There are four teams sitting at 4-6 and all of them feel like they are in different positions entirely.
Carlton, Adelaide, St Kilda and Essendon all sit one game outside the eight as we near the halfway point of the season.
The Blues had hoped to make the leap into the top eight but have been unable to prove they are ready. St Kilda were looking to make the jump into the top four but have been uncompetitive at times, while the rebuilding Essendon and Adelaide have shocked many with how well they are going.
The Saints fixture doesn't get any easier going forward as they look to recover their season, while the Blues have seen the last of a few flag contenders as they aspire to play finals for the first time since 2013.
Essendon's youth has stood out in the first half of 2021 with the future looking very bright, but who's to say the future can't be now? Adelaide also have exceeded expectations, having knocked off both Geelong and Melbourne this season.
Well, we put the question to our team for some good Roundtable discussion: Which 4-6 side is the best chance of making finals?
Check out the answers below!
I have Essendon making a stronger push for finals at this stage. With percentage woes and a horror run home you can disregard St Kilda without too much thought. Essendon has percentage on their side currently with the only positive percentage out of the teams listed.
The midfield trio of Parish, Merrett and McGrath are starting to gel and play at an elite level. With a relatively easy draw on the way home as well as the potential to steal a couple of games from teams above them, they are a legitimate sniff for finals this year.
Ed Carmine: Personally, I can't see any of these teams making it due to inconsistencies from week to week. The Bombers do look as though they are on the rise, and the Blues have beaten the teams they need to, but I'm of the opinion that if you are sitting below ninth now, then you have your work cut out for you. Who knows though? Footy is a funny game.
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Jake Benoiton:Â It has to be the Blues. They have been beaten by some very good teams and are starting to get back some key players from injury. If they can manage to find a run of form after the bye and claim a scalp or two from above them they are right in the hunt.
Essendon haven't beaten much and the Crows have had good scalps but you'd assume they'll struggle to maintain the rage. I didn't have St Kilda in my eight at the start of the season and that hasn't changed. They are a rabble at the moment.
Ben Lawless: For 2021, I believe the Blues are the most likely threat to make it into the finals and are therefore in the best position. With the pillars of Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering and Harry McKay all dominating, the Blues have the foundation for a late season run to the finals.
With Zac Fisher, Jack Martin and possibly Charlie Curnow to return, they have shown enough to be around the mark come the end of the season. Adelaide and Essendon both have young lists and are still a year or two away from being a legitimate threat to make the finals.
The Saints have been decimated by injury and their confidence is shaken. I believe their inconsistency and percentage from blowout losses make it too huge of an uphill battle, as they require an extra win to make the 8.
Mitch Keating:Â St Kilda. It will take a major lift from one of these four clubs and if any side has a finals calibre list, it's the Saints. Their current form has placed them behind the eight-ball, but if they're playing a poor brand of footy now and are still in contention then they have every right to be consider contenders if/when they turn things around.
A tough schedule ahead, but they face the sides they must beat to better their chances as many sides in their run home are also fighting for a finals spot. They're still in the fight no doubt.
Ben Cotton:Â I'm going with the Blues here. I think they are still a good stiff of breaking into the eight, having endured a handful of competitive losses in 2021.
Carlton have had so many 'almost performances', and if not for one outlier loss to Collingwood, would be sitting just percentage out of the eight. A tough six weeks await against Sydney (away), West Coast, GWS (away), Adelaide, Fremantle (away) and Geelong, so we will learn a lot about David Teague's side during this period and if they have genuine finals credentials.