1. Richmond
48 points (12 wins, four losses), 135.0 per cent
After yet another loss interstate, Richmond will be happy to return to chilly Melbourne. The Tigers only leave Victoria once for the rest of the home-and-away season, and that's a game against the struggling Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. The reigning premiers have had a remarkably injury-free run over the last 18 months but are starting to be tested with dependable role-players Dan Butler, Jack Graham, Nathan Broad and Reece Conca sidelined. Consecutive games against top-eight sides Collingwood and Geelong at the MCG will go some way to determining if Richmond can finish in the top two. - Sarah Black
The run home
R18: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Collingwood @ MCG
R20: Geelong @ MCG
R21: Gold Coast @ Metricon Stadium
R22: Essendon @ MCG
R23: Western Bulldogs @ MCG
2. West Coast
48 points (12 wins, four losses), 122.4 per cent
The Eagles passed a big test away from home with an impressive victory against Collingwood at the MCG. Coach Adam Simpson said he hopes the questions about whether his side can win at the MCG questions have now been "put to bed". How West Coast fares without star ruckman Nic Naitanui, who could miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, will be the big query on the Eagles. However with three games to come at Optus Stadium, West Coast look to be a big chance of finishing inside the top four. - Ben Guthrie
The run home
R18: Western Bulldogs @ Optus Stadium
R19: North Melbourne @ Blundstone Arena
R20: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R21: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R22: Melbourne @ Optus Stadium
R23: Brisbane @ Gabba
3. Collingwood
44 points (11 wins, five losses), 117.6 per cent
The Magpies' seven-game winning streak is over after falling at the hands of West Coast, with Collingwood yielding second spot on the ladder to its rival. The next three weeks will be crucial in the context of the Pies' season, with clashes against North Melbourne, Richmond and Sydney (at the SCG) to come. Collingwood's scoring power was greatly nullified against the Eagles, so that will be a clear focus in the next three weeks. Darcy Moore's return after a hamstring injury was a positive and he will be a crucial contributor in the latter stages of the season. - Ben Guthrie
The run home
R18: North Melbourne @ MCG
R19: Richmond @ MCG
R20: Sydney @ SCG
R21: Brisbane @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Port Adelaide @ MCG
R23: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
4. Sydney
44 points (11 wins, five losses), 117.3 per cent
Aliir Aliir's last-gasp match-winner, combined with Port Adelaide's loss, has opened up Sydney's chances of a top-four berth. The Swans will pencil in next week's home clash with Gold Coast before a Friday night date with Essendon off consecutive six-day breaks. Turning around their 4-4 record at home will be crucial in their hopes of the double chance ahead of difficult fixtures with Collingwood and Hawthorn. The round 22 clash with Greater Western Sydney looms as the most mouth-watering meeting yet between the cross-town rivals. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R18: Gold Coast @ SCG
R19: Essendon @ Etihad Stadium
R20: Collingwood @ SCG
R21: Melbourne @ MCG
R22: Greater Western Sydney @ Spotless Stadium
R23: Hawthorn @ SCG
Aliir celebrates his match-winning goal against North Melbourne. Picture: AFL Photos
5. Port Adelaide
44 points (11 wins, five losses), 115.9 per cent
The Power blew a massive opportunity to tighten their grip on a top-four spot and move to equal points with League leader Richmond and second-placed West Coast in a shocking nine-point defeat to Fremantle on Sunday. It leaves Ken Hinkley's outfit vulnerable in the race for the double chance, probably needing to win at least four of the last six to be in the hunt. Next Sunday's home game against the resurgent Giants will be crucial. - Travis King
The run home
R18: Greater Western Sydney @ Adelaide Oval
R19: Western Bulldogs @ Mars Stadium, Ballarat
R20: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R21: West Coast @ Adelaide Oval
R22: Collingwood @ MCG
R23: Essendon @ Adelaide Oval
6. Melbourne
40 points (10 wins, six losses), 130.2 per cent
The tortured Demon faithful, desperate for their team to make the finals for the first time in 12 years, should adhere to the old adage of taking it a week at a time, because the Dees face a nightmarish run home. They face five potential finalists in the last six rounds, including especially tricky road trips to take on Geelong, Adelaide and West Coast. They have achieved crucial percentage-boosters over Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs and they should have at least another one in round 20. The availability of co-captain Jack Viney, sidelined again with a toe injury, could prove critical. -Ben Collins
The run home
R18: Geelong @ GMHBA Stadium
R19: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R20: Gold Coast @ MCG
R21: Sydney @ MCG
R22: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R23: Greater Western Sydney @ MCG
7. Greater Western Sydney
38 points (nine wins, six losses, one draw), 111.1 per cent
