The AFL's first-ever 10-team Finals series has taken shape, and while every finalist remains in the hunt for the Premiership, the roads to get to the last Saturday in September are far from equal.
Only three sides have ever won the Premiership after finishing the home and away season outside of the top four. Brisbane from fifth in 2024, Western Bulldogs from seventh in 2016 and Adelaide from fifth in 1998, meaning for the teams facing off in the Wildcard, a history-defining effort will have to be made.
For some clubs, September begins with a double chance and a week off, while for others, one game can decide their fate.
As the inaugural Wildcard round kicks off, here is how every contender's Premiership path shapes up, and which clubs have the clearest route to the Grand Final.
Collingwood
Path Rating: 5/10
For many Collingwood fans, seeing the Bulldogs beat Melbourne in the last game of the year was a sense of relief in the fact that they didn't have to come up against the rampaging Blues in a Wildcard finals game.
If the Pies beat the Bulldogs on Friday night, they will face either Geelong or Adelaide in an Elimination Final, before needing to also win every game to reach a Grand Final.
Craig McCrae's decision not to rest any players in their last-round loss to Brisbane was criticised due to the fact that the Pies can't lose a single game if they want to do something special, especially with the injuries they have right now.
The upside for Collingwood is the fact that they have the MCG for possibly the next few weeks, depending on whether they win and other results, with their supporters behind them; however, their form leading into the finals is a slight worry.
