EVERYTHING in the world of AFL is slowlybubbling towards the much-anticipated finals series.

Luke Hodge earlier this week commentedabout Hawthorn’s loss to Port Adelaide, and how it really hurt.

He said he had never felt so passionateabout his football as he did on the weekend, because he now knows every gamecounts, every goal, every point, every mark, every kick. 

I too, am in unfamiliar territory. With onemore win, I will be playing in my second finals series and a fourth finals gameover my 15-year career.

It’s been a long time between drinks, but again,I’m still in hot pursuit of just making the final eight and playing finalsfooty.

This year is no different to any other. Thereappears to be so many clubs with a genuine chance of winning thepremiership. 

Teams from each state still have a mathematicalchance to be there in September and the Melbourneclubs, after years of drought, finally have a decent chance of grabbing thepremiership cup. 

Playing a finals series is a long-standing traditionthrough almost every sport in Australia.

We play for premierships, and to get them,we must win finals. 

But comments from Port Adelaide coach MarkWilliams on Geelonghave really got me thinking.

Should the AFL deliver a greater reward tothe clubs finishing on the top after the home-and-away season, rather thanfor winning the premiership?

Geelong’s form this year has been nothing short of spectacular , especiallytaking into account today’s competitive environment.

In the English Premier League soccer eachclub plays twice and whoever finishes on top after that is named champion.

Let’s make one thing clear, I don’t wantthe finals series taken away, but I do know that a lot of money has gonetowards clubs finishing in the top four, to try and ensure success in the postseason.

If Geelonggo out in the first couple of weeks of the finals, they get nothing, they getjack-all other than a minor premiers trophy. Woohoo! 

As a player I know a 30-round season, playingeveryone twice, is ridiculous, but it’s probably the most logical scenario.

Plus you would never want to lose thehysteria that builds around the country for that last Saturday in September.

Regardless of how many games we play, andwho we play against, a team that performs over the 22 rounds like Geelong should be rewardedwith a lot more than a trophy.

It’s hard enough to finish in the top eight,let alone in the top four to secure a second chance in the finals, and Geelong are three gamesclear at the top of the ladder.

So I would like to take this opportunity tocongratulate the Geelong Football Club, coach Mark Thompson and his players ontheir minor premiership win. This will no doubt mean as much to them as thetrophy they receive but I am sincere in my applause, they have had a greatseason.

Unfortunately I don’t write out the chequesand set the rewards for the AFL, but that’s something that I believe should definitelybe looked at.

The views in thisstory are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.