The 2014 AFL Finals Series is set to be an enthralling one indeed. Photo: Flickr
THERE’S no doubt the AFL landscape is changing.
In an era when the laws of the game continue to be altered, where the tribunal system continues to be questioned and drug sagas continue to rock the foundation of our great game, one thing remains certain: the competition for the holy grail remains fierce.
There seems to have been a growing trend in past seasons for greater equalisation among most clubs.
With the AFL’s competitive balance policy coming into play in 2015, the next few years will be intriguing ones, indeed.
But in 2014 it’s tough to pick a winner.
The obvious choice would be Sydney. A club bolstered by its tall timber recruits of Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippet, it made a slow start to the year but has become a force in the league, falling just shy – at one point – of a club record 13 consecutive wins.
Hawthorn has been decimated by injuries and an illness to coach Alistair Clarkson in its premiership defence.
But it has refused to crumble in a season plagued by frightful bad luck.
If the Hawks were to go back-to-back, it would be arguably the greatest triumph in their history.
Geelong – who has been written off so many times in the last five years – seemingly doesn’t know how to lose.
And that’s an enviable trait heading into September where it becomes a game epitomised by heart, grit and the ability to stand up under immense pressure.
Fremantle – who outclassed the Cats at Kardinia Park in a qualifying final last year, only to be overwhelmed in its maiden grand final appearance – has flown under the radar to all but secure a finals double chance.
An impressive win against the Hawks last week put them back in the spotlight. They haven’t been written off just yet, and rightly so.
The top eight still isn’t decided but as history will show, the bottom four will merely make up the numbers.
Of the sides to rank fifth to eighth, however, only Port Adelaide has the credentials to cause some real damage.
The Power spearheaded the league in the opening half of the season, rampaging their way to the top of the ladder thanks to a freewheeling game style that proved close to unbeatable.
They look certain to finish fifth and will play at home in the first week of the finals. From there, you’d be foolish to say they weren’t an outside chance.
At their best, the Power are a formidable opponent and aren’t afraid to win on the road.
Their elimination final win over Collingwood in Melbourne last year proved it could be done.
They’re brave and bold, but the question remains whether the Power have simply run out of puff.
Outside of that top five, nothing is certain. North Melbourne will play finals – but it’s the most inconsistent side in the league – and so will Essendon.
West Coast fans are hoping their side can sneak into the top eight. Photo: Flickr
Adelaide, Richmond, Collingwood, West Coast and Gold Coast are all fighting for that consolation spot in the eight.
None will figure late in September.
It’s looking increasingly likely we’ll see another MCG blockbuster from the Cats and the Hawks in week one of the finals – a contest that has seen Geelong win 12 of its past 13 against Hawthorn.
Geelong’s only loss since going down in the 2008 decider was last year’s preliminary final, where it gave up a 26-point lead in the final term to fall five points short.
The Swans will probably play host to the Dockers in Sydney in a rematch of last year’s second preliminary final.
And we all know what Fremantle brought to that match. Sydney learnt the hard way and will no doubt be wary of another defensive onslaught.
A home elimination final match-up for Port Adelaide should see them progress to a semi-final and a chance to move into a preliminary final.
The other match will likely be contested by North Melbourne and Essendon but will bear no significance on the final September outcome.
The top sides have lost enough games this season to suggest they can be beaten.
The finals series will pit the best against the best and, much like the AFL’s equalisation mantra, on any given day, anyone can win.
The be all and end all for this year’s AFL finals race. Photo: Flickr
You don’t have to be the best all year; you just need to be good enough when your September moment presents itself.
The capabilities of the handful of sides chasing down the flag make it tough to pick but it certainly sets the stage for some enthralling showdowns as the season nears its crescendo.
