Up their sleeve: The assets eyeing returns, and the improvements they promise for AFL contenders

"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. Collingwood The ladder-leaders have been dealt a reality check in the last fortnight, having lost back-to-back games for the first time since the corresponding rounds last season. Close losses to fellow finals fancies in the Gold Coast Suns and Fremantle Dockers has seen the buffer Craig McRae's men boast atop the table reduced to just two points, merely two weeks after it hit double digits. Key defender Billy Frampton's calf is a test this week, as the Pies look to shore up their stocks behind the ball, after skipper Darcy Moore's horror show against the Dockers. Dynamic distributor Dan Houston is also eyeing a return against the Tigers, while fellow backman Jeremy Howe is still at least a week away, as he deals with a groin complaint. Norm Smith medallist and electric small forward Bobby Hill may return through the VFL this week, after navigating personal issues away from football, but it is the availability of match-winner Jordan De Goey that poses the greatest lever for improvement for the Magpies. [caption id="attachment_149220" align="alignnone" width="2560"] ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 7: Karl Amon of the Hawks tackles Jordan De Goey of the Magpies during the round four AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval, on April 7, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/Getty Images)[/caption] The standout finals performer has not been sighted since Round 8, with the club taking a cautious approach to fine-tuning the body of the 2023 flag hero. His imminent return was pushed back by a recent concussion at training, but the versatility of the hybrid midfield-forward promises to pose headaches to opposition coaches, should he feature, as expected, in September. His career is littered with big moments in big games, and should he pass fit this week, expect more of the same from the maligned matchwinner, when cutthroat finals action commences. Brisbane 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. [caption id="attachment_143783" align="alignnone" width="2560"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Callum Ah Chee and Keidean Coleman of the Lions pose for a photo after the 2023 AFL Round 24 match between the Brisbane Lions and the St Kilda Saints at The Gabba on August 26, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] 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. Adelaide The Adelaide Crows look scary. The West Lakes natives are the only team in the league to rank in the top three for points for and points against, resulting in a league-best percentage. Matthew Nicks' charges are playing the most exciting brand of football in the competition, with their dismantling of the Suns on the weekend, a timely reminder of their firepower. Whilst the three tall forwards the Crows employ most weeks have grabbed headlines, and divided opinion, another factor in the Crows' devastating ability to hit the scoreboard has been their suite of rotating midfield-forwards. No other team enjoys the luxury of four players who are as comfortable at a centre bounce as they are in front of goal. [caption id="attachment_163070" align="alignnone" width="2560"] ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 03: Josh Rachele of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2025 AFL Round 08 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Adelaide Oval on May 3, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Izak Rankine, Ben Keays, skipper Jordan Dawson and Josh Rachele have combined for 91 goals this season. The first three of these names will aim to continue this form, while Josh Rachele, who averages the most goals per game of the quartet, recovers from knee surgery. The 2021 draftee thankfully avoided ligament damage, but suffered a posterior capsular tear, along with a bone compression injury, in his side's victory against Melbourne earlier this month. It presents as a race against time, but the Crows are reasonably optimistic their firebrand will feature again this season, significantly bolstering an already threatening front half, and in turn, the side's premiership chances. Geelong 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. [caption id="attachment_158650" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Cameron Guthrie of the Cats looks on before the 2024 AFL Round 08 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Geelong Cats at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 04, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] 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? Hawthorn It's mixed news at Hawthorn, with tagger Finn Maginness ruled out for the rest of the season with a lacerated kidney. In the same week, the long-awaited return of fledgling superstar Will Day has been confirmed. The South Australian midfielder averaged 23 disposals and a goal a game in the first month of the season, before being sidelined for the next 14 matches with a stress fracture in his foot. At his damaging best, Day changes the complexion of Sam Mitchell's