In 24 of the last 28 years, a team who missed the finals has finished top-4 the next year. 33 teams in total over 28 years. Who will it be?

[Dan26]

Half way through the year now. Port look like this years team to finish top-4 (who missed the finals last year). Although this time last year, Carlton looked like being the top-4 team, while Collingwood was 7-5 and looked no chance. Then, the Pies won 12 of their last 13 games. Could Brisbane fall out like last year, and could the Saints, Bombers, Crows, or Suns make a run?

 

[PCORF]

Looking like Port this year. But they were also top 4 in 2020 and 2021 too, missed the finals in 2022 but are back in 2023.

 

[Freomaniac]

So it techically ended up Port didnt it?

Or Carlton and GWS?

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Half way through the year now. Port look like this years team to finish top-4 (who missed the finals last year). Although this time last year, Carlton looked like being the top-4 team, while Collingwood was 7-5 and looked no chance. Then, the Pies won 12 of their last 13 games. Could Brisbane fall out like last year, and could the Saints, Bombers, Crows, or Suns make a run?

View attachment 1711479

Crazy that two teams did make a similar run of wins, and it was none of the four you mentioned.

Doggies my tip for next year.

 

[Defabs]

So it techically ended up Port didnt it?

Or Carlton and GWS?

It would be Port. Carlton and GWS don’t count. If they did, it would then mean Bris didn’t finish top 4 in 2019 after missing the 8 in 2018. It confuses the criteria by taking finals performances into account.

 

[Freomaniac]

Crazy that two teams did make a similar run of wins, and it was none of the four you mentioned.

Doggies my tip for next year.

North Melbourne will belt us all in 2024 LoL

 

[Altum Volantes]

Freo in 2024 right?

Low expectations, coming off a bad year, no incoming saviours from outlandish trades - this is a prime Freo good year in the making!

 

[Dan26]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Carlton
St.Kilda
Port-Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon
Nth.Melb
Richmond
West Coast

Who will it be?

 

[fnerd]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Carlton
St.Kilda
Port-Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon
Nth.Melb
Richmond
West Coast

Who will it be?

Carlton

It’s ALWAYS Carlton

 

[JayJ20]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Carlton
St.Kilda
Port-Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon
Nth.Melb
Richmond
West Coast

Who will it be?

Obviously Sydney IMO. Just had a down year after a grand final shellacking. Will be back especially if Curnow goes there.

St Kilda and Bulldogs other candidates.

 

[Maddo11]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Carlton
St.Kilda
Port-Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon
Nth.Melb
Richmond
West Coast

Who will it be?

Pre trade period, obviously most likely will be obviously SYD and WBD. Hard to see Carlton or Melbourne getting there if they're possibly losing key players.

St Kilda more likely to make top 8 than top 4.

Rest probably won't improve.

 

[Coach_Required]

Hopefully not us, I'm still in rebuild mode. I don't think I could handle finals again so soon.

LOL

 

[Maddo11]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Carlton
St.Kilda
Port-Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon
Nth.Melb
Richmond
West Coast

Who will it be?

Just a thought, is there a break down on which is the most common positions the team that goes into the top 4 comes from?

You'd expect it'd be pretty heavily weighted towards 9th 10th and 11th.

 

[Dee Train]

Saints to come from the clouds.

 

[Sentinel]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

It doesn't mean that at all though.

 

[Purple Suit]

Saints to come from the clouds.

Bulldogs or Sydney good options too.

North a big roughy

Don’t really like anybody else unless. Carlton seem like they are going to lose too many players.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Obviously Sydney IMO. Just had a down year after a grand final shellacking. Will be back especially if Curnow goes there.

St Kilda and Bulldogs other candidates.

Dogs need to get Butts or Wilkie or some solution to the backline, otherwise I don’t think it will be them against the better teams.

 

[Dan26]

It doesn't mean that at all though.

I know. But back history until history changes.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Carlton
St.Kilda
Port-Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon
Nth.Melb
Richmond
West Coast

Who will it be?

Sydney

 

[RonnieRaven]

Sydney- most likely
Port Dogs- possible
Blues saints- slim chance
The rest- no chance

 

[portly]

Ports. Massive upgrade of coaches, and moved the loser on, finally.

 

[RCAB]

Most likely will be St Kilda

 

[Crankyhawk]

26 of the last 30 years it has happened now.

That means one of these teams will finish top-4 in 2026:

Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Carlton
St.Kilda
Port-Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon
Nth.Melb
Richmond
West Coast

Who will it be?

Dogs would seem the obvious choice

 

[Piggy Smalls]

West Coast

 

[hawkman]

Dogs would seem the obvious choice

Except the Dogs haven't finished top 4 in the H&A under Beveridge