Did your side fail to make September? Or did they get knocked out in week one? Well, it’s not too late to hop aboard and support some of the sides remaining in the finals race.

Here, we give you the side you should be hoping wins the premiership.

Adelaide: West Coast

Considering the number of current players who have left your side for other finals sides, we had to eliminate Brisbane, Geelong and GWS, leaving us with the Magpies, Tigers and Eagles. Do you really want to see another premiership head to a Victorian side? No. Therefore, you should be supporting the Eagles this September.

Carlton: Brisbane Lions

One player – Mitch Robinson. He was a fan favourite at the Blues during his six seasons at the club, and after being delisted at the end of 2014, he has become a revelation in his fourth season at the Lions. You know you have a soft spot for Robbo, so seeing him succeed in September would help fill the finals void in your hearts.

Essendon: West Coast

Yes, they knocked your side out of the finals race last Thursday, but you have personal history with the Eagles. Your current senior coach, John Worsfold, was a premiership-winning coach and captain at the club, perfectly fitting the bill for your team to back in September.

Fremantle: Richmond

You have a soft spot for the Tigers. Why? David Mundy. Mundy kicked two clutch goals against the Tigers at the MCG in 2015 and 2017, including an after-the-siren match-winner in 2017, to gift your Dockers a pair of memorable wins. The Tigers will also be the team the Eagles face should they advance to a preliminary final, and we all know about how much you ‘love’ the Eagles.

Gold Coast: Brisbane Lions

Even though they’re your cross-town rivals, you have got to get behind the one Queensland side left in the finals race. If the Lions win the flag, footy in Queensland will get a massive kick out of it and it will benefit not only the Lions, but also your Suns too.

Hawthorn: Brisbane Lions

Luke Hodge. Chris Fagan. Need we say anymore? Luke Hodge steered your club to three premierships as captain and is one of your greatest products, whilst Chris Fagan oversaw coach Alistair Clarkson and was a key cog in the three-peat era. You would love to see them achieve the ultimate success with the Lions.

Melbourne: Collingwood

Both your training facilities are a walking distance away from each other, which would mean this year’s premiership cup would be only that far away. But besides that, Jeremy Howe was a much loved Demon and played 100 games for your club, so seeing him achieve the ultimate success would definitely bring a smile to your face.

North Melbourne: Collingwood

There are a number of connections between the Magpies and your Roos. Current coach Rhys Shaw played nine seasons for the Pies, and former Roos Levi Greenwood and Daniel Wells are current Pies players. Yes, Greenwood may have had his season ended last week with a knee injury, but Wells may very well get called up to the side with his return from injury. Regardless, they have both been contributors to the current side so seeing that involvement deliver a flag is something you’d like to see.

Port Adelaide: GWS

We know the rivalry with Victoria so those teams were a no go, and the history you have with West Coast and Brisbane in finals matches are still etched in your memories. So GWS was left as the only viable option. Besides, they are newcomers like you once were, so seeing them win their first flag in their eighth season in the competition – like your side did in 2004 – would be the most ideal scenario for you.

St Kilda: Richmond

We’ve ruled out Collingwood and Geelong immediately due to those heartbreaking Grand Final losses. But we know a flag in Victoria would be ideal for you, so the next best is Richmond. Besides, with the partnership between former great Nick Riewoldt and current Tigers star Jack Riewoldt starting the ‘Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision’ clash between the Saints and Tigers, it’s a perfect match. And of course, the Danny Frawley link.

Sydney: GWS

Similar to Gold Coast, we understand they are your crosstown rival, but wouldn’t the premiership cup be better off in New South Wales than in either Victoria, Queensland or Western Australia? Yes, we thought you might be thinking that too. Back your little brother in this September.

Western Bulldogs: Collingwood

Even though you traded this player, he was a premiership star in your famous 2016 triumph – Jordan Roughead. Roughead was a revelation during his six seasons for the Dogs, and has taken his game to a new level at the Pies, so seeing him achieve premiership success again would bring back incredible memories from that drought-breaking win over the Swans.