Following the conclusion of another hectic, fast-finishing home and away season, it's time to prepare for finals football once again.
While eight teams' hopes of holding this year's premiership cup aloft remain alive, ten clubs' seasons are officially over after failing to qualify for September football.
Despite all the attention rightly being on the contenders, each bottom-ten side faces pertinent list management decisions that will shape its future.
Taking into account draft hands and off-contract commodities, we explore those impending decisions facing 2023's bottom ten.
Fremantle
Indicative draft hand: 21, 40, 52, 58, 79
After failing to back up their rather successful 2022 campaign, the Dockers slumped to 14th on the ladder this season. Unfortunately for them, their draft hand isn't going to help them in the off-season.
The Dockers gave up a plethora of draft picks at the end of 2022 to acquire ex-Demon Luke Jackson. Whilst Jackson has shown his talent mainly in the back end of the season, the club still has ways to go until they're back up there with the best.
Off-contract players:
Eric Benning, Travis Colyer, Joel Hamling, Liam Henry, Nathan Wilson
There's not much to do for the Dockers regarding their contract situations, with only five without a new deal. Out of those five, only Liam Henry has played over 10 games this season. Benning is yet to make his debut for Fremantle.
It'd be expected that Liam Henry would ink a new deal with the Dockers after proving his worth as a midfielder rather than a small forward. Struggling to find his feet in the forward pocket, the move to the middle of the ground along with the wing has revitalised both his confidence and his impact on the game. The Dockers are keen to retain their breakout youngster, but a wave of interest from the east coast could prevent them from re-signing Henry.
Veterans Travis Colyer, Joel Hamling and Nathan Wilson have struggled with either injury or form during the year. Without any new deals currently being presented to the trio, it could be time for either a move or a possible exit from the game.
Young ruckman Eric Benning has been relegated to a third-string ruckman thanks to the signing of Luke Jackson and could possibly be moved on in the off-season to a club needing or wanting a young developmental project.
List decisions
Fremantle's main struggles have come in the form of their makeshift forward line. Young tall Jye Amiss has cemented himself as a regular starter in the Dockers' forward line and a genuine threat in the competition. Veteran Michael Walters has struggled to reach his once-great 2019 All-Australian self with most of the goals coming from the youngsters.
The club still has a very young list, so a trade addition of possible veterans could aid the side in a quick turnaround. The midfield is classy with the duo of Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong whilst the backline has been passable.
Forward targets could be the move for the Dockers to aid Jye Amiss. Additionally bringing in a key defender to take some of the pressure off skipper Alex Pearce and Brennan Cox is an option. They have great ruck stocks with Jackson and Sean Darcy, a defender and forward could be all they need to turn things around.
