The top eight is set after one of the most dramatic finishes to a home and away season on record, with Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney to face off in under a fortnight with a mouth-watering qualifying final.

The Crows secured the minor premiership after the Giants lost to Geelong on Saturday night.

Adelaide ended the regular season ahead of second-placed Geelong on percentage after its 29-point loss to West Coast on Sunday.

The Giants travel to Adelaide having missed an opportunity to secure a top-two spot – and home qualifying final – following their loss to the Cats.

The finals will take centre stage in Melbourne when Geelong and third-placed Richmond meet in a qualifying final.

The Cats will be hoping to regain skipper Joel Selwood (ankle) during their finals campaign.

The Tigers, whose last finals win came in the 2001 semi-final against Carlton, secured the double chance with a 41-point win over St Kilda on Sunday.

Coach Damien Hardwick's men have suffered finals heartache in recent years, losing three straight elimination finals between 2013 and 2015.

Fifth-placed Port Adelaide returns to September action in an elimination final against eight-placed West Coast.

The Power last made finals in 2014.

The Eagles also have reason to cheer after snatching eighth spot – at the expense of Melbourne – with their win over Adelaide at Domain Stadium.

The Eagles were able to bridge the percentage gap needed to overtake the Demons on the ladder.

The first week of finals will also see sixth-placed Sydney host seven-placed Essendon in a do-or-die elimination final.

Last year's runners up, the Swans become the first team in history to make the finals after losing their first six games of the season, and ended the regular season having won 14 of their last 16 games since round seven.

The Bombers have made significant inroads this season after slumping to last year's wooden spoon, qualifying for their first finals campaign since the end of the supplements saga.

Like Port Adelaide, Essendon last played finals in 2014.