1. Hawthorn
48 points (12 wins, two losses) 141 per cent

The Hawks face a tricky run home and will have to work hard to keep top spot following their second loss this year – and 11th in succession – to Geelong, which has drawn level on 12 wins. Round 18 against Essendon and round 22 against the Swans shape as the big ones.
The run home:
Rd 16: Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 17: Western Bulldogs at Aurora Stadium
Rd 18: Essendon at Etihad Stadium
Rd 19: Richmond at the MCG
Rd 20: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 22: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium

2. Geelong
48 points (12 wins, two losses) 128 per cent

The Cats are now just percentage shy of ladder leaders Hawthorn after keeping the Kennett curse alive in round 15. Sitting pretty in the top two, they are a very good chance to still be there at the end of the home and away season with five more games to come at Simonds Stadium. Their round 22 clash against fellow premiership aspirants the Sydney Swans will be crucial.

The run home:
Rd 16: Melbourne at Simonds Stadium
Rd 17: Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 18: St Kilda at Simonds Stadium
Rd 19: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium
Rd 21: West Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 22: Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium
Rd 23: Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium

3. Essendon
44 points (11 wins, three losses) 129.9 per cent

The Bombers are headed to the finals and could go a long way to sealing a top-four spot in the next fortnight with games they will be expected to win. Thereafter the Bombers face a number of traditional rivals in some big games. But if the next two weeks go well, James Hird's men should need only a couple of wins in last batch of games to grab that double chance. The round 18 clash with Hawthorn could decide a top-two position.

The run home:
Rd 16: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 17: Greater Western Sydney at Skoda Stadium
Rd 18: Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium
Rd 19: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 20: West Coast at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Carlton at the MCG
Rd 23: Richmond at the MCG

4. Sydney Swans
42 points (10 wins, three losses, one draw) 131.6 per cent

The premiers remain right in the hunt for the top four after back-to-back wins against Carlton and Melbourne. Greater Western Sydney would appear a formality this week before a trip to meet the Eagles. The Swans then face a tough run home that mirrors last year's entry to the finals, with Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn on the agenda in three of their final four games.

The run home:
Rd 16: Greater Western Sydney at the SCG
Rd 17: West Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 18: Richmond at the SCG
Rd 19: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Collingwood at ANZ Stadium
Rd 21: St Kilda at the SCG
Rd 22: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Rd 23: Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium

5. Fremantle
42 points (10 wins, three losses, one draw) 125.9 per cent

The Dockers remained on track to challenge for a top-two finish with their five-goal win over St Kilda. The only contests that appear to present issues are those against Richmond at the MCG, Carlton at Etihad Stadium a fortnight later in round 19, and perhaps this week's derby against West Coast. They face St Kilda again and have easy-looking outings against Greater Western Sydney and Melbourne.

The run home:
Rd 16: West Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 17: Richmond at the MCG
Rd 18: Adelaide at Patersons Stadium
Rd 19: Carlton at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium
Rd 21: Melbourne at the MCG
Rd 22: Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium
Rd 23: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium

6. Richmond
36 points (nine wins, five losses) 116.6 per cent

The Tigers face a difficult next month as they look to play finals for the first time since 2001. Saturday's 62-point loss to North Melbourne has raised doubts about their credentials and they face three top-five sides in the next four weeks. Even this Saturday night's trip to Cairns to face Gold Coast is one that will remind fans how quickly good positions can be squandered. Round 23's clash against Essendon shapes as a tasty entrée to September, should the Tigers hold on.

The run home:
Rd 16: Gold Coast at Cazalys Stadium
Rd 17: Fremantle at the MCG
Rd 18: Sydney Swans at the SCG
Rd 19: Hawthorn at the MCG
Rd 20: Brisbane Lions at the MCG
Rd 21: Carlton at the MCG
Rd 22: Greater Western Sydney at Skoda Stadium
Rd 23: Essendon at the MCG

7. Collingwood
36 points (nine wins, five losses) 107.8 per cent

Seemingly back on track after a powerful 41-point win over Carlton, the Magpies still need to negotiate a challenging second-half fixture before locking in a finals appearance. They face return clashes with top sides Hawthorn, the Swans and Essendon – who belted them by an average of 49 points the first time around. Wins against Adelaide, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the next three weeks would leave them in a strong position before a testing finish.

