Six clubs have three weeks to scramble for one finals spot. This is the bold verdict on who makes itBen Cotton
Fox Sports
August 3rd, 2021The race towards finals is heating up with just three rounds remaining in one of the most open AFL seasons in recent memory and eighth position well and truly up for grabs.
Several teams have rotated through the last spot in the top eight all season. Now six clubs remain in contention to claim it: Fremantle, GWS, Essendon, Richmond, Carlton and St Kilda.
All of those teams featured in Saints great Leigh Montagna’s ‘seven seducers’ on Fox Footy’s First Crack's teams that keep “sucking us in” and “letting us down”.
At times, it’s felt like these sides haven’t wanted to feature in September, failing to take their opportunities to either claim or a cement a spot in the top eight when they’ve come.
But it’s made for a thrilling run home as fans will be treated to mini US-sports style ‘wildcard’ stretch to determine the last spot in the top eight.
Asked which team would claim the final spot, triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy’s On The Couch: “I think Richmond will. I think they win those three games (against the Kangaroos, Giants and Hawks).”
On the Tigers, St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt added: “Call it blind faith, but their turnover game is still really strong. It’s the one thing that’s stood them in great stead and it hasn’t abandoned them. Over the next three weeks, they’ll get all of Vlastuin, McIntosh, Houli and Broad back and maybe Balta.”
Foxfooty.com.au has ranked the prospects of the six clubs battling it out for eighth position and assesses who really deserves it.
1. RICHMOND (11th, 97%)
As disappointing as they’ve been in recent weeks, it’s hard to go past backing the reigning premiers as the most deserving team to finish eighth. This is a club that not long ago was still considered one of the premiership favourites, but the wheels have since fallen off and fallen off badly. Injuries to several stars including Dustin Martin, Noah Balta, Nathan Broad, Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin and other key players throughout stages have been significant blows, while they appear to have lacked the same hunger and intensity from recent seasons. Working in their favour is a favourable run home where they play North Melbourne (home), GWS (away) and Hawthorn (home).
2. GWS GIANTS (9th, 95.1%)
3. ESSENDON (10th, 102.7%)
4. FREMANTLE (8th, 90.9%)
5. CARLTON (12th, 94.1%)
6. ST KILDA (13th, 85.9%)
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/richmond-tigers/afl-news-2021-ranking-the-six-clubs-competing-for-eighth-spot-finalists-who-is-going-to-make-the-top-eight-chances-september/news-story/debbb48eeba2599591ed96230ddae36d