There are only three games left of the normal season, and for some teams more than others, there could be some harsh consequences if they can’t get their desired results. The Port Adelaide Power is definitely one of these teams; although they are in the top eight for now, they are in an extremely fragile place.

Port face off against the Collingwood Magpies at the weekend. It is a crucial match for the Adelaide side who are sitting on 44 points. They will be confident that they can get the job done against the Pies. If they were to slip up against Collingwood, it would put them in a very sticky situation and have them praying for other results to go their way.

Any slip up from here on in could prove disastrous for their chances when you look at how congested the table is around that area. It certainly won’t help that they’re coming off the back of an 84 point demolishing, dealt to them by the Adelaide Crows last weekend.

Two other teams are equal on points with Port, including the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs. But what is even more troublesome is the fact that there are a further four clubs sitting one win behind on 40 points. Essendon, West Coast, the Demons, and Saint Kilda are all within striking distance and just waiting for someone above them to slip up.

The Power’s last game of the season comes against the Gold Coast Suns and coach Ken Hinkley shouldn’t really see them as much of a threat to ending their finals aspirations.  

So, it looks like the big one for Port will be the game after the Magpies, which will see them coming up against the Bulldogs. This is the most decisive game of their run home as their opposition is in exactly the same position they are.

If that wasn’t scary enough, the Bulldogs seem to be replicating their storming run at the end of last season, which ended with them winning the title, against a shell shocked Swans side. The Doggies have won their last four games and seem to be hitting their stride at the perfect time again, which could be costly for the Power if they can’t contain them.

An absolute minimum of eight points is required to keep them in the eight, but the fans won’t want to leave it to chance. The club should be throwing everything they got at locking up all twelve and securing their Finals footy this September.