We look at the men most likely to shape each AFL finalist’s chances of September glory
EVERY AFL club has one, and on the eve of the finals teams are praying they enter the business end fully fit. We take a look at the men who could make or break their team’s September dream.
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WHO’S the one player vital to every premiership aspirant?
As AFL clubs make their run to the finals, fans of the teams involved this September will watch the finale to the home and away season with one eye on their team’s ladder position and the other on their injury list.
And for every club there’s some names who simply can’t appear, or it might well be a season killer.
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They might not always be the best player — but often are — and instead are sometimes linked with a team’s structure and game plan rather than straight-out ability.
But every club has that one key man where if he’s out, so too might be their dreams of premiership glory.
It’s a tough task to identify one for every club, but below we’ve looked at the locked-in finalists, and those still hoping to make it, and the men who have the biggest say in shaping their team’s finals destiny.
RICHMOND
WE SAY: Jack Riewoldt
WHO ELSE? Richmond fans could make a good argument that the team’s other bookend, Alex Rance, is their most important man but the Tigers’ intense pressure and all-ground defence arguably makes the star fullback more of a luxury than vital necessity. Dustin Martin also has obvious claims as the Tigers’ main man but given his form in 2018, and his role in helping Richmond’s front half work, we reckon Jack is the key cog in Dimma’s well-oiled machine.
WEST COAST
WE SAY: Jeremy McGovern
WHO ELSE? No Nic Nat, no Gaff and, for the moment, no Josh Kennedy. The Eagles have been hit hard close to the finals, making McGovern’s ability at both ends vital. Scott Lycett looms as a key figure for Adam Simpson’s men during September, while Jack Darling’s aerial ability and goal nous will also be relied upon in coming weeks. But McGovern may well be more crucial than any other Eagle.
GWS
WE SAY: Josh Kelly
WHO ELSE? Lose Rory Lobb and GWS is in big trouble. But Lobb is yet to fully prove himself a long-term ruck replacement, the Giants’ all-star midfield often able to cover at ground level for any shortcomings among the big men. Phil Davis is another who would leave a big hole, while Toby Greene’s absence for much of the year has hurt the Giants big time. But Kelly, arguably the silkiest midfielder in the game, is the cream that could propel GWS to heights not previously reached.
HAWTHORN
WE SAY: Luke Breust
WHO ELSE? Controversial one here. It’s tough one at the Hawks, given their evenness under the guide of master coach Alastair Clarkson. Isaac Smith provides vital outside run while Tom Mitchell does, well, what Tom Mitchell does. It might seem odd having a ‘small forward’ as a team’s most important cog, but such has been Breust’s impact this year it’s hard to see the now Cyril-less Hawks getting too far without a significant Breust contribution. A virtual lock for All-Australian honours, he looks set to surpass his career-best season tally for goals (57 in 2014) in a mighty year for the sharpshooter.
COLLINGWOOD
WE SAY: Brodie Grundy
WHO ELSE? Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom would be savage blows, but Grundy is big, imposing and he’s dominated for much of 2018. The Pies have been hit harder than almost any rival this year. It’s tough to imagine where they might be without Grundy’s midfield dominance. Jordan De Goey adds the class and power in the front half but all things considered, the Pies have coped remarkably without the likes of Jamie Elliott, Ben Reid, Adam Treloar ... you get the idea.
SYDNEY SWANS
WE SAY: Lance Franklin
WHO ELSE? Ummm, Lance Franklin? Seriously, Buddy is Plan A, B and C for the Swans to go deep in September, with the likes of Tom Papley and Ben Ronke occasionally feeding off his scraps. Sydney’s backline has also been depleted in recent times — Alex Johnson, Nick Smith and Heath Grundy all missing — so another out there would really stretch things.
MELBOURNE
WE SAY: Max Gawn
WHO ELSE? Perhaps this week’s events, with Jesse Hogan now out for 2018, highlight the importance of Tom McDonald’s role. Neville Jetta is another crucial role player who takes the opposition’s best small forward, but their impact doesn’t come close to Gawn. Like Grundy at the Pies, hard to know where this mob might be if not for everyone’s favourite beard.
PORT ADELAIDE
WE SAY: Robbie Gray
WHO ELSE? Charlie Dixon is already done for the year and Paddy Ryder is sore. But Gray is the man who can turn a match in the blink of an eye (remember this year’s first Showdown?) and constantly has opposition backlines on high alert.
GEELONG
WE SAY: Patrick Dangerfield
WHO ELSE? Any of Geelong’s ‘Holy Trinity’ (Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett) would hurt, as would in-form forward Tom Hawkins. But we think Paddy Dangerfield would be the biggest blow to the Cats. If Hawkins were to miss, at least Chris Scott could turn to Danger to play forward. And the Cats’ midfield just wouldn’t be the same without his ball-winning ability and aerial supremacy.
NORTH MELBOURNE
WE SAY: Ben Brown
WHO ELSE? Another tough one here, especially with Jarrad Waite now back in attack. But Brown’s ability to command the footy — and convert — is pivotal for Brad Scott’s side. Inspirational skipper Jack Ziebell is often a barometer for the Kangas, while rivals often underestimate the impact Robbie Tarrant has on the Roos’ back six. Shaun Higgins is some much-needed class
ESSENDON
WE SAY: Orazio Fantasia
WHO ELSE? The sharpshooter just makes Essendon a different side, and proposition in attack. His lethal pace, goal nous and finishing close to goal makes the Bombers a genuine contender. Michael Hurley and Dyson Heppell are others vital to John Worsfold’s team. But they’re up against it to make September this year.
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Originally published as We look at the men most likely to shape each AFL finalist’s chances of September glory
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