With one week to go, the finalists are all but decided, but the seedings are not. Geelong is the number one seed and will get a double chance with both games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Cats will need that second chance because of the week off before the finals and their legendary inability to win after a week off.
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Collingwood, and Fremantle are fighting for three double chance berths with the best of these getting the number two seed and both games at home. The third and fourth place teams will get a double chance with the second game at home, and the last two getting only their first final at home. Since Melbourne and Brisbane play each other, everyone except Fremantle gets a double chance if they win. Freo needs a win and either Sydney or Collingwood to lose and the Brisbane-Melbourne game to not be a draw. The Dockers can also get a double chance with a win if Sydney and Collingwood both lose.
Richmond will be the in the finals, but cannot play a home game. If they end up playing Melbourne or Collingwood they will only have to travel to the visitors locker room at the MCG since all three clubs share the same stadium. If the Tigers advance far enough to play Geelong that game will also be at the MCG because the Geelong’s stadium is too small to host finals matches.
The last finals berth is up for grabs, with a slumping Carlton side holding onto eighth place on the ladder. The Blues must get at least a draw against archrival Collingwood to clinch a finals berth. They can still get in with a loss if the Western Bulldogs lose and St. Kilda doesn’t get a huge win over Sydney. Since Carlton-Collingwood and St. Kilda-Sydney are the last games of the weekend, there will be a lot of scoreboard watching by most of the league.
Footyfried 