It's no secret that season 2017 has produced one of the tightest competitions in VFL/AFL history and another example of that will be on show on Friday night when North Melbourne and St Kilda face off at Etihad Stadium. A win for the 12th-placed Saints could see them re-enter the top eight while the Kangaroos, despite languishing in 15th spot, could find themselves just a game outside the eight if they cause a mini upset. St Kilda will be boosted by the return of star veteran Nick Riewoldt while North Melbourne's Lachie Hansen finally reaches 150 games after 11 injury-riddled seasons.

Will the real Western Bulldogs please stand up?

It's hard to make heads or tails of the reigning premiers this year. One week they look like they've clicked into gear, the next week they make you wonder if they're good enough to qualify for the finals. That same hunger and intensity that drove them to the flag last year seems to be lacking this year. They are very unsettled as well with numerous changes regularly made to their line-up and this week is no different with at least five new faces to greet Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. It promises to be the match of the round with both teams 6-5 and separated by just two places on the ladder. The Demons have not beaten the Dogs at this venue since 2007, but having just suffered a shock eight-goal loss to Sydney, are Luke Beveridge's men ripe for the picking?

Swans fighting to stay in touch

The Kangaroos aren't the only ones attempting to keep their unlikely run to the finals on track on the weekend. Sydney loom as the sleeping giants of the competition, having won four of their last five games to revive their campaign after making their worst start to a season since 1993 as they lost their first six games and hit rock bottom. Having beaten North, St Kilda and the Bulldogs in recent times, their next assignment is a stern one - Richmond at the MCG on Saturday in what promises to be a blockbuster encounter. With Geelong losing on Thursday night, the Tigers now have the chance to jump to third spot on the ladder if they can beat the Swans. So there's plenty at stakes for both sides.

Franklin, Rance set to battle it out

One of, if not, the most important match-ups in the crucial Richmond-Sydney encounter will be the heavyweight duel between Swans superstar Lance Franklin and champion Tigers defender Alex Rance. Franklin is having another sensational year and currently shares the lead in the Coleman Medal race with GWS forward Jeremy Cameron (35 goals). But Rance has been magnificent in defence yet again this year and he is charging towards a fourth consecutive All-Australian jumper. Franklin has a good record against the Tigers with 18 goals in his last four meetings with them so Rance will have to bring his absolute A-game in order to nullify the six-time All-Australian forward.

Bookies not interested in Brisbane's heroics

How often do we see a team fresh from a 70-point loss positioned as a $1.03 favourite against a side that has just scored a 10-goal win? Well, that's the unique situation that Port Adelaide find themselves in against the Brisbane Lions who are $14 outsiders despite their scintillating performance against Fremantle last week. Yes, Brisbane sit on the bottom of the ladder, had lost their previous nine games and prepare for the daunting prospect of playing the Power at Adelaide Oval. But surely they deserve a little bit more respect than that! Then again, the Lions have lost four of their last five games to Port Adelaide by an average of 92 points and have lost all of their four Adelaide Oval matches by an average of 104 points.

Perennial strugglers now in the finals mix?

After round 10, Gold Coast and Carlton sat in 16th and 17th position on the ladder respectively seemingly resigned to their fate that season 2017 was done and dusted. However, fast forward three weeks and they now find themselves preparing for a huge encounter at Metricon Stadium which could see the winner well and truly enter the finals mix. The resurgent Suns are gunning for three wins in a row for the first time since round three last year. A victory for them would not only make coach Rodney Eade seem even safer in the job, despite the speculation that has surrounded his future, but would see them sit outside the top eight only because of percentage. And the Blues, fresh from toppling premiership fancies Greater Western Sydney, could be just outside the eight by one game if they score another upset victory this weekend. Crazy season indeed.