"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.
6GWS
Perennial finalists, the Giants will be bolstered by the slated returns of Jesse Hogan, Sam Taylor and Josh Kelly for this weekend's instalment of the Sydney Derby. Such quality being injected across all three lines is an obvious boost for Adam Kingsley's men, as they look to separate themselves from the logjam currently populating the bottom half of the top eight.
Brent Daniels has emerged as a pivotal part of the Giants' front-half setup, particularly under Kingsley, and will be aiming to return from an adductor injury in time for his side's final home and away game of the season. Should that match, to be played against St Kilda, be of little to no consequence, a cautious approach may be taken to Daniels' return, given the slew of soft tissue injuries that populate his history.
The small forward exhibited eye-catching dash when pinch-hitting in the Giants midfield last season. The positional versatility, speed and scoreboard impact offered by Daniels paints him as a finals wildcard, especially given the run-and-gun handball game the men in orange employ to devastating effect, at their best.
