It's officially September, and that can only mean two things: fans biting their nails and coaches pulling their hair out.
There's hardly a job in Australia with less long-term security than that of an AFL coach, and as such, a coach's survival can live and die by their ability to get the tough selection calls right at this time of year.
Richmond fans will take the memories of Marlion Pickett being handed an AFL debut ahead of the 2019 Grand Final to their grave, while Carlton fans still toss and turn about Tom De Koning being named the sub ahead of last year's elimination final, with the club now slowly capitulating and facing the prospect of a mass exodus just 12 months on.
It's these type of bold calls at the selection table that could end up determining the 2025 premiers.
MORE: Fan satisfaction drops again, AFL Fans Association survey shows
The Sporting News looks at each club's burning selection dilemmas ahead of week one of the 2025 finals series.
Adelaide
How will the use of a returning Max Michalanney impact selection?
Adelaide have been the best side from start to finish in 2025, and deservedly wrapped up the minor premiership in the final round of the season.
The Crows are desperate to end a premiership drought that is coming up on three decades in 2028, but they face an almighty challenge with their relatively inexperienced list. How ironic that their first finals test will be a Collingwood side still basking in the glory of a 2023 flag, and armed with a wealth of September experience.
Coach Matthew Nicks finds himself in an awkward position, as he tries to think of his side's best forward combination since Izak Rankine's suspension, while awaiting the return of Josh Rachele from injury.
Fortunately, Max Michalanney and Luke Pedlar are likely to return from injury to bolster their forward line, with it expected that some combination of youngsters Sid Draper, Billy Dowling and Hugh Bond are the players most likely to make way for the returning pair. Those three all featured in the side's round 24 win over North Melbourne.
Bond initially came into the side in round 21, filling the void left by Michalanney who was sidelined with injury. However, Bond shapes as the player most likely to hold onto his spot, given that Michalanney could return as a defensive forward, to keep Collingwood star Josh Daicos accountable.
If however, Michalanney returns to his usual role as a defender, then 23-year-old Brayden Cook could get a look up forward, after his six goals in the SANFL on Sunday.
Collingwood
Could Mason Cox force Dan McStay down back or out of the side?
After blitzing the first 20 weeks of the season to stand tall on top of the ladder, Collingwood's season came very close to being completely undone in rounds 21-23.
Against three finals teams in Brisbane, Hawthorn and Adelaide, the Pies were outscored by a combined 167-261, as they lost all three games. Despite this, they dominated inside-50's by a combined 160-135, helping to diagnose where they were going wrong: the connection between their midfielders and the forwards was poor, and their defence could not cope when the ball was sent their way.
In fairness to the Pies, they've dealt with a number of absentees that can help explain these deficiencies, but they won't necessarily be more healthy for their first finals matchup against Adelaide, with Jeremy Howe likely sidelined until at least preliminary final weekend.
After being exclusively a key forward for all of the year, coach Craig McRae tried to use Dan McStay both forward and back to cover the cracks, but it ultimately just exposed the Pies even more, with the 30-year-old in arguably career-worse form as he struggled with the hybrid role.
McRae will need to make a call on McStay and stick to it for the qualifying final against Adelaide, and the big American Mason Cox may make the decision a little easier.
Cox has played just the eight games at AFL level this year, and only netted a return of two goals. He last appeared in the side in a goalless, two-game stint in rounds 18 and 19, and has since been banished to the VFL.
But the Texan has dominated his fair share of finals in the past, including being part of McRae's premiership squad in 2023. At 213 centimetres he presents an option to kick it to up forward, while also being overqualified to chop out in the ruck.
Meanwhile, it could allow McStay to be the third key back to play on one of Taylor Walker, Riley Thilthorpe or Darcy Fogarty. Or it could mean he's left out of the side entirely, meaning the Pies play one small in defence with captain Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard and Billy Frampton as the suite of key defenders.
Beau McCreery is set to play for the Pies on Thursday despite previously being under an injury cloud, and Bobby Hill is also vying for a spot at some point in September, as he continues to train after navigating some personal issues.
