as round 24 of the ill AFL season draws to a close the dust has settled but the Echoes of the weekend's games are still reverberating through the footy Community this round was packed with drama surprise upsets and a few emerging narratives that could shape the upcoming finals let's dive into the big talking points and the burning questions that have everyone buzzing less than strong greater than freem manle disappointing fall less than strong greater than one of the most striking stories from this round was freem Mantle's dramatic decline once a top Contender the Dockers found themselves slipping down the ladder and their performance in round 24 only cemented this unfortunate Trend despite having everything set up for Success a home game against Port Adelaide and a chance to secure a final spot freemantle couldn't deliver when it mattered most the docker's inability to capitalize on early season momentum and their poor ball handling proved costly a team that was in third place just a few rounds ago now finds itself out of the finals race altogether a heartbreaking end to what many had hoped would be a promising season less than strong greater than the Bulldogs a maturing Force less than strong greater than on the other side of the spectrum the Western Bulldogs have shown signs of growth and resilience particularly in their round 24 Clash against gws their 9861 victory in balarat wasn't just about securing a spot in the finals it was a statement the Bulldogs have often been criticized for their inconsistency but this performance suggests they are turning a corner their ability to handle pressure and execute their game plan under challenging conditions could be the missing piece in their pursuit of a Premiership with eight wins in their last 10 games the Bulldogs are peing at the right time and their Newfound maturity could make them a formidable opponent in the finals less than strong greater than brown low metal contenders shine bright less than strong greater than as we Edge closer to the brown low metal count round 24 saw the leading contenders put on a show from Patrick Crips to Nick daos the competition's elite players delivered performances that could tip the scales in this year's count daos kicked off the weekend with a stunning 40 disposals and two goals while latchi Neil and Zach Merritt battled it out at the Gaba with equally impressive stats Marcus Bonton Pelly and Crips rounded off the weekend with standout games ensuring that this year's Brown race will be one of the most exciting and tightly contested in recent memory less than strong greater than collingwood's Ed Allen a star in the making less than strong greater than four Collingwood fans the performance of Ed Allen in just his second AFL game was a highlight of the weekend the young player showed he has the potential to be a significant asset for the mag pies in the years to come standing at 194 cm and demonstrating impressive of athleticism Allan collected 21 disposals six tackles and a goal giving fans a glimpse of what could be a bright future for the 20-year-old his ability to adapt quickly to the rigors of AFL combined with his physical attributes suggests that Allan could play a crucial role for Collingwood possibly alongside Superstar Nick daos in the near future less than strong greater than Sydney's selection dilemma less than strong greater than lastly the Sydney Swans having secured the minor Premiership now face a selection headache ahead of their qualifying final against gws with key players like Tom papley and Isaac Heeney set to return the swans will need to make some tough decisions the depth of talent at Sydney's disposal is a great problem to have but it means that some players who have contributed sign significantly during the season may find themselves on the sidelines it's a challenging position for the swans selection committee but one that underscores their strength as they head into the finals as we move towards the finals round 24 has set the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating conclusion to the 2024 AFL season whether it's the Heartbreak for some teams or the emerging strength of others the weekends results have left fans eager for what comes next stay subscribed for more videos