Who has the hardest? Who has the easiest? We rate your team’s run home to the finals

Carlton (6 wins, 8 losses)

Round 15: Lost to North Melbourne
Round 16: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Round 17: Collingwood (MCG)
Round 18: Brisbane (Marvel Stadium)
Round 19: Melbourne (MCG)
Round 20: Hawthorn (MCG)
Round 21: Fremantle (Optus Stadium)
Round 22: Gold Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Round 23: Port Adelaide (Marvel Stadium)
Round 24: Essendon (MCG)
Champion Data rating: 17

What we say: Blues’ fans may consider this season shot, but there is still mathematical hope of making the finals. In saying that, we question whether this is really the second-easiest schedule, for it’s likely to deliver more pain. From round 17, the Blues face three of the top four premiership favourites over the ensuing month, while the Dockers and Suns are also to come. It’s difficult to see how the Blues will be alive come September.

Collingwood (12 wins, 2 losses)

Round 15: Defeated St Kilda
Round 16: West Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Round 17: Carlton (MCG)
Round 18: Gold Coast (People First Stadium)
Round 19: Fremantle (MCG)
Round 20: Richmond (MCG)
Round 21: Brisbane (MCG)
Round 22: Hawthorn (MCG)
Round 23: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Round 24: Melbourne (MCG)
Champion Data rating: 8

What we say: The Magpies could not be better placed to finish top two, but their run home will be challenging. Three of their final four games are against fellow premiership contenders the Lions, Hawks and Crows, while the Suns and Dockers are also ahead. Four more wins should be enough for a top-two finish.

Essendon (6 wins, 8 losses)

Round 15: Lost to Fremantle
Round 16: Bye
Round 17: Gold Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Round 18: Richmond (MCG)
Round 19: GWS (Marvel Stadium)
Round 20: Western Bulldogs (Marvel Stadium)
Round 21: Sydney (SCG)
Round 22: Geelong (GMHBA Stadium)
Round 23: St Kilda (Marvel Stadium)
Round 24: Gold Coast Suns (People First Stadium – rescheduled from Opening Round)
Round 24: Carlton (MCG)
Champion Data rating: 3

What we say: The Bombers are all but out of the finals race, regardless of their run home, but face a testing final nine rounds, particularly if their long injury list remains. Premiership hopefuls the Suns, Bulldogs, Giants and Cats all await, while they were beaten by the Blues when they last met. A trip to the SCG is never easy, but they will set themselves against the Tigers and Saints. A nine-win season, having blooded, say, a dozen debutants, would not be a bad result.

Fremantle (9 wins, 5 losses)

Round 15: Defeated Essendon
Round 16: St Kilda (Optus Stadium)
Round 17: Sydney (SCG)
Round 18: Hawthorn (Optus Stadium)
Round 19: Collingwood (MCG)
Round 20: West Coast (Optus Stadium)
Round 21: Carlton (Optus Stadium)
Round 22: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Round 23: Brisbane (Optus Stadium)
Round 24: Western Bulldogs (Marvel Stadium)
Champion Data rating: 13

What we say: It’s time for the Dockers to get busy, and they have a relatively friendly run home to seriously push for the top four – although we said the same thing last year, and look what happened. There is a testing fortnight against Hawthorn and Collingwood, and the Lions later come to town. A season-closing clash against the Bulldogs could have major implications. Six wins – and a top-four berth – are achievable if they maintain their new, attacking philosophy.

Geelong (10 wins, 5 losses)

Round 15: Lost to Brisbane
Round 16: Bye
Round 17: Richmond (GMHBA Stadium)
Round 18: GWS Giants (Giants Stadium)
Round 19: St Kilda (GMHBA Stadium)
Round 20: North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
Round 21: Port Adelaide (GMHBA Stadium)
Round 22: Essendon (GMHBA Stadium)
Round 23: Sydney Swans (SCG)
Round 24: Richmond (MCG)
Champion Data rating: 18

What we say: The Cats have the easiest run. They face Richmond twice – yes, twice – in the final nine rounds, with an improving North Melbourne also to come. Of their remaining opponents, only the Giants could say they are a legitimate premiership threat. The Power are clinging to their September dreams, as are the Swans. Will the Cats even drop a game? Perhaps not. The only question may be whether they are sufficiently battle-hardened come the post-season.

Gold Coast Suns (8 wins, 5 losses)

Round 15: Lost to Greater Western Sydney
Round 16: Melbourne (People First Stadium)
Round 17: Essendon (Marvel Stadium)
Round 18: Collingwood (People First Stadium)
Round 19: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Round 20: Brisbane (People First Stadium)
Round 21: Richmond (People First Stadium)
Round 22: Carlton (Marvel Stadium)
Round 23: GWS (People First Stadium)
Round 24: Essendon (People First Stadium – rescheduled from Opening Round)
Round 24: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Champion Data rating: 16

What we say: The Suns are out of the top eight for the first time this season. They now have a three-week run against the Magpies, Crows and Lions (two of which are at home) where we will find out whether they are truly a flag challenger. Regardless, this season is about making the finals for the first time in club history. Their run home gives them every chance of achieving this, beginning with the Demons and Bombers.

