Well it’s September and AFL footy is now legally unavoidable.

This means it’s time to choose a team to barrack for if you’re not one of those people who had footy drilled into you since birth.

For the supporters of those teams unlucky enough not to make the eight, you too may want to choose a team or more likely, who to barrack against.

So here is a guide to each of the teams in the finals.

It’s especially useful for those who have not watched much footy this year (Melbourne fans) and those who may have never watch AFL footy (people living in Greater Western Sydney).

Sydney

Hello Sydneysiders! It’s that time of year to care about the Swans again.

Are any of you Giants fans? Never heard of them? OK, let’s move on then.

The Swans play tough football and have shown an ability to consistently rebuild themselves into contenders.

This season, the Swans acquired the services of Buddy Franklin from Hawthorn.

Oh, you’ve heard of him? Because he’s Jesinta’s boyfriend?

Ah, the car thing. We don’t talk about that.

Why you should barrack for them: If you’re from NSW, hop on board, there’s plenty of room on the bandwagon.

Beating those Mexicans at their own game is a great feeling and drives them especially nuts, because unlike Freo of Port Adelaide fans, you have no actual interest in the proceedings.

Why you shouldn’t: It’s Sydney and they’re cheating by spending the money they are legally allowed to. Outrageous behavior.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn’s nickname is the ‘Hawks’ and they are an irritatingly successful club based in the leafy rich confines of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Their coach Alastair Clarkson, is arguably the best in the game, when he’s not punching walls or berating umpires at junior football games.

Why you should barrack for them: They have a very good chance of winning the whole thing and play a great style of football.

Why you shouldn’t: Hawthorn are so arrogant the make Justin Bieber appear humble and down to earth.

Geelong

The Cats are from a city about an hour out of Melbourne.

Melburnians have a real fondness for Geelong, now that there is a bypass and they never need to go through it on the way to the beach.

They’ve been the best team around for some time now and have done it despite losing many stars through retirement or free agency.

Why you should barrack for them: Geelong are always told they are past it and can’t keep winning Premierships.

They seem to respond by winning Grand Finals. It would be great to see them win again just to prove the conventional wisdom wrong.

Why you shouldn’t: Geelong again? I don’t think so.

When they first won, it was great to see a bunch of supporters who had known so much pain finally win it all, now it just reminds about how Melbourne never will (that may just be me).

Fremantle

The Fremantle Dockers came so close last year, losing to Hawthorn in the Grand Final.

They’re peaking at the right time and are one of the teams with a good chance of winning the whole thing. They’re theme song is beyond awful.

Why you should barrack for them: Matthew Pavlich is a terrific player who would be much more of a superstar if he played on a Victorian side.

Seeing Pav win the big one would be a real highlight.

Why you shouldn’t: Ross Lyon coaches the most boring defensive brand of football on the planet.

Watching him lose Grand Finals has become a hobby fro so many AFL fans.

Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide were terrible for sometime before coach Ken Hinkley arrived and said ‘no more of this.’

This year, Port have been one of the most exciting teams going around.

Oh, be warned, their home ground is really loud apparently.

Why you should barrack for them: Port are an exciting young side and if they find their early season form could go far.

Why you shouldn’t: It’s Port Adelaide. It’s like barracking for Collingwood.

You just don’t do that sort of thing, unless you want to have to shower after every game.

Plus, if everyone jumps on the Power’s bandwagon their fans lose that ‘everyone hates us’ thing they’ve got going on.

North Melbourne

The Kangaroos are not a favourite to win it all but actually have a very good record against the top teams.

Their only problem is that they are so inconsistent they make Brendan Fevola seem reliable.

Why you should barrack for them: North are a side always fighting for their future and are a true minnow in terms of finances and support.

A North Premiership would be like a Rocky movie. Not one of the good ones, but still. Maybe Rocky V?

Why you shouldn’t: They have no chance. You want a team that at least has a chance, otherwise you’ll have to come back to this article and choose all over again. Nobody wants to do that.

Essendon

The Bombers have been embroiled in a supplement scandal for two years now and missed the finals last year after being striped of their Premiership points.

Returning to the finals is a reward to the fans who stood by them and most importantly, bought memberships to pay for all the really expensive lawyers.

Why you should barrack for them: Bomber Thompson taking this team to a Premiership, while unlikely, would make the return of James Hird seem even sillier than it currently does.

Why you shouldn’t: It’s Essendon. They’ve distracted the competition for two years now and what little remorse they’ve shown in that time, they’ve recanted in the past few months.

You would also have to wear a tin foil hat.

Richmond

Ten weeks ago, the Tigers were 3-10 and seemed like the most disappointing team in the competition.

Nine wins in a row later and the Richmond faithful are up and about like they’ve already won the Premiership.

Why you should barrack for them: There is no doubt they are the feel good story of the season and a push to the Grand Final would just add to the excitement.

Richmond have been underdogs for a long time, so there’s always that going for them too.

Why you shouldn’t: Are you kidding? Richmond fans know that supporting the Tigers is an emotional rollercoaster very few can handle.

It has to be drilled into you from birth that supporting them isn’t an act of complete and utter madness.

Also, that bandwagon is pretty full of Richmond supporters. It’s probably not safe.