It's the most wonderful time of the year. September.

It is music to any Victorian's ears and with only three teams from the state playing finals football, there is a good chance that your side is not one of them.

A number of feel-good stories have emerged throughout the 2017 season and while it would be nice for all of them to end in premiership glory, not all fairy tales have a happy ending.

We have compiled a list of pros and cons for each side featuring in September action to make it easier for you to decide which bandwagon to jump on over the next month.

Adelaide

Pros:ย The Crows have been the league's best side in 2017 and boast some of the games' most exciting players in Eddie Betts and Taylor Walker. They are also a side that has not tasted the ultimate success for almost 20 years and were just a hair away from the 2012 decider.

Cons:ย The 2017 season would not be complete unless the favourite fails the hoist the cup on the final Saturday in September. We all love an underdog story and an Adelaide premiership doesn't quite fit that script.

Geelong

Pros:ย As a Victorian, it's hard to want an interstate side to claim the cup that belongs in the AFL heartland. Geelong is arguably the state's best chance at winning it all this season as DangerWood gear up for their second September assault.

Cons:ย Eight top two finishes in the last 11 seasons means you couldn't possibly want the Cats to continue their success and claim their fourth flag in 11 seasons.

Richmond

Pros:ย Everyone loves an underdog and while they managed to finish third on the ladder, Richmond's finals history over the last 16 years has them in an underdog position. Dustin Martin's put pen to paper and it seems like the perfect time to jump on the Tigers' bandwagon

Cons:ย Richmond's recent finals record has been laughed at and mocked for years and neutrals certainly are not sick of it. Some may also feel the at times over-confident Tiger fans deserve a straight sets finals exit.

GWS

Pros:ย Arguably the league's most exciting side when they are up and running, the seemingly not-so-young-anymore Giants have the backing of many in their quest for the club's inaugural premiership.

Cons:ย On the flip side of the coin, fans of other sides believe the Giants were spoon-fed their success among the AFL's elite and therefore don't deserve any premiership glory. Toby Greene's antics this season has also put the club in much of the public's bad books.

Port Adelaideย 

Pros:ย 34 SANFL premierships has translated to just the solitary AFL triumph since their national league inception and it's time for Ken Hinkley's side to double that number. It's been 13 years since Mark Williams' famous chocker gesture when they knocked off the Lions and with their incredibly talented list this season, there's a sense of now for the Power.

Cons:ย Does anyone outside the city of churches actually like Port Adelaide?

Their largely inconsistent form over the last eight years doesn't warrant many outside fans to jump on them this September

Also...David Koch.

Sydney

Pros:ย From being 0-6, the Swans flew back into contention on the back of the champions in their side. Imagine if they go 18-2 from there to win a flag? That's something to get around.

Cons:ย With Hawthorn not in the picture this season, the Swans have been the most consistent side in recent years and no one wants to see them have even more success.

Essendon

Pros:ย After all that they have been through, Essendon claiming its 17th and record-breaking premiership would be the ultimate #comebackstory. They also have not won a final since 2004, a long, long drought for one of the league's oldest clubs.

Cons:ย While recently starved of success, the supplements saga that brought the game into disrepute is still very much in the minds of supporters across the league.

West Coast

Pros:ย The Dogs created a little piece of history last season after winning from seventh position on the ladder and the Eagles will look to go one-better this time around.

Taking out the flag from eighth spot after claiming their place in the finals with one of the final kicks of the season would make for a pretty special story.

Cons:ย There is not more of an undeserving side in September action this season than the Eagles. In a season that has produced just about everything, there wouldn't be a less exciting ending than an Eagles flag.