It's almost finals time and there are some massive moments to come this weekend for the final eight teams.
Brisbane desperately need to find some form, whilst Sydney's academy products could be the key to a home preliminary final.
Here are eight thoughts about the upcoming first week of finals.
1 - Will we see 'finals Dusty' return instantly?
It's almost a certainty that we will see Dustin Martin return this Thursday night as the Tigers take on Brisbane up at the Gabba in an elimination final.
But how ready is he for a full game of AFL? If he is primed and ready and we get to see a finals version of Dusty, then Richmond are going to be a force to be reckoned with.
In Richmond's last finals series, Martin averaged 1.75 goals and 21.25 disposals over four games - including four goals and 21 touches in the Grand Final against Geelong. Mustn't we forget this was also over shortened quarters with not one match being played at the MCG.
Regardless, Dusty is back this Thursday night and footy fans are in for a treat.
2 - The Tigers are going to wipe out the Lions
The Tigers are on a roll, and the Lions are on the complete opposite end of the form spectrum. Richmond have scored the most points out of any side in the top eight, and Brisbane have conceded the second most.
The Lions are without arguably their best key defender in Marcus Adams, and Richmond have a full strength forward line in place. There is potential for a disastrous scoreline on Thursday night if the Lions lose the midfield battle.
Tom Lynch, Noah Cumberland and Jack Riewoldt kicked 11 between them last time they played the Lions in Round 20 and that was with Adams in their side.
A big night awaits the Lions' defence.
3 -ย Sydney's academy products are going to be key on Friday night
A massive qualifying final awaits the MCG on Friday night between Melbourne and Sydney, and if all of Sydney's academy products are firing, then they will be very tough to stop.
Chad Warner, Errol Gulden, and Nick Blakey have been nothing short of incredible this season for the Swans and were all rewarded for their efforts by being selected in the official 22under22 team.
Warner was even selected in the All-Australian squad of 40 but narrowly missed out on being selected in the final 22.
When all three of them have played brilliantly this year, it is very rare that they lose, and it won't be any different on Friday night if we see the same.
Locking down the half-back run of Blakey and the inside work of Warner could be key to stopping Sydney this Friday night.
4 - Are Melbourne really back?
The Dees may have belted the Lions in Round 23 but was it a case of Melbourne being very good or Brisbane being quite poor?
Both Melbourne and Brisbane's form before that match had been very questionable, but the Lions have become well-known recently for conceding many goals in such a short amount of time, which is what they did in the first half of the match against the Demons.
Brisbane even won the second half against Melbourne, kicking 6.6 to the Dees' 5.4, and although the game was already over the question stems back to Brisbane's inability to stop a landslide of goals in a short space of time.
This begs the question, having lost six of their last 12 games before that demolition of the Lions, are Melbourne really back or are they yet to prove themselves yet?
Friday night will tell the tale, as the Dees take on the Swans in a qualifying final at the MCG.
5 - Will Geelong tag Nick Daicos?
Geelong v Collingwood is shaping up to be a corker of a match on Saturday afternoon and it will be interesting to see whether or not Geelong will attempt similar tactics to teams such as Sydney in tagging Nick Daicos.
Daicos is one of the sole reasons for Collingwood's top four position this year, and Ryan Clarke's run-with role on him in Round 22 prevented a key aspect of the Pies' game and Sydney ran out winners.
Tom Atkins is known for doing brilliant jobs on players in any position, and could very well go to Daicos on Saturday, while Mark O'Connor is another option should he be named.
Regardless of whether the tag occurs, Geelong should take home the chocolates this weekend and book themselves a preliminary finals berth.
6 - Maynard v Stengle would be a treat
A matchup that would be brilliant to see this weekend would be Brayden Maynard v Tyson Stengle. The All-Australian forward pocket v the All-Australian back pocket. What more could we ask for?
Whilst it's no certainty that this matchup will happen, it could be a key factor in keeping the Cats' score as far down as possible whilst Darcy Moore and Nathan Murphy try and deal with Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
Who knows, maybe a brilliant defensive display from the Pies could see the come out with a victory.
7 - Will the Dogs show signs of 2016?ย
Could history repeat itself? The Western Bulldogs are showing shades of their 2016 premiership season by just sneaking into finals once again.
They now face the tough challenge of playing Fremantle at Optus Stadium, but if they manage to get a win there, their confidence will be sky high.
Fremantle are favourites to go onwards to the semi-finals but a Western Bulldogs side in finals under Luke Beveridge is not one to be underestimated.
8 - Fremantle's key forward issues could be the difference
Fremantle were forced to play Nat Fyfe as their key forward in their final game of the season against the Giants and let's just say it wasn't very successful.
With Matt Taberner and Rory Lobb still under injury clouds, Fremantle could be without a recognisable key forward.
If both big men are passed fit to play on Saturday night, it will be extremely difficult to stop the Dockers.
But the ugly alternative is both players possibly being forced to miss the do-or-die clash, and Fyfe being played as the key forward once again.
A huge moment to play out in the lead-up to Saturday night's elimination final.
