2020 AFL finals predictor: Who wins it from here?

With the 2020 home-and-away season over, it is time to cast our eyes towards finals for an unprecedented October series.

Now the home and away season is over, here is how the teams have finished.

1. Port Adelaide (56pts)

2. Brisbane (56pts)

3. Richmond (50pts)

4. Geelong (48pts)

5. West Coast (48pts)

6. St. Kilda (40pts)

7. Western Bulldogs (40pts)

8. Collingwood (38pts)

Based off of these standings, these are our predictions on how the 2020 finals will play out.

 

Week One

Qualifying Final 1 - Port Adelaide vs Geelong

This match promises to be an absolute blockbuster.

Port have looked consistently dominant for the whole year, and will be raring to stamp their mark on the finals series early on with a win over one of their rivals.

The Cats too have been superb this year, and are have had ample experience towards the business end of the year.

But the question remains over which club will stand up when it matters.

Last year the Cats had a pretty disappointing September by their standards, surrendering a 4 goal half-time lead in the preliminary final against Richmond to go on to lose by 19-points.

The last time Port Adelaide made the finals was 2017, when they were left heartbroken after Eagles star Luke Shuey kicked a goal after the siren to win the match and knock them out at Adelaide Oval.

Geelong would be raring to finally get some reward for their star-studded list, while the Power would want to prove the naysayers wrong and show their game plan stacks up in finals.

When the teams met during the season, the Cats handed the Power a flogging, running out 10-goal victors.

However with the game being played at Adelaide Oval, the odds will be stacked against the Cats, with a home Port Adelaide crowd certain to be in full voice.

Predicted winner: Port Adelaide 

 

Elimination Final 1 - West Coast vs Collingwood

A month ago, footy fans would have been able to pick a winner here comfortably.

The Eagles were flying high, sitting in third with a game in hand and the possibility that the bulk of the finals series could be played in Perth.

Fast forward to now, and things aren't looking as rosey for Adam Simpson's side.

A 27-point loss to the Tigers was disappointing but perhaps understandable coming off a four day break.

But the news that the AFL denied the WA Government's bid to host the Grand Final  punched a small hole in West Coast's aspirations.

To put the cherry on top, a narrow 2-point loss to the Bulldogs practically put a pin in the Eagles top four hopes, even though they managed to overcome the Saints and the Roos.

The Pies have just snuck into the eight, and have done well considering the injury woes they had throughout the year.

Despite going down to the Power last night, Nathan Buckley's side can be somewhat proud of the fight they put up against the minor premiers.

And with Jordan De Goey and Jaidyn Stephenson back into the side too, the Pies could pull off an upset.

However, Optus Stadium is not an easy place to travel, and the Magpies have had mixed experiences there when playing the Eagles.

With a full strength side, and Steele Sidebottom's confirmed absence for the rest of 2020, West Coast should be able to overcome the Pies to advance to week two.

Predicted winner: West Coast

 

Qualifying Final 2: Brisbane vs Richmond

Brisbane have once again shown that they could be the real deal this season.

Sitting second on the ladder at the time of writing and coming off a seven game winning streak, they are raring up for a red-hot crack at this years finals.

Chris Fagan would be hoping that his side could perform better than they did in last years series, after his Lions exited in straight sets to the Tigers and Giants.

And with a home final on the cards, the Gabba is sure to be brimming with hungry Lions fans, desperate to see their side make waves in the finals.

However, if there is any team that relishes the chance to upset a team on their home patch, it's the Tigers.

Once again, the Punt Road outfit have come into their own at the right time, winning 11 of their last 13 matches.

With key players looking to return in time for this game, they will undoubtedly be the team to beat still.

The last time these two met was in round 10, when inaccurate kicking cost the Lions dearly, going down by 41-points to the reigning premiers.

And with Damien Hardwick's side not losing at the Gabba for fifteen years, and having beaten the Lions in every game since 2009, the Tigers will have supreme confidence going into this game.

Meanwhile, the Lions will be praying they can pull out a better result than they did in the corresponding fixture last year.

Predicted winner: Richmond 

 

Elimination Final 2: St. Kilda vs Western Bulldogs

The Saints have surprised most fans this season with their determined performances.

