In the Mix Round 2

[AaronKirk]

List of teams in last 16 years who have missed the 8, then made a Preliminary final in the following year. e.g Melbourne 16th in 1997, Preliminary Finals in 1998.

1998   Melbourne
1999   Brisbane, Carlton
2000   Melbourne
2001   Richmond
2002   Collingwood
2003   Sydney
2004   St Kilda, Geelong
2005   Adelaide
2006   Fremantle
2007   Geelong, Port Adelaide
2008   St Kilda, Western Bulldogs
2009   None
2010   None
2011   West Coast
2012   Adelaide
2013   None

If history is a guide there is a very good chance that a side that misses the 8 will make a preliminary final the following year.

The main candidate IMO this year is West Coast. With a full strength side and a soft draw I believe they are the best chance to do this.

What is the point of this stat?

If anything it shows that its harder and harder to make the prelim if you missed the top 8 the year before judging that only 2 teams in the past  5 years have done so meaning the competition is getting more harder and harder.

Arguably with the AFL's deliberate manipulation of the draw it would be easier to do so. The teams who were flowered with injuries in the previous seasons who should be in the top 6 will get good draft picks, a fitter list than the previous season and a soft draw. West Coast fit that profile better than any other team IMO.