Well, Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart can’t quite tell us which teams will be facing off in the finals just yet. But perhaps we now have a clearer picture of which teams won’t.

For the first time, positions 12 through 16 on the Hot Form Chart remained unchanged. Despite Adelaide and Essendon still being mathematical chances of a top eight finish, only the most optimistic of supporters would still have their abacus out.

Which leaves us, in all probability, with five teams gunning for spots seven and eight over the remaining three rounds.

For at least one of them, zero hour will be Saturday, 2pm. Whoever lose out of St Kilda and the Dockers at Telstra Dome on the weekend can pack their bags for the end of season soiree.

It’s a similar scenario for the Crows and Bulldogs. On recent form, neither team looks capable of seeing September and that observation will become fact for the loser of their twilight encounter on Sunday.

Sydney and Brisbane play off in Crikey’s Hot Form match of the round. Victory for the Swans will secure a finals spot and may push them into the top four. A Lions loss will put them out of the eight and possibly needing to beat Geelong in round 22 to feature in the finals.

Collingwood supporters might be starting to feel a little jittery too. The Hot Form Chart doesn’t have a column for emotion but rest assured Melbourne’s would make required reading. Their captain David Neitz becomes the first Demon to play 300 games on the weekend.

On the positive side for Pies fans, they have alternated wins and losses for the last 10 rounds and this week, that pattern demands a victory.

Geelong, having already secured the minor premiership, could be forgiven for being a little off the boil this weekend. However the Cats might find some motivation in revenge. The last time they lost was way back in round 5. Their opposition that day was the Kangaroos. 
 

Form over

last 5 weeks

Team

Last week’s

form rating

AFL ladder

position

Sequence

1

Geelong

1

1

W-W-W-W-W

2

Sydney

3

6

W-L-W-W-W

3

Brisbane

2

8

W-W-W-W-L

4

Port Adelaide

6

3

W-W-W-L-W

5

St Kilda

5

9

W-W-W-D-L

6

Kangaroos

4

5

W-W-W-L-L

7

West Coast

9

4

L-W-W-L-W

8

Hawthorn

10

2

W-L-L-W-W

9

Fremantle

11

12

L-W-L-W-W

10

Collingwood

7

7

L-W-L-W-L

11

Bulldogs

8

10

W-L-L-D-L

12

Adelaide

12

11

L-L-L-W-L

13

Essendon

13

13

L-L-W-L-L

14

Melbourne

14

14

L-L-L-L-W

15

Richmond

15

16

L-L-L-L-W

16

Carlton

16

15

L-L-L-L-L

Columns indicate: Comparative form over the last 5 weeks; Position on form as of last week; Position on AFL ladder; Win/Loss sequence.

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Tips for round 20 are:

  • Collingwood
  • St Kilda
  • Essendon
  • West Coast
  • Sydney
  • Port Adelaide
  • Geelong
  • Bulldogs

Last week: 4