With the reward a double chance, it is a natural target.

However, there has also long been the thought that third is actually the best position to finish at the end of the home and away season.

So often with a top six, the last spot for finals has been filled by a side basically just making up the numbers.

Lake Wendouree was the last team to finish sixth and win a final. That was back in 2008.

The feeling has been that third can give an easy pathway into the second semi-final - providing a double chance and being just one step away from a grand final berth.

This is undoubtedly better than being the loser of the qualifying final (first v second), which is left to continue its pursuit of a premiership via a knockout first semi-final.

While Melton landed its first BFL flag in 2000 after finishing third, it was Redan - or at least its supporters - which began promoting a desire to secure third as the priority.

And no wonder. It was a formula which worked for the Lions.

They won the 2002 premiership - their first in 25 years - from third and did the same in 2003 and 2007.

Redan still had to work really hard on the first occasion - going via the preliminary final after losing the second semi-final. In 2003 though, it went straight through with three wins.

Since 2007, the third-placed sides have certainly enjoyed a fine run. It has not always meant a premiership, but they have more than often than made their way into a grand final.

Eight have progressed to the big day in that period - East Point in 2009, Ballarat 2010, Sunbury 2013, Ballarat 2014, Darley 2015, Sunbury 2016, Darley 2017 and Melton last year. Only Darley has go on to win the flag - in 2015 and 2017.

Curiously, Darley is again launching its finals campaign from third.

This season look a little different though.

It has been one of the most even competitions the BFL has ever seen with the top six separated by one win.

The top four of East Point, Sebastopol, Darley and Sunbury had 11 wins, and Melton and Redan 10.

Consequently, the "free-hit" that Darley might normally have had from third does not appear quite so clear cut.

Darley meets Redan in an elimination final at Darley Park on Saturday.

Redan does appear to be the weakest link in the finals based on its latest form, as a result of a shock loss to Lake Wendouree and heavy defeat to Melton.

Saying that though, the Lions could just have easily finished on top.

Interestingly, over the season Darley and Redan have each performed below par in match-ups with other finalists.

Each has won just three of seven games, so when it has come to be the biggest matches Darley and Redan have not always been on top of their game.

So the question is, can Darley make the most of what has been a favourable finish of third on the ladder as its has in its previous two premiership years?

Or can Redan reinforce the evenness of the competition this season and buck the odds set down by history and get a rare finals win from sixth? The latest form suggests that third is again set to open a big opportunity.

d Melton

d Sebastopol

lt Redan

d Sunbury

d Darley

lt Sunbury

lt Melton

d Sebastopol

lt Darley

d Sunbury

d Sebastopol

d East Point

lt Melton

lt Darley

lt Sebastopol

lt Melton

lt East Point

lt Redan

lt Sunbury

d Redan

d Melton

d Darley

lt East Point

d Melton

d Sunbury

lt Melton

d Redan

lt East Point

lt Sebastopol

lt Sunbury

d East Point

lt East Point

d Darley

lt Sunbury

d Redan

lt Sebastopol

d East Point

d Sunbury

lt Sebastopol

d Redan

lt Darley

lt Redan

d Melton

lt East Point

d Sebastopol

d East Point

d Darley

lt Melton

QUALIFYING FINAL: East Point v Sebastopol at Eastern Oval on Saturday, 2.15pm

ELIMINATION FINAL: Darley v Redan at Darley Park on Saturday. 2.15pm

ELIMINATION FINAL: Sunbury v Melton at Darley Park on Sunday, 2.15pm