We take a look at the run to the finals in the SANFL as four teams battle over the final standings in the top five.

1. Woodville-West Torrens

The minor premiership belongs to Woodville-West Torrens. Games against the Crows, North and Norwood should all fall the way of the current league leaders, leaving them on 16 wins and just two losses for the season – one of those against Port Adelaide. That would give the Eagles the double chance and first week off from finals.

The run home:
Rd 17B: Adelaide Crows at Woodville
Rd 18: North Adelaide at Woodville
Rd 19: Norwood at The Parade

2. West Adelaide

The Bloods sit second on the ladder, and can secure their position with wins over the next fortnight. But it’s a challenging run – playing all of the sides below them in the top five. The first challenge is South at Noarlunga, then Norwood at Richmond in a game that could very well determine second or third place. They finish the season against a Port Adelaide team that may also be playing for a double chance in the final game of the year.

The run home:
Rd 17B: South Adelaide at Noarlunga
Rd 18: Norwood at Richmond
Rd 19: Port Adelaide at Alberton

3. Norwood

The reigning premiers have lost three of their last four and face a mixed bag of games to come. First off the rank is North Adelaide in two weeks, in a game that the Redlegs will back themselves to win at home. Then, it’s West Adelaide in that game that might determine second place on the ladder, followed by a home game against the likely minor premiers, the Eagles. A tough run.

The run home:
Rd 17B: North Adelaide at The Parade
Rd 18: West Adelaide at Richmond
Rd 19: Woodville-West Torrens at the Parade

4. Port Adelaide

So what of the Magpies? Their form has been patchy overall with losses to Sturt, Norwood and Adelaide costly. The run home is dangerous for Port, equally could it lose three or win three. Its first test is against North Adelaide, the bottom-placed club, at Prospect on Saturday. Most pundits would back a win for Port, but it hasn't been supremely competitive against lower placed sides this year. Glenelg, South and West provide genuine 50/50 contests. Port Adelaide could feasibly finish second on the ladder, or sixth. It needs to win this weekend to secure a finals berth.

The run home:
Rd 17A: North Adelaide at Prospect
Rd 17B: Glenelg at Glenelg
Rd 18: South Adelaide at Alberton
Rd 19: West Adelaide at Alberton

5. South Adelaide

Chasing Port Adelaide is South. They are two games behind Norwood and West, and just one adrift of the Magpies. Winning all four of their remaining games will be high on the Panthers’ agenda. They’re capable of good form and winning games, having only fallen 10 points short of the Eagles in Round 16. They’ll back themselves to take care of the Crows in their catch-up game this weekend at Noarlunga before hosting West the week after. A road journey to Alberton will probably be South’s most challenging game, before finishing against Central District at home.

The run home:
Rd 17A: Adelaide Crows at Noarlunga
Rd 17B: West Adelaide at Noarlunga
Rd 18: Port Adelaide at Alberton
Rd 19: Central District at Noarlunga

6. Central District

Sitting two games behind the Panthers in sixth, the Bulldogs will need to win all three of their games to be any chance of making the top five. A loss, and they’re all but out.  Winnable games against teams below them on the ladder at home will keep them in the mix, and if South lose a couple, they may well play the Panthers for fifth spot in the final game of the year.

The run home:
Rd 17B: Sturt at Elizabeth
Rd 18: Glenelg at Elizabeth
Rd 19: South Adelaide at Noarlunga

7. Adelaide Crows

The Crows are the team of the moment, but their slow start to the year has them an unrealistic chance of playing finals. They rely on South losing at least three of their final four games and dipping below the Crows on percentage to be a chance, but the Crows must also win theirs. A loss to the Panthers this weekend ends their chances. They need to win.

The run home:
Rd 17A: South Adelaide at Noarlunga
Rd 17B: Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville
Rd 18: Sturt at Unley
Rd 19: Glenelg at Glenelg

8. Sturt

Sturt are in an even more disadvantageous position, although have one of the best draws. They must defeat Central, the Crows and North to be a chance for finals, while relying on South to lose all four of their final games. Unlikely.

The run home:
Rd 17B: Central District at Elizabeth
Rd 18: Adelaide Crows at Unley
Rd 19: North Adelaide at Prospect