This year’s post Round 18 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: virtually certain of being finalists; 99.8% chances of Top 4; 94% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton and Geelong: 97% chances of being finalists; 70-80% chances of Top 4; 1-2% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Brisbane Lions and Fremantle: 85-90% chances of being finalists; 45-50% chances of Top 4; 0.5-1% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Essendon: 65% chances of being finalists; 15% chances of Top 4; slim chances of being Minor Premier

5. GWS, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, and Western Bulldogs: 45-55% chances of being finalists; 5-10% chances of Top 4; slim chances of being Minor Premier

6. Hawthorn, Gold Coast, and Collingwood: 25-30% chance of being finalists; 2-4% chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

7. Adelaide and St Kilda: slim chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4 or being Minor Premier

8. West Coast, Richmond, and North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists, Top 4, or Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 17 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: virtually certain of being finalists; 99.4% chances of Top 4; 85% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton: 98% chances of being finalists; 85% chances of Top 4; 10% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Fremantle, Geelong, and Brisbane Lions : 85-90% chances of being finalists; 45-55% chances of Top 4; 1-2% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Essendon: 75% chances of being finalists; 25% chances of Top 4; 1% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Port Adelaide, GWS, Melbourne, and Collingwood: 40-55% chances of being finalists; 5-15% chances of Top 4; slim chances of being Minor Premier

6. Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast, and Hawthorn: 15-30% chance of being finalists; 1-3% chance of Top 4; no or tiny chance of being Minor Premier

7. St Kilda and Adelaide: 0.5% chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4 or being Minor Premier

8. West Coast, Richmond, and North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists, Top 4, or Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 16 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: virtually certain of being finalists; 99.7% chances of Top 4; 90% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton: 99% chances of being finalists; 90% chances of Top 4; 10% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Fremantle and Brisbane Lions : 85-90% chances of being finalists; 45-60% chances of Top 4; 0.5-1% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Geelong: 75% chances of being finalists; 25-30% chances of Top 4; slim chances of being Minor Premier

5. Collingwood, Essendon, Western Bulldogs, and Gold Coast: 45-60% chances of being finalists; 10-20% chances of Top 4; slim chances of being Minor Premier

6. Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, Melbourne, and GWS: 30-40% chance of being finalists; 5% chance of Top 4; no or tiny chance of being Minor Premier

7. Adelaide and St Kilda: 0.4-0.8% chance of being finalists; no or tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

8. West Coast, Richmond, and North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists, Top 4, or Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 15 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: virtually certain of being finalists; 99.9% chances of Top 4; 95% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton: 98% chances of being finalists; 85% chances of Top 4; 4% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Collingwood, and Essendon: 70-85% chances of being finalists; 30-45% chances of Top 4; 0.2-0.5% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Geelong, Western Bulldogs, and GWS: 50-60% chances of being finalists; 15% chances of Top 4; slim chances of being Minor Premier

5. Melbourne, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, and Hawthorn: 25-35% chance of being finalists; 4-7% chance of Top 4; no or tiny chance of being Minor Premier

6. St Kilda and Adelaide: 0.5-2% chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

7. West Coast, Richmond, and North Melbourne: tiny to no chance of being finalists, Top 4, or Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 14 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: 99.99% chances of being finalists; 99.5% chances of Top 4; 90% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton: 90-95% chances of being finalists; 70% chances of Top 4; 4% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, GWS, and Brisbane Lions: 60-70% chances of being finalists; 25-35% chances of Top 4; 0.2-1% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, and Gold Coast: 40-55% chances of being finalists; 12-16% chances of Top 4; 0.1-0.2% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Hawthorn: 25% chance of being finalists; 4% chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

6. St Kilda and Adelaide: 0.5-2% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

7. West Coast, Richmond and North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists, Top 4, or Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 13 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: 99.9% chances of being finalists; 98% chances of Top 4; 80% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton: 90-95% chances of being finalists; 70% chances of Top 4; 7% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Fremantle, Collingwood, Geelong, Essendon, Port Adelaide, and Brisbane Lions: 65-80% chances of being finalists; 25-45% chances of Top 4; 0.5-3% chances of being Minor Premier

4. GWS: 50% chances of being finalists; 20% chances of Top 4; 0.5% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Western Bulldogs: 40% chances of being finalists; 10% chances of Top 4; tiny chances of being Minor Premier

6. Hawthorn: 15% chance of being finalists; 2% chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

7. St Kilda and Adelaide: 2% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

8. West Coast, Richmond and North Melbourne: none or virtually no chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 12 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: 99% chances of being finalists; 95% chances of Top 4; 75% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton: 90% chances of being finalists; 60% chances of Top 4; 8% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Fremantle, Geelong, Essendon, Collingwood, and GWS: 60-75% chances of being finalists; 30-40% chances of Top 4; 3-4% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, and Gold Coast: 50-60% chances of being finalists; 15-20% chances of Top 4; 0.5-1% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Brisbane Lions: 40% chance of being finalists; 10% chance of Top 4; none or virtually no chance of being Minor Premier

