With six complete rounds of the AFL still left this season, this is the time when teams start to either gear up for the finals, fight for the remaining places in the top eight, or start planning for next season.
The current top four (the Sydney Swans, Fremantle, Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats) have all but qualified, while the race in the bottom half of the eight still remains wide open.
Every team between fifth-placed Port Adelaide and 12th-placed Richmond are still in the hunt for a finals berth, with the latter team suddenly storming into contention on the back of three consecutive victories.
We can safely rule out the Western Bulldogs, Carlton, the GWS Giants, Melbourne, the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda, as these teams are all unlikely to make up any ground to make the final eight.
The matches that involve the teams still in finals contention have been taken into account, and the fact that they will have to travel back to their home state as early as possible to prepare for their assault at the premiership.
Of the eight matches in the final round, two of them involve two teams currently in the eight: Collingwood, Hawthorn, Fremantle and Port Adelaide.
I have scheduled the match between the Pies and the Hawks as being the first match of the round on the Friday night, as it would give both teams the chance to test their finals credentials against each other.
It could also prove to be a ratings winner for Channel Seven in Melbourne, especially as it would feature two big-drawing Victorian clubs who have featured regularly in finals in recent years.
The match between Fremantle and Port Adelaide must be scheduled for the earliest possible timeslot on Saturday, and they have been given the 2:40pm timeslot in Perth (4:40pm AEST). It is possible, however, that the AFL could schedule them to start at 1:10pm in Perth (2:40pm ACST and 3:10pm AEST).
The late-afternoon finish on Saturday would thus give the Power sufficient time to immediately fly home to Adelaide that evening at the earliest to start preparing for their finals campaign.
For the Dockers, if they can secure a top-two finish or even finish fifth or sixth at the end of the regular season, then they won’t have to worry about flying to Melbourne to begin its finals campaign.
The first game on Saturday will be the Sydney Swans versus Richmond match at ANZ Stadium. That weekend, the NRL match between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and South Sydney Rabbitohs, the only match to be scheduled at the venue for Round 25 of that code, has been scheduled for Thursday night.
The Swans’ early finish can then give them sufficient time to prepare for their qualifying final, which, should they maintain their current rich vein of form, will again be at ANZ Stadium, while for the Tigers, they can fly back to Melbourne that night regardless of whether or not they are still alive in the finals race.
The Geelong Cats versus Brisbane Lions match should also be scheduled for Saturday afternoon; I have given that match a 2:10pm start which will also give the Cats sufficient time to prepare for their own finals assault.
Saturday night would then see two matches in Melbourne with the Roos and Dees to clash at Etihad Stadium, and the Carlton versus Essendon match at the MCG to be given the free-to-air stage on Channel Seven.
By Sunday, only three matches will be left with the Gold Coast Suns, West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Crows, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs and GWS Giants to wrap up their seasons on the final day of the regular season.
The Suns and Eagles still remain in finals contention but both are unlikely to make the final eight. For the Suns, their captain Gary Ablett will not return this season, thus seriously denting their finals chances, while the Eagles have been inconsistent all season and languish in 11th place on the ladder.
The Crows and Saints will then clash in the Channel Seven match which would start at 2:50pm ACST, after which there will be just one match left, with the Western Bulldogs and GWS Giants to wrap up the regular season at Etihad Stadium.
Thus, this is how Round 23 should pan out (all local times).
Friday, August 29
Collingwood versus Hawthorn, MCG at 7:50pm*
Saturday, August 30
Sydney Swans versus Richmond, ANZ Stadium at 1:45pm*
Geelong Cats versus Brisbane Lions, Simonds Stadium at 2:10pm
Fremantle versus Port Adelaide, Patersons Stadium at 2:40pm
North Melbourne versus Melbourne, Etihad Stadium at 7:40pm
Carlton versus Essendon, MCG at 7:40pm*
Sunday, August 31
Gold Coast Suns versus West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium at 1:10pm
Adelaide Crows versus St Kilda, Adelaide Oval at 2:50pm*
Western Bulldogs versus GWS Giants, Etihad Stadium at 4:40pm
* denotes a Channel Seven game
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Last, year in the second showdown, Adelaide destroyed Port by 47 points with a staggering 20 marks inside 50 with Tex Walker the main star.
There’s no disputing that Cam Guthrie will be important against Melbourne, given Patrick Dangerfield is set to miss due to injury.
The All-Australian player has been below his best this year, and Matthew Lloyd has suggested that he be moved more into the midfield to…
He and Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell do not like having a player to sub on and would rather have an extra player available on…
Multicultural round was changed in 2018 showing that the AFL have not been as committed to multiculturalism as they should be.
Collingwood led by a point with minutes to go, Kyle Langford had the chance to be the hero with a set shot, however, he missed, and we saw the first draw of the season.
