We’re one week closer to the finish line as the finals series is within touching distance.
This weekend gave us upsets, big ladder shifts and told us the story of some club’s seasons.
With that in mind, here’s what we learned from Round 22:
Giants can do some damage in September
On the back of two impressive wins against Geelong and Richmond, GWS are almost certain to feature in finals.
Their last fortnight will have given them confidence that they can mix it with the best teams, and the finals series is no longer looking like a six-team battle.
A win next week over a struggling Carlton outfit would have them finish in seventh, and with a likely date with cross town rivals Sydney.
While there’s no doubt they’d enter that clash as underdogs, they have the talent and the form to get the better of any of those sides on their day.
They’re shaping as a genuine finals wildcard.
19 goal onslaught could be the final straw for Carlton and Teague
Carlton would have been so disappointed to send off club great Marc Murphy in that fashion.
Having led halfway through the second term in the midfielder’s 300th and final game, the Power would go on to kick 19 unanswered majors to land the knockout blow on Carlton’s campaign.
Unfortunately for Blues’ powerbrokers, the result ensures their club will be in the media for all the wrong reasons again this week as the pressure continues to build on coach David Teague.
With many feeling he’ll face the axe at the end of their season, we might look back at this second half disaster as the moment his papers were stamped.
The ‘locked in’ top four isn’t so set
Just two weeks ago the top four of Melbourne, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide looked all but set with the season winding down.
But in typical 2021 fashion, some shock results against once flag favourites in the Bulldogs has thrown that into disarray.
Having look liked they’d sewn up a top-two spot, losses to Essendon and now Hawthorn in the last fortnight means the Bulldogs could finish as low as fifth.
The equation is pretty simple for Luke Beveridge’s side, beat Port Adelaide, and they’ll get the double chance.
Lose, and Brisbane take care of West Coast, it’s a fifth-place finish for the Sons of the West.
If they are the flag threat we thought they were, they should win next week and stamp their authority with September on the horizon.
Lions have recaptured killer instinct
While the Dogs are struggling, the Lions seem to be trending in the opposite direction.
Granted, they were expected to beat both Fremantle and Collingwood in their past two outings, but the fashion in which those wins has come will fill them with confidence.
Having gone through a mini form slump from Round 17 to 20, the Lions have put together eight consecutive quarters of their best footy to make a mess of their opposition.
We know the talent and firepower is there, and Chris Fagan will be glad to see it’s all clicking at the right time.
It’ll be interesting to see if they can do it against better opposition, but this team won’t be scared of anyone later in the year.
Clarkson continues to make mouth-watering audition
How does he do it?
Just as some thought legendary Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson had lost his touch, three consecutive wins over the Lions, Magpies and Bulldogs with a rebuilding list has reaffirmed his position as the best in the business.
Obviously, his time at Waverley is coming to an end in the coming weeks, but he’ll have no lack of potential suitors for 2022 and beyond.
If his stellar record wasn’t enough, surely the last three weeks has given Carlton and Collingwood’s powerbrokers all they needed to see to make a play at landing Clarkson next season.
With the upcoming trade period looking likely to be a quiet one, Clarkson’s future is set to be the number one storyline this off-season.
It’s a big week for the fixture gods
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld would be seriously happy with how Round 23 is shaping up.
Whether by design or great luck, next weekend is set to be must-watch for footy fans.
We have the top four playing each other as the big dogs battle to give themselves the best shot to be there come Grand Final day.
There’s a top eight battle between Brisbane and West Coast, and we know Essendon versus Collingwood is always a clash with plenty riding on it.
While we’re used to seeing a lot of dead rubbers at this stage of the season, we’re blessed as football fans to have next week’s menu keeping us interested.