Which teams will make the AFL top eight? Scribes have their say

During the pre-season our pundits gazed into the crystal ball and came up with their top-eight predictions. With the benefit of hindsight (and 19 rounds of footy), they’ve had another go.

GREG BAUM

Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Melbourne
Sydney
Brisbane Lions
Port Adelaide
West Coast
Richmond

Melbourne would have to beat a red-hot Geelong the last round to finish top two. Sydney have the easiest remaining draw of the top six and with the right fall of results could pinch fourth from Port Adelaide and Brisbane. Richmond, for all their woes, are best-placed to budge GWS out of eighth.

DANIEL CHERNY

Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Brisbane Lions
Sydney Swans
Port Adelaide
Melbourne
West Coast
GWS Giants

The Demons are flagging in the back half of the season and have a tough final month to contend with. The Swans are surging and poised to pounce on fourth spot. West Coast have steadied and should get seventh. Eighth is as volatile as it gets but the Giants’ draw earlier in the season looms as a tiebreaker.

SAM MCCLURE

Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Sydney Swans
Port Adelaide
West Coast
GWS Giants

I can’t believe I’m writing off the reigning premiers, but I think the Tigers have just left their run too late. The Giants don’t deserve to make the finals but their draw might just be favourable enough. The race for fourth is very tight but I’ve got the Lions scraping in on percentage. I think Melbourne have been too good a team this season to let the double chance slip from here.

JAKE NIALL

Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Port Adelaide
Sydney
West Coast
GWS Giants

The top of the ladder won’t change much, but Brisbane can regain their footing enough to supplant Port Adelaide in fourth spot. West Coast are nearly a lock for the eight – two wins and their cemented at seventh. In the three-way for eight spot, Essendon have to win at least three and then rely on GWS losing. Richmond and GWS’s game is pivotal and I’m – slightly – leaning for the Giants, despite their harder run.

JON PIERIK

Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Port Adelaide
Sydney
West Coast
Greater Western Sydney

The top six sides are September bound but settling on seventh and eighth is tricky. Can’t see the Saints winning their remaining four, while the Dockers and Bombers have slipped. Two wins should be enough for the Eagles to rubber-stamp their spot, while I am backing the Giants to beat the Tigers in round 22 to secure their berth.

PETER RYAN

Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
West Coast
Richmond

With their mojo back the Lions can scrape into the top four at Port Adelaide’s expense while Richmond might just edge out the Giants in the race for the eight. It will come down to the 2019 grand finalist’s encounter in round 22, which will be played god knows where given it’s a Giants home game.

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