And the other two clubs weren't in the finals two years ago. Things can change fairly quickly if clubs do things right.
Of the sides that finished 9th since the top 8 came into existence, there's roughly a 50/50 record of them making the finals the following year. Of course 5 of those were us of which two of them lead to our only finals appearances in the modern era.
2008: Richmond 11 10 1 -> ?
2007: St Kilda 11 10 1 -> PF
2006: Richmond 11 11 -> 16th
2005: Bulldogs 11 11 -> SF
2004: Fremantle 11 11 -> 10th
2003: Hawthorn 12 10 -> 15th
2002: Geelong 11 11 -> 12th
2001: Coll'wood 11 11 -> GF
2000: Richmond 11 11 -> PF
1999: Hawthorn 10 11 1 -> SF
1998: Richmond 12 10 -> 12th
1997: Port Adel 10 11 1 -> 10th
1996: Richmond 11 11 -> 13th
1995: Melbourne 9 13 -> 14th
1994: Richmond 12 10 -> PF