A vital win against Richmond shores up GWS' top-eight hopes, especially after the successful return of star forward Toby Greene from a long-term foot injury. The Giants have a mixed run home, with wins needed in challenging assignments against Port Adelaide away, Adelaide in Canberra and Sydney at Spotless Stadium. GWS' top-eight hopes could rest on a round-23 clash against fellow finals aspirants Melbourne at the MCG. The Giants are slowly regaining high-quality players from injury and could cause some serious damage in the next six weeks. - Sarah Black
The run home
R18: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R19: St Kilda @ Spotless Stadium
R20: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium
R21: Adelaide @ UNSW Canberra Oval
R22: Sydney @ Spotless Stadium
R23: Melbourne @ MCG
8. Geelong
36 points (nine wins, seven losses), 119.5 per cent
Thursday night's 15-point loss to the Crows puts a serious dent in the Cats' top-four hopes. Now, they're in danger of not playing in the finals at all. Melbourne won't be a walkover at GMHBA Stadium next week, Richmond is almost unbeatable at the MCG and Hawthorn also has finals ambitions. If they can get through that challenging patch, the Cats can build confidence against Fremantle and Gold Coast leading into the finals. Swingman Harry Taylor is a chance to return for next Saturday night's clash with the Demons. - Lee Gaskin
The run home
R18: Melbourne @ GMHBA Stadium
R19: Brisbane @ GMHBA Stadium
R20: Richmond @ MCG
R21: Hawthorn @ MCG
R22: Fremantle @ GMHBA Stadium
R23: Gold Coast @ GMHBA Stadium
9. North Melbourne
36 points (nine wins, seven losses), 114.2 per cent
Having the Swans snatch four points from their hands will hurt but losing close to two per cent could prove critical to North Melbourne's finals hopes. The Roos now sit just 0.2 per cent clear of 10th-placed Hawthorn ahead of a crucial fortnight. Top-four aspirants Collingwood and West Coast await, while Brisbane will have plenty of confidence after three wins on the trot. The round 22 trip to face Adelaide could be an elimination final for both clubs. - Mitch Cleary
The run home
R18: Collingwood @ MCG
R19: West Coast @ Blundstone Arena
R20: Brisbane @ Gabba
R21: Western Bulldogs @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R23: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
10. Hawthorn
36 points (nine wins, seven losses), 114.0 per cent
Despite the slip against Brisbane, fixtures against Carlton and Fremantle represent an opportunity for an invaluable pair of wins, and with potentially tricky matches against the Bombers, Cats and Swans in the last month of the season they'll take every win they can in the scramble for a place in the eight. Percentage could also do with a handy bump if the Hawks are to escape the mix and return to the finals. - Stu Warren
The run home
R18: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Fremantle @ Optus Stadium
R20: Essendon @ MCG
R21: Geelong @ MCG
R22: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R23: Sydney @ SCG
11. Adelaide
32 points (eight wins, eight losses), 98.7 per cent
The Crows' slim finals hopes are still alive after Thursday night's 15-point win over Geelong, but they've got a tough run home. The young Brisbane side is playing some exciting football. Melbourne will be challenging and the Showdown against Port Adelaide will be epic. Then there's games with Greater Western Sydney (Canberra) and North Melbourne (Adelaide Oval), two sides also on the fringe of the top eight. Getting key defender Daniel Talia back next week will be important, while forward Mitch McGovern is a couple of weeks away from returning. - Lee Gaskin
The run home
R18: Brisbane @ Gabba
R19: Melbourne @ Adelaide Oval
R20: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
R21: Greater Western Sydney @ UNSW Canberra Oval
R22: North Melbourne @ Adelaide Oval
R23: Carlton @ Etihad Stadium
Rory Sloane and the Crows were all smiles after their win over Geelong. Picture: AFL Photos12. Essendon
32 points (eight wins, eight losses), 97.7 per cent
Still a mountain to climb to make the eight but the finals hopes flicker. At least a game and significant percentage outside, the Bombers will likely need five wins and maybe even six from the final six rounds. They'll have to play better than the showing against Gold Coast, but getting Orazio Fantasia back to play Fremantle on Saturday will help. Sydney at Etihad Stadium aside, the next month is reasonably friendly and Essendon doesn't leave Melbourne until the final round. Unlikely, but you never know. - Michael Whiting
The run home
R18: Fremantle @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Sydney @ Etihad Stadium
R20: Hawthorn @ MCG
R21: St Kilda @ Etihad Stadium
R22: Richmond @ MCG
R23: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval
13. Fremantle
28 points (seven wins, nine losses), 83.6 per cent
The Dockers are mathematically in the finals race still after upsetting Port Adelaide on Sunday but would need to win at least five of the final six games to make the top eight, a highly unlikely scenario given their difficult run home. Freo will only start favourite in one of the last six weeks, against battling Carlton at Optus Stadium in round 21, but could trouble a finals hopeful or two on the run home. - Travis King
The run home
R18: Essendon @ Etihad Stadium
R19: Hawthorn @ Optus Stadium
R20: West Coast @ Optus Stadium
R21: Carlton @ Optus Stadium
R22: Geelong @ GMHBA Stadium
R23: Collingwood @ Optus Stadium
