AFL LIVE LADDER: What Bombers v Suns result will mean

AFL Live Ladder for the final round of the 2025 H&A season: which eight teams makes finals?

LIVE LADDER:

1. Adelaide - 139.3% 72pts
2. Geelong - 141.5% 68pts
3. Brisbane - 114.2% 66pts
4. Collingwood - 122.4% 64pts
5. GWS Giants - 115.3% 64pts
6. Fremantle - 109.0% 64pts
7. Hawthorn - 120.9% 60pts
8. Western Bulldogs - 137.0% 56pts
9. Gold Coast* - 120.1% 56pts

*one game to play

What we know:

• The top four is locked in
• Crows claim minor Premiership
• Cats secure second spot
• Brisbane edge out Pies for third spot
• GWS finish fifth, Freo sixth
• Suns top 4 hopes are done
• Suns must beat Bombers to make finals
• Bulldogs need Essendon to beat Suns to get in

The top four is locked in!

The Brisbane Lions have cemented their place within the top four, holding off the Hawks in a back-and-forth battle at the Gabba.

Claiming a 10-point win following a blistering final term, the Lions nestle into third place on the AFL ladder with 16 wins and a draw in 2025.

With that result, the top four has been settled, locking in the first set of finals action.

• (1) Adelaide versus (4) Collingwood @ Adelaide Oval

• (2) Geelong versus (3) Brisbane @ MCG

The elimination finals are yet to be confirmed, with the final contest between Gold Coast and Essendon set to shuffle spots seven through nine.

GWS and Fremantle have locked in fifth and sixth place respectively, meaning they will host a home elimination final.

Here’s what will occur depending on results:

Gold Coast win by 30+ points:

• (5) GWS versus (8) Hawthorn @ ENGIE Stadium

• (6) Fremantle versus (7) Gold Coast @ Optus Stadium

Gold Coast win by less than 30 points OR Gold Coast and Essendon draw:

• (5) GWS versus (8) Gold Coast @ ENGIE Stadium

• (6) Fremantle versus (7) Hawthorn @ Optus Stadium

Essendon beat Gold Coast:

• (5) GWS versus (8) Western Bulldogs @ ENGIE Stadium

• (6) Fremantle versus (7) Hawthorn @ Optus Stadium

The top eight will be finalised when Gold Coast take on Essendon at People First Stadium on Wednesday the 27th of August.

The September picture

Freo and the Giants have answered when called upon, locking in a finals berth in 2025.

With two games remaining, the eight still has plenty of shaping to take, with Brisbane hosting the Hawks in a battle for a top four spot, followed by Gold Coast taking on Essendon on Wednesday night.

As it stands, only two positions are confirmed within the eight - Adelaide at the top, and Geelong in second. Every other side still has scope for movement.

Collingwood

Will finish third if:

• Hawthorn beat Brisbane by less than approx. 15 points
• Brisbane and Hawthorn draw

Will finish fourth if:

• Brisbane beat Hawthorn
• Hawthorn win by approx. 15+ points

GWS Giants

Will finish fourth if:

Brisbane and Hawthorn draw

Will finish fifth if:

Any other result occurs

Fremantle

Locked into sixth place

Brisbane

Will finish third if:

They beat Hawthorn

Will finish fifth if:

They draw with Hawthorn

Will finish seventh if:

They lose to Hawthorn

Hawthorn

Will finish third if:

They beat Brisbane by approx. 15+ points

Will finish fourth if:

They beat Brisbane by less than approx. 15 points

Will finish seventh if:

• They draw with Brisbane
• They lose to Brisbane, but Essendon beat Gold Coast

Will finish eighth if:

They lose to Brisbane, and Gold Coast beat Essendon

Western Bulldogs

Will finish eighth if:

Essendon beat Gold Coast

Will finish ninth if:

Gold Coast beat Essendon

Gold Coast

Will finish seventh if:

Brisbane beat Hawthorn and Gold Coast beat Essendon - Percentage must permit

Will finish eighth if:

They beat Essendon

Will finish ninth if:

They lose to Essendon

FT: FREMANTLE ARE IN!

