AFL permutations: Picture still fuzzy ahead of final two rounds

The Allianz Football League is heading towards its final break before back-to-back games to firm up the promotion and regelation pictures and to decide the eight teams that will advance to the Croke Park deciders.

After a weekend when shocks were in short supply, the picture is a bit clearer but there is still enough distortion to cause concern for many counties.

Here's how things currently stand across the divisions as the home stretch comes into view.

DIVISION 1

Final hunting

We’ll ignore the elephant in the room - that some Division 1 sides would almost certainly choose midtable safety over a league final on the mouth of championship.

With a number of big sides expected to head to sunnier climates this week, the final two games will no doubt be high on the agenda in their team meetings.

Despite their lacklustre performance against Dublin, Derry [8 points] remain well placed to reach a first Division 1 final since 2014.

Three points from their trip to Mayo and home game with Roscommon would be enough, but it may not even take that much. In theory, they could lose their next two games and still progress if results elsewhere went a certain way.

Dublin, Kerry and Mayo [all 6] can also all book a final berth over the final two rounds and with their matches against each other all wrapped up, they'll be keeping an eye on results elsewhere as well as trying to take care of their own business.

Galway [5] can technically make the final if they get to nine points, but they’d need so many results to go their way elsewhere that it can be all but written off.

Looking over their shoulder

Galway may technically be able to make a final as mentioned, but their main concern is still avoiding the drop, although Sunday’s win at Clones puts them