midfield drastically, evidenced by the struggles the Hawks endured in the engine room in the weeks directly following his forced absence. [caption id="attachment_155297" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: Sam Frost and Josh Weddle of the Hawks train during a Hawthorn Hawks AFL training session at Waverley Park on August 02, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)[/caption] With Day's return now imminent, focus turns to the back of prototypical product Josh Weddle. The Hawks are yet to provide a timeline for a potential return for Weddle, but he shapes as a key piece of any success the brown and gold will achieve come finals. His rare combination of size, running power and ball use culminate in a nightmare matchup for opposing coaches. GWS 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. [caption id="attachment_163885" align="alignnone" width="2560"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Brent Daniels of the Giants kicks the ball during the 2024 AFL First Semi Final match between the GWS GIANTS and the Brisbane Lions at ENGIE Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] 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. Fremantle Dockers skipper Alex Pearce is a week away from a return, after a shin injury kept him out of his side's backline in recent weeks. 'Moose', as he's affectionately known, hasn't been sighted since Fremantle's Round 17 loss to Sydney, and missed significant time prior to that match, with a similar concern. The Dockers haven't conceded 100 points since Round 6, and the addition of Pearce will only strengthen a defence that conceded just 78 points from the Magpies' 63 inside 50 entries on the weekend. Dynamic midfielder Hayden Young made his first appearance since Round 9 in the weekend's victory, and looks to be elevated from the sub role for this weekend's Derby. Continuity in his body will be a priority for the classy and creative left footer, with the dimension he adds to the Dockers centre bounce brigade likely to be critical as the side pursue a first premiership flag. [caption id="attachment_158996" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 24: Alex Pearce of the Dockers poses with the Premiership Cup during the 2025 AFL Captains Day at Marvel Stadium on February 24, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Club champion and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe is a week away from returning from a recent calf complaint. Despite the depth the Dockers have exhibited this season, it is hard to imagine a world in which Fyfe doesn't feature in a finals campaign for the club, such is his status and standing at Cockburn. Gold Coast Key defender Sam Collins is a likely inclusion for this weekend's QClash, having overcome a calf complaint. Inspirational midfielder Touk Miller is set to miss a maximum of three weeks with a hamstring injury, in an untimely blow for the Suns as they hunt a maiden finals appearance. No chances will be taken with Miller's rehabilitation, as his repeat running efforts are a trademark of his game, and will be pivotal to a deep finals run for the club he's bled for. [caption id="attachment_162372" align="alignnone" width="2560"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: Touk Miller of the Suns handles the ball during the round four AFL match between Gold Coast Suns and Adelaide Crows at People First Stadium, on April 05, 2025, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] A dirty day against the Crows was made worse for the Suns, after scans revealed a small fracture in the leg of boom recruit Dan Rioli. The dashing halfback, in tandem with fellow recruit John Noble, has revolutionised the Suns' ball movement this season. The drive Rioli provides, coupled with his premiership pedigree, will be crucial to Damien Hardwick's side come September, should the Suns qualify, as expected. Bulldogs Luckless midfielder Adam Treloar has suffered another calf setback, sidelining him for up to six weeks, slating him for a return to full fitness during the pre-finals bye. Luke Beveridge elects to play Treloar when he's passed fit, with the journeyman having never featured at VFL level across his storied career. Whether or not this same immediate trust is afforded the 2024 All-Australian after this latest setback, in a final no less, remains to be seen. [caption id="attachment_115593" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Adam Treloar during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)[/caption] At his best, his game-breaking speed and prolific ball-winning are undoubtedly an asset to any team, as the fan favourite chases the flag that has infamously eluded him.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	FRE	8	7	1	28	133
2	HAW	8	6	1	26	121.2
3	SYD	7	6	1	24	178.1
4	MELB	7	5	2	20	102.8
5	COLL	8	4	3	18	108.6
6	BL	7	4	3	16	118.8
7	NMFC	7	4	3	16	115.9
8	GC	7	4	3	16	114.4
9	GEEL	7	4	3	16	108.6
10	ADEL	8	4	4	16	96.6

Up their sleeve: The assets eyeing returns, and the improvements they promise for AFL contenders

Nine clubs in the mix for finals have an ace in the hole with five weeks left.

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