READ MORE - Season-ending top 60 player rankings
A LOOK at how the five BFNL finalists stack up in games played against each other this year.
STRATHFIELDSAYE
Record - 7-1, 143.9%
Average for - 91
Average against - 64
Quarters won - 22 of 32
Time in front - 93.7%
Top ranked players:
(6 for being named best, 5 for second best and so on vs top five teams):
Sam Heavyside - 21
Bryce Curnow - 20
Josh Formosa - 18
Hugh Robertson - 16
Top four goals:
Lachlan Sharp - 34
Josh Formosa - 11
Hugh Robertson - 10
Fergus Payne - 10
Results:
In a nutshell:
Been the best side of the home and away season, including going 7-1 against fellow top-five opponents.
Can sit back and watch the other four teams bash and crash into each other this weekend as they enjoy the luxury of a rest to freshen up and given the club has had each of its seniors, reserves and under-18s finish on top of the ladder, it shows enormous depth at the Storm with plenty of competition for spots across all teams.
But will go into the finals without having a decent hit-out since July 20 - the last time the Storm played a top-five side having since won its past five games by 197, 89, 217, 185 and 171 points.
EAGLEHAWK
Record - 5-3, 115.0%
Average for - 86
Average against - 75
Quarters won - 16 of 32
Time in front - 43.7%
Top ranked players:
Clayton Holmes - 21
Ben McPhee - 15
Dillon Williams - 15
Jesse Collins - 14
Top four goals:
Riley Saunders - 14
Sean Williams - 12
Gedd Hommelhoff - 10
Ben McPhee - 8
In a nutshell:
Took their time to work into the season - the reigning premiers were 1-3 from their first four games against the top five sides.
But from round eight onwards they have been absolutely flying, beating all four top-five rivals as part of an overall 11-game winning streak.
Conceded 53 goals in their four games against top-five sides in the first half of the season, but have only given up 29 in their corresponding match-ups in the second half.
Running the opposition off their feet; they are +129 in last quarters vs the top-five.
GISBORNE
Record - 4-4, 99.5%
Average for - 77
Average against - 77
Quarters won - 18 of 32
Time in front - 53.1%
Top ranked players:
Ethan Minns - 24
Josh Grabham - 20
Tim Walsh - 19
Pat McKenna - 18
Top four goals:
Pat McKenna - 29
Callum Williamson - 6
Jake Conolan - 5
Clinton Young - 5
Results:
In a nutshell:
May be the most inexperienced of the five when it comes to finals - the Bulldogs haven't won in September since 2014 - but no other club boasts three former AFL players: coach Clinton Young (Hawthorn and Collingwood), Pat McKenna (GWS and Melbourne) and Matt Goodyear (Collingwood).
Only had one look at the QEO this year, but played it well in a 45-point win over Sandhurst a fortnight ago.
Scoreboard pressure is imperative in finals and the Bulldogs can't afford to kick as poorly as they have against the top-five this year.
Apart from their 15.8 against Sandhurst two weeks ago, in their other seven games v the top-five the Bulldogs have kicked more behinds than goals for a total of 68.108.
GOLDEN SQUARE
Record - 2-6, 83.8%
Average for - 64
Average against - 77
Quarters won - 12 of 32
Time in front - 31.2%
Top ranked players:
Jon Coe - 33
Jayden Burke - 19
Adam Baird - 18
Jack Geary - 18
Top four goals:
Jayden Burke - 19
Sam Brinsmead - 6
Ryan Hartley - 5
Alex Marklew - 4
Results:
In a nutshell:
Hard to be bullish about Square's September prospects given they hit the finals 0-4 in their past four meetings against top-five sides.
Kicked scores of just 62, 45, 43 and 77 in those four losses. The Bulldogs have always been a strong defensive side under coach Bernie Haberman, but the big question heading into September is the firepower in the front half.
Desperately need Travis Baird back from his hamstring injury to provide that second key target alongside Jayden Burke, as well as his brother Adam Baird (corkie), who has made his reputation on thriving on the QEO in September and is also a goalkicker.
SANDHURST
Record - 2-6, 68.4%
Average for - 57
Average against - 83
Quarters won - 10 of 32
Time in front - 21.8%
Top ranked players:
Jake Pallpratt - 23
Chris Down - 21
Nick Stagg - 17
Blair Holmes - 14
Top four goals:
Matt Thornton - 13
Lachlan Ross - 7
Jake McLean - 6
Nick Stagg - 5
Results:
In a nutshell:
Only wins against the top-five sides has been a pair of victories over Golden Square - the Dragons' elimination final opponent on Sunday.
Same query as Square in terms of their capacity to hit the scoreboard given the Dragons have averaged just 57 points against the top-five - albeit one of those games was the horrendous day in round 11 when they were beaten 43-21 by the Storm.
But in a positive given the revolving door of the side due to injuries, coach Ash Connick is likely to have his biggest selection headache of the year - albeit forward Will Holt (shoulder), midfielder Adam Parry (thumb), defenders Josh Hann (dislocated collarbone) and Lachlan Tardrew (not qualified) are ruled out - while a massive fillip is X-factor Andrew Collins now has five injury-free games under his belt.
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