Vic Quiets: September looms as lowest finals tally ever after power clubs falter

Not so long ago three powerhouse Victorian sides were in the top four. Now footy’s home state is facing the prospect of the quietest finals series in the history of the game.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 10: Zach Merrett of the Bombers looks dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFL Round 22 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Gold Coast SUNS at Marvel Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Victoria is on track for its quietest finals series ever, outside of Covid, with the prospect of just one September game before the grand final.

With two weeks left in the season, no Victorian side is currently in position to host a game in the first week of finals and fans in football’s home state better get used to sitting on the couch.

The Magpies are unlikely to feature at all in September. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Not counting the Covid years, there has never been a first weekend of finals without a game in Victoria.

Geelong sits fourth on the ladder so would either host a preliminary final or a semi-final depending on the result of its qualifying final.

The way the ladder stands, that would be the only game played in Victoria before the grand final.

With interstate sides occupying the other spots in the top six, the Cats would most likely host that final against an interstate side, raising the prospect of the game being played at GMHBA Stadium.

The Cats have shied away from pushing for a home final under CEO Steve Hocking and have only once hosted a game in September, then they lost to Fremantle in a 2013 qualifying final.

Should just two games be played in Victoria in September, it would be the quietest finals in the state ever, not counting the 2020 and 2021 seasons when all finals were played interstate due to Covid.

Not since 2007 has the state seen less than four finals and never less than three.

In 2007, 2006 and 2003 there were just three games played in Victoria during September, the lowest on record.

Zach Merrett and the Dons have tumbled down the ladder. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

An old rule enforced by the AFL forced Adelaide and Brisbane to host preliminary finals at the MCG in 2002 and 2004 against Collingwood and Geelong respectively.

A total of nine matches makes 1995 the high watermark of finals in football’s home state in the AFL era, while 2000, 2010 and 2011 each saw eight games played in Victoria.

The only seasons in which no preliminary finals were played at the MCG since 1991 were 2015 and 2006.

At the end of round 16, each of Essendon, Carlton and Collingwood sat in the top four, raising prospects of the best attended finals series ever.

But the three power clubs have since slid dramatically and now none of the trio are in the eight.

Last year, a remarkable five games in September drew more than 90,000 fans to the MCG as the Pies and Blues led a finals series to remember.

Given the topsy-turvy nature of the season there is still hope for Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn or Carlton to host elimination or qualifying finals.

Are the Cats Victoria’s last hope for home finals? Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Should the Cats win their last two games against St Kilda and West Coast, they will be in a strong position to jump into the top two.

Even if the Cats slip up, they could fall into place to host an elimination final.

And the Dogs, Hawks and Blues are all just two points behind Fremantle for sixth spot, which would host an elimination final.

Essendon remains just one game behind Fremantle but has a horror percentage making it unlikely the Bombers would leap into the top six.