The Bombers are on top with one game’s cushion. Hawthorn is outright second, while Carlton, Port Adelaide and Richmond sit third , fourth and fifth and share the same win-loss ratio. The Western Bulldogs in eighth position have a one-game break over ninth-placed Sydney. With ten rounds left in the home and away series, it can already be safely assumed that the Swans and Adelaide are the only two teams currently sitting outside the eight which have any realistic hope of forcing their way into finals contention.
The Bulldogs and the Lions were the big winners from the first weekend of the split-round, which saw James Hird in hospital, Brad Johnson getting nearly as high as Chris Tarrant, and the Dockers hopeless once again. Hird spent an evening under observation after receiving a nasty knock to the head against the Crows, Johnson took a screamer as the Dogs came from the clouds against Geelong, and Fremantle gave up an eight-point lead to lose against St Kilda. Meanwhile Melbourne paid dearly for its decision to cash in on a home game at the Gabba, losing a crucial match by 49 points.
The second weekend of the round began with Collingwood easily accounting for the hapless Eagles. Hawthorn squeaked home against the fast-finishing Kangaroos by just three points, a result that allowed the unconvincing Hawks to retain second spot and almost guarantees that the Roos will miss the finals for the first time since 1993. In the last match of the round, Carlton was too disciplined for Port Adelaide, handing the Power a second successive loss that will give Mark Williams plenty of food for thought.
