.Who's the most ideal team in footy ideal now?That's a different question to 'that's gon na gain the flag?', because that is actually highly influenced due to the truth that Sydney as well as Geelong are actually 2 success away, while Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, GWS and also Brisbane are actually three triumphes away.Even if the Swans as well as Pussy-cats aren't the best staffs in it, the advantage of a promised home prelim ultimate places all of them a great deal closer to a flag than the various other 4. That's not to mention among them will certainly succeed it, however it's more likely.Watch the very best protection of the 2024 AFL finals, with pro analysis and every video game till the Grand Final deal with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin your free of charge test today > Semi FinalIMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN BE ACQUIRING AS AN ALTERNATIVE. Completely free and also discreet assistance call 1800u00a0858u00a0858 or even explore gamblinghelponline.org.au.So our team return to our original inquiry - who is actually the greatest crew in footy right now?That's what our weekly Energy Ranks pillar tries to respond to, and commonly our experts rest that during the finals set given that it's apparent based on results who the best competitors are.But this year was unusual, considering that all the state-of-the-art stats claim the crews coming from the bottom half of the 8 perform the whole equally as excellent - if not far better - than the crews from the top half.Cerra a business duration view?|01:05 Among all of them, the Western Bulldogs, was actually eliminated through Hawthorn in quite impressive fashion trend last Friday evening. The Canines selected a horrible time to possess one of their worst activities of the year, as well as Marcus Bontempelli was as inefficient as you'll ever view, though credit score requires to go to the Hawks as well.It's not that the Bulldogs were actually scams. They weren't even that irregular this year - they succeeded 11 of their final 16 games, shedding to Sydney, Brisbane, Slot, Hawthorn and in the one particularly bad reduction, Adelaide. On the other hand they trump the likes of Sydney (the 2nd opportunity, away), Geelong (away) as well as GWS (two times). If you are actually caught about that late-season Crows loss, properly, every team possessed bad losses this year Sydney dropped to Richmond! We maintain the Bulldogs were actually a great group who faced one more terrific team who participated in far better on the night. And also the worth of gaining a double chance, one thing the Canines have actually never ever done under Luke Beveridge, is that you can have an off night (observe: Port Adelaide, Thursday September 5, 2024) and also still remain in the hunt.All of this is actually why our experts presume the Hawks' elimination ultimate win is even better than it appeared. And then you look at Brisbane, that seriously embarrassed Carlton by earning a 10-goal start, showing how excellent they can be (and how inaccurate they can be, but that can transform promptly as our experts've seen with the Lions throughout this period). The factor of each one of this is to present our Finals Energy Rankings this is actually just how our company measure the six crews left in the defend the flag.See our Finals Power Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS1. HAWTHORNYep.We perform a hiding to nothing at all here, considering that the possibilities continue to be stacked against Sam Mitchell's edge. They require to succeed two away finals, against the top two staffs from the home and away season, to even create the Grand Final (where they would certainly possibly possess a home ground perk, also against Geelong). And it will be actually merely phenomenal for a group that was actually 0-5, and 1-6, to win the premiership. Perhaps the greatest in-season healing in V/AFL history.But since that point the Hawks have actually been the very best team in football because Sphere 8 they are (AFL ranks) No. 1 for points for, No. 1 for ideas against, No. 2 for the turnover activity as well as No. 2 for the halt game.And due to the fact that the Sphere 10 reduction to Slot Adelaide, where they discarded a substantial late top and also yielded 2 targets in the last min, they are actually No. 1 for both points coming from turnovers as well as ideas from space. It is practically an ideal profile.That activity was an authentic fork in the street for Sam Mitchell's side - they recognized they must possess won it, which it was actually completely their mistake they really did not. Funnily sufficient they have not truly had to resist any kind of late returns since then to place the modifications they've made into impact of their 12 victories since that game, 10 were through four targets or more.In a way our experts are actually torn on the Hawks. As overdue as May, each one of our previous expectations about this listing suggested they weren't even ready to participate in finals, don't bother deal for the banner. Yet every little thing because that second proposes they are not just a competitor yet THE contender.And it helps that our No. 2 seed is actually the crew they consistently beat.Is Tom Barrass worth pair of firsts?