September has officially arrived, and every team remaining will naturally have optimism.
Fremantle appears to be the clear front-runner for the flag; Brisbane's experience holds it in good stead, and Hawthorn and Geelong are among the challengers.
So what does every club need to focus on?
Brisbane
Tall forward mix
Eric Hipwood spoke on Saturday about how dangerous three-pronged tall forward lines can be.
But in order for them to be dangerous, the forwards need to be in form - and Brisbane's have not been, with far too much reliance on Logan Morris.
Hipwood has kicked 13 goals from 10 games since returning from an ACL injury and has lacked presence consistently, while Oscar Allan has also struggled, kicking nine goals in the last six games, four coming in a demolition of Collingwood.
That pair needs to take pressure off Morris in the finals series given the time opponents will spend combating the All-Australian.
Given the injuries to Hipwood and Allen, has the forward line had enough time to gel to challenge the best-structured defences?
