Who Freo fans should barrack for in EVERY remaining game
Plus, what happens if it all goes their way …
SATURDAY
Hawthorn v Port Adelaide
Sydney v North Melbourne
SUNDAY
Geelong v St Kilda
Collingwood v Fremantle
Adelaide v Gold Coast
A Hawthorn loss to Port Adelaide in Tasmania will keep the Dockers level on points with the Hawks, even better it will give the Dockers' four points of separation if they can knock off top-of-the-ladder Collingwood. With an Adelaide loss and their own win, the Dockers could jump up as high as third. James Sicily of the Hawks. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images
THURSDAY
Hawthorn v Carlton
FRIDAY
Essendon v Western Bulldogs
GWS v Sydney
SATURDAY
Gold Coast v Brisbane
Fremantle v West Coast
North Melbourne v Geelong
Adelaide v Port Adelaide
SUNDAY
Richmond v Collingwood
If the Hawks keep losing, a spot in the eight is really there for the taking, while a Dogs loss would give the Dockers more insurance on their finals spot. The Giants are also a rival for the eight. The western derby could be a chance for Fremantle to boost their percentage, while a Showdown upset could keep them in the mix for the spots right up the top. Marcus Bontempelli. Credit: Michael Willson / AFL Photos
THURSDAY
Western Bulldogs v GWS
FRIDAY
Adelaide v Hawthorn
SATURDAY
Gold Coast v Richmond
Collingwood v Brisbane
SUNDAY
Geelong v Port Adelaide
Fremantle v Carlton
If results go Fremantle's way, they could start to shake some teams by this stage, including Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Hawthorn, while Collingwood and Brisbane will be within reach. Lachie Whitfield. Credit: Michael Willson / AFL Photos
THURSDAY
Hawthorn v Collingwood
FRIDAY
Geelong v Essendon
SATURDAY
Brisbane v Sydney
Carlton v Gold Coast
Port Adelaide v Fremantle
SUNDAY
GWS v North Melbourne
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
West Coast v Adelaide
As tough as it is to support West Coast, an Eagles win would force Adelaide well back into the pack. The Crows would fall three wins behind the Dockers and the Cats would go three wins back, while the Suns would slide too. Tyler Brockman of the Eagles celebrates a goal. Credit: Sarah Reed / AFL Photos
FRIDAY
Fremantle v Brisbane
SATURDAY
Gold Coast v GWS
Hawthorn v Melbourne
Adelaide v Collingwood
The Dockers wouldn't mind a dent in the confidence of Hawthorn given they're a good chance to meet in September. They'd want the Suns to continue to slide and the Magpies to keep slipping up. Darcy Moore of the Magpies looks dejected. Credit: Chris Hyde / Getty Images
North Melbourne v Adelaide
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle
Collingwood v Melbourne
In this dream scenario, a final-round win would leave the Dockers on top of the ladder. In reality, this game is likely to be crucial to their finals hopes. One more loss for Adelaide and Collingwood would do them some favours too.