6. Hawthorn and Adelaide: 7-10% chance of being finalists; 0.5-1% chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

7. Hawthorn: 5% chance of being finalists; 0.5% chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

8. St Kilda: 2% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

9. West Coast, Richmond and North Melbourne: none or virtually no chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 11 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: 99% chances of being finalists; 95% chances of Top 4; 75% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton and Melbourne: 75-80% chances of being finalists; 40% chances of Top 4; 4% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Collingwood, Port Adelaide, and Geelong: 70% chances of being finalists; 35% chances of Top 4; 3-4% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Essendon and GWS: 60-65% chances of being finalists; 25-30% chances of Top 4; 2-4% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Fremantle, Gold Coast, and Western Bulldogs: 45-50% chances of being finalists; 15-20% chances of Top 4; 0.5-1% chances of being Minor Premier

6. Brisbane Lions: 35% chance of being finalists; 10% chance of Top 4; none or virtually no chance of being Minor Premier

7. Adelaide: 15-20% chance of being finalists; 3% chance of Top 4; none or virtually no chance of being Minor Premier

8. Hawthorn: 5% chance of being finalists; 0.5% chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

9. St Kilda and West Coast: 0.5-1% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

10. Richmond and North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 10 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney: 99% chances of being finalists; 90% chances of Top 4; 65% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Geelong: 85% chances of being finalists; 50% chances of Top 4; 10% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Port Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, and Melbourne: 65-70% chances of being finalists; 30% chances of Top 4; 2-4% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Gold Coast, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, and GWS: 50-60% chances of being finalists; 15-25% chances of Top 4; 1-2% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Adelaide: 10% chance of being finalists; 1% chance of Top 4; none or virtually no chance of being Minor Premier

6. Hawthorn, St Kilda, and West Coast: 1-4% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

7. Richmond and North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 9 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney and Geelong: 95% chances of being finalists; 70-80% chances of Top 4; 20-40% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Melbourne: 85% chances of being finalists; 50% chances of Top 4; 10% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Carlton, GWS, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, and Essendon: 65-75% chances of being finalists; 25-35% chances of Top 4; 5% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Gold Coast, and Western Bulldogs: 35-45% chances of being finalists; 10% chances of Top 4; 0.5-1% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Adelaide, St Kilda, and Hawthorn: 5-10% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; none or virtually no chance of being Minor Premier

6. West Coast, Richmond, and North Melbourne: none or virtually no chance of being finalists; none or virtually no chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

There is now, then, an emerging gap between a clear Top 8 and the rest of the teams, and also a clear Top 2.

This year’s post Round 8 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Geelong and Sydney: 95%+ chances of being finalists; 70-80% chances of Top 4; 25-35% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Melbourne and GWS: 85-90% chances of being finalists; 50-60% chances of Top 4; 10-15% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Carlton and Collingwood: 65-70% chances of being finalists; 30% chances of Top 4; 3% to 4% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Essendon, and Brisbane Lions: 50-55% chances of being finalists; 15-20% chances of Top 4; 1-2% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs, Adelaide, and St Kilda: 15-30% chance of being finalists; 2-5% chance of Top 4; very small chance of being Minor Premier

6. Hawthorn, West Coast and Richmond: 1-4% chances of being finalists; none to very small chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

7. North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

Geelong: 98% chances of being finalists; 85% chances of Top 4; 40% chances of being Minor Premier

1. GWS and Sydney: 85-90% chances of being finalists; 60% chances of Top 4; 15% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Melbourne and Carlton: 80% chances of being finalists; 45-50% chances of Top 4; 7% to 9% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Port Adelaide: 65% chances of being finalists; 25% chances of Top 4; 3% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Collingwood: 55% chances of being finalists; 20% chances of Top 4; 2% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Gold Coast, Essendon, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, and Brisbane Lions: 40-45% chance of being finalists; 9-12% chance of Top 4; 0.5-1% chance of being Minor Premier

6. St Kilda and Adelaide: 15% chances of being finalists; 2% of Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

7. West Coast: 4% chances of being finalists; 0.5% chance of Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

8. Richmond and Hawthorn: 1.5% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

9. North Melbourne: no chance of being finalists, Top 4, or Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 4 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Geelong: 95% chances of being finalists; 80% chances of Top 4; 40% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton, GWS, Sydney, and Melbourne: 80% chances of being finalists; 50% chances of Top 4; 10% to 15% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Port Adelaide, Collingwood, Brisbane Lions, and Western Bulldogs: 50-65% chances of being finalists; 15-25% chances of Top 4; 2-4% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Essendon, Gold Coast, and Fremantle: 35-40% chance of being finalists; 10% chance of Top 4; 1% chance of being Minor Premier

5. St Kilda: 20% chances of being finalists; 5% of Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

6. Adelaide, West Coast, and Hawthorn: 5-10% chances of being finalists; 0.5-1.5% chance of Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