|01:582. BRISBANE LIONSWe've certainly never possessed a Grand Final between 2 groups coming from outside the leading four, and also Brisbane will be wishing that touch continues, due to the fact that they sure wouldn't wish to play the Hawks - who they've dropped their final five games against.Since their pre-bye loss to claimed edge, the Lions are actually the next-most in-form group in the AFL, gaining 9 straight before a two-week dip which cost all of them a chance at the top four.They were actually completely prevalent versus Carlton before their possibly achilles' heel, precision, returned as they made an effort to decimate the game.We love Expected Score, and also it likes the Lions, since they always generate lots of scoring chances. But early in the year Chris Fagan was actually regularly talking about his edge's demand to convert options as well as, after they improved during their succeeding touch (comical exactly how that works!), the issues are back.In the last 8 full weeks the Lions are fourth in the AFL for inside 50 differential and third for scores every inside 50, but simply 17th for chance at objective reliability on the other hand the Giants are first for precision over that period.That's perfectly summed up by the teams' Shot 22 meeting at the Gabba which Brisbane honestly controlled, but still dropped through three objectives, because they booted 8.16 and also the Giants booted 13.4. Usually talking our team believe staffs will go back to the way and won't regularly be imprecise (or even exact) facing objective. Among the crucial causes Collingwood was actually so successful in 2023 was its own precision, ranking No. 1 in the league - in 2024, they rated 13th. Yet there goes to minimum something in the Lions' constant concerns. Reasonably we understand they are actually equally very likely to boot 15.10 as they are actually to boot 10.15 this weekend break, however it really feels a hell of a whole lot very likely they would certainly kick the second, doesn't it?( Of what it costs they've scored much more behinds than goals in 6 of their last seven games ... but just before that, they had scored much more goals than behinds in five of their last six activities. It's at times challenging to permit your mind overpower your digestive tract.)" I wouldn't comment on social media"|02:193. SYDNEY SWANSOur genuine banner favorite now would certainly be actually the Swans, even though they're on a clash with the Hawks in their home prelim ... given that the perk of needing to win simply 2 finals instead of 3 is actually rather massive.But we have actually hardly been actually encouraged by their previous 2 months of footy and the training last was the best world of what corrects and inappropriate with the small premiers.Their best is actually the AFL's absolute best, as well as it is actually completely power. They could be down four or 5 targets as well as you'll think they can easily return ... given that they have, various times.But, as well as this is actually things our team discussed Collingwood all through 2023 - it's much better if you do not must come back in the first place!Their slow-moving begins have actually become saying, along with John Longmire's males leading at quarter-time in just 3 attend their final 15 video games. At times it hasn't been actually through much, yet against top quality staffs they have actually tracked greater than they could overcome. It's an exploitable problem.The Swans appear more flawed at either point than the Magpies ever did in their banner operate consider the likes of Joel Amartey, who booted 9 objectives in Sphere 14 versus Adelaide ... and also has actually booted nine goals due to the fact that (though one was the champion on Sunday). The protection is actually shaky, and also also the star-studded midfield was actually also well-beaten via three fourths versus the Giants - Chad Detector and also Errol Gulden were actually two of the worst gamers on the ground at that stage ... and after that the two best in the 4th quarter.The truth our company have actually contrasted the Swans to in 2014's Magpies is fairly instructional. When you're two success out of a flag, often the wider fads aren't as important as the moments, and also the fourth one-fourth certifying final was actually a major of unbelievably excellent moments.And if they can get to the Grand Final, our company think the Swans will definitely experience sensibly self-assured. The ghosts of 2022 will be one thing to get rid of if they encounter the Cats, but on paper they're a far better edge, and they've beaten the Giants 3 opportunities this year.If it's Brisbane ... effectively, at that point a minimum of our experts'll see whose MCG hoodoo is worse." He have not recommended a nightclub yet"|01:004. GEELONGWe really did not have a whole lot of peace of mind in the Kitties entering into the certifying final - yet the history of staffs that dominate that activity is rather telling.This century, 11 previous teams have actually succeeded a training final through 50+ goals, and eight of all of them succeeded the banner (with 2 of the others shedding to one of that 8). Geelong participated in the likes of Richmond 2017, Hawthorn 2013 and Collingwood 2010. So your view on the Felines might depend upon what you believe 'develop' is actually - and also this coincides dispute for Port Adelaide but in reverse. Undoubtedly based upon recently the Pet cats are better than the Energy they positively dismantled them in all locations though the scope was also reflective of just how in finals, teams do not need to stress over percent so things will definitely frequently blow out.But prior to the certifying final Geelong had actually been lower than outstanding for almost pair of months in between the 51-point belting of Hawthorn (which looks even a lot better now) and currently, they 'd dropped to Street Kilda, nearly dropped to Adelaide as well as only convincingly defeated North Melbourne and West Coastline. (In contrast the Energy had succeeded six direct featuring the wonderful of Sydney.) So precisely the certifying final is actually one of the most necessary game over that extent of your time, however do we scrap all of our priors regarding how good the Cats are?The key right here is actually the midfield, because considering that Patrick Dangerfield went back in Round 15, it hasn't simply stopped being a weak spot, it has actually perhaps been a toughness. The Felines have actually been an amazing group at racking up coming from stops in that period.Dangerfield is actually really necessary through himself - perhaps the absolute most vital player to any sort of one team's premiership opportunities - while the likes of Tanner Bruhn, Jack Bowes and also Tom Atkins suffice to lead all of them to glory they are actually not the reason the Cats are going to gain, yet they aren't the explanation the Cats will lose.And precisely, with a home initial final to find against a non-Victorian crew that either struggles at the MCG (Brisbane) or even rarely plays there and has been far better at GMHBA Stadium over the last few years (GWS), the Kitties are actually fairly well-placed to make a Grand Final. They don't seem like a large flag risk but fact mentions they are.Was McCartney's great as well soft or fair?