Will the Sydney Swans hold onto first place? Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, GWS, Geelong are hot on their heels

No side can afford to rest on their laurels with three rounds remaining in the most hard-fought AFL finals race in memory. Find out who your team, and those they are fighting for a finals spot with, play in the final few weeks.

Shayne Hope
AAP
Fremantle star Hayden Young kicks a goal after bursting out of the centre square.

THE TOP EIGHT

1. SYDNEY (56 points, 126.1 per cent)

Remaining matches: Collingwood (h), Essendon (a), Adelaide (h)

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2. BRISBANE LIONS (54 points, 125.1 per cent)

Remaining matches: GWS (h), Collingwood (a), Essendon (h)

3. PORT ADELAIDE (52 points, 113.6 per cent)

Remaining matches: Melbourne (a), Adelaide (h), Fremantle (a)

4. GWS (52 points, 113.6 per cent)

Remaining matches: Brisbane (a), Fremantle (h), Western Bulldogs (a)

5. GEELONG (52 points, 108.9 per cent)

Remaining matches: Fremantle (a), St Kilda (a), West Coast (h)

6. FREMANTLE (50 points, 116.7 per cent)

Remaining matches: Geelong (h), GWS (a), Port Adelaide (h)

7. WESTERN BULLDOGS (48 points, 122.4 per cent)

Remaining matches: Adelaide (a), North Melbourne (h), GWS (h)

8. CARLTON (48 points, 112.1 per cent)

Remaining matches: Hawthorn (h), West Coast (a), St Kilda (h)

THE OUTSIDERS

9. ESSENDON (46 points, 95.9 per cent)

Remaining matches: Gold Coast (h), Sydney (h), Brisbane (a)

10. HAWTHORN (44 points, 104.1 per cent)

Remaining matches: Carlton (a), Richmond (h), North Melbourne (h)

11. COLLINGWOOD (44 points, 100.2 per cent)

Remaining matches: Sydney (a), Brisbane (h), Melbourne (a)

12. MELBOURNE (40 points, 97.9 per cent)

Remaining matches: Port Adelaide (h), Gold Coast (a), Collingwood (h)

Latest Edition

The Nightly cover for 25-09-2026

Latest Edition

Edition Edition 25 September 202625 September 2026

Purple Army and Lions faithful take over Melbourne as Freo chases first flag and Brisbane hunts three-peat glory.