The top four sides of the home-and-away season are the final four sides standing in September, promising the best preliminary final match-ups the landscape could have possibly hoped for.
Fans were treated to a modern classic on Thursday night, as minor premiers Fremantle, buoyed by their fabled "Wharfie Time" gimmick, outlasted perennial powerhouse Geelong.
It was the response Justin Longmuir needed, far be it from him to be pleased about the club's preliminary final post-match. The grizzly purple honcho channelled Kobe Bryant's infamous "job's not finished" monologue, in a timely reminder of what still lies ahead for his charges.
A day later, the Brisbane Lions were simply scintillating, securing themselves a fifth consecutive preliminary final berth with a timely reminder of their intoxicating and complete best.
Two-time premiership coach Chris Fagan pointedly asked his fleet of hybrid small forwards to impact on the weekend, and was well pleased by their response to a poor qualifying final.
Fremantle are rewarded for their efforts with a trip to Sydney, where the surprise packet, playing-with-house-money Swans await. A shot at the club's second-ever big dance appearance is on the line, with the men in purple setting their sights on the immortality that would be afforded them, should they break through and claim the club's first cup.
The Lions' bloodthirsty quest for a three-peat sees them head to the home of football. Chris Fagan's men will renew hostilities with Sam Mitchell's Hawthorn Hawks.
As with every finals week thus far, we at Zero Hanger have had a crack at predicting the line-ups of all competing teams. Take a look!
Sydney Swans
Skipper Callum Mills' heartbreaking ACL injury was the only sour note to arise out of the Swans' convincing qualifying victory over the Brisbane Lions.
Looming in the wings as his likely replacement, however, is Justin McInerney. McInerney has not been sighted since Round 13, through a severe hamstring injury, and was in sublime touch up until that point.
Joel Amartey looms as available, having overcome an Achilles injury, but expect coach Dean Cox to leave his front half unchanged; such was the side's scoring potency against the Lions.
Dane Rampe, stand-in skipper he may be, was summarily beaten by Jye Amiss when these sides last played. Rampe will not be dropped, but a re-shuffling of magnets to avoid such a match-up recurring is on the cards.
Lewis Melican will find himself in the selection frame because of this, with Tom Hanily an option to come out, harsh as that call would be on preliminary final weekend.
B: Lewis Melican, Tom McCartin, Harry Cunningham
HB: Sam Wicks, Harry Kyle, Joel Hamling
C: Matthew Roberts, Errol Gulden, Jai Serong
HF: Jake Lloyd, Logan McDonald, Hayden McLean
F: Tom Papley, Charlie Curnow, Billy Cootee
R: Brodie Grundy, James Rowbottom, Braeden Campbell
INT: Justin McInerney, Dane Rampe, Angus Sheldrick, Caiden Cleary, Jesse Dattoli
Ins: Justin McInerney, Lewis Melican
Outs: Callum Mills (knee), Tom Hanily (omitted)
Fremantle Dockers
It's tough to picture the Dockers changing a winning formula; such was the grit displayed against a Geelong outfit that truly made them work for their preliminary final ticket.
Nathan O'Driscoll was dropped for that contest, with Corey Wagner usurping him in Justin Longmuir's side. Brandon Walker missed time through an ankle injury, with Judd McVee taking his place.
Brennan Cox looms as available, likely pressing his case for a call-up after overcoming a hamstring injury, having donned Dockers purple 18 times in 2026. Cox would add further height to a Dockers' backline already quite tall. The extra tall, while helpful against a Swans key forward brigade that exposed Brisbane's backline last time out, would be unnecessary in the condensed confines of the SCG.
Mason Cox - a preliminary final specialist - holds his place ahead of the in-form Sean Darcy, who has impressed at WAFL level of late.
With history looming large, though, expect Justin Longmuir to back the group that got him here.
B: Jordan Clark, Alex Pearce, Oscar McDonald
HB: Karl Worner, Luke Ryan, Heath Chapman
C: Matthew Johnson, Andrew Brayshaw, Neil Erasmus
HF: Michael Frederick, Murphy Reid, Sam Switkowski
F: Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss
R: Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong, Shai Bolton
INT: Judd McVee, Corey Wagner, Hayden Young, Isaiah Dudley, Mason Cox
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Hawthorn Hawks
It beggars belief that Sam Mitchell could make any changes to the side that bullied Fremantle on their home deck some 11 days ago; such was the brilliance of all three lines in that contest.
However, forgotten man Calsher Dear has, in recent weeks, put the poor form that dogged his 2026 AFL and VFL campaigns behind him, starring in finals wins for the Box Hill Hawks in a last-ditch attempt to feature in what could be a fairytale flag for the AFL side.
Dear, in a contract year, has notched 17 goals from his last 8 VFL appearances, including seven in his two finals.
Unfortunately, it will be a case of too little, too late for the father-son Hawk, with Sam Mitchell likely to stick fat.
B: James Sicily, Tom Barrass, Blake Hardwick
HB: Karl Amon, Harry Morrison, Josh Battle
C: Jarman Impey, Will Day, Massimo D'Ambrosio
HF: Dylan Moore, Mabior Chol, Jack Ginnivan
F: Nick Watson, Mitchell Lewis, Jack Gunston
R: Lloyd Meek, Jai Newcombe, Josh Ward
INT: Josh Weddle, Bailey MacDonald, Cameron Mackenzie, Max Beattie, Connor MacDonald
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Brisbane Lions
Chris Fagan, following the Lions' win over the Crows, admitted Noah Answerth will be "busting the walls down" in a bid to overcome an ankle injury, and that he may suit up for the preliminary final.
Fagan should hope those efforts bear fruit; such was the exemplary job Answerth did on clamping match-winner Nick Watson last time these two sides played.
Watson is dripping with Norm Smith Medal potential, and for all of Fagan's waxing about Ryan Lester's impressive defensive versatility, it would take a brave man to wager that "Froggy" could replicate the sublime job Answerth did at the Gabba in Round 22, even after a fine job curtailing Josh Rachele last time out.
Ty Gallop was last in, and could loom as first out, but his size, competitiveness, and ability to play either end of the ground could be pivotal tactical levers.
One of Fagan's favourite magnets, that of beloved veteran Darcy Gardiner, is unlikely to come out, given Fagan's fabled loyalty - a loyalty unflinchingly afforded to players that have seen out the duration of his tenure, dating back to its rocky start. However, "Dizzy" has been average at best of late, and will be hoping to bounce back against the Hawks.
Conor McKenna has provided exceptional spark in recent times, playing with his trademark Irish flair and providing a point of difference, but if Fagan looks to go tall, he could miss, despite eight score involvements from 13 touches against Adelaide. He is behind the likes of Zac Bailey, Kai Lohmann, Cameron Rayner and co.
Ultimately, in a reverse of the semi-final change, Gallop comes out for Answerth, but Gardiner will be eyes-wide-open to the possibility of being dropped for the big dance, should the Lions progress, if he's average (or worse) in a winning side.
B: Noah Answerth, Harris Andrews, Ryan Lester
HB: Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Gardiner, Dayne Zorko
C: Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey
HF: Charlie Cameron, Logan Morris, Kai Lohmann
F: Eric Hipwood, Cameron Rayner, Conor McKenna
R: Sam Draper, Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft
INT: Oscar Allen, Lachie Neale, Levi Ashcroft, Darcy Fort, Darcy Wilmot
Ins: Noah Answerth
Outs: Ty Gallop
