With only five weeks of regular-season footy left to play, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Teams serious about their premiership chances will be doing everything in their power to secure a top four spot and at the very least, a home final for finishing fifth or sixth.
However, nobody will forget the Western Bulldogs who won from seventh spot in 2016, demonstrating that teams can triumph from anywhere.
This makes the mad scramble for the eight all the more interesting, with the finals contenders not likely to be known until the final round.
With as many as six teams fighting for the last two spots in the eight, each kick of the ball becomes critical in the final five rounds.
Punters have supreme confidence that the Tigers will go back-to-back, with their premiership odds either coming in or staying rock solid as each round passes.
While some will question why Richmond's odds of $2.50 are so short, these punters only need to look at the Tigers' MCG record.
At the home of Aussie Rules, the Tigers have won 17 straight.
With four of Richmond's last five regular-season games played at the MCG, as well as their finals games including the big dance (should they get there) all set to be played at the venue, it's no surprise the odds are where they are.
Before GWS's Round 17 victory over the Tigers, they were paying as much as $51 to claim their maiden premiership.
Two wins and two weeks later, GWS's premiership odds have been crunched, and now sit in single figures.
While Toby Greene has been a massive inclusion, it's GWS's newfound tackling pressure and defensive solidity that has them looking like genuine title challengers.
With Jeremy Cameron's suspension almost at an end, the Giants will be further bolstered in the forward line.
And with their next two matches against the Saints and Blues, they are looking like shoo-ins to make the top four.
If the Swans can't beat the Suns, how can they win the premiership?
While this may be a slight overreaction, and you can never write off a team like the Bloods, it doesn't look like it will be Sydney's year in 2018.
Too much of Sydney's starting 22 are just too young to be genuine premiership contenders, despite their classy core of Kennedy, Parker, Franklin and Rampe.
But it's not all doom and gloom. If the Swans can hold on to the likes of Ben Ronke, Will Hayward and Oliver Florent, they will be a force to be reckoned with for coming seasons.
After back-to-back losses in games they were expected to win, punters have lost faith in Port Adelaide.
Their premiership odds have tumbled to $17, which appears to be an accurate reflection of their chances.
Paddy Ryder is such a key player for the Power, with his recent injury a huge blow.
He not only outwits most opposing ruckmen in the air and on the ground, but he frees up big forwards Charlie Dixon and Justin Westhoff to create carnage in the forward 50.
While his stint on the sideline isn't expected to be long, Port seem to have too many frailties to be there on grand final day.
The after the siren loss to Geelong in Round 18 was a big kick in the guts for Melbourne and their patient fans.
Even though they face tough away games against Adelaide and West Coast, as well as home games against both Sydney clubs, you'd expect Melbourne to break their finals drought this year.
Their performances thus far suggest they have all the quality to wrap up their finals berth before the Round 23 fixture against the Giants.
The only thing seemingly standing in Melbourne's way is their mental demons.
To think that a side sitting outside the top eight with only five games to play is paying a mere $1.10 to make the finals is nothing short of ludicrous.
Of course, with Geelong's bevy of stars, and a relatively easy run home that sees them play home games against the Dockers and Suns in the last two rounds, it would be a massive shock if the Cats didn't make the eight.
But you'd be a brave punter to take the paltry $1.10 offered up.
Geelong's Round 21 fixture against the Hawks will be crucial, as well as a much better bet for those who fancy the Cats.
Despite a super-difficult run home that sees them play, amongst others, Richmond and Port Adelaide away from home, Essendon could be the one team who surprise.
The Bombers have well and truly found their best form, winning seven of their last nine.
This team on the charge are likely to be boosted by the return of talisman and gun forward Joe Daniher in the coming weeks, as he makes his long awaited return from injury.
With just about their full strength side back on the park, the Crows have got back to their brilliant best in past weeks, especially when playing at home.
They are looking like a team that deserves to be playing in September, but unfortunately, they may have left their run a little late.
Their next four games are very tough, before a last round assignment against the hapless Blues.
While it's hard to see the Crows navigating a path to the finals, the odds are well worth a bet for those who fancy the Adelaide outfit.
A side with all the know-how of qualifying for the finals, Hawthorn lack the firepower of the other teams contesting the top eight.
With tough clashes against the Swans, Bombers and Cats to come, the Hawks will have to play their best footy all year if they want to sneak into the eight.
The Kangaroos are the top eight contenders with the easiest run home.
However, for a team that is already defying the odds to be in the race for the eight, it looks like actually qualifying for finals footy will just be a bridge to far for the Kangas.
They just lack one or two high-quality players that make all the difference when the pressure is on.
Jul 24, 2018 11:50 AM
AAP
