Round 23 is shaping as one of the most exciting finales to a home and away season we have seen with plenty of twists and turns still left in the tale.

The Bulldogs' faint finals chances were dashed with a loss to Hawthorn on Friday night.

The Demons' finals hopes now will likely hinge on the West Coast-Adelaide match after they lost to the Pies by 16 points.

The Eagles trail the Dees by 0.9 per cent and would need to defeat the Crows by around 20-25 points to make up the difference.

Melbourne could also hold onto its spot in the top eight if the Bombers lose to Fremantle.

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Lions will finish the season with the wooden spoon after they lost to North Melbourne, with the Roos moving up to 15th place with the win.

Friday, August 25

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm AEST

HAWTHORN                  15.9 (99)
WESTERN BULLDOGS   13.12 (90)

The Hawks can't move from 12th and the Bulldogs will stay in 11th spot unless St Kilda suffers a huge defeat against Richmond and sustain a large percentage drop, in which case the Dogs will climb to 10th.

Saturday, August 26

Collingwood v Melbourne at the MCG, 1.45pm AEST

COLLINGWOOD  14.15 (99)
MELBOURNE       12.11 (83)

Melbourne's finals spot hinges on other results. The Demons could fall out of the eight if Essendon beat Fremantle and West Coast defeat Adelaide by around 20-25 points. However, they will finish seventh if both those sides lose. Meanwhile, Collingwood will stay in 13th spot.

Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at the Gabba, 2.10pm AEST

BRISBANE LIONS      11.13 (79)
NORTH MELBOURNE  19.16 (130)

The Lions wrapped up the wooden spoon while North Melbourne jumps up to 15th spot after Carlton and Gold Coast both lost. 

Sydney v Carlton at the SCG, 4.35pm AEST

SYDNEY     21.12 (138)          
CARLTON   8.9 (57)

A convincing win briefly put the Swans in fourth place, but the Power trumped Sydney with a thumping win over Gold Coast. Sydney now sits in fifth spot and will only stay there if Richmond fails to beat St Kilda. Either way, the Swans will host an elimination final. The Suns' heavy loss means Carlton finishes the season in 16th spot.

Geelong v Greater Western Sydney at Simonds Stadium, 7.25pm AEST

GEELONG  15.13 (103)
GWS          8.11 (59)

A massively important win by the Cats sees them finish the season in second spot and seal a qualifying final in Victoria. They will either play the Giants or Richmond in the first week of the finals. The Giants' loss means they drop to third and are staring at an away qualifying final against Adelaide (if Richmond beats St Kilda) or Geelong (if the Tigers lose to St Kilda).  

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST

PORT ADELAIDE  20.15 (135)
GOLD COAST         3.2 (20)

The Power's monstrous win was enough to take temporary hold of fourth spot. They will only stay there if Richmond fails to beat St Kilda. If that happens then there will be a Showdown qualifying final. If the Tigers win then Port will finish fifth and host an elimination final. The Suns' disastrous loss sees them drop down to 17th spot.

Sunday, August 27

Essendon v Fremantle at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST

ESSENDON

If the Bombers win
- Will play finals and move above Melbourne into seventh position.

If they lose
- Will need to rely on West Coast and St Kilda losing to make the finals.

FREMANTLE

If the Dockers win
- They will finish 14th.

If they lose
- They will finish 14th.

Richmond v St Kilda at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST

RICHMOND

If the Tigers win
- They will finish third and set up a blockbuster qualifying final against Geelong.

If they lose
- No double chance. They will finish sixth and host an elimination final.

ST KILDA

If the Saints win
- Can only make finals if Essendon and West Coast lose.

If they lose
- Will finish 10th or 11th depending on percentage.  

West Coast v Adelaide at Domain Stadium, 2.20pm AWST

WEST COAST

If the Eagles win
- They need to win by around 20-25 points to leapfrog Melbourne and seal a finals spot. They will also make it if Fremantle beats Essendon.

If they lose
- They could only make the finals in the unlikely scenario where the Bombers get smashed and drop below the Eagles on percentage. They would also need the Dogs and Saints to lose in that scenario.

ADELAIDE

If the Crows win:
- They will finish top and play either Port Adelaide or Richmond in a qualifying final. 

If they lose:
- They will finish top and play either Port Adelaide or Richmond in a qualifying final.