Fremantle are the best team in footy right now.

They’re two games clear on top of the ladder, they’re premiership favourites and it’s with 15 wins from their past 16 matches, it’s their consistency setting them apart at the top of the table.

But someone has to stand up and challenge them at the end of the season and there a plenty of teams right now who could do just that.

And the chasing pack has plenty of finals experience and a healthy bit of unfinished business.

Here are five teams that could take it up to Fremantle in September.

SYDNEY

It took a massive effort and a huge second half for the Dockers to knock over the Swans in Perth on Thursday.

While they haven’t had their strongest couple of weeks, you know they have the tip of list that is primed to contend and Dean Cox has them really well-drilled and well-structured.

They’re a bit like Freo where I think they understand each other really well.

Then you’ve got the superstars.

Charlie Curnow is having a great year and really coming into his own now in red and white. There’s a good reason why they got him out of Carlton and up to New South Wales and we’re starting to see it on show now.

I think the return of Tom Papley last week is also huge for their forward line. He can be a driving force for them, gives them heaps of energy and just create something out of nothing for them when they need it most.

Then you’ve got Errol Gulden who has also come back into the team after injury and can just run all day for them. He’s such a dangerous player along with Chad Warner.

We all know what Isaac Heeney offers them as one of the best mid-forwards in the game.

There’s the star power, but they’ve also got a lot of role players that play some strong football as well and are able to do tasks when the coach needs them to be done. They’re a lot like the Dockers in that regard.

The game last week went in Freo’s favour, but in a final, you can’t afford to give the Swans a head start by kicking 11 points like they did on the weekend.

Their past couple of grand finals — two years ago against Brisbane and in 2022 against Collingwood — haven’t gone their way. I can tell you for sure that will burn with lots of those players. Our defeat in 2013 and the fact I didn’t get another crack still burns with me.

But what you gain out of playing two of the past four grand finals is experience. It’s the little things, like handling the hype of the week, the parade and the crowd.

It will leave them wiser and hungrier.

GEELONG

The Cats are just one of those teams you can’t rule out.

I know Chris Scott well from his time as our backline coach at Freo before he took the Geelong job and became a multiple premiership mentor.

He just always seems to find away regardless of the team he has to work with. People say they’re too old, or missing too many players, but they seem to get the job done — or come really close — every year. They’re always there or thereabouts and always competing.

The big factor for them is that plenty of the teams up the top end of the ladder aren’t based in Victoria. If they can make teams like Fremantle, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide travel to Melbourne at least once, they could get a big boost. Then of course, they’re well accustomed to the MCG and are well accustomed to grand final day, where they have some happy memories.

Jeremy Cameron is set for a stint on the sidelines through injury now, but they just still have so many guys able to stand up in the big moments.

BRISBANE

Talk about not peaking too early. Brisbane do this better than anyone around.

They’re so experienced and the majority of them are two-time premiership players now, but one of the most impressive things about the Lions is they’ve been able to uncover young players who do important jobs for them.

That’s not always easy while the lure of being right up the top is there. Think about the impact Will and Levi Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Wilmot and Logan Morris all have on this team in keeping things fresh.

For their young age, the Aschrofts are becoming really good, mature AFL players and of course Will already has a pair of Norm Smith medals.

Watch out too for Charlie Cameron. He hasn’t hit his straps yet this season, but when he does, he is going to scare a lot of opposition key defenders.

Dayne Zorko is back now to add some experience and Lachie Neale is still looking like an absolute superstar.

HAWTHORN

I feel like Hawthorn are a team that are ready to disrupt and disturb a lot of those highly-touted footy clubs.

They’ve got a lot of young players that know their strengths well and aren’t afraid to stir the pot, which can through some sides off. That’s what they have honed in on in recent seasons. They take the game on and they’re not worried about who they find themselves up against.

They seem to play some good footy at the MCG as well, which is a good spot to do it.

As a small forward, I love watching Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson, Connor MacDonald and the unit they’ve got down there. They’re a scary prospect.

ADELAIDE

Don’t sleep on the Crows.

They had such a slow start to this year, but they were minor premiers last year and they know how to play football. They play their home ground very well, so if they jag a home final they will be very tough to beat there.

Jordan Dawson has this team on his back at the moment and is just such a great captain.

Taylor Walker is still going around and booted five goals on the weekend. He’s a great leader and has so much experience they’ll need to call on after their straight sets exit last time around.