SEN’s Dwayne Russell has named the five teams under the most pressure heading into finals week one.
Russell’s pressure meter ranks teams from 1-5, with number one having the most pressure on them and most to lose heading into the first weekend of finals.
Check out Russell’s pressure meter below.
1 - Carlton
vs Sydney - MCG – Friday night
“On the pressure meter for me, Carlton's number one heading into this weekend,” Russell said SEN Afternoons.
“All the hard work the whole season, how the season is judged and how Vossy’s evolution as a coach is judged is coming down to one game.
“Win it, and the season's a resounding success regardless of what happens next week or the week after or the week after that. It's a resounding success.
“But if you lose and depending on how you lose, it's still going to be debated all summer. What kind of season Carlton has had?
“There’s a bit on this for Carlton.”
2 - Brisbane Lions
vs Port Adelaide - Gabba - Saturday night
“Brisbane, I think are number two.
“The list build, the recent failures in failures – the whole world knows that this is Brisbane's moment, their best chance maybe to ever win a flag and they can't afford to waste another top four finish.
“I've got them at number two, given that the final is at the Gabba and the expectation on Brisbane is high.”
3 – Port Adelaide
vs Brisbane - Gabba - Saturday night
“Port Adelaide are at three and I think this is Ken Hinkley's moment.
“A decade of coaching at one club for no Grand Finals, but they’ve made another top four finish.
“If they win this, it’s a world changer for Ken Hinkley and it gets this group a home Preliminary Final which could be the difference between them winning the flag or not.
“So, I think Port's three on the pressure meter, but I like the fact that Ken Hinkley and Port Adelaide's time has kind of come.
“This is their big moment as underdogs at the Gabba no one expects them to win.
“You win it and all of a sudden you get a home Prelim Final.”
4 - Collingwood
vs Melbourne - MCG – Thursday night
“Collingwood's four.
“Craig McRae, I think he needs a finals win in 2023.
“He’s got everything else. Every other box is ticked.
“This is the one that he needs to tick though.”
5 - Melbourne
vs Collingwood - MCG - Thursday night
“I've got Melbourne at five.
“Most believe they have a list worthy of two premierships in this era.
“I think they have the best team in it right now. I think they have the best 18 in it right now.
“Luckily in some ways, they have a flag at least in this era behind them, unlike Brisbane and unlike Port Adelaide.
“So that's why I have them at five.”