48 points (12 wins, nine losses) 106.7 per cent 

The run home:

Rd 23: Carlton at the MCG

If the Bombers win next week: 

- They finish no lower than seventh

- They can only climb to sixth if they thrash Carlton by a huge margin and North Melbourne is heavily beaten by the Demons

If they lose next week:

- They still qualify for finals if either Collingwood or Richmond loses, or if the Bombers maintain their superior percentage over either team

- They finish seventh unless Richmond beats the Swans or Collingwood thrashes Hawthorn 

- They are near mathematical certainties to make the finals. However, pessimistic Bomber fans can consider the following scenario: they lose by 10 goals; the Tigers win; the Magpies demolish Hawthorn by 100 points

Predicted finish: Seventh 

Predicted final match-up: North Melbourne v Essendon, second elimination final, MCG

“We should be proud and I definitely am of the players. I think they have been an incredible group, they have been dealt a hand that has been awful so for them to make it is fantastic. They haven’t had great memories of finals, then it got taken off them last year so now they are ready to make amends. I hope we play a decent finals game.” Mark Thompson post Gold Coast win – 23/08/14