All eight teams ranked on pressure gauge, pass marks, expectations

Ten teams out, eight are nonetheless left standing within the race for the 2023 AFL flag. And among the many eight teams, there are eight completely different tales.

Some have been the pace-setters all 12 months the place nothing greater than an look on Grand Last day – and even lifting the cup – will probably be acceptable. Some have returned from the finals wilderness, whereas others will make their followers proud with only a win.

Foxfooty.com.au has ranked the top-eight finalists so as of our finals pressure gauge and given them a pass mark that will make their September successful.

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1. BRISBANE LIONS

Pass mark: Win the flag.

Coach Chris Fagan mentioned on Fox Footy’s On the Sofa that “we’ve got to” internally acknowledge that that is the most effective probability the Lions have needed to win the premiership since he’s been on the membership.

That is certainly the case, having emerged with an ideal document at house and at the very least two house finals to return after being mainstays within the prime 4 since 2019.

Fagan was pragmatic when requested in regards to the alternatives the Lions have had over latest years and believes the experiences have “hardened” his enjoying group for this marketing campaign.

“We’ve had 9 alternatives over the past 4 years and saluted in three of them however weren’t in a position to win six of them – and a few very shut losses as properly that stored us out of prelims,” Fagan mentioned.

“You speak about that, you resist it, you discuss in regards to the classes you’ve discovered and perceive these alternatives don’t hold coming alongside.”

Fagan additionally spoke of the maturity of the group that had skilled the finals heartbreak in earlier seasons and the likes of Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Brandon Starcevich, Cam Rayner and Zac Bailey, who’ve all grown into “mature AFL gamers” having began their careers collectively on the Lions.

“I feel with the advance and maturity of these guys and the lads we’ve recruited to the membership, I feel that is our greatest alternative no doubt. We gained 17 video games this 12 months, which is the most effective we’ve ever finished. So the ladder doesn’t lie,” he mentioned.

Regardless of their poor latest MCG document, the Lions did win a ultimate on the venue final 12 months. And regardless of not getting outcomes, they’ve performed some good soccer in latest visits to the MCG.

Their window gained’t keep open eternally – and so they gained’t get a greater probability than now.

2. MELBOURNE

Pass mark: Win the flag.

The Demons have timed their run to close perfection.

After banking the wins they wanted to all through the early a part of the 12 months, albeit with just a few minor issues, the Dees have set themselves to peak on the proper time with their recreation so as.

Whereas Jake Melksham’s ACL rupture in Spherical 24 was an ill-timed, heartbreaking blow, Melbourne seems settled with its choice combine.

There are match-winners on each line. Steven Might and Jake Lever are the defensive rocks, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney are the bulls within the engine room and Bayley Fritsch and Kysaiah Pickett within the entrance half.

Then there may be skipper Max Gawn. As former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon declared on Fox Footy’s On The Sofa: “When Max Gawn performs properly, they win.”

Whereas the Dees gained their breakthrough flag in 2021, the itch of profitable a premiership on the MCG in entrance of their adoring trustworthy is one that’s nonetheless ready to be scratched.

With two assured MCG finals, the Demons could be sweating on not going out in straight-sets – like they did final season – and losing one other 12 months with a superb listing at their disposal.

3. COLLINGWOOD

Pass mark: Win the flag.

Midway by way of the season, the footy world appeared prepared at hand the cup over to the Pies as they continued to blitz the remainder of the sector.

However once they momentarily began to stutter in the direction of the tip of the season – with the data better exams had been coming – the competitors made up just a few steps on the league leaders.

Whereas the Pies completed comfortably on prime of the ladder, they’ll in all probability encounter their least fascinating match-up within the first week of the finals once they run right into a red-hot Melbourne on the MCG.

It makes the stakes on Thursday evening that a lot greater. Lose to Melbourne and Collingwood’s path to the premiership turns into all of the extra trickier, with potential match-ups towards arch-rivals Carlton in a semi-final then, fairly presumably, a preliminary ultimate journey to Brisbane.