GWS Giants (9 wins, 6 losses)

Round 15: Defeated Gold Coast
Round 16: Bye
Round 17: West Coast (Optus Stadium)
Round 18: Geelong (Engie Stadium)
Round 19: Essendon (Marvel Stadium)
Round 20: Sydney (Engie Stadium)
Round 21: Western Bulldogs (Marvel Stadium)
Round 22: North Melbourne (Manuka Oval)
Round 23: Gold Coast (People First Stadium)
Round 24: St Kilda (Engie Stadium)
Champion Data rating: 9

What we say: The Giants have been a difficult team to decipher this season, and injuries haven’t helped. A finish between fifth and eighth, rather than top four, seems most realistic, with games against the Eagles, Kangaroos, Saints and even the Swans likely to aid their quest. We’ll know where they really stand after they face the Cats and Bulldogs.

Hawthorn (9 wins, 5 losses)

Round 15: Bye
Round 16: North Melbourne (UTAS Stadium)
Round 17: St Kilda (Marvel Stadium)
Round 18: Fremantle (Optus Stadium)
Round 19: Port Adelaide (UTAS Stadium)
Round 20: Carlton (MCG)
Round 21: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Round 22: Collingwood (MCG)
Round 23: Melbourne (MCG)
Round 24: Brisbane (Gabba)
Champion Data rating: 6

What we say: This is a tricky run home. The Hawks need another four wins (perhaps five) to rubber stamp a finals berth, two of which should come immediately after the break. However, they will keen to show they are a flag challenger, and that will come against Fremantle, Adelaide, Collingwood and Brisbane. They’ll do well to make the top four.

Melbourne (5 wins, 9 losses)

Round 15: Bye
Round 16: Gold Coast (People First Stadium)
Round 17: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Round 18: North Melbourne (MCG)
Round 19: Carlton (MCG)
Round 20: St Kilda (Marvel Stadium)
Round 21: West Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Round 22: Western Bulldogs (MCG)
Round 23: Hawthorn (MCG)
Round 24: Collingwood (MCG)
Champion Data rating: 10

What we say: The Demons appear out of finals contention, needing at least eight more wins. To have any hope, they will need to knock over the Suns and Crows in the next fortnight. They are capable – as we saw in their win over Brisbane. There is potentially a softer run from there, but a brutal finale awaits – against the Hawks and Magpies.

Port Adelaide (6 wins, 8 losses)

Round 15: Lost to Sydney
Round 16: Carlton (Adelaide Oval)
Round 17: Brisbane (Gabba)
Round 18: West Coast (Adelaide Oval)
Round 19: Hawthorn (UTAS Stadium)
Round 20: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Round 21: Geelong (GMHBA Stadium)
Round 22: Fremantle (Adelaide Oval)
Round 23: Carlton (Marvel Stadium)
Round 24: Gold Coast (Adelaide Oval)
Champion Data rating: 1

What we say: The Power have the toughest run home, making the prospect of one last finals dance for Ken Hinkley bleak. They are battling to remain in contention, needing at least seven more wins. Thursday night’s clash with the Blues is pivotal for both sides. Then the fixture turns brutal, with the Lions, Hawks, Crows and Cats among the next five-week period.

St Kilda (5 wins, 9 losses)

Round 15: Lost to Collingwood
Round 16: Fremantle (Optus Stadium)
Round 17: Hawthorn (Marvel Stadium)
Round 18: Sydney (Marvel Stadium)
Round 19: Geelong (GMHBA Stadium)
Round 20: Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
Round 21: North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
Round 22: Richmond (MCG)
Round 23: Essendon (Marvel Stadium)
Round 24: GWS (Engie Stadium)
Champion Data rating: 5

What we say: The Saints also appear cooked, with only a mathematical heartbeat of making the finals, for they will need to win at least eight of their final nine games. For a team with only five wins to date, a treacherous month awaits, with the Dockers, Hawks and Cats among their opponents.

Sydney Swans (6 wins, 8 losses)

Round 15: Defeated Port Adelaide
Round 16: Western Bulldogs (SCG)
Round 17: Fremantle (SCG)
Round 18: St Kilda (Marvel Stadium)
Round 19: North Melbourne (SCG)
Round 20: GWS (Engie Stadium)
Round 21: Essendon (SCG)
Round 22: Brisbane (Gabba)
Round 23: Geelong (SCG)
Round 24:West Coast (Optus Stadium)
Champion Data rating: 12

What we say: In the same boat as several opponents. Mathematically still a chance, but this has become a rebuilding year under Dean Cox. They must protect home court against the Bulldogs and Dockers over the next fortnight.

Western Bulldogs (8 wins, 6 losses)

Round 15: Defeated Richmond
Round 16: Sydney (SCG)
Round 17: North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
Round 18: Adelaide (Mars Stadium)
Round 19: Brisbane (Gabba)
Round 20: Essendon (Marvel Stadium)
Round 21: GWS (Marvel Stadium)
Round 22: Melbourne (MCG)
Round 23: West Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Round 24: Fremantle (Marvel Stadium)
Champion Data rating: 15

What we say: The Bulldogs are a premiership threat, edging into the top eight on Sunday night. Of concern, however, is that their six defeats have been against top eight sides. It’s time to get moving, and a potentially soft fortnight awaits before facing the Crows and Lions. That they still have the Eagles and even the Demons to come will aid their finals bid.

Out of finals race

North Melbourne: (4 wins, 9 losses, 1 draw) Champion Data rating: 7
Richmond: (3-11) Champion Data rating: 11
West Coast Eagles: (1 win, 13 losses) Champion Data rating: 4

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