I wasn't suggesting that they can't make the GF - plenty of examples where a losing QFist has won the flag. But obviously you'd rather play a final at home.
Actually there is only 4 since the current system came into play in 2000.
3 times heavyweight champions in Brisbane and Hawthorn did it in 2003 and 2015 respectively and 2005 and 2006 when Sydney and WCE were in that middle of 10 games in a row where the result was 12 pts or less.
Sydney lost to WCE by 4 pts in Perth and won the GF by 4 pts in 2005 and then in 2006 WCE lost the QF in Perth to Sydney by 1 pt and won the GF by 1 pt.
We dont have a 3 time heavyweight champion or a Sydney /West Coast type rivalry at the moment. Under the scenario I first wrote about I saI'd Richmond could lose the QF and make the GF I didn't say they could win.
The 4 examples above and Sydney in 2016 are the only examples of losing a QF and making a GF since 2000.