The four teams left in the race for the premiership are the AFL’s four best teams at the moment.

No disrespect to Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney, but the Hawks made the most of a soft run home to claim their top-four berth and have exited in straight sets.

The Hawks were not disgraced in either of their finals, but were beaten by better teams in both.

GWS had too much go wrong for too long to be serious contenders. Their dozy first quarter against Collingwood on Saturday night left them with too much to do to win.

League headquarters could not have asked for a better preliminary final scenario.

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Camera Icon AFL 2018 Semi Final - West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium, Perth. Pictured - Eagle Josh Kennedy celebrates a goal in the third term Credit: Daniel Wilkins

On Friday night the MCG will be full to bursting when inner suburban arch rivals Richmond and Collingwood clash.

There will be close to 100,000 people in the stands and nowhere to hide on the field.

The West Coast-Melbourne match-up at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon is also a guaranteed full house.

There is a lot to admire about the Demons. After not being able to beat a top-eight team until round 22, their past four victories have all come against sides that made the finals.

They have earned their spot in the penultimate stage of the competition.

But just in case some east coast pundits have forgotten, the second best team in the AFL over the 23 rounds of home-and-away competition awaits them in Perth.

It was reassuring to see bookmakers install West Coast slight favourites for Saturday afternoon’s match because for a day or so after the Dees had stormed into the preliminary final, the commentary suggested they were coming to Perth to play the Widgiemooltha seconds.

It is true Melbourne are in great form, have great momentum and are very capable of coming here and causing an upset. But it will be an upset if they get into their first grand final since 2000.

I am not suggesting for a minute that the Dees can’t come here and win. They have built up a truckload of momentum.

For a day or so after the Dees had stormed into the preliminary final, the commentary suggested they were coming to Perth to play the Widgiemooltha seconds.

Their method, with strong contested ball numbers, should hold up in the heat of a preliminary final.

But the Eagles have been denied a little earned respect by those in the east. Just a reminder. West Coast have won 16 games this year. They are 10-3 at Optus Stadium. They are 3-1 against the other preliminary finalists.

The Demons came here and beat them in round 22, but the Eagles that day were without Josh Kennedy at the start of the game and without Jack Darling (concussion) before quarter-time. Melbourne did not have Jack Viney but West Coast are 11-0 in games that both Kennedy and Darling have played this season.

Eagles ruck duo Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy might have a couple of sleepless nights this week about Max Gawn. But it’s a fair bet that Oscar McDonald and Sam Frost will be equally restless about the prospect of matching up on Kennedy and Darling, who helped turn the qualifying final against Collingwood by kicking three of their team’s five last-quarter goals.