See how the statistics of each CHFL finalist stack up against each other after a stop-start season:
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GORDON
First
11 wins, 0 losses
Head-to-head: did not play Dunnstown
Highest score: 42.26 (278) v Ballan
Lowest score: 6.14 (50) v Rokewood-Corindhap
100-plus scores: 9
Highest score against: Hepburn 9.11 (65)
Head-to-head top 8
R1: 19.12 (126) d Skipton 8.10 (58)
R3: 22.18 (150) d Springbank 6.9 (45)
R5: 12.12 (84) d Buninyong 7.3 (45)
R7: v Dunnstown, did not play
R9: 15.10 (100) d Hepburn 9.11 (65)
R10: 6.14 (50) d Rokewood-Corindhap 7.6 (48)
R17: 19.17 (131) d Waubra 7.9 (51)
Five players have played all games
Leading goalkickers: Ash Munari 38, Adam Toohey 32, Jaymes Gorman 21
OLLIE NASH SAYS
The most dominant team all season long and rightly, the premiership favourites heading into another finals campaign.
The Eagles average winning margin of 54.83 against top eight teams attest to that.
Stars Ethan Crackel and Shannon Byrnes will be missing until at least Thursday, September 2, due to living in Melbourne, meaning if Gordon makes it through, it may see them return for a preliminary final.
Even without them the Eagles are a tough side to combat, with stars on each line and one of the best defences and offences in the league.
HEPBURN
Second
9 wins, 1 loss (1 game points shared)
Head-to-head: did not play Rokewood-Corindhap
Highest score: 39.13 (247) v Carngham-Linton
Lowest score: 9.7 (61) v Bungaree
100-plus scores: 8
Highest score against: Gordon 15.10 (100)
Head-to-head top 8
R3: 20.13 (133) d Waubra 6.8 (44)
R4: 23.16 (154) d Skipton 10.6 (66)
R6: 10.10 (124) d Springbank 9.6 (60)
R8: v Buninyong, did not play
R9: 9.11 (65) lt Gordon 15.10 (100
R10: 13.22 (1100) d Dunnstown 8.7 (55)
R13: v Rokewood-Corindhap, did not play
Players used 2021: 33
Five players have played all games
Leading goalkickers: Sam Dunstan 82, Andrew McKay 21, Brad McKay 18
OLLIE NASH SAYS
Alongside Gordon, Hepburn has been one of the premiership favourites all season.
The Burra look driven to bounce back from their 2019 grand final defeat and have played with that hunger throughout the year.
Their star power is as good as any team in the competition, especially forward of the ball with the likes of Sam Dunstan, McKay brothers Andy, Bradley and Mitchell and Shylo Smith through the midfield.
If these players are firing, Hepburn stand a strong chance to go all the way.
ROKEWOOD-CORINDHAP
Third
9 wins, 3 losses
Head-to-head: did not play Hepburn
Highest score: 22.20 (152) v Beaufort
Lowest score: 3.5 (23) v Dunnstown
100-plus scores: 4
Highest score against: Skipton 15.7 (97)
Head-to-head top 8
R4: 11.10 (76) d Waubra 10.13 (73)
R5: 7.9 (51) lt Skipton 15.7 (97)
R7: v Springbank. did not play
R9: 10.30 (90) d Buninyong 5.3 (33)
R10: 7.6 (48) lt Gordon 6.14 (50)
R11: 3.5 (23) lt Dunnstown 5.7 (37)
R13: v Hepburn, did not play
Players used 2021: 34
10 players have played all games
Leading goalkickers: Jake Carr 31, Matthieu Brehaut 16, Laityn Withers 14
OLLIE NASH SAYS
The biggest improvers in 2021, set for its first CHFL finals campaign since joining the league.
As the season has progressed, the public's confidence in Rokewood-Corindhap has grown and I feel its own confidence has grown too.
The Grasshoppers expect to win each game they play, a confidence you need to beat perennial contenders such as Hepburn and Gordon.
DUNNSTOWN
Fourth
9 wins, 3 losses
Head-to-head: did not play Gordon
Highest score: 25.15 (165) v Carngham-Linton
Lowest score: 5.7 (37) v Rokewood-Corindhap
100-plus scores: 3
Highest score against: Hepburn 13.22 (100)
Head-to-head top 8
R1: 9.12 (66) lt Waubra 12.11 (83)
R2: 12.6 (78) d Skipton 8.13 (61)
R4: 7.16 (58) lt Springbank 8.12 (60)
R6: 9.14 (68) d Buninyong 10.3 (63)
R7: v Gordon, did not play
R10: 8.7 (57) lt Hepburn 13.22 (100)
R11: 5.7 (37) d Rokewood-Corindhap (3.5 (23)
Players used 2021: 32
7 players played all games
Leading goalkickers: Matthew Bullus 31, Scott Howson 26
OLLIE NASH SAYS
Alongside Rokewood-Corindhap, Dunnstown have been the biggest improvers in season 2021.
From not making finals in 2019 to the top four in 2021, Dunnstown's rise has been impressive, with a core group of juniors topped up with key recruits.
The evenness of the Towners' line-up has been their biggest strength, not relying on stars to get them across the line, instead all 22 players to get the job done.