|02:115. GWS GIANTSWe would not fuss if our experts obtained a Sydney Derby in the Grand Final however we haven't been encouraged due to the Giants for some time.Strangely we really think much better about all of them right now than we performed prior to the training final. Their file entering the finals was actually pumped up through a handful of blessed triumphes that Expected Score mentioned they need to possess have actually squeezed, most particularly versus Brisbane.So there was some irony in the Giants shedding a video game they must've gained - 81-70 on counted on score, as well as 82-88 in reality isn't an extensive swing, but three additional goals for the Swans is still sizable. Those early-game overlooks by Adam Kingsley's males confirmed costly.But we're likewise not enticed by the Swans, therefore in such a way, we think that was a close activity given that both sides are similarly flawed. (See all of them play off in the Grand Final now that our team have actually mentioned that.) The Giants are actually a lot like Collingwood from 2022 it's certainly not only the amazing bump into September and the slender qualifying ultimate loss to the slight premier, yet numbers-wise. In the final eight arounds they are actually 15th for inside 50 differential in the final six rounds, they are actually 12th for opposed ownerships, 17th for groundball obtains and 11th for open spaces. (Brisbane are No. 1 in the second three.) Their extraordinary accuracy has actually painted over the cracks.In simple fact they don't have a whole lot in their favor statistically apart from their elite tension, where they rate No. 1 in the AFL again, comparable to those Magpies.If they can merely create any kind of activity frenzied - which feels quite fit for finals - they remain in with a possibility. When they decelerate, like they did in the 4th one-fourth against the Swans, they do not appear right. The tsunami has to continue.Given they've defeated Brisbane two times this year, they surely can gain the semi-final, and they have actually succeeded their last pair of against the Kitties as well. (They would perhaps like a GMHBA Coliseum prelim, provided they have actually gained 4 straight games certainly there!) But the majority of the documentation leads to the Giants being actually much less bona fide than everybody believes, and also Brisbane is actually a damn silver lining. Trustworthy sets performs the memory cards, though not as clearly as it is for ... Port must profit from Geelong's oversight?|02:466. PORT ADELAIDEJust five attend V/AFL record has actually a crew lost by 84 aspects or more and happened to succeed the flag none of those losses resided in a home qualifying ultimate, of all things.Safe to mention the Power dropped all of the footy respect they will gained over the back section of the time with their demoralising reduction to Geelong (though our experts will certainly explain that one of those teams that lost through loads and also succeeded the banner was actually Port themselves in 2004, by 92 factors vs the Kangaroos). It is actually a loss that is actually hard to cover your head around if you, like our company, don't buy in to the tip that finals are THAT different than regular games of footy. Of course there's more pressure and higher-quality opposition to contend with, however nightclubs shouldn't submit due to what the schedule says.Sometimes factors only happen. Sydney shed through a bazillion indicate this extremely Port team, and also they're still organizing a prelim. Hawthorn went from 1-6 to Friday night's semi-final. Sporting activity is often incredibly weird and also inexplicable!All of this is to claim Port Adelaide is actually certainly not a negative footy crew. You don't finish second while stinking up the joint. They leaked scores once Geelong went inside 50 like a screen - the second-highest rate of the time - which might be actually somewhat up to pair of lacks at halfback and the subsequential makeover. However broadly speaking our company believe they simply played definitely terribly at a horrible time to participate in truly badly.We are helped remind of 2017, when Sydney recouped from 0-6 to participate in finals, making a semi-final at the MCG versus a Geelong crew who 'd merely been actually bashed in their certifying final. The Swans were big favourites bigger favourites than the Hawks are today, in regards to the wagering markets.And then the Swans dropped through 10 goals. Once again, often factors only happen!There is actually quite a planet where Slot Adelaide stops the Hawthorn products learn, and afterwards plays Sydney in a prelim, and also hi absolutely our team can take one thing from Port winning by 112 aspects barely a month back ... We're certainly not tipping the Energy to bring in the Grand Final, however the competition is hardly ever this available along with six staffs still standing up. Generally now there is actually an elimination last champion who made it with and nobody definitely believes in that crew carries out certainly not exist right here. As well as each qualifying ultimate losers, while quite on the verge of eradication, are going to like their possibilities if they make a prelim based upon latest background versus the enemies they'll face.All of that is to say: our team're nearly assured to become inappropriate. And also hello, mistaking means being actually surprised, and also our company such as surprises!