The top eight race will be thrown wide open in several September-defining clashes this weekend. Here's What To Watch For in Round 20.
Will the real Port Adelaide please stand up?
How do you judge the Power? Last weekend they really should have beaten one of the flag favourites in GWS, but ended up coughing up the four points to leave them one win and percentage behind the eighth-placed team, their cross-town rivals Adelaide.
It was an impressive effort, with Ken Hinkley's team bringing finals-like intensity and dominating large patches but unable to overcome a slow start and poor kicking at goal.
Earlier in the year, the Power's ongoing win-loss-win-loss streak was the subject of much criticism but the past five weeks has been a lot worse than that - Port sit 15th on the 'form ladder' of the past five rounds with a 1-4 record. Their percentage over that time is just 86 percent.
The silver lining for Hinkley and Co. is the fact Port's finals rivals continue to fluff their lines too, with Adelaide, Hawthorn and Fremantle, among others, failing to win the games they should in the lead-up to September.
All except Essendon, of course. The Dons have just about cemented their September campaign with a blistering 5-0 run in the past five weeks, displaying the resilience required to prevail even when sorely tested.
The two teams clash at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon and Port must defy the Dons if they're to keep their finals hopes alive. A loss opens up a gap that may be too big to close with three more rounds to play. A win, on the other hand, brings that all-important emotional driver: hope.
The top eight race to be thrown wide open
Could we be set for a case of Déjà vu? This week, the under-fire Crows face a resurgent Victorian team which is playing attacking and attractive footy under an impressive caretaker coach.
After losing to the Blues by 27 points last week, Adelaide welcomes a rejuvenated St Kilda to Adelaide Oval, in a match which has massive implications for the make-up of the top eight.
If the Crows can shake their poor form which has seen them lose four of their past five, they go a long way to shoring up a top eight berth. Considering the ninth-placed Dogs are facing the Lions at the Gabba this week, an Adelaide win would lift them four points and percentage clear of the next best team.
But should the Saints -- led by interim coach Brett Ratten -- storm home and win their third consecutive game, the race for the eight gets blown wide open. Not only would the Saints move to within percentage of the Crows, a Bulldogs win would see them jump up to eighth with just three games remaining. Even if the Dogs lose to the Lions, the logjam on 36 points could feature as many as six teams, if Port Adelaide upsets Essendon at Marvel Stadium, the Hawks beat the Roos and the Dockers shock the Cats in Perth.
To say this is a big game for Don Pyke and the Crows is a massive understatement. They desperately need a circuit-breaker to get their season back on track, and for their sake, they'll be hoping the pizza and beers they shared on Sunday night will do the trick.
Could the dangerous Dogs to sneak into the eight?
Danger games don't come much bigger than this for Brisbane. On Sunday afternoon, in the 4:40pm timeslot, the Lions will welcome the Dogs to the Gabba in a game that is going to mean so much to both sides.
Brisbane might be sitting pretty in third, but by no means are they top four locks just yet. With games to come against Geelong and Richmond in the final two rounds, this one simply has to be a win. If not, they are at serious risk of falling out and undoing so much of their hard work through the first 19 weeks.
For the Dogs, their season is still well and truly alive. Right now they are placed ninth on the ladder, only outside the top eight by percentage. A win could see Luke Beveridge's side leapfrog the struggling Crows and into September calculations. And we all know what they did last time they finished in the lower half of the eight...
The Lions haven't opted to implement a tag at all this season, but they're definitely going to need to put some time into Marcus Bontempelli. The Bont is having arguably a career best year, averaging 26 disposals and six clearances per game. If Brisbane can nullify his influence, it will go a long way to winning the game and helping solidify their top four spot.
For the Dogs, the player who they must target is Lachie Neale. The inside midfielder and Brownlow Medal favourite is the one that sets up so much of their play. During their six-game winning streak, Neale has tallied 54 clearances and 101 contested possessions. Stop him and maybe the Dogs get up.