"The best ability is availability." "Health is wealth." These are examples of adages footy fans will be force-fed as the 2025 AFL season rapidly approaches its climax.
As cliche as these phrases are, teams boasting the shortest injury lists come September best position themselves to claim the flag.
Who are the needle movers that this year's finals contenders are looking to welcome back? We take a look with just five home and away matches remaining.
2Brisbane
Hot on Collingwood's tail are the reigning premiers. Chris Fagan's men have put together a professional flag defence to date, in stark contrast to those assembled by the two premiers who preceded them.
Season-ending injuries to defenders Jack Payne and Noah Answerth notwithstanding, the Lions are in comparatively excellent health, with their backline about to receive a massive boost.
Lethal halfback Keidean Coleman, who missed last year's premiership with an ACL injury, looms large over the final months of this season. His ability to lace teammates out with a left peg that most would envy, saw him finish second in Gary Ayres Medal voting in 2023.
Similar production when he inevitably makes his return to the senior side after a glute injury would position the Brisbane Lions almost perfectly to claim back-to-back flags.
