A guide to how the AFL finalists shape up

MELBOURNE

First (17 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw, 130.8%)

Premierships: 12 (1900, 1926, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964)

Finals: 87 (51 wins, 34 losses, 2 draws)

Coach Simon Goodwin's finals record: 2 wins, 1 loss, 0 premierships

Summary: First minor premiership since 1964, the year of their last flag. It is the longest active drought in the competition.

Key player: Christian Petracca. One of the competition's best game-breaking midfielders, who relishes the contest and hurts opponents on the scoreboard.

The query: Scratchy form after a blistering 9-0 start, with losses to Adelaide, Collingwood and GWS, plus a draw with Hawthorn.

PORT ADELAIDE

SECOND (17 wins, 5 losses, 126.3%)

Premierships: 1 (2004)

Finals: 25 (12 wins, 13 losses)

Coach Ken Hinkley's finals record: 4 wins, 4 losses, 0 premierships

Summary: Nine wins in last 10 outings. Knocked off the Western Bulldogs in round 23.

Key player: Travis Boak. The 33-year-old veteran has been in career-best form and is among the leading Brownlow Medal contenders.

The query: Often struggled against fellow contenders, winning just one of five games against the eventual top six before toppling the Bulldogs in round 23.

GEELONG

Third (16 wins, 6 losses, 126.7%)

Premierships: 9 (1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011)

Finals: 126 (55 wins, 70 losses, 1 draw)

Coach Chris Scott's finals record: 9 wins, 13 losses, 1 premiership

Summary: Looked set to claim a second minor premiership in the space of three seasons before throwing away a 44-point lead against Melbourne in round 23.

Key player: Tom Hawkins. Strong and experienced spearhead, has kicked 54 goals in 22 games.

The query: September failures over the last decade weigh heavily on the Cats as they enter another finals campaign.

BRISBANE LIONS

Fourth (15 wins, 7 losses, 133.3%)

Premierships: 3 (2001, 2002, 2003)

Finals: 25 (16 wins, 9 losses)

Coach Chris Fagan's finals record: 1 win, 3 losses, 0 premierships

Summary: Snatching fourth spot - in the final minute of their final-round win over West Coast - will fuel belief that anything is possible.

Key player: Joe Daniher. Former Bomber has kicked 18 goals in six weeks since fellow key forward Eric Hipwood went down with a knee injury.

The query: Fagan's side have knocked over Geelong and Port Adelaide in a 9-1 run at the Gabba this season. However, they are yet to record an away win over any of the seven finalists.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Fifth (15 wins, 7 losses, 132.8%)

Premierships: 2 (1954, 2016)

Finals: 51 (18 wins, 33 losses)

Coach Luke Beveridge's finals record: 4 wins, 3 losses, 1 premiership

Summary: Three straight losses to complete the home-and-away season saw the Dogs tumble out of the top four.

Key player: Marcus Bontempelli. Was unusually quiet in a final-round loss to Port Adelaide but few can doubt the Brownlow Medal contender's potential to drag the Bulldogs to victory.

The query: Still trying to work out their ruck-forward mix after Josh Bruce's season-ending knee injury, with experienced tall Stefan Martin a chance to return from injury.

SYDNEY

Sixth (15 wins, 7 losses, 119.9%)

Premierships: 5 (1909, 1918, 1933, 2005, 2012)

Finals: 89 (40 wins, 49 losses)

Coach John Longmire's finals record: 10 wins, 10 losses, 1 premiership

Summary: Recorded seven victories from the final eight rounds to secure their top-eight spot. The Swans and Giants both haven't returned home since departing on June 22.

Key player: Lance Franklin. The superstar spearhead is within sight of becoming the sixth man in AFL/VFL history to kick 1000 goals and remains Sydney's most dangerous match-winner.

The query: The Swans have charged up the ladder on the back of rapid improvement from their younger brigade, but many of those inexperienced players are yet to be tested in the finals arena.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Seventh (11 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw, 99.7%)

Premierships: 0

Finals: 11 (6 wins, 5 losses)

Coach Leon Cameron's finals record: 6 wins, 5 losses, 0 premierships

Summary: Defeated Geelong to start a season-ending run of three wins. The expansion club boasts a 2-0 record in derby finals.

Key player: Toby Greene. Enigmatic star can win games off his own boot while sometimes running foul of the whistleblowers.

The query: The Giants overcame a 0-3 start and a long injury list to reach the finals, but the casualties may catch up with them at some stage.

ESSENDON

Eighth (11 wins, 11 losses, 109.1%)

Premierships: 16 (1897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000)

Finals: 131 (69 wins, 60 losses, 2 draws)

Coach Ben Rutten's finals record: 0 wins, 0 losses, 0 premierships

Summary: This Sunday, it will be 6203 days since the Bombers last won a final - easily the AFL's longest such drought. An unexpected top-eight finish is only half the battle won.

Key player: Jake Stringer. The man known as 'The Package' can do it all in the forward half and has been in fine form of late. He comes up against his former club in an elimination final.

The query: Defence is everything at the business end of the season and Essendon have conceded the most points this season among the finalists.

Australian Associated Press