An inspired performance from the Dockers, who lock in their place in September football.

The Dogs came as hard as ever, kicking six of the last eight goals to mount an almighty charge but it was all too late.

Three goals from each of their forwards in Treacy, Amiss and Voss, a phenomenal midfield fight against the best in the AFL, and an awe-inspiring defensive set-up led by captain Alex Pearce.

Many wrote them off, but good teams respond, and respond they did. Optus Stadium will be rocking in two weeks' time.

Write them off at your own peril!

As for the Bulldogs... potentially the best ever team to miss the finals?

20-point game, five to play

Must-watch final five.

Aaron Naughton fires and the Dogs are more than alive!

Fearless pup gives life to the Dogs!

Jordan Croft is flying at everything, and it's proving a challenge for the Dockers' defence.

With an elite tank and an impressive leap, the youngster - in just his second game - is sparking a charge from the Bulldogs.

Fremantle can't sit back and defend, there's too much time on the clock.

25 points the difference - is there life?

If the Dockers can hold on...

Fremantle will obtain sixth place and will lock in a home elimination final - as their late-season form would suggest they thoroughly deserve.

The winner of tonight's clash between Brisbane and Hawthorn will leap into the top four - Brisbane into third, or Hawthorn into fourth.

Regardless of the result at the Gabba, Fremantle will sit in sixth and the Bulldogs in the dreaded eighth place.

The only way the Bulldogs can make the cut is if Essendon manage to win away against Gold Coast on Wednesday night - not a result they would want to rely on.

The Prancing Pony is the difference maker!

Patrick Voss has been the point of difference for the Dockers since his emergence, and today, he's proving just that.

With everything on the line, the bullish forward has taken the contest by the scruff of the neck, booting his third to close the final term and setting up an early in the fourth through his physical dominance.

Bontempelli has kept the Dogs in with a sniff, but the margin is mounting and time is against them.

Nat Fyfe is in!

The superstar veteran has entered the game for his final ever home and away game, with defender Corey Wagner exiting due to injury.

A composed head in the midfield.

Q3: Dockers withstand the pressure

The Dogs came hard, but the Dockers had the guts to match.

Arthur Jones looked an inspired substitution, entering the game and kicking a pearler of a goal to lift the crowd and the playing group, who hit back-to-back goals for the first time since early in the first term.

But this is a different Fremantle outfit to what we've seen in the past. They know how to respond, and if anyone can draw a response, it's Patrick Voss - booting a lovely goal on the run to halt the Dogs' run and silence Marvel Stadium.

52 to 84, the Bulldogs will need at least five final quarter goals if they want any chance of locking up a place in September.

It's not over yet!

The game is being played on Freo's terms, but it's far from over.

Fremantle's defensive structure has been brilliant, slowing the Dogs' ball movement and forcing predictable entries.

That being said, the Dogs are adapting well, biding their time and executing to create scores.

The pressure is lifting and the Dogs are building momentum, playing out their strongest patch since the first term - emphasised by Marcus Bontempelli's 50-meter bomb.

With a quarter to play, it's anyone's game!

Bulldogs make their move

Luke Beveridge has pulled out an attacking change, substituting young defender Jedd Busslinger for Arthur Jones.

A tense third term thus far, going a goal a piece thanks to Josh Treacy's early second and Joel Freijah's deadlock-breaker.

As it stands...

Following the Dockers' blistering second term, the live ladder reads as follows:

As documented, a win for either side today books them a spot in September, and as it stands, the Dockers are in a dominant position entering the second half.

Fremantle are up into fifth place, with their 64 points holding them above Brisbane, Hawthorn and the Bulldogs and level with Collingwood and GWS.

Depending on the result to follow, Freo should lock in a home final if they can hold on to win, with one of Hawthorn, Gold Coast or the Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in the first round.

The Dogs can still lock in a spot, but would be relying on the Bombers to knock off Gold Coast on Wednesday night.

