Fox Footy’s Premiership Window has returned with one game remaining in the home-and-away season, and it says four teams are best-placed for a premiership tilt — but there’s been one key change since Round 21.

Teams that rank in the top six for points for and points against have won 18 of the last 20 AFL premierships; all 20 have ranked in the top six for points against.

This is the basis of On the Couch’s Premiership Window. Last year, the Window said Brisbane was a leading flag contender heading into the finals, while excluding Sydney; proving its credentials as a predictive tool.

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Four teams were in the Window after Round 16, four sides were in it following Round 21, and four teams are in it ahead of the finals — but there’s been a big swap since its last iteration: Brisbane in, Collingwood out.

The Magpies, who crucially remain above the line as a top-six defence — finishing the regular season first in the competition for points against — have slowed down offensively in recent weeks amid a stretch of form that has produced just one win in the past month.

Hawthorn also qualifies via defence only, sitting third for points against but seventh for scoring — the closest outsider to the Window.

“Those two sides in Hawthorn and Collingwood have just dropped off offensively, (but) they still remain strong and stingy on defence,” four-time flag-winner Jordan Lewis said On the Couch.

Fox Footy’s Premiership Window after Round 24 sees Collingwood drop out.Source: FOX SPORTS

Meanwhile, Adelaide and Geelong have retained their place in the Window since Round 16, and Gold Coast kept its place from Round 21 despite back-to-back losses as its finals credentials are suddenly under threat.

“The Suns have beaten the Bulldogs, Collingwood, Brisbane, Hawthorn and Adelaide — so, their form against the top teams has been pretty strong,” Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown said.

“But they’ve let themselves down (after losses to GWS and Port Adelaide), so I think behind closed doors, ‘Dimma’ would be pretty disappointed with the last couple of weeks.”

See where every team sits in the Fox Footy Premiership Window below.

THE FOX FOOTY PREMIERSHIP WINDOW (After Round 24)

Qualifying teams (18 of the last 20 premiers)

Adelaide Crows (3rd for points scored, 2nd for points allowed)

Geelong (2nd for points scored, 4th for points allowed)

Gold Coast Suns (5th for points scored, 5th for points allowed)

Brisbane Lions (6th for points scored, 6th for points allowed)

Qualifying via defence only (all 20 premiers)

Collingwood (8th for points scored, 1st for points allowed)

Hawthorn (7th for points scored, 3rd for points allowed)

Not qualifying

Fremantle (9th for points scored, 7th for points allowed)

Western Bulldogs (1st for points scored, 8th for points allowed)

GWS Giants (4th for points scored, 9th for points allowed)

Carlton (14th for points scored, 10th for points allowed)

Sydney Swans (11th for points scored, 11th for points allowed)

Melbourne (10th for points scored, 12th for points allowed)

St Kilda (12th for points scored, 13th for points allowed)

Port Adelaide (15th for points scored, 14th for points allowed)

Essendon (16th for points scored, 15th for points allowed)

Richmond (18th for points scored, 16th for points allowed)

North Melbourne (13th for points scored, 17th for points allowed)

West Coast Eagles (17th for points scored, 18th for points allowed)