AFL: Premiership race hots up

There are just three weeks of the regular AFL season remaining and all of a sudden it has got very tight at the top of the ladder.

Collingwood and Port Adelaide have looked the stand-out teams for most of the 2023 season, but following a dip in form in recent weeks, they are not looking as strong.

Brisbane and Melbourne have closed in and are both looking strong, while Carlton appear to be peaking at just the right time.

The winner of the 2023 grand final is likely to come from that group, so let’s take a look at the latest outright odds.

Collingwood

Collingwood remain the hot fancies at 3.00 to win the 2023 grand final, and despite a recent blip, still look the team to beat.

The Pies have suffered back-to-back defeats against Carlton and Hawthorn, but are still eight points clear at the top of the ladder.

Saturday’s loss against Hawthorn was a huge surprise and Collingwood will need to bounce back quickly when they take on Geelong in round 22.

Collingwood still look on course for the minor premiership, but there is work to do as they must also play high-flying Brisbane and Essendon.

Melbourne

The Demons have jumped to second place on the ladder and are now priced at 4.00 to go all the way and win the grand final.

Melbourne know how to win a premiership having done so in 2021 and they look to be hitting top form at just the right time.

Simon Goodwin’s side have now won the last five games on the spin and finishing second will be crucial to their chances.

Next up is a massive game against in-form Carlton, before they finish off with games against Hawthorn and Sydney.

Brisbane

Brisbane are priced at 7.50 and are locked on 56 points with both Melbourne and Port Adelaide, so the next few games will be crucial.

It is a tough-looking run-in also with games against Adelaide, Collingwood and St Kilda to come.

Like their rivals, finishing in the top two will be the aim and the fact that two of the games are at the Gabba, where they are most successful, is a huge boost.

The one game on the road will be against Collingwood at the MCG.

Port Adelaide

The Power are on an alarming run of form at just the wrong time and are priced at 9.00 to recover and go on and win the grand final.

They have lost the last four games on the bounce and need to bounce back and find some form before heading into finals.

Port have to stop the slide and hang on to a place in the top four with Carlton now chasing them down from behind.

Ken Hinkley’s side have games against Greater Western Sydney, Fremantle and Richmond to come. They will be helped by the fact that apart from a trip to Perth, they will be at the Adelaide Oval for the other two games.

Carlton

Carlton continue to surge on and picked up yet another impressive win when turning over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

That is now seven wins on the bounce and Carlton look set to have momentum on their side heading into finals.

They are priced at 11.00 to win the grand final, and the way things are going they could pull off the rare honour of winning the premiership despite finishing outside of the top four.

There is still a chance they could squeeze into the top four however with games against Melbourne, Gold Coast and GWS to come.