LOGJAM AT THE TOP OF LADDER

THE AFL minor premiership race has been thrown wide open, with West Coast and Brisbane joining the faltering Cats at the top of the ladder.

Wins by the Eagles and Lions yesterday saw them join Geelong on 14 wins with three rounds to go.

The Cats are still ahead by sizeable percentage, but their form line suggests they are running out of puff.

Saturday’s shock 34-point loss to Fremantle was Geelong’s fourth from its past seven games and has raised major questions about their premiership credentials.

The second-placed Eagles are just 0.8 per cent above the third-placed Lions.

The way things are panning out, percentage could be crucial in determining who makes the four and in which order.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says he can’t afford to worry about that.

“We just want to keep winning. We want to finish as high as we can,” he said. “It’s hard to concern yourself about percentage. We don’t even talk about it. If we keep winning, we’ll be right.”

Brisbane — which has won seven straight — and West Coast aren’t the only teams hunting Geelong. Fourthplaced Richmond beat Melbourne by 33 points on Saturday night for its sixth straight win and is now just one game adrift of the Cats.

Collingwood and GWS (12-7) are one win further back and still eyeing off a top-four berth.

The Magpies gave their percentage an important boost with a 69-point result over Gold Coast yesterday, while GWS survived a late scare to beat Sydney by two points on Saturday night.