In all likelihood, they would at this stage still be barracking for Hawthorn to be knocked off by Brisbane and an upset by St Kilda over the Giants. Max Heath of the Saints celebrates kicking his first AFL goal in his debut match. Credit: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos / via Getty Images
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Cameron Smith, only player to miss all four major cuts in 2025, will return to Adelaide with LIV in February
Cameron Smith could be playing for much-needed ranking points when LIV returns to Adelaide in 2026, with a February date locked in for the second year after a timeslot shift in 2025 proved a monster success. More than 100,000 people attended The Grange this year after the tournament was moved from April and is so far the only confirmed schedule stop for the Saudi-backed tour. It could be too long to wait for Smith to feel some good Aussie vibes, however, with his 2025 in freefall after missing the cut at The Open at Royal Portrush. The 2022 Open champion became the only player to miss the cut in all four majors in 2025 after failing to reach the weekend and has now missed five major cuts in a row. Once No.2 in the world, Smith's ranking has dropped to 206, with questions being asked about the impact of his move to LIV, for which he was paid a reported $140m. His LIV teammate and great friend, Marc Leishman, jumped more than 50 places after being the only Australian to make the cut in Northern Ireland. The appearances of the LIV stars at The Open came amid revelations officials had put in a second application for world ranking points in the hope their players could get more access to the majors. It could also help players like Smith put himself in the frame for a Presidents Cup return as well as help American and European players get back on to Ryder Cup teams. Smith conceded 2025 had been 'frustrating' without a LIV win, or a podium finish, but was adamant he had been putting in the work and his best was 'coming'. 'It's such a weird game sometimes,' he said. 'I feel like I've been playing really good and not really getting much out of my golf, which is quite the opposite to how I normally play golf, so it's been a really frustrating year. 'Everything feels good, particularly on the range, on the putting green and stuff like that. I just have struggled to take it to the course and I feel like it's coming out. 'I feel like I'm getting more confidence and committing to more shots and maybe hitting the shot that I don't necessarily feel comfortable with, but the right shot. 'So that's when I play my best and, yeah, it's coming.' Smith tasted success in Adelaide in 2024, taking the team title, which helped elevate the event. 'Adelaide has been our pinnacle event with LIV Golf for the past few years, and it's always special going home and having our Aussie crowd behind us – they've been great to us, he said. 'The event keeps getting better every year and we are so excited to know we'll be coming back for many years to come. We can't wait for this year's event in Adelaide, which I'm sure next year will be even bigger.'
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Port plan to land punch on finals-bound Crows
Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee wants to carry a broken hand into battle and land a proverbial blow on arch rival Adelaide's finals ambitions. Rozee plans to return for Saturday night's Showdown of the South Australian rivals, pending how his left hand copes with midweek training. "It will be a pain threshold sort of injury, it's a broken bone so there is always going to be a little bit there," Rozee told reporters on Monday. "We'll reassess after we finish training on Wednesday ... at the moment, the plan is to play." The 11th-placed Power are out of finals contention but the Crows will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Adelaide hold third spot but are far from settled - they're one win from top spot but also one win from seventh - with Port hoping to dent their run to the finals. "That will be the plan pretty much every week from now on," Rozee said. "Any scalp that we can take will be a building block for the future. "There's always emotion in Showdowns. The Crows have been in our position ... and it has been vice versa, so we're really looking forward to this weekend. "It's always a competitive battle and anyone can win it. "There is no lack of motivation when it comes to these games ... the fact is, the intensity is much higher than alot of other games, which makes it very exciting to play in." Rozee sidestepped suggestions the looming Showdown had become the Power's biggest game of the season. "Every week is our biggest game from here on out," he said. "As I said, there's no lack of motivation for these types of games. "We aren't playing finals and it's extremely disappointing because that is what you come in to every year wanting to do, and what we have done pretty consistently for the last few years." Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee wants to carry a broken hand into battle and land a proverbial blow on arch rival Adelaide's finals ambitions. Rozee plans to return for Saturday night's Showdown of the South Australian rivals, pending how his left hand copes with midweek training. "It will be a pain threshold sort of injury, it's a broken bone so there is always going to be a little bit there," Rozee told reporters on Monday. "We'll reassess after we finish training on Wednesday ... at the moment, the plan is to play." The 11th-placed Power are out of finals contention but the Crows will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Adelaide hold third spot but are far from settled - they're one win from top spot but also one win from seventh - with Port hoping to dent their run to the finals. "That will be the plan pretty much every week from now on," Rozee said. "Any scalp that we can take will be a building block for the future. "There's always emotion in Showdowns. The Crows have been in our position ... and it has been vice versa, so we're really looking forward to this weekend. "It's always a competitive battle and anyone can win it. "There is no lack of motivation when it comes to these games ... the fact is, the intensity is much higher than alot of other games, which makes it very exciting to play in." Rozee sidestepped suggestions the looming Showdown had become the Power's biggest game of the season. "Every week is our biggest game from here on out," he said. "As I said, there's no lack of motivation for these types of games. "We aren't playing finals and it's extremely disappointing because that is what you come in to every year wanting to do, and what we have done pretty consistently for the last few years." Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee wants to carry a broken hand into battle and land a proverbial blow on arch rival Adelaide's finals ambitions. Rozee plans to return for Saturday night's Showdown of the South Australian rivals, pending how his left hand copes with midweek training. "It will be a pain threshold sort of injury, it's a broken bone so there is always going to be a little bit there," Rozee told reporters on Monday. "We'll reassess after we finish training on Wednesday ... at the moment, the plan is to play." The 11th-placed Power are out of finals contention but the Crows will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Adelaide hold third spot but are far from settled - they're one win from top spot but also one win from seventh - with Port hoping to dent their run to the finals. "That will be the plan pretty much every week from now on," Rozee said. "Any scalp that we can take will be a building block for the future. "There's always emotion in Showdowns. The Crows have been in our position ... and it has been vice versa, so we're really looking forward to this weekend. "It's always a competitive battle and anyone can win it. "There is no lack of motivation when it comes to these games ... the fact is, the intensity is much higher than alot of other games, which makes it very exciting to play in." Rozee sidestepped suggestions the looming Showdown had become the Power's biggest game of the season. "Every week is our biggest game from here on out," he said. "As I said, there's no lack of motivation for these types of games. "We aren't playing finals and it's extremely disappointing because that is what you come in to every year wanting to do, and what we have done pretty consistently for the last few years."
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Greg swans into AFL job with a radical plan to exercise common sense
The Swann era has started, and it sounds more Ian Collins than Adrian Anderson, Steve Hocking or Laura Kane. That is not to say it will be better, worse or otherwise. But it will be more entertaining. Loading For each topic raised, he had an answer, and the answers were reasonable. Most would hold broad appeal on talkback radio. Why do we wait for ruckmen? And why do they have to nominate for the ruck like it's an Auskick game? And what is it with quarters going 35 minutes and longer? Possibly because he had not yet had time to be briefed by his new staff on the myriad reasons why things are the way they are, his answers were pleasingly frank and not hysterical. The AFL wanted challenging views from someone who was a game insider but an outsider at league headquarters, so they hired Swann. They wanted a sop to clubs and to return to speaking openly in the football vernacular to fans. Swann was getting in early to deliver on their request. The AFL wanted someone from 'clubland' as though it is some amorphous beast where Swann speaks the groupthink. Being from clubland and knowing the interests and preferences of all clubs are two different things, but at the very least, Swann has the connections to temperature-check if his views accord with others. Even CEO Andrew Dillon standing next to him at a press conference on Swann's first day laughed at the club man idea, saying 'give it six months'. Amusingly, Swann chuckled up to the press conference and laid out some plans for change, then praised the good work of everyone whose work he had just been saying he wants to change. Some of his preferred changes he reckons he could get in quickly. There is no real integrity problem in refusing to wait for ruckmen, but it could be his first introduction to unhappy coaches when the ball is thrown up before that club's ruckman is there. Simplifying rules like holding the ball and the stand rule, to make umpiring easier, might take more time. Ditto throwing the ball up instead of bouncing. That might need to wait until next year. Resistance might come in surprising places when he presses the issue. He told critics to suck it up about a rare 50-metre penalty for dissent that was paid at the MCG on Sunday when Fremantle's Karl Worner pointed to the scoreboard replay. 'I think everyone knows you're not allowed to do that, so don't do it,' he said, admitting others will complain of similar instances that were not penalised. Oh well, that'll happen. His style was ironically more Peter V'Landys than Andrew Dillon. The AFL ordinarily ignores the belligerent V'Landys, Swann was more unafraid to dare utter the three letters N. R. L. Swann took the lead of Andrew Dillon to remind all that his suggestions were all minor tweaks and that the overall game was in rude health. Best game in the world. He then went where the AFL seldom does and name-checked the other codes. 'From my point of view (AFL) is a fantastic game. It's the best game in the world,' he said. 'I mean, I've moved up to Queensland, obviously, and you get rugby league and everything else, the British Lions were there on the weekend. And our game leaves them in the shade. 'The things (changes) I'm talking about, hopefully are tweaks, there's nothing radical needs to happen.' Loading
