The top eight is set, the home and away season is finished, and GWS have secured the last spot in September football with a big win over Carlton at Docklands.

A win or a draw for the Giants was enough to see them make finals over the Western Bulldogs, and after a fiercely-fought first two and a half quarters, GWS came home strongly to win by 32 points, ending a nine-game winning streak for Carlton.

For the Blues, Charlie Curnow won the Coleman Medal, taking his tally to 78 goals for the season.

Elsewhere the Melbourne Demons, playing an effective dead rubber after being locked into fourth spot, beat Sydney Swans at the SCG — but they will have to wait on more news on the extent of a knee injury to Jake Melksham. 

Earlier, Port Adelaide beat Richmond in a hard-fought game at Adelaide Oval to clinch third spot on the ladder.

The other highlight of the day came as Lance Franklin said goodbye to football and the Sydney Swans in a half-time ceremony during the Swans-Demons game.

With his former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson watching on from the stands, Franklin and his wife Jesinta walked around the stadium holding their two children, as Swans fans got a chance to give the superstar and future AFL Hall of Famer a proper sendoff.

An emotional Franklin told Channel Seven he felt "a little overwhelmed" by his reception, as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

The first week of the finals will see Collingwood host Melbourne at the MCG and Brisbane face Port Adelaide at the Gabba, Carlton host Sydney and GWS host St Kilda in Sydney.

Giants complete the eight with win over Blues

GWS snatched an AFL finals berth, displacing the Western Bulldogs in the top eight with a 32-point win over Carlton in the last match of the home-and-away season.

Toby Greene kicked four goals and Jake Riccardi three in the Giants' 16.9 (105) to 11.7 (73) victory on Sunday at Docklands.

The margin wasn't quite great enough for GWS to earn a home final as they finished seventh on percentage behind St Kilda, who they will face in an elimination final in Melbourne.

Carlton, who celebrated Charlie Curnow securing a second straight Coleman Medal, were locked in to finish fifth regardless of the result and will host Sydney in their knockout final.

But they will sweat on the availability of key defender Jacob Weitering, who faces scrutiny over contact to Greene's eye region, and Blake Acres (collarbone).

Weitering attempted to pull Greene off Blues teammate Mitch McGovern when the pair tangled moments before half-time.

Replays showed he made contact with his fingers near Greene's left eye.

The scuffle continued and Greene was then sent from the field under the blood rule with a cut near his right eye.

The GWS captain returned with bandaging around his head and was one of his side's best in the crucial triumph, which secured a top-eight spot in Adam Kingsley's first season as coach.

Former skipper Stephen Coniglio celebrated his 200th game with two goals from 28 disposals and Tom Green (35 disposals, eight clearances), Josh Kelly (27 touches) and Lachie Whitfield (32) also had a major influence.

Brent Daniels (23 touches, one goal) was lively and creative in attack.

Riccardi kicked the first two in the Giants' four-goal run late in the third quarter, which broke the game open.

Carlton midfielders Sam Walsh (27 disposals, seven clearances) and Adam Cerra (23, six) made seamless returns from hamstring injuries, while Acres racked up 21 touches in a strong showing before being substituted out midway through the third term.

Curnow kicked two first-quarter goals to move past Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker in the Coleman Medal race.

The Blues' spearhead finished with three to take his career-best season tally to 78.

But GWS were well served by defender Jack Buckley, who kept Curnow relatively quiet after quarter-time in the absence of Sam Taylor, a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury.

Fritsch fires in Demons' win, injuries could be costly 

Melbourne surged into the finals with their seventh victory in eight matches as returning forward Bayley Fritsch fired in a 21-point triumph over Sydney at the SCG.

The Demons were sure of finishing fourth and facing Collingwood in a qualifying final before the first bounce but fine-tuned for September with an 11.11 (77) to 7.14 (56) win over the Swans on Sunday.

The Swans, needing a win to secure a sixth-placed finish and a home final, took a four-point lead into the last term but missed their chance as Fritsch sealed the result with three late goals.

The Demons (16-7) looked more settled near goal with Fritsch back in the side for the first time since breaking a foot in round 16, and the forward made an immediate impact with two early majors.

Fritsch looked sharp throughout and finished with five goals despite spending periods on the interchange bench receiving treatment on his foot before playing out the match.

Fellow medium forward Jake Melksham was a lively partner near goal and kicked two goals before being subbed out in the third term after suffering a knock on the knee.

Christian Petracca (29 disposals, one goal) helped spark the Demons in the second half, although he failed to make the most of several chances near goal, while Jack Viney (29) and Clayton Oliver (24) continued their strong form.

Key defenders Steven May and Jake Lever were also important as they controlled the backline even as the Swans tried to find avenues around them.

The Swans had the momentum in the third term and pulled away to a 17-point lead before Melbourne fought back with two late goals to stay in the contest before eventually overrunning the hosts.

Errol Gulden led the Sydney effort with 42 disposals and two stunning goals.

Co-captains Callum Mills (30, one) and Luke Parker (23) gave the Swans drive out of the middle along with Chad Warner (22), while retiring ruck Tom Hickey, playing his 150th match, engaged in a spirited running battle with Demons skipper Max Gawn.

The Swans (12-10-1) had their chances throughout but paid the price for misfiring near goal as Logan McDonald (1.3), Isaac Heeney and Parker (both 0.2) all missed gettable shots with game on the line.

Last year's runners-up Sydney will now be on the road for an elimination final, with their opponents decided through the Carlton-GWS match later on Sunday.

Power clinch third with win over Tigers at home

Port Adelaide downed Richmond by 31 points to secure third spot entering the AFL finals.

The final margin flattered the Power, who were pushed all day by a gritty Tigers side playing for nothing but pride.

The Power's fringe forward Francis Evans kicked three goals in the 13.16 (94) to 8.15 (63) victory on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.

Port will travel to Brisbane to play the second-placed Lions in a qualifying final.

Richmond, led by the mercurial Dustin Martin, produced a spirited performance but will finish 13th.