Round 18: Kangaroos (Gabba)
Record: 12-5; second
Last five: WWWWW
Formline: The Roos boast a vein of form bettered only by ladder leaders Geelong – Dean Laidley’s side has won 12 of their past 14 games, since starting the season 0-3. In fact, the Roos were the last team to beat the Cats, back in round five. More recently, the Kangaroos have strung together five successive wins after falling to Adelaide at Carrara in round 12. Comfortably accounted for Hawthorn by 37 points on the weekend.

Round 19: Hawthorn (MCG)
Record: 10-7; fifth
Last five: WLWLL
Formline: The Hawks were a real surprise packet during the season’s first half but lately they’ve appeared more than a little shaky. Having forged an 8-4 record through the first 12 rounds, the Alastair Clarkson-coached side is now 10-7, with decidedly indifferent form over the five weeks. Hawthorn beat Collingwood in round 13, before being thrashed by Adelaide in round 14 and bouncing back to easily beat Richmond in round 15. The past fortnight has produced losses to St Kilda and the Kangaroos.

Round 20: Sydney Swans (Gabba)
Record: 9-8, seventh
Last five: LWWLW
Formline: As is their custom, the Swans have looked vulnerable for much of the season, yet have still done enough to sit inside the eight. On reflection, an 18-point away loss to Geelong in round 13 mightn’t be such bad form. Since then, Sydney has eclipsed Fremantle and Carlton, lost the obligatory cracker of a game to West Coast, then thrashed Richmond on the weekend. Ominously, Barry Hall has kicked 13 goals from his last three games, including six against the Tigers.

Round 21: Adelaide (AAMI Stadium)
Record: 8-9, 12th
Last five: LWLLL
Formline: After seeming likely finalists six weeks ago, following a win over the Kangaroos, the Crows are now well and truly teetering. Losses to West Coast and the in-form St Kilda were not entirely unexpected, but consecutive defeats at the hands of the struggling Fremantle and Essendon have put Adelaide on the brink. Their last win, in round 14, was against the equally unconvincing Hawks.

Round 22: Geelong (Gabba)
Record: 14-3, first
Last five: WWWWW
Formline: The Cats’ last five wins tell an impressive story, but not the whole story – Mark Thompson’s charges have now strung together 12 wins on the trot. Over the past five weeks, Geelong has disposed of five rivals with finals aspirations: Sydney, Essendon, Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle. The Cats effectively ended Fremantle’s September hopes on the weekend with a 68-point footballing lesson.

The run home for the other finals contenders (from top to bottom):

Geelong: Richmond, Adelaide, Kangaroos, Port Adelaide, Brisbane Lions.
Kangaroos: Brisbane Lions, West Coast, Geelong, Carlton, Western Bulldogs
Port Adelaide: Adelaide, Carlton, Hawthorn, Geelong, Fremantle
West Coast: Fremantle, Kangaroos, Richmond, St Kilda, Essendon
Hawthorn: Essendon, Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Sydney
Collingwood: Carlton, Richmond, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide
Sydney Swans: Melbourne, St Kilda, Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, Hawthorn
Essendon: Hawthorn, Fremantle, Carlton, Richmond, West Coast
St Kilda: Western Bulldogs, Sydney, Fremantle, West Coast, Richmond
Western Bulldogs: St Kilda, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hawthorn, Kangaroos
Adelaide: Port Adelaide, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, Collingwood.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.