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Ladder predictor: Hodge's top 4 and minor premiers
SEN • July 22nd, 2025 7:00 pm
With five rounds left to play in the 2025 AFL home and away season, it’s all eyes on making the cut for finals.
Historically 14 wins has almost always secured sides a place in the eight – but not this year.
There is a very realistic chance that whichever club claims the “death seat (9th) will have a 14-9 record and miss out purely on percentage.
Through the remaining rounds the current top 8 contenders will meet on 10 occasions – matches which could be the difference between third and ninth for some.
Luke Hodge shared his 2025 ladder predictor and all the permutations with Gerard Whateley.
“From 9th and 10th down the results have been boring with wins-losses,” Hodge said on SEN Whateley.
“From 9th upwards this is getting interesting and everyone of these games going into finals is so important.
“We saw what Freo did to Collingwood on the weekend, we have all the interstate rivalries this weekend.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve settled on it (final eight) but I’ve got Fremantle in the death seat (9th).
“They have 3 questionable games – their last of the year - I have them losing to Port, losing to Brisbane in round 23 and then the big game in round 24 against the Doggies.
“That said if they win all those games they could jump up to third. How can you miss finals on three games that they have a good chance of winning? It’s such a tight end of the ladder.”
Hodge’s minor premier:
“I have Adelaide jumping over the Pies on percentage, equal top on 72 but percentage gets Adelaide over.”
“I’ve tipped the Lions this weekend against Gold Coast and that could flip either way. I have them third.
“There’s also a Lions-Collingwood game that I’ve tipped the Pies to beat them.
“56 points you should be in 9th position, if it is Freo you look at the missed opportunities.
“They lost to the Swans twice, lost to Melbourne and that game they lost to Collingwood when the Pies rested so many players.
“You don’t just think about that one game at the end of the season you think about the other ones, you rue the whole season.”
Hodge's projected top 4
1st - Adelaide
2nd - Collingwood
3rd - Brisbane
4th - Geelong
2nd - Collingwood
3rd - Brisbane
4th - Geelong
