The AFL has achieved its objective of creating the most even competition yet, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says.
Scott believes any of the six clubs remaining in the finals can win the premiership.
"You are going to have six genuinely good teams," Scott said after North's 62-point loss to Adelaide in Saturday night's elimination final.
"And we thought before the start of the final series it was as open as it has ever been.
"And it's a credit to the AFL. They have had a stated objective of making the competition as equal as they can and they have achieved that objective.
"Any of those six teams are capable of winning the two or three games they need to win the premiership.
"So over the next couple of weeks, I will look forward - albeit relatively jealously - to watching it.
"It's going to be a cracking finals series from this point on and it has been an unbelievable start to the series. Let's hope it continues."
Scott rated the Crows as premiership worthy, saying while they are the highest-scoring team in the league, their defence shouldn't be undersold.
"You need to score to win, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"And as it tightens up and eight teams turn into six, and to four, and to two, you need a combination of both (attack and defence).
"But I don't think that we are the stage where you can think all offence and hopefully we'll kick enough goals to win.
"When it gets really tight and dour, you need to be able to defend well.
"And I think Adelaide have shown they can do that. It's just that their offence is so scintillating that that is where most of the focus is."
