What is the prime position to finish on the ladder after the home and away season to launch a premiership assault?
First is usually a good place to start.
Since the AFL introduced the current final eight system in 2000, the minor premier has gone on to win eight of the 23 flags on offer.
Finishing top and getting a home final and a double chance is paramount in achieving the ultimate success.
The top four overall is also extremely important, highlighted by the fact that there have been seven premiers who finished second and seven premiers who finished third.
However, the big danger area is fourth. It is a poisoned chalice.
Not one team who has finished the regular season in fourth spot has gone on to win the flag. Only three fourth-placed teams have made the Grand Final, the most recent being Geelong in 2020.
Prior to that, it was Sydney in 2006 and Collingwood in 2002. All three of those sides were beaten in the decider.
These numbers do not bode well for Melbourne who currently occupy fourth position.
Of course the Demons might not finish fourth, as second-placed Brisbane, third-placed Port Adelaide and fifth-placed Carlton, to a lesser degree, are also in the mix.
But nevertheless, the odds will be firmly against whoever finishes fourth in 2023.
Fourth aside, only one team has won the flag from outside the four since 2000 - the Western Bulldogs in 2016.
The Dogs also made the 2021 Grand Final from fifth while GWS played off in the 2019 Grand Final after finishing sixth.
Other than that, it has been all roads lead to the Grand Final and the premiership (bar fourth) for top-four clubs.
Advantage to first, second or third.
However, trends and rules are made to be broken.
See the ladder positions of the premiership winners since 2000:
A list of Grand Finalists and their ladder positions since 2000:
2000 - Essendon v Melbourne - 1 v 3
2001 - Essendon v Brisbane - 1 v 2
2002 - Collingwood v Brisbane - 4 v 2
2003 - Brisbane v Collingwood - 3 v 2
2004 - Port Adelaide v Brisbane - 1 v 2
2005 - Sydney v West Coast - 3 v 2
2006 - Sydney v West Coast - 4 v 1
2007 - Geelong v Port Adelaide - 1 v 2
2008 - Geelong v Hawthorn - 1 v 2
2009 - St Kilda v Geelong - 1 v 2
2010 - Collingwood v St Kilda - 1 v 3
2011 - Collingwood v Geelong - 1 v 2
2012 - Hawthorn v Sydney - 1 v 3
2013 - Hawthorn v Fremantle - 1 v 3
2014 - Sydney v Hawthorn - 1 v 2
2015 - Hawthorn v West Coast - 3 v 2
2016 - Sydney v Western Bulldogs - 1 v 7
2017 - Adelaide v Richmond - 1 v 3
2018 - West Coast v Collingwood - 2 v 3
2019 - Richmond v GWS - 3 v 6
2020 - Richmond v Geelong - 3 v 4
2021 - Melbourne v Western Bulldogs - 1 v 5
2022 - Geelong v Sydney - 1 v 3
THE LADDER RANGE: WHERE EACH OF THE 12 REMAINING FINALS HOPEFULS COULD FINISH