With the home and away season now in the rearview mirror, our attention turns to September, and therefore, AFL finals.
Collingwood will enter the post-season as the hunted, having claimed the minor premiership after booking their top eight spot months ago.
Contrastingly, the likes of Carlton, GWS and Sydney secured their positions in the finals frame within the last few weeks of the regular season campaign, but will carry some good form into the final stretch of the premiership race.
St Kilda have been the quiet achievers this year, with Ross Lyon's return to Moorabbin lifting the red, white and black back into contention, while Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Adelaide have all gone better to book themselves a top four finish.
All eight sides have a reason to look forward to this finals series, but each club also has at least one weakness that could upset their premiership prospects.
Here we assess the reasons why each team can win the premiership, and the reasons why they can't.
Port Adelaide
Why they can...
Port Adelaide are stacked with more lethal kickers than any other team in the competition.
Dan Houston, Kane Farrell, Ryan Burton, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and even Trent McKenzie can lace out just about any target within 60 metres with a low-arcing, pinpoint drop punt that slices opposition zones with ease.
This hallmark destroyed weaker oppositions during the season; see their nine-goal opening term in Round 12 vs Hawthorn.
It is a quality which can be their point of difference in September where they may look to kick over the heads of Harris Andrews, Jake Lever, Darcy Moore and the like to generate scores with minimal possession off half-back.
With opposition focus likely going to their midfield maestros Butters, Jason Horne-Francis and Rozee, the Power could thrive off the back half run and kicking from their lethal legs in Houston, Farrell and Burton.
This weapon is no secret to any contender, but still must be quelled if Port Adelaide's forward surge is to be stopped.
Why they can't...
One of the consequences of possessing this weapon is the sacrifice of their defensive stocks, which is clearly not at a premiership level.
After Aliir Aliir, there is not a single defensive-minded backman on their list who is a household name or notorious contest winner.
Lachie Jones is a young and promising fan-favourite, but is unproven.
Tom Jonas is in and out of the side and not capable of halting the bigger bodies of Joe Daniher and Charlie Curnow.
Miles Bergman is a developing interceptor fresh off a breakout season but again, doesn't add size to a backline begging for some.
This has been the elephant in the room all season for Port Adelaide, and will likely end their campaign when an opposing key forward kicks five and is the difference between the two sides.
It is for this reason that the Power would break all conventions should they win the premiership, or even make the big dance.