They've claimed some big scalps in the form of Port Adelaide and the Tigers, but have stumbled at stages too, with losses to Melbourne and Geelong exposing some chinks in their armour.

Brett Ratten would be happy to at least win a final, and what better side to do that against than a team who's underdog premiership win the Saints would be looking to replicate

The Western Bulldogs have snuck in to the finals after winning their last three matches to clinch eighth spot

Their stars are coming into form at the right time, with Marcus Bontempelli, Caleb Daniel and Bailey Smith all in red hot knick.

The last time these teams met was back in round two, when the Saints put on a show, running out 39-point winners.

Luke Beveridge's side will be itching to replicate their aformentioned 2016 premiership where they won the Grand Final from outside the top four.

However, this St. Kilda team have shown all year what a threat they are, and Brett Ratten should be able to guide his side to their first finals win in almost ten years.

Predicted winner: St. Kilda

 

Week Two

Semi-final 1: Geelong vs West Coast

Deja-vu strikes again with this match-up.

These two teams went head-to-head in the semi-finals last year, with the Cats coming out 20-point winners at the MCG.

With the Eagles poor form on the road, knocking off the Cats away from home will be a tough ask.

However, what this game will hopefully provide is a cracking spectacle, and these two teams will be hungry not to let their season end here.

Predicted winner: Geelong 

 

Semi-final 2: Brisbane vs St. Kilda

If the corresponding home-and-away meeting is anything to base this contest off, this promises to be an arm wrestle and a half.

The Lions edged the Saints in round 13 by 2 points, with inaccurate kicking once again almost costing Brisbane.

The Saints will be keen to avenge that tight loss, and could possibly take the momentum they gained in their elimination final win into this and come up with an upset.

The Gabba will once again be packed with Lions fans, so the Saints will be receiving a hostile reception.

If the Lions are the real deal however, expect for them to win this and advance to a preliminary final.

Predicted winner: Brisbane

 

Week Three

Preliminary Final 1: Port Adelaide vs Brisbane

The top two teams will battle it out at the home of South Australian footy for a chance to go to the big dance.

Coming off a week's rest and playing at home, Port Adelaide will be fit and raring to go for this one.

The Lions will be a bit less prepared considering they would've played two weeks in a row prior to this, but will ideally be mentally sharper.

If Port garner the crowd's intensity and play as they have done for most of the season, then they will probably be unbeatable.

But the Lions will be confident with the knowledge they got the better of Ken Hinkley's boys earlier in the year, with a 37-point win in Queensland evidence that the Lions can run with and outplay the Power.

This one is sure to be electric.

Predicted winner: Port Adelaide

 

Preliminary Final 2: Richmond vs Geelong

Another year, another 'cat-fight' in the finals.

Two weeks ago, the Tigers comfortably dispatched the Cats on the Gold Coast by 27-points to all but secure their top four spot.

Back to full-strength, the Tigers wouldn't have any qualms in their mind that they couldn't make it back-to-back Grand Final appearances.

Meanwhile, this would be the ultimate test for the Cats as they would be keen to avenge last year's exit in this same fixture.

Chris Scott for sure would hark back to the feeling of disappointment and failure in an effort to motivate his players to perform in the manner in which they did for most of the season.

Damien Hardwick on the other hand will remind his players that if they play their natural game - hard-hitting, high-pressure, strong and bold footy - the result will look after itself.

Expect this to be the game of the finals.

Predicted winner: Richmond

 

Week Four

Grand Final: Port Adelaide vs Richmond

This once-in-a-lifetime season comes down to a night Grand Final at the Gabba.

Port Adelaide after having an incredible year will be looking to get some silverware for their effort, and there is no doubt that Ken Hinkley will thrive off of those who have doubted his side and channel it into motivation.

Richmond are familiar with the buzz and excitement around a Grand Final, and the sense of occasion won't faze them one bit.

They have been here multiple times in recent memory, and know exactly how to win.

But the Power will fight tooth and nail for the flag.

If they put on the same performance as when they last met earlier in the year at Adelaide Oval, they will be hard to stop.

But, as mentioned before, the Tigers will have their injured premiership players back, and should be a match for the Power in intensity and ball movement.

And in a year that has thrown up every single surprise imaginable, anything could happen.

Predicted winner: Richmond