7. Richmond: 2.5% chance of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

8. North Melbourne: tiny chance of being finalists; no chance of Top 4 or Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 4 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Geelong and GWS: 85-90% chances of being finalists; 60% chances of Top 4; 25% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Fremantle, Sydney, and Brisbane Lions: 65-80% chances of being finalists; 30-45% chances of Top 4; 6% to 10% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Gold Coast, St Kilda, and Collingwood: 35-45% chances of being finalists; 10-15% chances of Top 4; 1-2% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Essendon: 20-25% chance of being finalists; 4-6% chance of Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

5. Hawthorn: 3% chances of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

6. Richmond, West Coast and North Melbourne: <1.5% chances of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 4 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Melbourne and GWS: 85-90% chances of being finalists; 55-70% chances of Top 4; 20-25% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Carlton, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Sydney, and Fremantle: 65-80% chances of being finalists; 30-50% chances of Top 4; 5% to 15% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Brisbane Lions, St Kilda, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast: 35-50% chances of being finalists; 10-15% chances of Top 4; 1-2% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Adelaide: 20% chance of being finalists; 3.5% chance of Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

5. Essendon, Richmond, and Hawthorn: 8-12% chances of being finalists; 1-2% chances of Top 4; virtually no chances of being Minor Premier

6. North Melbourne and West Coast: <1% chances of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 3 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Melbourne and GWS: 80-85% chances of being finalists; 55-60% chances of Top 4; 20% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Fremantle, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, and Port Adelaide: 65-75% chances of being finalists; 35-45% chances of Top 4; 8% to 13% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast: 45-50% chances of being finalists; 15-20% chances of Top 4; 2% to 4% chances of being Minor Premier

4. St Kilda, Collingwood, Adelaide, and Brisbane Lions: 30-40% chances of being finalists; 10-15% chances of Top 4; up to 2% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Essendon, Richmond, and Hawthorn: 10-20% chances of being finalists; 2-5% chances of Top 4; <1% chances of being Minor Premier

6. North Melbourne and West Coast: 1-3% chances of being finalists; tiny chance of Top 4 or of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 2 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. GWS, Sydney, and Melbourne: 80% chances of being finalists; 50-55% chances of Top 4; 15-20% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Port Adelaide, Geelong, Fremantle, and Carlton: 60-70% chances of being finalists; 30-40% chances of Top 4; 7.5% to 12% chances of being Minor Premier

3. St Kilda, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs, and Adelaide: 40-50% chances of being finalists; 15-20% chances of Top 4; 2% to 4% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Collingwood, Essendon, and Hawthorn: 15-25% chances of being finalists; 4-6% chances of Top 4; 0.5% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Richmond and North Melbourne: 7-10% chances of being finalists; 1-2% chances of Top 4; very slim chances of being Minor Premier

6. West Coast: 1.5% chance of being a finalist; tiny chance of Top 4 or of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 1 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. Sydney and GWS: 75-80% chances of being finalists; 15-20% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Fremantle: 60-70% chances of being finalists; 6% to 10% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Geelong and Brisbane Lions : 50% chances of being finalists; 3% to 5% chances of being Minor Premier

4. St Kilda, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, and Hawthorn: 25-40% chances of being finalists; 1-3% chances of being Minor Premier

5. Richmond, Essendon, and North Melbourne: 10-15% chances of being finalists; 0.5% chances of being Minor Premier

6. West Coast: 3% chance of being a finalist; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

This year’s post Round 0 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

1. GWS and Adelaide: 70% chances of being finalists; 15% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Sydney, Carlton, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast, Melbourne, and Fremantle: 55-65% chances of being finalists; 6% to 9% chances of being Minor Premier

3. St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, and Geelong: 40-45% chances of being finalists; 4% to 4.5% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Richmond, and Hawthorn: 20-30% chances of being finalists; 1-2% chances of being Minor Premier

5. North Melbourne and Essendon: 10-15% chances of being finalists; 0.5% chances of being Minor Premier

6. West Coast: 5% chance of being a finalist; 0.1% chance of being Minor Premier

For reasons outlined last year in a blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal, and because I feel as though the simulations last year were fairly reasonable, I am now running only hot (aka Heretical) simulations.

For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, there are also some details about this in that blog post. The short version though is that, within each simulation replicate, the results of a simulated game are used to update the teams’ Ratings and Venue Performance Values, which are then used for the following game. In other words, we treat the simulated results as if they were real ones, and alter the relevant parameters accordingly.

This year’s pre Round 0 (sic) simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as follows (although such grouping is much harder this year, such is the apparent evenness of the competition):

1. GWS and Adelaide: 70%-75% chances of being finalists; 13-17% chances of being Minor Premier

2. Melbourne, Brisbane Lions, Sydney, Collingwood, and Port Adelaide: 55-65% chances of being finalists; 6.5% to 10% chances of being Minor Premier

3. Fremantle, Carlton, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, and Geelong: 40-50% chances of being finalists; 4% to 6% chances of being Minor Premier

4. Gold Coast, Richmond, and Hawthorn: 30-40% chances of being finalists; 2-3% chances of being Minor Premier

5. North Melbourne and Essendon: 15% chances of being finalists; 0.5% chances of being Minor Premier

6. West Coast: 5% chance of being a finalist; 0.1% chance of being Minor Premier