HALF TIME LADDER:

1. Adelaide 139.3% 72pts
2. Geelong 141.5% 68pts
3. Collingwood 122.4% 64 pts
4. GWS Giants 115.3% 64pts
5. Fremantle - 109.0% 64pts
6. Brisbane* - 114.3% 62pts
7. Hawthorn* - 122.7% 60pts
8. Western Bulldogs - 137.5% 56pts
9. Gold Coast* - 120.1% 56pts

Q2: HEAVE-HO!

The Dockers are CHARGING!

Fremantle have played out one of the quarters of the season, piling on seven goals to none to take a commanding lead into the main break!

18 inside 50's to seven, the Dockers had control all over the ground. Intercepting well, dominating clearance and handball and flooding the Dogs defence, Longmuir's men managed a hardly fathomable 41-point turn-around!

Holding the best scoring team in the AFL goalless for a quarter, Freo's defensive unit is holding up brilliantly. Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton have managed just two marks each, with the likes of Brennan Cox and Alex Pearce charging down marking contests.

Fremantle's forward half is humming, and the Dogs couldn't muster a response.

The break could not have come sooner for Luke Beveridge and his men. Under siege - can they respond? And can the Dockers maintain their pressure in the second half?

32 plays 58, Fremantle's way!

Freo's unlikely heroes!

Freo hit the front, and it's not through their stars!

Jye Amiss - goalless in his last two games, has three with time to play in the second term, including two stellar efforts from either boundary. A player who thrives off confidence, Amiss has stood up to play out his best half of the season.

The other - Murphy Reid. How good is the kid!

An unbelievable running goal to extend the margin, Reid looks every bit a star as he looks to sure up his chances for the rising star award.

Shai Bolton is on fire, the movement from the back half is as good as it's been all year and the unlikely names are standing up.

Freo have arrived!

The Dockers are responding!

It's the football we've been crying out for from the Dockers!

Fremantle are putting some serious speed on the ball, pressing up the ground and suffocating the Dogs' defensive unit.

A complete flip from the first term, the first five minutes of the second has been all Fremantle, with an elite Jye Amiss dribbler and Luke Jackson's first drawing the margin back to within a kick.

Freo are set up well - all to play for.

Q1: Hot first term sees the Dogs on top

Welcome to September action!

Both sides know exactly what is at stake, and aren't they playing like it. Hardly a second for a clean disposal, this clash is coming down to who can make the right decisions and execute the best in tight.

The Bulldogs have the advantage behind their elite field dominance and front half pressure. Managing nearly double the inside 50's, the Dogs' front half game is too strong for the Dockers to deal with, setting up well behind the ball for repeat entries and forward half stoppages.

Rhylee West is on fire, booting two and looking comfortably the most dangerous player on the ground.

Fremantle have threatened when they manage to work it forward, and with the Dogs' struggles in the back half across the season, a little momentum can go a long way to closing the 15-point gap.

29-14 Bulldogs' way, and as it stands, the Dogs are in!

Forget the margins - just win

It's worth noting that following GWS' narrow win over St Kilda, their percentage means that margins hardly play a part in remaining Sunday fixtures.

At 115.3 per cent, the Giants are firmly behind Collingwood on equal points and will remain comfortably behind Hawthorn if the Hawks were to beat the Lions.

They will remain ahead of Fremantle if they knock off the Dogs - unless the result is more than 130-odd points in the Dockers' favour. The Lions' draw with North Melbourne early in the season offsets their points tally, meaning a win locks in third place.

As for the Dockers, and the Dogs, the gap in percentages across the three teams essentially eliminates all reliance on margin - simply win and you're in.

If Gold Coast beat Essendon, they are a lock to leap Fremantle if the Bulldogs win today, and a lock to leap the Dogs if the result goes the other way.

The Hawks are the only side that have any sort of concern regarding their percentage, as a loss to Brisbane could see the Suns leap ahead given Gold Coast beat the Bombers.

GWS claim a home final!

It wasn’t made easy, but the Giants have held on against St Kilda to all-but lock in a home final.

