Port Adelaide’s AFL top-four hopes are still alive and Richmond have surged into the eight – for now.

Richmond defeated St Kilda 15.8 (98) to 10.12 (72) at the MCG yesterday.

The Tigers take on ladder leaders Sydney on Saturday at ANZ Stadium, where an upset victory would probably allow the Tigers to sneak into the finals.

Ninth-placed Collingwood are equal on 44 points with Richmond but trail by 8.4 per cent.

Tenth-placed West Coast’s top-eight hopes are also still alive.

The Crows need the planets to align, but remain an outside chance of making the eight.

In yesterday’s other results, Sydney belted the Western Bulldogs 20.10 (130) to 9.13 (67) and Fremantle defeated Brisbane 15.16 (106) to 6.12 (48).

Here is how the final week of the home-and-away series shapes up:

1. SYDNEY (v Richmond, Homebush)

Guaranteed of the double chance and a home final. Will finish on top for the first time since 1996 if it beats Richmond. If the Swans lose, will hold top spot ahead of Hawthorn provided the combined margin (Sydney’s defeat, Hawthorn’s win) is less than about 90 points. Likely qualifying final opponent is Fremantle.

2. HAWTHORN (v Collingwood, MCG)

Should finish second if it wins, but can reach top spot if Sydney loses and the combined margins are big enough to lift the percentage above Sydney’s. If it loses, Hawthorn can slide to third assuming that Geelong wins at home, but the qualifying final matchup would remain the same. Likely qualifying final opponent is Geelong.

3. GEELONG (v Brisbane, Kardinia Park)

Can only reach second with a win, and a Hawthorn defeat. An unlikely loss would see them slump to fourth if Fremantle beats Port Adelaide. Likely qualifying final opponent is Hawthorn, but a defeat at home could see them travelling to Sydney in week one of the finals.

4. FREMANTLE (v Port Adelaide, Subiaco)

Will hold fourth and play the top team with the double chance if it wins. Can also climb to third if the Lions shock Geelong. If the Dockers lose, they will slip to fifth, and host a knockout final v eighth team. Likely qualifying final opponent is Sydney.

5. PORT ADELAIDE (v Fremantle, Subiaco)

Will seize fourth place, with the double chance, if it wins. If it loses, will likely stay fifth and host a knockout final v eighth team. Likely elimination final opponent is West Coast, but it could be Richmond, Adelaide or Collingwood.

6. NORTH MELBOURNE (v Melbourne, Docklands)

Virtually guaranteed to finish sixth regardless of the result, although it is vaguely possible for them to jump a spot if they can blow out Melbourne. Likely elimination final opponent is Essendon.

7. ESSENDON (v Carlton, MCG)

Technically it is possible for the Bombers to miss the finals if they lose, but it would take a string of huge blowouts. Almost certainly they will finish seventh (if they beat Carlton) but they could slip to eighth (if they lose to Carlton) and Richmond defeats Sydney. Likely elimination final opponent is North Melbourne.

8. RICHMOND (v Sydney, Homebush)

Will play finals if it wins in Sydney, finishing either seventh or eighth. Theoretically could lose and still play finals, but would need Collingwood, Adelaide and West Coast all to lose as well. If it makes it, likely elimination final opponent is Port Adelaide, in Adelaide.

9. COLLINGWOOD (v Hawthorn MCG)

Must beat Hawthorn on Friday night to reach the finals. If the Magpies win that game, will watch and hope that Richmond loses to Sydney, in which case they would slip into eighth spot. However with a glut of injuries it seems improbable.

10. WEST COAST (v Gold Coast, Carrara)

Must defeat the Suns to have a chance of playing finals. If the Eagles get the money, they also need Richmond to lose in Sydney, and have to retain their percentage advantage over Adelaide. At the moment, this is just four percentage points. A huge chance of qualifying.

11. ADELAIDE (v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval)

Must beat St Kilda, and possibly by a big margin. The Crows would need Richmond, Collingwood and the Eagles all to lose. Still hanging in with a chance.

Premiership ladder

LEADING GOALKICKERS
67: L Franklin (Sydney) 6
58: J Roughead (Hawthorn) 3
56: J Schulz (Pt Adel) 2
55: T Hawkins (Geelong) 3
53: J Riewoldt (Richmond) 5, J Kennedy (West Coast) 4
52: L Breust (Hawthorn) 1
48: N Riewoldt (St Kilda) 1
46: J Gunston (Hawthorn) 1, E Betts (Adelaide) 2