3 minute read
A glance at the eight finalists as they chase the 2020 AFL premiership flag.
FORM GUIDE FOR THE AFL FINALS
* PORT ADELAIDE
First (14 wins, 3 losses, 136.4%)
Premierships: 1 (2004)
Finals: 23 (11 wins, 12 losses)
Coach Ken Hinkley's finals record: 3 wins, 3 losses, 0 premierships
Summary: Seventh team in VFL/AFL history to hold top spot for an entire home-and-away season. First finals campaign since 2017.
Key player: Charlie Dixon. Imposing key forward who relishes physicality, has kicked 32 goals in 16 games.
The query: Lack of height in defence. Suffered heavy defeats to Brisbane and Geelong.
* BRISBANE
Second (14 wins, 3 losses, 124.9 per cent)
Premierships: 3 (2001, 2002, 2003)
Finals: 23 (15 wins, 8 losses)
Coach Chris Fagan's finals record: 2 losses, 0 premierships
Summary: On a seven-game winning streak. Last two losses were against flag contenders Richmond and Geelong.
Key player: Lachie Neale. The Brownlow medal favourite, averaging more than 27 disposals, will be a marked man.
The query: Key backman Harris Andrews' recovery from hamstring injury. Scars from straight-sets exit from last season's finals.
* RICHMOND
Third (12 wins, four losses, 1 draw, 129.9%)
Premierships: 12 (1920, 1921, 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1980, 2017, 2019)
Finals: 89 (53 wins, 35 losses, 1 draw)
Coach Damien Hardwick's finals record: 7 wins, 4 losses, 2 premierships
Summary: Shooting for a third flag in four seasons. Entering with six consecutive wins. Conceded the second-least scores of any club.
Key player: Dustin Martin. The dual Norm Smith medallist remains the competition's most dangerous weapon.
The query: Spearhead Tom Lynch's hamstring injury. Some underdone players (Shane Edwards, David Astbury, Dion Prestia).
* GEELONG
Fourth (12 wins, 5 losses, 136.8%)
Premierships: 9 (1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011)
Finals: 122 (53 wins, 68 losses, 1 draw)
Coach Chris Scott's finals record: 7 wins, 11 losses, 1 premiership
Summary: The league's highest-scoring team boast the league's highest goalscorer, Tom Hawkins (42 goals).
Key player: Patrick Dangerfield. The Brownlow medallist, averaging 22 disposals, is a big-game hunter and the barometer of his team.
The query: Can the possession-based style win finals. Preliminary final losers in three of past four years.
* WEST COAST
Fifth (12 wins, five losses, 117%)
Premierships: 4 (1992, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Finals: 54 (26 wins, 27 losses, 1 draw)
Coach Adam Simpson's finals record: 7 wins, 4 losses, 1 premiership
Summary: Rallied after three losses from their initial four games but claimed just one top-four scalp (Geelong).
Key player: Josh Kennedy. The spearhead kicked 31 goals in the home-and-away season. Capable of winning a match off his own boot.
The query: Will Jeremy McGovern's hamstring hold up. Long injury list including Luke Shuey, Jack Redden, Jamie Cripps, Elliot Yeo.
* ST KILDA
Sixth (10 wins, 7 losses, 116.2%)
Premierships: 1 (1966)
Finals: 52 (21 wins, 30 losses, 1 draw)
Coach Brett Ratten's finals record: 1 win, 3 losses (with Carlton) 0 premierships
Summary: Daring style rewarded with a first finals appearance since 2011. Beat Port, lost to Brisbane by two points.
Key player: Dan Butler. The Richmond 2017 premiership player has kicked 27 goals in a breakout season.
The query: Will the attacking brand survive under finals pressure. Lack of finals experience.
* WESTERN BULLDOGS
Seventh (10 wins, 7 losses, 106.7%)
Premierships: 2 (1954, 2016)
Finals: 50 (18 wins, 32 losses)
Coach Luke Beveridge's finals record: 4 wins, 2 losses, 1 premiership
Summary: Returning to finals for the first time since their 2016 flag. Won five of their last six games to qualify.
Key player: Marcus Bontempelli. Captain and prime mover averages five clearances and 21 disposals a game.
The query: Conceded the most scores of any finalist. Beaten just one side above them on the ladder (West Coast).
* COLLINGWOOD
Eighth (9 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw, 109.5%)
Premierships: 15 (1902, 1903, 1910, 1917, 1919, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1953, 1958, 1990, 2010)
Finals: 183 (80 wins, 98 losses, 5 draws)
Coach Nathan Buckley's finals record: 4 wins, 6 losses, 0 premierships
Summary: The most difficult to gauge: of their last nine games, only two were against finalists (losses to Brisbane and Port).
The query: The lowest scorers of all finalists by some 100 points, but conceded the third-fewest scores of any club.
