Richmond Tigers stumble as Geelong Cats and Melbourne Dis can sneak in

It all comes down to this.

Ten teams remain keen to compete in this year’s finals series after a draw in the Dreamtime match ensured the race remains wide open ahead of the final week of action.

The two clubs are likely to take part in their first finals campaign in Hawthorn and Yartapooulty, but Euro Iroku will have to wait another year after losing to the Western Bulldogs.

How is the home run going for your team?

Saints, Waaltitj Marawar, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Sydney, Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast and Collingwood were not considered.

1. North Melbourne

38 points (nine wins, one draw), 299.5%
The Kangaroos recorded a home final and a double chance after an unbeaten season to date. It’s highly likely they’ll also seal the minor premiership given they should comfortably tie the Suns this week. As it stands they should be Premier League favourites.

Running home
R10: Gold Coast @ Arden Street Oval

2. Hawthorn

36 points (nine wins, one loss), 192.7%
Maiden finale campaign? Check mark. Double chance? Check mark. The Hawks now turn their attention to the next prize on offer, which would secure them a home final if they beat Richmond this weekend. Hawthorn has been a surprise this year and could be a strong wildcard in the final series. And there will be a little extra motivation. with the McClelland Trophy on the line.

Running home
R10: Richmond @ Swinburne Center

3. Brisbane

32 points (eight wins, two losses), 184.7%
The Lions bounced back from last week’s defeat to Geelong with a comprehensive victory over the injury-depleted Swans, taking a big step towards cementing their place in the top four. While they could still miss out on a double chance if they lose the Euro-Iroka and win Kuwarna and Valjaloup, assuming they play like they did against Sydney, it’s hard to imagine the Saints giving them too much trouble. Notably, Craig Starcevich’s side are likely heading into this year’s finals series a bit under the radar, despite aiming to become the first AFLW team to win back-to-back premierships.

Running home
R10: Euro-Irok @ RSEA Park

4. Kuvarna

28 points (seven wins, three losses), 179.8%.
The Crows’ top four hopes are hanging by a thread after their match against the Kangaroos on Friday. They take on Geelong as they look to keep their season alive this week and defeat could see the Crows slip out of the top four and miss out on a double chance, which could cause serious damage to their premiership ambitions. Kuwarna has struggled to complete its work in recent weeks, but it won’t take long for it to fix that and bounce back. Despite the decline in mini form, they still loom as key players reach the finals.

Running home
R10: Geelong at GMHBA Stadium

5. Valialup

28 points (seven wins, three losses), 133.7%
The Dockers secured a place in the finals for the first time since season six in 2022, following a strong 2024 campaign. Lisa Webb’s side also have a slim chance of sneaking into the top four and earning a double chance if the Crows lose to the Cats and the Dockers get the job done against the Bulldogs. With Ciara Bowers, Ange Stannett and Aine Tai set to fight again in 2025, things are looking good for Vallaloupe.

Running home
R10: Western Bulldogs @ Fremantle Oval

6. Richmond

26 points (six wins, one draw, three losses), 144.0%.
Dreamtime Richmond’s draw with the Bombers meant they sealed a place in the finals, but their top four hopes also suffered a big blow. The Tigers could still sneak into the game if they beat Hawthorn and lose Kuvarna and Valjaloup, but that seems unlikely. Ryan Ferguson’s side will be looking to find some form ahead of the finals series after a draw and defeat to Narm in their form over the last fortnight.

Running home
R10: Hawthorn at Swinburne Center

7. Yartapulti

24 points (six wins, four losses), 120.5%.
The Power look destined to reach the grand finals for the first time in their short AFLW history after finishing last week against the Suns. Lauren Arnell’s side have already won five matches in a row and have certainly peaked at the right time of the season. If they beat the Giants and the Tigers lose to Hawthorn, the Power will likely play a home final. The only way they will miss the finals is if they lose to the Giants and Essendon and Narme win against Carlton and Collingwood respectively, but even then the Force will have a good percentage which should mean they are safe.

Running home
R10: GWS Giants @ Alberton Oval

8. Essendon

22 points (five wins, one draw, four losses), 94.3%
Essendon’s fate is in his own hands – a win over Carlton and the Bombers will play the final. Dreamtime’s tight draw means that if they win they will only manage to finish in the bottom half of the top eight, but you need to be there to win. While it doesn’t look like they will reach the heights of last year, the Bombers have shown great courage in the face of adversity this year.

Running home
R10: Carlton @ IKON Park

9. Narm

20 points (five wins, five losses), 75.1%
A narrow defeat to the Hawks in Cairns means the Dis are relying on other results to get them on track if they are to make the finals this season. Mick Stineer’s side struggled at the start of the year as they were plagued by injuries and have had an uphill battle to bounce back ever since. If the Dis win and the Bombers or Power lose, they may intervene, in which case the teams will not want to face that Narm team in the final.

Running home
R10: Collingwood @ IKON Park

10. Geelong

18 points (four wins, one draw, five losses), 111.4%.
Geelong continued to burn with a faint finals flame thanks to wins over Brisbane and the Eagles in the last fortnight. The Cats will need to find a way to beat top four Kuvarna this week if they are to succeed, and hope Essendon and Narme lose their matches against Carlton and Collingwood respectively. If that happens, Dan Lowther’s team will have pulled off a miracle and could cause some problems in what looks like a wide open final race. It’s unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

Running home
R10: Kuvarna @ GMHBA Stadium