The run home:
Rd 16: Adelaide at the MCG
Rd 17: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
Rd 18: Greater Western Sydney at the MCG
Rd 19: Essendon at the MCG
Rd 20: Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium
Rd 21: Hawthorn at the MCG
Rd 22: West Coast at the MCG
Rd 23: North Melbourne at the MCG

8. Port Adelaide
32 points (eight wins, six losses) 113.7 per cent

The Power had been comfortable in the eight on the back of huge wins against the Sydney Swans and Collingwood, but the competition is closing after Sunday's loss to Essendon. Their ability to sustain their defensive intensity for the rest of the season will determine whether they play finals football or miss out. With at least three should-win games (against the Saints, Lions and Suns) and three more on home turf, destiny remains in the Power's hands.

The run home:
Rd 16: Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium
Rd 17: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
Rd 18: Brisbane Lions at AAMI Stadium
Rd 19: Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 20: Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Rd 21: Gold Coast at AAMI Stadium
Rd 22: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium
Rd 23: Carlton at AAMI Stadium

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9. West Coast
28 points (seven wins, seven losses) 109.9 per cent

The Eagles squared their season and revived their finals hopes with a last-gasp win against Adelaide, which leaves them just one game outside the eight. West Coast has to bank three wins against the Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Adelaide, but the other five matches will be very tough. Five matches at home does not look as appealing as it would have in previous years given the Eagles have lost five of seven at Patersons this season.
The run home:
Rd 16: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium
Rd 17: Sydney Swans at Patersons Stadium
Rd 18: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 19: Gold Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 20: Essendon at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: Geelong at Patersons Stadium
Rd 22: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 23: Adelaide at Patersons Stadium

10. North Melbourne
24 points (six wins, eight losses) 118.6 per cent

North Melbourne will need a run home similar to that of 2012 to play finals. Last year the Roos flew home 10-2 to make the finals for the first time since 2008 and a big win over Richmond was a step in the right direction. Their cause is not helped, however, by a draw that includes clashes with the current top three teams, Hawthorn, Geelong and Essendon. With Collingwood looming in in round 23, the Roos need a miracle.

The run home:
Rd 16: Brisbane Lions at the Gabba
Rd 17: Carlton at Etihad Stadium
Rd 18: Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 19: Geelong at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 21: Essendon at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Collingwood at the MCG

11. Carlton
24 points (six wins, eight losses) 109.2 per cent

The Blues have lost four games on the trot to find themselves two games outside the eight and in a logjam with West Coast, North Melbourne and Adelaide. Of that group, Carlton has perhaps the easiest run home, but the 41-point loss to Collingwood was a significant setback that could leave them too far adrift.

The run home:
Rd 16: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
Rd 17: North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Rd 18: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
Rd 19: Fremantle at Etihad Stadium
Rd 20: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 21: Richmond at the MCG
Rd 22: Essendon at the MCG
Rd 23: Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium

12. Adelaide
24 points (six wins, eight losses) 104.9 per cent

The Crows' loss to West Coast all but snuffed out their slim finals hopes, with a tough run looming and six or seven wins required from eight games. Preliminary finalists last year, they are still a way off the level they set last year and with games against two premiership contenders and two Western Australian road trips, finals football is just about out of reach.

The run home:
Rd 16: Collingwood at the MCG
Rd 17: Geelong at AAMI Stadium
Rd 18: Fremantle at Patersons Stadium
Rd 19: Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 20: North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium
Rd 21: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Rd 22: Melbourne at AAMI Stadium
Rd 23: West Coast at Patersons Stadium

13. Gold Coast
20 points (five wins, nine losses) 89.3 per cent

Back-to-back losses have left the Suns with a mountain to climb, needing to win seven or maybe eight of their final eight matches to play finals. They have the easiest draw of any team in the competition, and with a friendly final month in particular, could have their season determined in the next fortnight. This week's clash against Richmond in Cairns is a must-win.

The run home:
Rd 16: Richmond at Cazalys Stadium
Rd 17: Collingwood at Metricon Stadium
Rd 18: Carlton at Metricon Stadium
Rd 19: West Coast at Patersons Stadium
Rd 20: Melbourne at Metricon Stadium
Rd 21: Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Rd 22: St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
Rd 23: Greater Western Sydney at Metricon Stadium