Two bumper semi-finals are set to take place on Friday and Saturday night, with a win securing a vital preliminary final against either Sydney or Geelong.
In a do-or-die final, each club's execution of their gameplan will be telling on the scoreboard, those withstanding the pressure more likely to rise to the occassion.
Each of the four teams this week have a distinct play-style, with particular statistics demonstrating their strengths and weaknesses in their game-plan. Let's delve into these stats to identify what Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, GWS, and Brisbane need to achieve to march on in September.
Port Adelaide vs Hawthornย
Port Adelaide - clearances
Port Adelaide were smacked out of the middle against the Cats, and in turn, it cost them the game.
Geelong's ability to burst through stoppages untouched allowed for easy options inside 50, recording 38 scoring shots from just 57 inside 50s. A scoring rate of 66.7% per inside 50, the Power permitted Geelong to eclipse their previous season-best scoring rate against the cellar-dwelling Eagles in Round 24.
The Power also conceded the most scores from inside 50 stoppages they had all season, with Geelong scoring 31 points from this metric alone.
The Power were also wasteful with their own stoppage clearances. Port Adelaide's disposal efficiency inside 50 was a mere 37.7%, a decrease of 13.9% on their season average. Opposingly, the Cats cruised with an efficiency of 68.4%, 19.1% better than their season average.
Evidently, the Power did not acclimatise to the pressure of finals football in week one. If they are to overcome a Hawthorn side flying with momentum, they'll need their best unit to stand up, which lies in the midfield.
Jason Horne-Francis had a solid couple of quarters in the qualifying final, but his impact dwindled as Geelong leapt away. Finishing with just 18 disposals and 1.2 to his name, Horne-Francis also had six clearances but was wasteful in possession, recording an efficiency of 50%.
However, the last time Horne-Francis played Hawthorn he was a key pillar in the Power's comeback victory. Recording 27 disposals, two goals and six clearances, Horne-Francis' possession was much more impactful in this result.
Captain Connor Rozee also disappeared against the Cats. With just 16 disposals, Rozee recorded eight less than his season average.
Zak Butters was ruled out at halftime against Geelong, and his absence was clear as Geelong stormed away in the second half. Likely to return against the Hawks, his last performance against them saw a 32-disposal effort, alongside eight clearances and six tackles.
Willem Drew is an underrated cog to Port Adelaide's midfield machine too. Recording eight clearances against the Cats, Drew has a ball-winning ability to motor the Power forward. Against Hawthorn, he also had eight clearances from just 18 possessions.
Hawthorn - uncontested possessions
Hawthorn destroyed the Bulldogs in uncontested possessions in their elimination final win. Overlapping transition play provided plenty of openings inside 50, ultimately producing 16 marks in the forward arc.
The Hawks recorded 60 more uncontested possessions than the Bulldogs and amassed 254 for the match, surpassing their season average by 29.2.
Massimo D'Ambrosio was again a staple piece of the Hawthorn gameplan, recording 32 disposals and 519 meters gained. Connor McDonald and Jack Ginnivan played on their own terms, moving high up the ground to deliver quality inside 50s, recording 17 score involvements between them.
Jai Newcombe was the stand out player however, recording 24 uncontested possessions amongst his 35 disposals, plus a game-high 10 score involvements.
Last time the Hawks played Port Adelaide, the uncontested possession was deadlocked at 177. Notably, the decision to halt their fast-moving transition offence and parking the bus is what caused an all-time choking by Hawthorn, sealed by Darcy Byrne-Jones' soccer goal in the dying seconds.
If Hawthorn maintain their brand of football for a full four quarter effort though, their unlikely dream may continue for another week. As seen against the Bulldogs, 'Hokball' is a finals-ready product.
GWS vs Brisbane
GWS - marks inside 50
With the meteoric rise of Jesse Hogan this season, earning a Coleman Medal to his name, it is vital that the Giants continue to deliver quality inside 50s to their key forward. Hogan scored three goals in the Giants' qualifying final loss from three marks inside 50, whilst up-and-coming former Pick 1 Aaron Cadman also hit the scoreboard. Lachlan Keefe recorded two marks inside 50 for his three scoring shots too.
The Giants recorded only nine marks inside 50 for the game however, a decrease of four on their season average. Had the Giants managed a few more aerial chances, the Swans comeback win may not have been the outcome.
The Giants face the tough defence of Brisbane this weekend, with Harris Andrews the key matchup to occur on Hogan. In their Round 22 encounter, Hogan got the upper hand, with three goals and four marks inside 50. Cadman too revelled in the forward line with three marks inside 50 for 3.2.
A similar performance to Round 22 will be central to a Giants win on Saturday night.
Brisbane - marks inside 50
Marks inside 50 will be equally important for the Lions this weekend. Against Carlton, the Lions amassed 20 marks inside 50, effectively seven more than their season average.
Six players scored multiple goals in the Blues destruction, notably Cameron Rayner (three goals, three marks inside 50, eight score involvements) and Logan Morris (two goals, four marks inside 50, seven score involvements).
Of course, the key forward pairing of Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood proved itself again, with Daniher and Hipwood combining for four marks inside 50 and 11 score involvements.
Brisbane's attack can contrast to GWS however, as their reliance on their best goalkicker isn't as necessary. The Lions currently have six players who have scored 20 or more goals this year, whilst Zac Bailey and Callum Ah Chee sit on 19 heading into the semi-final.
It gives the Lions a unique point of difference, and allows star players more opportunity to score, given the opposition's best defenders are likely stationed on Daniher or Charlie Cameron.
Sure, Daniher and Cameron could kick a handful each, but Kai Lohmann, Morris and Rayner easily could fill that void if need be. Hence, if Brisbane's inside 50 entries are effective, they'll have plenty of marking options available.
In Round 22, the Lions recorded 12 marks inside 50, with nine different players clunking a grab in the forward arc. However, the Lions' inaccuracy and lacklustre final term cost them a win, and effectively a top four spot. A four-quarter effort could be the difference-maker to send the Giants out in straight sets however.