As a viewer and client, we would like most potential drama – and it will solely add to the story of what could be a well-deserved flag profitable season, ought to the Pies reply to a qualifying ultimate loss.

However the considered dominating the common season like they did then arising brief within the finals crunch would burn deep.

There’s one thing about coach Craig McRae, although, that gained’t enable that to occur. It doesn’t matter what occurs, McRae’s troops will proceed to play their video games their approach – and with a smile on their faces.

However it will be a dramatic fall and failure if the Pies didn’t hoist up the massive prize on the finish of the 12 months, contemplating all of the dominance they’ve had all year long.

4. PORT ADELAIDE

Pass mark: Make a preliminary ultimate.

It’s been the bounce-back season the Energy was anticipating, overcoming a rocky opening month then going on a 14-game profitable streak that launched them into the highest 4 and positioned them among the many main contenders.

Whereas the opening spherical match-up – Brisbane in Brisbane – is the hardest task in footy proper now, they’re assured a recreation at house at Adelaide Oval.

Coach Ken Hinkley began the season within the firing line then coached his technique to a two-year extension. He has been to 3 preliminary finals earlier than in his teaching profession, two of them on the Adelaide Oval. Whereas it looms as a tough job, they’ve a path to get there once more and write the improper of the botched 2021 prelim the place they had been blown off the park by the Bulldogs at house.

If their star-studded midfield in Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis fireplace up, as they’ve all season, the Energy can throw a spanner into the finals collection works.

A Energy win on Saturday evening may imply that Collingwood or Melbourne’s path to the Grand Last could be pressured to make a cease at Adelaide Oval – a spot each teams put on match of the 12 months contenders, with the Energy splitting the outcomes.

Whereas some pundits in South Australia would say its premiership or bust for Ken, the pass mark for us is for Port to get to the penultimate weekend from the place they’re in. That’s an attainable aim, contemplating they’ve the instruments in each the gamers and their house floor benefit.

5. SYDNEY SWANS

Pass mark: Make a semi-final.

It’s been a hell of an effort to get to the finals for the Swans, contemplating the place they had been on the ladder two months in the past and the state of their damage listing.

So far, it has been a disappointing season for final 12 months’s Grand Finalists to solely simply scrape into the highest eight. However, because the Swans have made a behavior of since John Longmire has been on the helm, they’ve managed to discover a technique to get there – and they’re in first rate form too.

Whereas it looms as a tall order for the Swans to return to the MCG and take down the Blues, Sydney has loads of finals expertise and data of find out how to deal with these moments – which is, critically, one thing Carlton doesn’t have.

The Swans are but to win on the MCG this 12 months and haven’t overwhelmed Carlton on the floor since 1918. However once more, realizing find out how to get the job finished on the largest stage in finals shouldn’t fear the Swans.

Whereas their late-season surge was unlikely, the expectations on the Swans from the tip of final season carry over now that they’re there. And with the expertise at their disposal, they need to be progressing previous the primary week of finals.

A win in week one would see them return to the MCG to face the loser of Collingwood-Melbourne – a reprise of some days on the MCG in 2023 the Swans trustworthy would moderately overlook.

However as is the best way the Swans have cast their title and fame, so long as they’re within the battle, they’re an opportunity.

6. CARLTON

Pass mark: Win a ultimate

What a rollercoaster of a 12 months for the Blues.

From the early unconvincing wins then the dropping streak the place the sky was falling and everybody wanted to lose their jobs, to the nine-game profitable streak to storm into finals.

Glancing on the ladder, this was in all probability the place you’ll have anticipated Carlton to complete after final season. Lacking the finals by a whisker, it was anticipated the Blues would naturally stage up, proper?

