Where does the time go? The AFL regular season concluded, this weekend, with the Round 23 fixtures - we now know the Finals line-ups.
Geelong had already secured the Minor Premiership (top of the ladder) last week - they trounced West Coast, to secure top-spot. West Coast, after a nightmare season, finished second bottom, only escaping the wooden-spoon (which went to North Melbourne) on points percentage. In a highly anticipated fixture, defending champions Melbourne sent a powerful statement of form by easily defeating the fancied Brisbane Lions (at the Gabba, in front of a sell-out, partisan Brisbane crowd), a result which dropped the Lions to sixth place, and an elimination, rather than a qualifying, final. Sydney defeated St Kilda, but that wasn't enough to take second place from Melbourne - so Geelong and Melbourne get home-field advantage in the Finals.In a thriller, Collingwood defeated Carlton by one point - a defeat which cost Carlton a place in the Finals, as Western Bulldogs defeated Hawthorn to sneak in on percentage.Despite an injury ravaged season, Richmond clinched a spot, in the top eight, by defeating the lack-lustre Essendon (whose week of off-field turmoil culminated, today with the sacking of Head Coach, Ben Rutten). Fremantle complete the top-eight, as their excellent season continues - they defeated Greater Western Sydney to cement their place.
So - Qualifying Finalists - Geelong, Melbourne, Sydney, Collingwood (so the 'double-chance' - the losers, of Qualifying Finals, get another chance as they play the winners of the Elimination Finals)
Elinination Finalists - Fremantle, Brisbane, Richmond, Western Bulldogs (as the name suggests, the losers of these Finals are eliminated)
There is now a pre-Finals bye-week - Finals get underway from September 1st (edit)
Oh - have to mention it, I suppose..the Crows had a disappointing end to the season, losing heavily to Port Adelaide in the Showdown derby...