In what was a must-watch contest, a thrilling back and forth in the final term saw the result come down to the final moments, as some Toby Greene heroics cemented a brilliant result for GWS.

Following what was a phenomenal contest, the Giants are likely to host a home final, having all but guaranteed fifth spot on the AFL ladder.

GWS will finish in fifth if the Western Bulldogs beat Fremantle, rendering the Brisbane v Hawthorn and Gold Coast v Essendon result irrelevant to their final position.

If Fremantle beat the Bulldogs, the Giants will remain in fifth place, unless the Dockers can muster a win by approximately 130 points, which will see Fremantle leap into fifth, and the Giants settling in sixth.

If the Lions and the Hawks draw, GWS will jump into fourth place, facing Adelaide away from home however credited with the double chance.

Who can they host?

Hawthorn – IF

• Brisbane beat Hawthorn
• Gold Coast beat Essendon

Gold Coast – IF

• Hawthorn beat Brisbane
• Gold Coast beat Essendon

Western Bulldogs – IF

• Fremantle beat Western Bulldogs
• Essendon beat Gold Coast

Fremantle – IF

• Western Bulldogs beat Fremantle
• Essendon beat Gold Coast

SUNDAY

Three HUGE games to play out on Sunday with what had been touted as an elimination final between the Bulldogs and Freo at Marvel this afternoon now with the pressure slightly eased. The Suns defeat on Friday means they hold 9th spot - four points behind the Dogs in 8th and eight points behind Freo in 7th. But the Suns have a game in hand let's not forget - and it's Essendon, so, you know.

The loser of the Bulldogs v Freo's finals hope will stay alive - until Wednesday night at least.

The permutations on Sunday are near endless, and with one spot left in the top four, Brisbane v Hawthorn could totally change the mid-rankings of the eight.

If Lions win they finals and meet Geelong away home in a qualifying final. A Brisbane win could (depending on other results) push Hawthorn as low as 8th. Losing could see the Lions fall as low as 7th depending on the Dogs v Freo score.

Hawthorn winning would see them play Geelong. They need to win by more than two goals today to finish above Collingwood.

For GWS in their clash against St Kilda, they look most likely to lock in 5th spot and therefore play an elimination final against Hawthorn or the Suns. A loss to Ross Lyon's side however would likely see them just scrape into the eight.

Calculators at the ready, it's going to be a wild day.

• GWS v St Kilda (ES) - 12:20PM
• Western Bulldogs v Fremantle (MS) - 3:15PM
• Brisbane v Hawthorn (G) - 7:20PM

All times AEST

SATURDAY

• North Melbourne (100) defeated by Adelaide (113)
• Richmond (64) defeated by Geelong (103)
• West Coast (51) defeated by Sydney (118)

To kick off the final Saturday of the home and away season, North Melbourne plays host to Adelaide at Marvel Stadium. Coming into the round, Adelaide had secured the right to host a qualifying final. This match would help decide their seeding position in the top two.

If they defeat the Kangaroos, the Crows will secure the minor premiership for the first time since 2017.

And that they did managing to run out 13 point winners despite being challenged all match by the Kangaroos.

Geelong maintained their top two spot with a 39 point win against Richmond.

They will likely play the winner of the Brisbane v Hawthorn match on Sunday in a home qualifying final.

The final fixture of the Saturday offering had no impact on the final eight standings with Sydney too far adrift of the Suns in 10th spot.

As for West Coast, well, we all know where they sit and how the season has gone.

FRIDAY

• Collingwood (82) defeated Melbourne (76)
• Port Adelaide (71) defeated Gold Coast (67)

Collingwood fought valiantly to overcome Melbourne by six points to finish Friday night sitting in third position. The winner of Brisbane v Hawthorn might push them down to fourth, but the Magpies look to have locked up the double chance.

Gold Coast missed the opportunity to lock away their first ever finals campaign, losing to Port Adelaide by four points in another Friday night thriller. It was a great Power send-off for the departing Ken Hinkley and Travis Boak. Damien Hardwick's Suns now sit ninth and MUST beat Essendon on Wednesday night to see September action for the first time.