With Essendon seventh with 11 wins and a percentage of 104.2 only one place in the finals seems vacant with four rounds of the AFL season remaining.
At this stage three teams – Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide – are vying for eighth spot.
Despite losing four of their last five matches the Crows, with nine wins and a percentage of 107.2 are clinging desperately to eighth place.
A crisis meeting called by coach Don Pyke last Sunday may help revitalise the side.
However, while the Crows should defeat St Kilda at Adelaide Oval next Saturday night the club then meets West Coast, Collingwood and the Bulldogs.
Although the Bulldogs have been on an upward spiral of late to bring up nine wins their percentage of 96.7 will mitigate the club’s chances of squeezing into the finals.
Worse still the Bulldogs have a very testing run home with a match against Brisbane at the Gabba this week being followed by clashes with the Essendon, Greater Western Sydney and the Crows.
With the problems confronting the Crows and Bulldogs, Port Adelaide down in 10th place with eight wins and a percentage of 102.1 has to be in contention to finish eighth.
A victory over Essendon on Saturday would be a surprise but then the Power meet the Sydney, North Melbourne and Fremantle, which are matches the side can be expected to win.
It is a big If, but if Port could down the Bombers, the side’s chances of reaching the play-offs would be greatly enhanced.
Last Week: 8
2019 Total: 95
Hawthorn by 10pts
Essendon by 15pts
GWS Giants by 37pts
Geelong by 32pts
Richmond by 28pts
Adelaide by 15pts
Collingwood by 45pts
Carlton by 12pts
Brisbane Lions by 16pts