Collingwood held a seemingly unassailable 12-point lead at the top of the ladder just four weeks ago and it has evaporated completely following their surprise weekend performance against Brisbane.
The big winners of Round 21 were...
Western Bulldogs not only finally broke their hoodoo of failing to defeat a top-eight side but they did it in such commanding fashion, keeping a team that averages nearly 90 points per game in 2025 to just 44.
The GWS Giants were undermanned through injury but not to the extent of the final result, but the performance from the Bulldogs on Thursday night would have knocked off most other finals contenders.
The red hot duo of Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy were unstoppable and have combined for a massive 60 goals in eight matches since Darcy's comeback from a knee injury and Naughton's own surge, as you will see below, has even seen him rocket into second place on the Coleman Medal tally.
Sustaining such football has been an issue throughout the season for Beveridge's men, but perhaps that result is the shot of belief they need ahead of a potentially must-win game at home to the Dockers in the final round.
It was also a big win for the Dogs not only because they halved the gap to the Giants, but also to Hawthorn following the Hawks' loss to Adelaide, meaning that the Bulldogs could potentially still lose one of their three remaining games and sneak through with their monstrous percentage of 137.29.
The big losers of Round 21 were...
Undoubtedly the former ladder leaders Collingwood, who dropped below Adelaide on percentage following a very underwhelming outing on their own MCG against Brisbane.
Adelaide are one of the clubs they'll have to defeat in coming weeks to claim the minor Premiership, and at the Adelaide Oval at that, whilst a similarly difficult task awaits them when they take on a dogged Hawthorn opposition this week with just a five-day turnaround.
The likely return of Jeremy Howe this week would be a much welcome boost to a defence that has been missing both he and Billy Frampton during their slump, whilst at the other end of the ground they very much need Bobby Hill back and for Jordan de Goey to settle back into things following his return in Round 21.
Their last month has certainly been unsettled by injury and personal circumstances as far as their best 18 is concerned but it's not too late to turn things around in that regard.
But the harsh reality is that they should have had a top-two spot sewn up by now. Perhaps Craig McRae will be ruing enacting his late season rest and rotate policy as early as he did.
Coleman Medal Leaderboard
Jeremy Cameron has his second Coleman Medal (and first since 2019) sewn up, and now the only thing to be determined is whether he can become the first since Buddy Franklin in 2008 to reach the ton.
56 of the 75 have come against sides outside the top-eight and that is the calibre of opposition he'll come up against in the next three weeks with games to come against Sydney, Richmond and Essendon.
Barring injury, he'll become the first since Brendan Fevola in 2009 to go beyond 80, and with Geelong's soft run to September, 100+ is not out of the question unless he is rested on the way to the finals.
Goal of the Year: Round 21 nominations
Mac Andrew (Gold Coast):
Jordan Dawson (Adelaide):
Cameron Rayner (Brisbane Lions):
Mark of the Year: Round 21 nominations
Tyler Brockman (West Coast):
Jack Henry (Geelong):