It actually wasn’t the case early. However to his immense credit score, Michael Voss has led the Blues’ return to September for the primary time since 2014 – to the purpose the place they loom because the staff most certainly to win the premiership from outdoors the highest 4.

Carlton has already improved on final 12 months by advantage of creating the finals. However because the performances and the numbers stack up, Carlton has what it takes to make a deep run.

Successful a ultimate must be the minimal expectation from right here on in for the Blues. From there, who is aware of what they are going to be capable of do.

The Blues although have gamers which are constructed for finals in captain Patrick Cripps and twin Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow, whom in the event that they each fireplace up, in accordance with triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown, ought to “carry them by way of just a few weeks”.

“He’s (Cripps) by no means performed a ultimate. He’s the massive bull. He epitomises his coach, so I feel ‘Vossy’ will be capable of give him a few huge suggestions,” Brown instructed On The Sofa.

7. ST KILDA

Pass mark: Already handed … but when we should set one, make a semi-final.

The Saints enter September as certainly one of simply three golf equipment that spent each week of the season inside the highest eight.

Given the state of the listing, their damage toll at first of the 12 months and the fixed personnel points, the Saints have surpassed most followers’ pre-season expectations.

Now again within the finals, Ross Lyon has a knack of getting his teams by way of to the sharp finish – and given the place they’ve been all 12 months, profitable a ultimate must be a aim for this St Kilda staff.

The language has actually modified from yon in latest weeks. From labelling his staff a “fumbling, stumbling mess” and “unfit of enjoying finals” after dropping to the Gold Coast in Spherical 18 to profitable 4 of the previous six video games to safe a house ultimate in Melbourne for the primary time since 2011.

Whereas there have been loads of critics about what the Saints may do that 12 months from how far again they had been coming from, Lyon looms as St Kilda’s September trump card, in accordance with Lions nice Jonathan Brown.

“His finals document is sort of sq. – 9-10 with a draw – however he’s taken two completely different teams to Grand Finals. That’s not luck. This man can simply drag you into deep water and switch it right into a recreation the place 10 objectives to eight wins you the sport. I really feel like he’ll have one thing up his sleeve and make it an actual dogfight,” Brown mentioned on Fox Footy’s On the Sofa.

The 1st step could be a win over the Giants on the MCG, which for probably the most half appears attainable with what’s shaping to be an enormous, partisan St Kilda crowd.

From there it will get a bit trickier with a visit to both Adelaide or Brisbane to confront the Lions or the Energy. However with Lyon within the field in a particular 12 months for the Saints with not a lot pressure on, one thing wild may quantity.

8. GWS GIANTS

Pass mark: Already handed … but when we should set one, make a semi-final.

For all of Collingwood’s kind, Carlton’s storm and the Energy play, the largest sound this season has come Sydney’s west.

From sitting as little as sixteenth on the ladder, the Giants have stormed into finals when nearly nobody anticipated them to on the again of a seven-match profitable streak and a few inspiring performances from their skipper Toby Greene.

For that motive, this season is already successful – and this finals collection is sort of a free hit for Adam Kingsley in his first season as coach.

The Giants’ characteristic has been their small forwards’ pressure and their working energy from their again half. Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes it shapes as an space the place they will break Ross Lyon’s defensive bubble.

Whereas they sweat on the supply of Toby Bedford, who offers a lot to their construction and plan, the Giants will imagine they will use the expanses of the MCG to indicate off their working energy and overrun the Saints.

Ought to they get by way of, a visit to Adelaide or Brisbane would observe. However they gained’t maintain any fears – particularly to Adelaide the place they recorded an uber spectacular win towards the Crows as a part of their seven-game profitable run. Let’s additionally not overlook their well-known victory over the Lions on the Gabba in 2019 of their unlikely run to the Grand Last.

Nevertheless, or at any time when, it ends, this 12 months will probably be one the Giants look again on and know that no matter listing and soccer division choices they made within the off had been validated.