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

Brisbane Lions are, narrowly, most favoured, at about 1-in-3 chances, ahead of Collingwood and GWS both at about 3-in-10 chances.

These probabilities are quite different to the market’s partly because MoSHBODS has the Lions as stronger favourites against Carlton than the market does, and also has GWS as slight favourites over Collingwood.

Collingwood and GWS both win about 60% of the Grand Finals they make, while Brisbane Lions and Carlton only win about 40%.

The most-recent MoSHBODS-based hot simulations see Brisbane Lions and Collingwood as strong and near-equal Flag favourites.

Those most-recent simulations produce the probability estimates shown at right for the week at which each team will bow out of the race.

The Flag estimates see Melbourne on top with about a 30% chance, an estimate that makes their current $4 market price seem quite attractive.

In contrast, Collingwood at $3.30 looks a long way short of value, as are Brisbane Lions, also at $4, Carlton at $12, and Sydney at $51.

GWS at $26, and St Kilda at $41 look like they might be a bit of fun but, unlike Melbourne, are very unlikely to delight.

Things are a lot simpler after last weekend, at least as far as Minor Premier, Top 4, and Top 8 are concerned, and the simulations now suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as follows:

1. Collingwood: certain of finishing Top 4; and about 85% chance of being Minor Premier

2. Brisbane Lions: certain of finishing Top 4; about a 15% chance of being Minor Premier

3. Port Adelaide: certain of finishing Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier (needs Collingwood to lose, Brisbane Lions to draw or lose, and to win by enough to lift their percentage above Collingwood’s. Roughly speaking, the sum of Collingwood’s losing margin and their own winning margin needs to be about 190 points or more)

4. Melbourne: certain of finishing Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

5. Carlton, St Kilda, and Sydney: certain of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4

6. GWS: 70% chance of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4

7. Western Bulldogs: 28% chance of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4

8. Essendon, Geelong, Adelaide, Richmond, Gold Coast, Fremantle, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, and West Coast: no chance of being finalists

The latest simulations suggest that there are still 10 teams with about a 2-in-5 or better chance of playing Finals, with five or six teams realistically competing for three of the eight spots.

Those simulations suggest that the teams can now be roughly grouped as follows:

1. Collingwood: certain of finishing Top 4; and about 90% chance of being Minor Premier

2. Port Adelaide: certain of finishing Top 4; tiny chance of being Minor Premier

3. Brisbane Lions: certain of finishing Top 4; about a 10% chance of being Minor Premier

4. Melbourne: certain of being finalists; 90% chance of finishing Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

5. Carlton: virtually certain of being finalists; 8% chance of finishing Top 4; no chance of being Minor Premier

6. St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, and Sydney: 60 to 70% chance of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4 or being Minor Premier

7. Geelong and Adelaide: 40 to 45% chance of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4 or being Minor Premier

8. GWS: 25% chance of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4 or being Minor Premier

9. Essendon: 7.5% chance of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4 or being Minor Premier

10. Richmond, Gold Coast, Fremantle, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, and West Coast: no chance of being finalists, finishing Top 4. or being Minor Premier

(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology used for these simulations, please refer to this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)

The latest simulations suggest that there are still 10 teams with a 2-in-5 or better chance of playing Finals, with seven teams realistically competing for four of the eight spots.

Those simulations suggest that the teams can now be roughly grouped as follows:

1. Collingwood: certain of finishing Top 4; and about 75% chance of being Minor Premier

2. Brisbane Lions: certain of being finalists; almost certain of finishing Top 4; and about 20% chance of being Minor Premier

3. Port Adelaide and Melbourne: certain of being finalists; almost certain of finishing Top 4; and about 1 to 4% chance of being Minor Premier

4. Carlton and Western Bulldogs: 85% chance of being finalists; 2 to 7% chance of finishing Top 4; and no chance of being Minor Premier

5. GWS, Geelong, and Sydney: 45 to 60% chance of being finalists; little or no chance of finishing Top 4; and no chance of being Minor Premier

6. St Kilda and Adelaide: 25 to 40% chance of being finalists; little to no chance of finishing Top 4; and no chance of being Minor Premier

7. Essendon, Richmond, and Gold Coast: 1 to 7% chance of being finalists; no chance of finishing Top 4; and no chance of being Minor Premier

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