Surprise losses for the Dockers and Suns at the weekend have given us with a fascinating end to the home and away season at Marvel Stadium next Sunday afternoon!
The big winners of Round 23 were...
The Western Bulldogs could hardly have had a better weekend as far as their finals qualifications hopes were concerned.
Not only did they comfortably clear the 76.5 point handicap against West Coast, much to the detriment of our weekly predictions, but their nearest rivals for eighth both dropped points with lopsided defeats against confirmed finals contenders.
Head coach Luke Beveridge described it as a "special" day not just for the on-field result but for the debut of Jordon Croft, son of former Bulldog Matthew. He joined fellow father-son teammates Tom Liberatore, Rhylee West and Sam Darcy, sparking some jubilant scenes in the change rooms after the match.
The Bulldogs aren't yet in the box seat for the finals due to the Gold Coast Suns having a game in hand - to be played on Wednesday 27th against Essendon - but their vastly superior percentage would see them finish ahead of Fremantle should they defeat the Dockers at Marvel Stadium next Sunday.
The big losers of Round 23 were...
Collingwood, again, and without a doubt. They fell to defeat in five of their last six games and this was the first in which they had a quarter-time lead, racing out to a five goal to one first term against the Crows only for that lead to be extinguished by half-time.
Perhaps most concerningly of all, they lost to an Adelaide side who were far below their best in front of a crowd of a venue-record crowd of 54,000, whilst inaccurate kicking cost them in games against Fremantle and Gold Coast where the victors weren't at 100% either.
The Pies dominated the inside 50s 71 to 37 but were unable to win the subsequent contests and in the last five weeks are averaging just ten marks inside 50 per game, which was the fifth-fewest in the competition during that period.
With that inconsistency in mind, they probably need the double chance more than anyone at this time of year, but defeating Melbourne next week won't necessarily be enough to get there, with Hawthorn also presented with an opportunity to sneak ahead of them on percentage with a win in Brisbane.
It could turn out to be one of the best final rounds of recent seasons!
A kick here or there and Collingwood could still be favourites
Losing close games on a regular basis is never a nice thing to go through, but does it suggest that Collingwood aren't as far off the mark as 'five losses from six matches' would imply?
Three points to Geelong, six to the Suns, one point to Fremantle and now just three against Adelaide... it's a bit of a concerning pattern but nonetheless Craig McRae could claim to be a tad unlucky in recent weeks.
He wasn't panicking despite the weekend result, telling reporters: "We didn't get the four points but, internally we know we're headed in the right direction.
"There was a lot more pride in the way we went about it. We turned the narrative around internally again.
"We think that stuff will stack up, there's an energy that will stack up."
A meeting with Melbourne in Round 24 gives them the opportunity to secure their place in the top four, though they would still need to ensure that Hawthorn does not also win and overtake them on percentage.
Coleman Medal leaderboard
With his stellar seven-goal haul in Hawthorn's comfortable win over Melbourne, Jack Gunston jumped above three separate players to second behind Jeremy Cameron in the Coleman Medal race.
Carlton star Harry McKay was the other player to boot seven this weekend, whilst there was five goals for North's Paul Curtis down in Hobart.
Goal of the Year: Round 23 nominations
Zac Bailey (Brisbane):
Harry McKay (Carlton):
Mark of the Year: Round 23 nominations
Toby Greene (GWS):
Bailey Williams (West Coast):
