Winners and Losers Round 17

Winners

Adelaide: Arrived as a genuine premiership contender. Should finish top two and well-placed for a tilt at the flag.

St Kilda: Demolition of a beleaguered Collingwood outfit. One to watch if they can get their full team on the park, although they will have to improve to trouble West Coast or Adelaide.

Fremantle: Could have folded when the Demons applied the pressure in the middle part of the game. Still an outside chance for finals action.

Western Bulldogs: Enthusiastic, confident display which we have seen too little of in recent times. Can be a top eight side with more consistency.

Sydney: Got the points at home but doubts remain on their ability beyond the SCG.

Brisbane Lions: Snuck over the line against a determined Bomber outfit. Can they regain their form of a few weeks ago?

Port Adelaide: Far from convincing at AAMI Stadium. Tricky run home in facing the Kangaroos and Adelaide in the next three rounds.

Hawthorn: Weren't as bad as Carlton. Almost certain to avoid the spoon.

Losers

Essendon: Brave effort against the odds. Have improved since the "performance" against the Kangaroos and might give their fans something before the year is out.

West Coast: Lost few fans in a tough away fixture. Will finish top and have a rails run to the Grand Final.

Kangaroos: Outplayed by a better side, but will rue missed chances. Top four still a chance but will need to defeat one of St Kilda or Sydney away.

Richmond: Just fell short after conceding a sizeable margin. Good run home and likely to feature in September.

Melbourne: Face St Kilda, Adelaide and Geelong in the next three rounds. Finals likely to hinge on this week's clash with the Saints. Took the fight up to Fremantle but fell away badly in the final term.

Collingwood: Totally outclassed. Only interest left is whether or not they claim a priority pick by losing their last five games.

Carlton: Atrocious. A second wooden spoon is now a near-certainty.

Geelong: Disastrous day for a top four contender. It could prove very costly.

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