Geelong
Who will Chris Scott look to inject into the game as sub?
Much has been made of the ease of the Cats' fixture heading into the finals, but perhaps more beneficial for Geelong is the fact that they enter September the freshest of all finals teams.
Coach Chris Scott made the most of the final few games of the season, taking the opportunity to rest players such as Patrick Dangerfield, with the two-time premiership coach having everyone he could possibly want available to him at the selection table.
Geelong will likely make two changes for Friday, with Shannon Neale set to return from suspension, while Mark O'Connor is also expected to make his way back in after he was a late withdrawal for their round 24 clash against Richmond. Likely to make way for the pair are Mitch Knevitt and Jed Bews.
The big question now becomes who will Scott elect to go with as the sub?
Of the players slated to be picked in the 23 for Friday, Jack Bowes, Jack Martin and Lawson Humphries all took turns at being the sub down the stretch of the season.
Will Scott stick with one of them, or look to inject experience late in the game to sure up his side by inserting Mitch Duncan or Cam Guthrie? Or if the Cats are in need of another goalscorer, could Ollie Henry be made the sub despite a disappointing season?
Brisbane
What key forward combination do they go with alongside Logan Morris?
It's not often a second-year player has a forward line built around him, but with 48 goals to his name in 2025, Logan Morris has earned the right to be the centrepiece of the defending premiers' attack.
With the shock retirement of Joe Daniher last year, Morris has headlined the Lions' key forward stocks alongside Eric Hipwood. But with Hipwood ruled out of Friday night's clash with a calf injury, coach Chris Fagan will have to settle on a different combination up forward.
In his 15th year, Sam Day seems poised to play in his first final, despite only booting three goals from his 12 appearances this season. He was recalled for the side's final two games of the season, and is capable of chopping out in the ruck when needed.
First-year player Ty Gallop also featured in the Lions' round 24 team against Hawthorn, and could also be in-line for a finals selection in what would be just the third game of his career, should Fagan look to keep him in the side.
Fifth-year player Henry Smith was brought in for round 21 against Collingwood and impressed with three goals in a potential Grand Final preview. But he was quickly omitted after just two disposals the following week against Sydney.
Does the 'Big O' make his way back in?
Admittedly, neither one of Day, Gallop or Smith present as ideal candidates to support Morris in attack. In a bid of desperation, could Chris Fagan recall the reliable Oscar McInerney, and move Darcy Fort into a more ruck-forward role, as he's done plenty of times before?
In his fourth season at the Lions, Fort has held down a spot in the ruck, featuring in 17 games, with McInerney recently being forced to find form in the VFL after an injury-plagued season.
Fagan has gone with the McInerney-Fort combination just five times this season, with the Lions owning a 3-1-1 record in those outings. Forced to spend more time forward with McInerney in the side, Fort kicked two goals over those five games, a better strike rate when compared to Day's season as a whole.
McInerney was heartbreakingly denied the chance to be part of the Lions' 2024 premiership team, after dislocating his shoulder against the Cats in the preliminary final.
Injuries have continued to hinder the 'Big O's' production in 2025, but should he get the nod for Friday night, he will enter the contest in good form, after 26 disposals and a goal over the weekend in the VFL.
The Lions are already expected to be bolstered in the midfield, with the returns of Lachie Neale and Jarrod Berry from injury.
GWS Giants
How many of their stars play through pain?
The Giants could be poised to make the most number of changes of any finals side for week one of September, with six players potentially in-line to return from injury.
According to AFL.com.au's Riley Beveridge, key defender Jack Buckley is looking increasingly unlikely to be fit in time for Saturday's elimination final. But Jesse Hogan, Stephen Coniglio, Jake Stringer and Josh Kelly are all a strong chance to feature against the Hawks, pending Tuesday's training session.
Buckley and Kelly were ruled out for the remainder of the home-and-away season after round 20, while superstar forward Jesse Hogan hasn't been seen since round 21 due to a foot injury. Stringer played his last game the following week in round 22, while Coniglio entered concussion protocols following the club's round 24 win over St Kilda.
