The business end of the AFL season is fast approaching with nine teams in contention to play finals in 2025.
Which of the possible finals-bound sides are realistic flag contenders ready to shake up the September action?
And which teams are pretenders just likely making up the numbers in the post-season?
The Sporting News goes through all the teams that can play finals in 2025.
MORE: Fox Footy commentators ordered to not use nicknames on AFL broadcast
Updated: Monday, August 12, 2025
Contenders
Adelaide
The Crows were given a significant scare by the Eagles on the weekend, but ended up getting the job done in the end.
A win against Collingwood on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval will all-but seal the minor premiership with North Melbourne to come in the final round.
Adelaide will want to put the performance against West Coast behind them, as they were made to look second-rate at times in a match they were lucky to win.
Geelong
Geelong can never be discounted as a flag threat while they are in the finals series and are now in second spot after a regulation win against Essendon.
The Cats had one foot in the grand final last year only to be heartbroken by a late Brisbane surge in the preliminary final.
With Bailey Smith added and Max Holmes flying, there is no doubt Geelong are a better team than last season.
Like all sides, they will be significantly a better chance for glory if they finish in the top four and games against Sydney and Richmond should ensure that.
Collingwood
Four losses in their last five games to Hawthorn Brisbane, Fremantle and Gold Coast have sparked concern for Collingwood, but they are still in the top four.
The Magpies had a similar dip to finish the 2023 season and we all remember how that finished.
They would want to start finding some form fast however, with Adelaide in Adelaide on Saturday night followed by Melbourne at the MCG to finish the season.
Brisbane
Just when we thought Brisbane had turned the corner, they get comprehensively beaten by Sydney at the Gabba.
They are now outside the top four in fifth with two tough matches to play against Fremantle in Perth and Hawthorn at home.
You can't write off the Lions because they have been there before but they would want to get their performances in order by September.
Hawthorn
The Hawks have been elevated back into the contenders position after their 64-point demolition of Collingwood at the MCG last week.
A week after they were beaten by Adelaide and it appeared their midfield was too weak, Hawthorn answered those statements with an emphatic victory.
They still aren't guaranteed a finals spot, but should beat Melbourne this weekend to seal a spot in September, before a match against Brisbane in Brisbane to shape where they finish in the eight.
Pretenders
Fremantle
The Dockers improved in everyone's estimations after the win over Collingwood at the MCG, but not too much can be read into that.
Fremantle have been inconsistent all season, as proven by their first half performance against Carlton, and that trait will mean they cannot win the flag in 2025.
This was again shown in their narrow win over Port Adelaide, that their best and worst football is way too fa
There is certainly plenty to build on at the Dockers, but they still seem unsure of what tempo to play in games.
While 2025 might be out of the question, there is enough building blocks at Fremantle, particularly in the midfield, to make challenging in future years a possibility.
Gold Coast
Finally, the Gold Coast Suns are in a position to play finals for the first time, but that's all it will be if they get there.
Their away form is simply not good enough to win four finals away from their home stadium.
That's not disparaging the fact they have had a great season and made significant strides toward success.
Once the likes of Jed Walter, Leo Lombard and Jake Rogers hit their straps, the competition is likely in trouble.
GWS
The Giants effort against the Bulldogs - losing by 88 points - indicates they are just making up the numbers, if they make the finals.
Their best is good enough to beat anyone, but they cannot be relied upon to bring it across four finals to win the premiership.
GWS certainly aren't going anywhere in the coming years though.
Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are one of the greatest enigmas to be in the AFL post-season picture.
A team so devastating in attack and with arguably the best midfield in the competition.
Their demolition of GWS was one of the most impressive performances of the season.
But question marks still remain over their defence when it comes under pressure.
Maybe the Bulldogs are the team most likely to transition from pretender to contender?
But right now they sit outside the eight.