The AFL top four is locked and loaded after Sydney and Fremantle ran riot on Sunday to cement their places.
But a top two spot and home final remains possible for both clubs after thrashings of St Kilda and Melbourne respectively.
The Swans destroyed the Saints in the second half, with Kurt Tippett booting five goals and midfielder Josh Kennedy outstanding in the 18.10 (118) to 8.11 (59) victory at the SCG.
Fremantle had little trouble disposing of uncompetitive Melbourne by 95 points at the MCG, though injury concerns to Aaron Sandilands who may have fractured a cheekbone and Hayden Ballantyne (shoulder) soured their day.
Hawthorn still top the ladder after their 35-point win over Collingwood on Friday night, while Geelong remain second following their 66-point hammering of West Coast.
Sydney and Fremantle are half a win behind, and the Swans could leapfrog Geelong if they beat the Cats next weekend – a match which will go a long way to shaping positions inside the top four.
“You want to finish as high on the ladder as you can, and obviously top four is an important position to be in,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“It’s good to be able to sit here and say that’s been achieved, but it is only one thing that’s been achieved.
“It doesn’t stop from here. We need to make sure our form over the next couple of weeks is strong.
“We saw them (Geelong) play last night and they were at the top of their game.”
Essendon’s late season slide continued with a fourth successive loss – this time a 45-point beating by North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers are certain to finish in the top eight if the AFL don’t punish them with a points penalty over the supplements affair.
But they look an anaemic rendition of the side which overcame weekly pressure earlier in the season, with the disrepute charges levelled against the club, coach James Hird, and three other key officials clearly taking an on-field toll.
Assuming no AFL Commission intervention, the only spot up for grabs in the top eight is eighth place.
Port Adelaide’s 17-point victory over Gold Coast keeps them two wins ahead of ninth-placed Carlton, who gave Richmond a late season stutter with a 10-point upset on Saturday.
But Port face Carlton in the last home-and-away match of the season, meaning if they lose to Fremantle next weekend and the Blues beat Essendon, the last finals place could come down to a round 23 shootout.
Brisbane overcame the midweek sacking of coach Michael Voss to belt GWS by 60 points.
The Western Bulldogs continued their late-season resurgence, posting a 17-point win over Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.
It was the Dogs’ third win in their past four matches.