"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.
4Geelong
The ever-present premiership threat that the Geelong Football Club poses exhibits no signs of waning potency. Chris Scott has a healthy list at his disposal, opening up the possibility of resting star players with a soft run into the finals ahead.
The Cats famously fielded the oldest premiership-winning side in V/AFL history when they lifted the cup in 2022, and two members of that storied side are eyeing returns in the coming weeks.
Cam Guthrie, a joint Carji Greeves medallist as the Cats' best and fairest player in that premiership year, has experienced a torrid run with his body since that triumph. He is listed as a test this week, as he looks to return from a calf injury. Fellow veteran, two-time flag winner Mitch Duncan, has two weeks left on his return to play schedule, following a shoulder injury.
Few coaches have a track record of trusting veterans like master coach Chris Scott. Will he opt to inject experience into this side, as it looks to secure yet another top four berth?
