How much bearing do results against sides in the top 8 have on a club’s premiership hopes?
We’ve taken a look at each club's 'top 8 form' in 2019, focusing on those who are in and around the eight and how they’ve performed against fellow finals contenders.
Despite Geelong’s recent stumbles, they easily hold the best ‘top 8’ record this season, winning six of seven with a massive percentage of almost 150.
West Coast is one of only two other sides with a better than 50% record, winning four of their seven. The other is Brisbane who are 3-2 having played the least amount of top 8 teams this year.
GWS continues to knock on the door in fifth and have so far been ok with a record of 4-5 and the second best percentage.
Collingwood has a 4-4 record and a percentage of 100. The Magpies lost two early to top 8 sides and have also dropped their past two to fellow finals chasers, coinciding with a spate of injuries.
Injuries also provided some worries for Richmond against the top teams. They were 1-4 before rallying to 3-4 after key players returned to action.
Adelaide have won just two games over top 8 clubs - in Rounds 12 and 13 against GWS and the Tigers - and lost four others but that includes a one-point defeat to the Lions.
Ninth-placed Port Adelaide have played 11 games against the top 8 - the most in the competition - winning on four occasions.
As expected, the bottom five teams have the least impressive 'top 8 form'.
The Top 8 ladder (prior to Round 21):
| Club | W-L | Points | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geelong | 6-1 | 24 | 149.6 |
| GWS Giants | 4-5 | 16 | 106.4 |
| West Coast | 4-3 | 16 | 103.2 |
| Collingwood | 4-4 | 16 | 100.5 |
| Port Adelaide | 4-7 | 16 | 99.9 |
| Fremantle | 4-5 | 16 | 87.2 |
| Hawthorn | 4-6 | 16 | 86.1 |
| W.Bulldogs | 3-5 | 12 | 90.5 |
| Brisbane | 3-2 | 12 | 90.4 |
| Nth Melbourne | 3-7 | 12 | 88.7 |
| Essendon | 3-5 | 12 | 86.1 |
| Richmond | 3-4 | 12 | 82.2 |
| Adelaide | 2-4 | 8 | 94.8 |
| Sydney | 2-9 | 8 | 86.7 |
| Carlton | 2-5 | 8 | 73.6 |
| St Kilda | 1-8 | 4 | 70.2 |
| Melbourne | 0-10 | 0 | 69.5 |
| Gold Coast | 0-9 | 0 | 50.6 |
In summary: The last three seasons, the eventual premier has had varied form against the better teams during the home and away season.
Last year, West Coast boasted a positive 6-3 record before going on to win the flag.
In 2017, Richmond were 50% at 4-4 against the eight and in 2016, the Western Bulldogs ended 4-5 before going on a famous September run.
So does top 8 form account for much?
Or is getting there the major hurdle before clubs reassess and prepare for a brand new season of finals footy?
The final three rounds promises to be an intriguing few weeks as formlines cross over and the output of sides ebbs and flows leading into the business end.