against the Bulldogs could be a precursor for a Wildcard clash.
Likely finish: 12th
Change from last week: +2
11. St Kilda
Current position: 11th, 36 points, 104.3%
Remaining games
Round 22: Carlton (home)
Round 23: Richmond (away)
Round 24: Gold Coast (home)
The Saints were unable to capitalise on their dominance against Sydney, which was similar to their clash earlier in the year.
But a favourable run home has Ross Lyon's men prepped to steal a Wildcard Round slot, but this week against Carlton is make-or-break.
Lose - and finals are almost out of the question. Win - and clashes against Richmond and Gold Coast put their fate back into their hands.
Likely finish: 10th
Change from last week: -1
12. GWS Giants
Current position: 12th, 36 points, 99%
Remaining games
Round 22: Gold Coast (home)
Round 23: West Coast (home)
Round 24: Adelaide (away)
An away win over Port Adelaide put an end to a horror fortnight for the Giants, and simultaneously keeps their season alive.
GWS will need St Kilda to beat Carlton, whilst the Giants also knock off Gold Coast at Engie Stadium.
Adam Kingsley will hope his men continue their winning ways over the Eagles and Crows, and hope the Saints and Blues drop one of their games.
Likely finish: 11th
Change from last week: -1
13. North Melbourne
Current position: 13th, 32 points, 89.3%
Remaining games
Round 22: Western Bulldogs (away)
Round 23: Geelong (home)
Round 24: Sydney (away)
Another honourable loss for the Kangaroos, going down to Hawthorn by 16 points.
North Melbourne have all but bundled out of the finals race, although mathematically, they can still make it.
A near-impossible three-week stretch begins against the Western Bulldogs, who are still pushing for a top-six spot. Then comes Geelong, which is remarkably in the hunt for a top-four finish, and then Sydney, who might need the win to secure a home qualifying final.
Likely finish: 13th
Change from last week: Nil
14. Gold Coast Suns
Current position: 14th, 28 points, 94.7%
Remaining games
Round 22: GWS Giants (away)
Round 23: Brisbane (away)
Round 24: St Kilda (away)
A 10th straight loss all but confirms the Suns' absence from the 2026 finals.
They couldn't overcome Melbourne in a close finish.
Games against GWS, Brisbane and St Kilda, all outside of People First Stadium - albeit the clash with the Lions is in Queensland - are all tipped as losses.
They couldn't extend their losing streak to 13, could they?
Likely finish: 15th
Change from last week: Nil
15. Port Adelaide
Current position: 15th, 24 points, 95.1%
Remaining games
Round 22: Sydney (away)
Round 23: Melbourne (home)
Round 24: Essendon (away)
The Power have pride to play for to complete the season.
Port Adelaide has battled with injuries to key personnel, as well as agonising close losses.
A win over Essendon should complete the season.
Likely finish: 14th
Change from last week: Nil
16. West Coast Eagles
Current position: 16th, 16 points, 70.8%
Remaining games
Round 22: Collingwood (home)
Round 23: GWS Giants (away)
Round 24: Hawthorn (home)
The Eagles will be disappointed they lost to Richmond.
Missed chances, including 2.6 from Jake Waterman, were a real head-scratcher
They host Collingwood and Hawthorn in the next three weeks, whilst a trip to Sydney to take on GWS awaits in Round 23.
Still plenty to play for.
Likely finish: 16th
Change from last week: Nil
17. Richmond Tigers
Current position: 17th, 12 points, 62.8%
Remaining games
Round 22: Adelaide (away)
Round 23: St Kilda (home)
Round 24: Geelong (away)
The Tigers lifted themselves off the bottom of the ladder with a win over West Coast.
The victory may have cost them Pick 1, but the club needs to learn how to win.
Clashes against finals fancies Adelaide, St Kilda and Geelong aren't expected to yield a win, but they can still show effort.
Likely finish: 17th
Change from last week: +1
18. Essendon Bombers
Current position: 18th, 8 points, 64.4%
Remaining games
Round 22: Geelong (away)
Round 23: Sydney (home)
Round 24: Port Adelaide (home)
The Bombers suffered another tough
Likely finish: 18th
Change from last week: -1
The Bombers are set to claim the coveted Pick 1 after Richmond's win over West Coast.
Essendon went down to Adelaide by a hefty margin, and the run home doesn't get any easier.
Round 24 against Port Adelaide should be circled as a winnable clash.
Predicting final AFL 2026 ladder
- Fremantle Dockers - 84 points
- Sydney Swans - 72 points
- Hawthorn Hawks - 66 points
- Brisbane Lions - 64 points
- Geelong Cats - 60 points
- Adelaide Crows - 60 points
- Melbourne Demons - 60 points
- Western Bulldogs - 56 points
- Collingwood Magpies - 50 points
- St Kilda Saints - 48 points
- GWS Giants - 44 points
- Carlton Blues - 44 points
- North Melbourne Kangaroos - 32 points
- Port Adelaide Power - 28 points
- Gold Coast Suns - 28 points
- West Coast Eagles - 16 points
- Richmond Tigers - 12 points
- Essendon Bombers - 8 points
Prediction Week 1 finals
Wildcard Round 1: Melbourne (7th) vs St Kilda (10th)
Wildcard Round 2: Western Bulldogs (8th) vs Collingwood (9th)
Qualifying Final 1: Fremantle (1st) vs Brisbane (4th)
Qualifying Final 2: Sydney (2nd) vs Hawthorn (3rd)
Elimination Final 1: Geelong (5th-lowest-ranked Wildcard Round winner
Elimination Final 2: Adelaide (6th) vs highest-ranked Wildcard Round winner
