<p>Welcome to The Huddle’s AFL Finals previews!</p> <p>After the tightest and craziest season ever, we are finally down to the final eight teams that will battle it out for this year’s premiership.</p> <p>As we gear up for all the September action, it’s time to look at and preview all the teams that have qualified for the AFL Finals in 2024. Starting with the minor premiers - the Sydney Swans.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Swans Road to the Finals</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Swans burst out of the blocks, winning 13 of their first 14 games to be the early pace setters and premiership favourites. At one stage, they were maintaining a three-game gap on top to their nearest rival and looking totally bulletproof on field.</p> <p>Three close losses in four weeks saw their runaway season hit the skids. Much like it did for almost every club this season. It looked like it was about to nosedive when they lost badly to the Bulldogs at home by 39 points and were hammered by 112 points away to Port Adelaide.</p> <p>A dramatic win against Collingwood, followed by an easy accounting of Essendon in the end shored up their position on top of the ladder. Not only restoring some strong form at the right time but delivering the clubs fourth minor premiership by qualifying for the AFL Finals in pole position.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Players to Watch</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Isaac Heeney</h3> <p>He might be ineligible to win the Brownlow Medal, but Isaac Heeney is one of the main men leading the Swans charge to the premiership in 2024.</p> <p>A slight role change which has seen the star spend more time than ever in the midfield, Heeney has exploded this season producing career-high numbers. His return to form against Collingwood where he dragged them over the line late was the reminder of just what he could do after a patch of down weeks.</p> <p>He’s been the Swans’ main man all season long, but as the stars do, he’s saving his absolute best for September.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Errol Gulden</h3> <p>The second of the Swans big midfield three, Gulden has cemented his place as one of the best handful of players in the competition.</p> <p>The All-Australian has become one of the most damaging wingers in the game and has added strings to his bow this season by attending centre bounces in the absence of skipper Callum Mills in the first half of the season.</p> <p>With Luke Parker and Mills now back in the team, it frees Gulden up to lock himself on to one wing and perform at his damaging best on the September stage.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Chad Warner</h3> <p>He’s been on this trajectory for a while, but Warner has fully emerged as one of the stars of the competition this season. Franked by a scintillating mid-season patch where there wasn’t an opposition player who could lay a finger on him.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Why the Sydney Swans Can Win the AFL Grand Final</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>They were the early pacesetters and despite a small stumble, still look like the best team in the competition.</p> <p>Their defence is the fourth ranked defensive group in the competition. Their star factor and workmanlike midfield with ruck Brodie Grundy, combined with a forward line that’s in sync with McLean, Amartey and the returning Tom Papley bringing the chaos, gives them the best chance to use all their weapons.</p> <p>They just need to fix their whole not rocking up for the first quarter problem, and away they go.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Premiers.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>How Many Premierships do the Sydney Swans Have?&nbsp;</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Five. Last time they saluted was 2012. They would dearly love to reverse their fortunes on the last day of the year having been there three times since and finishing second best. Two SCG finals sets it up beautifully for them.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Swans AFL Premiership Odds</h2>