Only six of the past 15 teams to finish the home-and-away season on top of the ladder have gone on to win the flag.

Since the final eight system was introduced in 2000, six teams who won the most home-and-away matches have also lost the grand final, including in five of the past seven seasons.

Three have not made it to the last game of the season at all.

Hawthorn, in 2013, was the last minor premier to claim the premiership, when it beat the Dockers by 15 points.
Collingwood (2010), Geelong (2007), West Coast (2006), Port Adelaide (2004) and Essendon (2000) were the other five during that period of time to do so.

The Power finished top of the table in 2002 and 2003 but failed to make the grand final in both seasons, before beating Brisbane in the premiership play-off in 2004 by 40 points.

Adelaide, in 2005, was the other side to finish top of the table after the preliminary rounds and not make it to the grand final.

Geelong, which finished four wins clear on top of the ladder in 2008, lost the grand final to the Hawks (second) by 26 points.

Sydney lost to the Hawks last season after claiming top spot,  having won 17 of 23 home and away games - the same number that the Dockers currently have.
 
Teams to win GF after finishing top (since 2000):
2000 Essendon
2004 Port Adelaide
2006 West Coast
2007 Geelong
2010 Collingwood
2013 Hawthorn
 
Teams to lose GF after finishing top:
2001 Essendon (lost to Brisbane)
2008 Geelong (lost to Hawthorn)
2009 St Kilda (lost to Geelong)
2011 Collingwood (lost to Geelong)
2012 Hawthorn (lost to Sydney)
2014 Sydney (lost to Hawthorn)
 
Minor premiers to miss GF:
2002 Port Adelaide
2003 Port Adelaide
2005 Adelaide

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