BUNINYONG
Fifth
8 wins, 3 losses
Head-to-head: 11.10 (76) d Skipton 6.12 (48)
Highest score: 30.12 (192) v Clunes
Lowest score: 5.3 (33) v Rokewood-Corindhap
100-plus scores: 2
Highest score against: Rokewood-Corindhap 10.30 (90)
Head-to-head top 8
R2: 9.6 (60) d Springbank 6.5 (41)
R5: 7.3 (45) lt Gordon 12.12 (84)
R6: 10.3 (63) lt Dunnstown 9.14 (68)
R8: v Hepburn, did not play
R9: 5.33 (33) lt Rokewood-Corindhap 10.30 (90)
R16: v Waubra, did not play
R17: 11.10 (76) d Skipton 6.12 (48)
Players used 2021: 34
7 players played all games
Leading goalkickers: Caius Barrenger 27, Lochlan Stewart 12, Luke Cullen
OLLIE NASH SAYS
Buninyong has hit form at the right stage of the season after a little lapse in performance through rounds five, six and nine.
The Bombers have won five straight since that point, their senior stalwarts from past grand final teams re-energised by up-and-coming young players keen to establish themselves in the senior line-up.
Buninyong has the potential to beat anyone on any given day and with four elimination finals standing in the way of a premiership, it will have to be in top form each week.
SPRINGBANK
Sixth
7 wins, 4 losses
Head-to-head: did not play Waubra
Highest score: 20.17 (137) v Ballan
Lowest score: 6.5 (41) v Buninyong
100-plus scores: 3
Highest score against: Gordon 22.18 (150)
Head-to-head top 8
R2: 6.5 (41) lt Buninyong 9.6 (60)
R3: 6.9 (45) lt Gordon 22.18 (150)
R4: 8.12 (60) d Dunnstown 7.16 (58)
R6: 9.6 (60) lt Hepburn 19.10 (124)
R7: v Rokewood-Corindhap, did not play
R14: v Waubra, did not play
R15: 13.11 (89) d Skipton 9.7 (61)
Players used 2021: 39
7 players played all games
Leading goalkickers: Zak Bozanich 32, Stephen Staunton 25, Bill Driscoll 18
OLLIE NASH SAYS
After a slow start to the season with injuries and form, Springbank has become one of the best team's in the competition in the second-half of the season.
Possessing a forward line capable of kicking big scores and a quality midfield able to get them plenty of opportunity, the big grounds and dry weather in finals may suit the Tigers.
The losses of Andrew Challis, Todd Finco, James Thompson and Zak Bozanich hurt, but if the Tigers can make a preliminary final, they may get those players back.
WAUBRA
Seventh
7 wins, 4 losses
Head-to-head: did not play Springbank
Highest score: 21.14 (140) v Carngham-Linton
Lowest score: 5.9 (39) v Skipton
100-plus scores: 3
Highest score against: Hepburn 20.13 (133)
Head-to-head top 8
R1: 12.11 (83) d Dunnstown 9.12 (66)
R3: 6.88 (44) lt Hepburn 20.13 (133)
R4: 10.13 (73) lt Rokewood-Corindhap 11.10 (76)
R12: 5.9 (39) lt Skipton 7.9 (51)
R14: v Springbank, did not play
R16: v Waubra, did not play
R17: 7.9 (51) lt Gordon 19.17 (131)
Players used 2021: 35
7 players played all games
Leading goalkickers: Austin Murphy 16, James hallett 12, Lachlan Rinaldi 9
OLLIE NASH SAYS
After a departure of lots of senior stars from its 2019 premiership, Waubra has been impressive in 2021, with a host of new, young talent growing before our eyes throughout the season.
Like all the sides outside the top four, four elimination finals stands in the Roos' way of a premiership, however, they have the potential to pull it off.
Geordie Lukich, Lincoln Barnes and Austin Murphy loom as massive inclusions after missing Waubra's last handful of games through injury.
SKIPTON
Sixth
7 wins, 5 losses
Head-to-head: 6.12 (48) lt Buninyong 11.10 (76)
Highest score: 19.14 (128) v Creswick
Lowest score: 5.8 (38) v Daylesford
100-plus scores: 3
Highest score against: Hepburn 23.16 (154)
Head-to-head top 8
R1: 8.10 (58) lt Gordon 19.12 (126)
R2: 8.13 (61) lt Dunnstown 12.6 (78)
R4: 10.6 (66) lt Hepburn 23.16 (154)
R5: 15.7 (97) d Rokewood-Corindhap 7.9 (51)
R12: 7.9 (51) d Waubra 5.9 (39)
R15: 9.7 (61) lt Springbank 13.11 (89)
R17: 6.12 (48) lt Buninyong 11.10 (76)
Players used 2021: 33
7 players played all games
Leading goalkickers: Andrew Pitson 26, Jack Peeters 19, Rhys Monument 16
OLLIE NASH SAYS
This season's Skipton outfit may be one of the best eight seeds the CHFL has ever seen, highlighting the evenness of the competition this season.
The Emus have been a bit up and down which they need to address during the finals, but their big wins over Rokewood-Corindhap and Waubra would instill belief that they are around the mark.
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