Also in the mix for a recall to the side is small forward Brent Daniels, who has only played in six games in 2025 after being a regular in Giants teams in years gone by. Daniels has only played in two games since round four, as he recovered from an abdominal injury before again being struck down with an adductor tendon injury.
He was impressive in his return through the VFL last week, collecting 29 disposals against Richmond.
Hawthorn
Do they persist with four talls?
Many have respected Sam Mitchell boldly deciding to play four key forwards over the final month of the season, and while it hasn't blown up in his face by any means - the Hawks went 2-2 while only narrowly losing to Adelaide and Brisbane - one has to wonder if it's in his side's best interest heading into a cutthroat elimination final.
Jack Gunston, Mabior Chol, Mitch Lewis and Calsher Dear are all players that on their day have proven to be worth their weight in gold. But as a four-man combination, the results have varied.
With all four playing together over the final four games of the season, Gunston stormed home to earn his second All-Australian blazer, with 17 goals. Chol has showed glimpses, booting seven goals over that stretch. But Lewis and Dear haven't quite looked comfortable, only combining for five goals between them.
There's still every possibility that Mitchell persists with the four, with each player offering something different for the Hawks' dynamic forward line. But if Mitchell doesn't trust in their ability to get the job done as a collective in September, it's likely either Lewis or Dear would be forced out.
Is Josh Weddle good to go?
Should Mitchell make the call to drop one of Lewis or Dear, could it be as easy as Josh Weddle in, Lewis/Dear out?
Of course, Weddle plays at the opposite end of the ground, meaning some extra shuffling of positions would be required. But the Hawks have a number of players that can play multiple areas of the ground, which would make such a change easy to facilitate.
Weddle hasn't been seen at AFL level since round 16, after he was sidelined with a back injury that jeopardised his season as a whole.
He returned through the VFL on Saturday, collecting 12 disposals and taking four marks in just a half for Box Hill.
When healthy, Weddle is one of Hawthorn's most dangerous players, providing plenty of run and carry for the Hawks out of the back half.
Fremantle
Can Nathan Fyfe be more than a sub?
The outgoing Nathan Fyfe may prove to be the inspiration Fremantle need to will them to their first premiership in club history, but can he be more that?
Fyfe was brought back into the fold in round 22, and has been used as the sub since, a role both he and coach Justin Longmuir seem comfortable with him continuing in.
While the majority of Fremantle's side aren't new to the finals air after 2022, Fyfe still has a health of a wealth of experience that could be invaluable.
The Dockers will be forced into one change ahead of Saturday night's clash, with Corey Wagner out for the season after sustaining an injury against the Western Bulldogs. Could Fyfe be elevated to take his spot, or does Longmuir put his trust in someone like Nathan O'Driscoll or Matthew Johnson for a full game instead?
Gold Coast
Will an unwanted all-time record stand for an original Sun?
No one has waited for the Gold Coast Suns to qualify for finals longer than David Swallow.
A member of the Suns' original team back in 2011, Swallow has ridden the many, many bumps of the expansion side, holding on to remain at the club that will make history this Saturday night.
But as it stands, Swallow will be a spectator like the rest of us, with the 32-year-old having not played since the Suns' devastating round 19 loss to Adelaide.
Swallow is currently three games short of 250, giving him the record for most games played without a finals appearance.
Should Hardwick find room in the side for his veteran, the record will be returned to Trevor Barker, who played 230 games for St Kilda.
Can a young key forward find his way back in?
David Swallow wasn't the only casualty from the Suns' devastating loss to Adelaide in round 19. After the Suns were humiliated by the Crows, young key forward Jed Walter also found himself dropped from the senior side, and he's been unable to work his way back in since.
Until the Suns heavy defeat at the hands of the Crows, Walter had been a regular in the Suns' lineup, featuring in 16 games for a return of 18 goals.
Hardwick looks set to continue to roll with Ethan Read and Jy Farrar as the key forward pairing behind Ben King, with the duo booting four goals each over the Suns' final three games.
King meanwhile is in career-best form, fresh off a seven-goal outing against Essendon.