1. Richmond
60 points (15 wins, four losses), 135.7 per cent
The Tigers overcame a dogged Geelong on Friday night and now look good things to hang on to top spot on the ladder at the end of the home and away season. They'll beat Gold Coast next week at Metricon Stadium and the Western Bulldogs at the MCG in the final round, and would also be expected to defeat Essendon in round 22, particularly given the Bombers' finals hopes are all but gone after their loss to Hawthorn on Saturday. - Callum Twomey
The run home
R21: Gold Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R22: Essendon @ MCG
R23: Western Bulldogs @ MCG
2. West Coast
56 points (14 wins, five losses), 124.1 per cent
Port Adelaide and Collingwood's narrow losses presented the Eagles with a golden opportunity to tighten their grip on second spot and they weren't troubled by Fremantle in a seventh-straight Western Derby victory on Sunday. Things get tougher from here, though. West Coast will likely need two more wins to secure two home finals and won't want to leave it until the final day of the season in Brisbane. The Eagles are in the box seat but it's not locked in yet, especially with some stars on the sidelines. - Travis King
The run home
R21: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R22: Melbourne @ Optus Stadium
R23: Brisbane @ Gabba
3. Greater Western Sydney
50 points (12 wins, six losses, one draw), 120.8 per cent
A top-four spot is guaranteed if the wins keep coming, but that's no easy task. The Giants are flying after four victories on the bounce, but with Brett Deledio (left calf) and Dawson Simpson (left ankle) to miss a chunk of football, and Toby Greene and Sam Taylor no certainty to play next week with hamstring worries, three clashes against teams fighting for finals spots will be tough. Adelaide has momentum after a gripping Showdown victory so Leon Cameron will be desperate to have Dylan Shiel (ankle), Ryan Griffen (hamstring), Tim Taranto (knee) and Sam Reid (knee) return. - Dinny Navaratnam
The run home
R21: Adelaide @ UNSW Canberra Oval
R22: Sydney @ Spotless Stadium
R23: Melbourne @ MCG
4. Melbourne
48 points (12 wins, seven losses), 132.8 per cent
The Demons – now in the top four - have a tough run home, starting with the reinvigorated Swans at the MCG next Sunday in a match that before this round you would have penciled in as a win. Then, they're off to Perth to face West Coast at a venue they're yet to play at. They round out the season with a big final-round clash against the Giants, who also celebrated a big win on Sunday. It's a nasty run to September and they'll have to do it without prime ball-winner Jack Viney, whose foot injury is now expected to keep him out until the finals. - Jennifer Phelan
The run home
R21: Sydney @ MCG
R22: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R23: Greater Western Sydney @ MCG
5. Hawthorn
48 points (12 wins, seven losses), 121.4 per cent
If Alastair Clarkson believes the win over Essendon gave the Hawks a "gauge", next week against Geelong will provide a true assessment. Win and top-four hopes remain alive, lose and they're back in the pack scrapping for the top eight. Potential returns for James Sicily and Grant Birchall before the end of the home and away season would give them a major boost against the Swans in round 23. Heading to the SCG, the Hawks could be fighting for their season or the double chance. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R21: Geelong @ MCG
R22: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R23: Sydney @ SCG
6. Collingwood
48 points (12 wins, seven losses), 117.1 per cent
A massive three weeks coming up for the Pies that will show just how legitimate their premiership chances are. With Brisbane and Port Adelaide up next followed by a trip to Perth to take on Freo in round 23, Collingwood will be hoping to consolidate a spot in the top four. After a thriller against flag favourites Richmond and a series of impressive wins, the black and white army might just be dreaming of some success in September if the likes of Brodie Grundy and co. can keep the momentum going. - Tim Martin
The run home
R21: Brisbane @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Port Adelaide @ MCG
R23: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
7. Port Adelaide
48 points (12 wins, six losses), 114.9 per cent
The Power face a difficult run home as they aim to rise from the top-eight logjam and punch their finals ticket. The Power host premiership contender West Coast – who ended the Power's season at Adelaide Oval last year – before taking on injury-ravaged Collingwood at the MCG and finishing at home on a Friday night against Essendon, who could still be in the finals hunt. That just shows how costly the Power's controversial three-point loss to Adelaide in Showdown 45 could be. The Power will hope to regain key defender Dougal Howard from a hand injury for their clash with the Eagles. - Lee Gaskin
The run home
R21: West Coast @ Adelaide Oval
R22: Collingwood @ MCG
R23: Essendon @ Adelaide Oval
8. Sydney
48 points (12 wins, seven losses), 109.6 per cent
The Swans' season is suddenly at a critical juncture, a fascinating development after they were 10-3 through 14 rounds. The 43-point defeat to Essendon was their fourth loss in five starts and cost them more than four percentage points. That percentage now leaves them vulnerable to be overrun by the fast-improving Bombers. It's hard to pencil in wins for John Longmire's men in any of the final four rounds in their current form and it's looking increasingly likely they will have to beat great rival Hawthorn in round 23 to qualify for September. - Marc McGowan
The run home
R21: Melbourne @ MCG
R22: Greater Western Sydney @ Spotless Stadium
R23: Hawthorn @ SCG
9. Geelong
44 points (11 wins, eight losses), 118.8 per cent
The Cats are outside of the eight and in danger of missing the finals for the first time since 2015. It's a huge game this Saturday as Geelong meets rival Hawthorn with both sides fighting for a finals place. Not even a Patrick Dangerfield masterclass was enough to help the Cats beat the Tigers at their MCG fortress on Friday night, but they do have two games – against Fremantle and Gold Coast at GMHBA – in which they should get some more percentage. - Callum Twomey
The run home
R21: Hawthorn @ MCG
R22: Fremantle @ GMHBA Stadium
R23: Gold Coast @ GMHBA Stadium
10. North Melbourne
44 points (11 wins, eight losses), 110.1 per cent
The Kangaroos might look back in a few weeks and see the escape against Brisbane as the match that saved their season. Brad Scott's men have a favourable draw over the final three rounds and need to run the table to give themselves a chance of sneaking into the top eight. With Shaun Higgins due back from his knee injury next week, North will start warm favourites against the Western Bulldogs. The trip to Adelaide Oval to play the Crows the following week looms as the match that could define their finals chances. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R21: Western Bulldogs @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R23: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
11. Essendon
40 points (10 wins, nine losses), 102.3 per cent
Bombers fans can start booking September holidays. Two matches and a large chunk of percentage behind Port Adelaide and Sydney, the Bombers' hopes faded when Tom McCartin proved the Swans' match-winner against Collingwood. If the Bombers are to pull off the unlikeliest of miracles, they'll need to win all three matches, including Richmond in their own backyard, and rely on the Swans losing all three, plus Geelong and North Melbourne falling over. – Mitch Cleary
The run home
R21: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Richmond @ MCG
R23: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
12. Adelaide
40 points (10 wins, nine losses), 98.6 per cent
The Crows still have a heartbeat after their thrilling three-point win against Port Adelaide in Showdown 45 at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Their poor percentage means the Crows could win their remaining three games and still miss out on the top eight. Other results need to go their way. The Crows hope to regain veteran Richard Douglas and forward Mitch McGovern for Saturday night's huge encounter with Greater Western Sydney in Canberra. Get past the Giants, the Crows then host North Melbourne and finish against wooden-spooners Carlton at Etihad Stadium. - Lee Gaskin
The run home
R21: Greater Western Sydney @ UNSW Canberra Oval
R22: North Melbourne @ Adelaide Oval
R23: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium
