State of Origin is usually a time when leading clubs slip due to representative players not being available.
But that doesn’t seem to be as much a factor this year, due to both the general inconsistency of most sides and the fact that the lower teams are pretty woeful.
AFL are already in a situation where ten teams are playing for the final eight spots, but it’s hard to envision anything but the seven of the teams currently in the eight making it to finals.
NRL (last round 4/8; season tally 70/116)
Melbourne
Easts
New Zealand
Cronulla
AFL (last round 5/9; season tally 76/126)
Collingwood
Essendon
Richmond
Adelaide
Geelong
West Coast
Melbourne
North Melbourne
Greater Western Sydney
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