You can smell it, can't you?

The days have grown longer and the flowers may be blooming, but these signifiers of Spring are all inconsequential to the footballing fanatic.

With the temperature rising, realistically and metaphorically, and the pretenders now separated from the contenders, it can only mean one thing - finals football.

Sure, in a standard season we would only be days away from a do or die clash in front of a packed house at the MCG, but 2020 has proven that tried and true recipes are not to be regarded.

Even though the frenetic home and away season has rounded the bend and passed the post, the job is still ahead of eight clubs in their hunt for the 'Covid Cup'.

2025 AFL Season Guide

DOWNLOAD NOW FOR FREE!

With a week off before the season's after party begins, each of the octet of coaches who have received invitations still have chores to perform before the champagne corks can be cracked

From the eighth seed to there first, here are the 2020 premiership contender's โ€˜to do lists'.

Next

1.
Port Adelaide

Having sat atop the table for the entire year, the question about the Alberton crowd has been asked incessantly โ€“ do they actually have what it takes to win it all?

Although taking out the McClelland trophy, the query holds weight as all three of Port Adelaide's 2020 losses have come at the hands of fellow finals contenders in Brisbane, St. Kilda and Geelong.

Naturally, the playing group will have asked themselves this at numerous stages across the course of the year, but with their contemporary form in mind, you would imagine you would be hard pressed to find any Port player that felt they couldn't.

With a home final and the double chance secured, coach Ken Hinkley will need to ask his team to look within themselves again. He may choose to alter nothing in the week off, feeling that tinkering with too much could lead to confusion. Conversely, he may choose to keep his team spry and challenge them to improve again. Only he knows his group well enough to pull the trigger or leave it holstered.

Despite finishing as minor premiers, Port cannot afford to be complacent heading into the finals. Their โ€˜Portress' at the Adelaide Oval will seem less formidable to any travelling team due to Covid restrictions on capacity. However, should a repeat of their string of early 2000's post season chokes occur, the parochial crowd will no doubt make their thoughts known.

Next