LET’S START with some finals trivia, so you can impress your mates around the water cooler this week.

There have been only two other seasons in the history of League football where the top three sides have been this dominant. Collingwood (20-2), Geelong (19-3) and Hawthorn (18-4) lost just nine matches between them for the season.

In 1915, Collingwood (14-2), topped the ladder, followed by Carlton (13-2 and a draw) and Fitzroy (11 wins, 4 losses and a draw). In 1935, it was South Melbourne (16-2), Collingwood (14-2-2) and Carlton (14-3-1).

With just 16 rounds in the World War I-affected 1915 season (with severe player restrictions) and the standard 18 rounds (for the time) in 1935, compared to 22 games for each club in 2011, you can rightfully argue that the Pies, Cats and Hawks of this season represent the most dominant top three in the history of the game.

It doesn’t end there. No fourth-placed team has lost just five games for the season, as was the case with West Coast in 2011.

But wait, there’s more. This year marks the first time since 1947 (Carlton, Essendon and Fitzroy) that the three previous premiers have rounded out the top three on the top of the ladder. And with the Eagles (premiers in 2006) in fourth place, it means that the qualifying finals and most probably, the preliminary finals will be played out between teams that know what it takes to win in September.

No scrappy underdogs this year

There is fair sympathy here for the argument that this year’s home and away season dragged on just a bit too long. It was a complicated season for the AFL to piece together, because of the 17th team and the requirement for a bye. The inclusion of Greater Western Sydney next season is to be welcomed, if only because it will eliminate the byes.

But what this column also has sympathy for is the view previously expressed by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and supported by the Herald Sun’s Mike Sheahan that there be a bye week between the end of the home and away season and the finals.

The finals are the showpiece of the season, so why not give the combatants an extra week to freshen up, clear niggling injuries and prepare for the finals in the best possible fashion? It would certainly eliminate the need for Hawthorn to rest eight players and put to bed any suggestions that the integrity of the game suffered.

The awards could be held over the free weekend and still provide the AFL broadcasters with content — the NAB AFL Rising Star on the Thursday night and the All Australian the following night. Perhaps even the Brownlow on the Sunday night, which might eliminate the situation where players from the Grand Final team, if outside Victoria, can’t be there for the evening.

Sheahan also speaks for a growing group within the game who believe there should be fewer home and away rounds. It is a worthy discussion, but for another time because with a freshly-inked TV rights contract sitting in Andrew Demetriou’s filing cabinet, the League is legally bound to deliver 22 rounds of home and away football (or content as the broadcasters like to call it) for the next five years.

Get ready for a Brownlow hat-trick

For now, Brownlow Medal night remains the Monday before the Grand Final, and this year’s count on September 26 is shaping as historic, with the increased likelihood that for the first time in 40 years, a triple Brownlow medalist will join the pantheon of the greats.

Chris Judd remains the hot favourite to follow up his successes in 2004 and again last year with a third medal. But if the Carlton skipper isn’t already too far ahead, then the last few rounds could be a cracker, with Adam Goodes likely to charge home in his bid to become the next three-time winner.

Goodes was among the best afield — the miss after the siren not withstanding — in round 20 when the Swans lost to Essendon. His clearance work in the final quarter got the Swans home against St Kilda in round 22 at Etihad Stadium, he was among his team’s best in the upset win at Geelong in round 23 and he put on a clinic on the weekend against the Brisbane Lions.

Goodes is a proven vote-winner and only three times in the last 10 seasons has he failed to poll a double-figure tally. If it’s neck and neck towards the end of the count with both Judd and Goodes bidding to become a triple medalist, it will be the best Brownlow count yet.

Adelaide Oval a winner

Admittedly the view was from the living room couch of this columnist, but it was hard to fault anything about the Port Adelaide-Melbourne clash from the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

The weather helped enormously, as did the closeness of the contest and the end result, but there was a vibe and a spark about the game that has been missing from any game at AAMI Stadium —Power or Crows — in recent memory.

The game attracted 29,314 people, close to double what would have been expected at AAMI Stadium. Doubtless, there was a novelty factor that would have attracted a few 'theatregoers' but the people of Adelaide got to experience what those of us in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth have come to take for granted - an inner-city footy experience that on game day, brings the city to life.

It is hard to think of a better day for Port Adelaide since it won the 2004 Grand Final. And while there is no quick fix in sight for the club and a mountain of work ahead, it would appear that Port has bottomed out and that the slow climb back to respectability has started.

It is just a shame that Port has to wait two more years to get back to its new home ground.

CLUB BY CLUB

COLLINGWOOD: Winning 20 games for the season keeps the Magpies deserved flag favourites.

GEELONG: Joel Corey will be the selection story of the week for the Cats. Tom Lonergan to a lesser degree.

HAWTHORN: Making Matthew Scarlett more accountable will be a key plank in Alastair Clarkson’s game plan this week. He destroyed the Hawks with his run and carry in round five, while his rebound in round 12 made a big difference in the tight final quarter.

WEST COAST: John Worsfold is this column’s nomination for coach of the year. From four wins in 2010 to 17 this season is unprecedented in the modern era.

CARLTON: Will be a few sleepless nights in the Ratten household this week. He deserves to remain coach irrespective of the outcome against the Bombers, but the Blues have historically reacted sharply to repeated premature finals exits.

ST KILDA: Plays the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. The Saints have won their last 24 Saturday night games at that ground. This is as much of a home final as any team could wish for.

SYDNEY SWANS: Other teams crash to the bottom of the ladder when they rebuild. Not the Swans. Why aren’t more clubs trying to tap into the club’s intellectual property??

ESSENDON: Bomber fans have spent the weekend talking up how much better their side for the elimination final will be to the one that lost to the Blues by 74 points in round 18.

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS

For the clubs that missed out, here is what this column believes should be atop their off-season to-do list:

NORTH MELBOURNE: Throw the name Hamish McIntosh in the air during trade week and see what offers come forward. Particularly from Richmond and GWS.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Anoint Liam Jones as your next full-forward and construct the rest of the forward line around him.

FREMANTLE: The fitness and conditioning set-up will surely be examined. A full list in 2012 brings Freo back in the game.

RICHMOND: Needs a ruckman and a key defender. Start making the calls.

MELBOURNE: Once Tom Scully makes up his mind, get the coach sorted out. An obvious one.

ADELAIDE: Find a coach and sign Kurt Tippett to a contract extension. He and Taylor Walker could anchor that forward line for the next five years.

BRISBANE LIONS: Make Neil Craig the offer he can’t refuse to be director of coaching. Michael Voss coached better this year but all coaches need a mentor of some sorts.

PORT ADELAIDE: Get John Butcher in a room and don’t let him leave without a signed contract. It would send an enormous signal that Port is on the way back.

GOLD COAST: More weights, more running, more ball work. There are no short cuts.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Daniel Menzel (Geelong) and Luke Breust (Hawthorn): Each would have been on the borderline for selection for the qualifying final; they both played themselves into Friday night’s MCG clash with five goals apiece on the weekend.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs.

You can follow Ashley Browne on Twitter at twitter.com/hashbrowne