Patrick Dangerfield reveals your club’s finals X-Factor

IT’S not just the best players in your team that win premierships, those who aren’t household names are the key to team success, writes PATRICK DANGERFIELD.

XAVIER Ellis was in his second season, playing just his 36th game for Hawthorn in the 2008 Grand Final.

And all I can remember of him in that game is the ball seemed to always be in his hands.

RUN HOME: WHO CAN MAKE THE EIGHT?

He had an unbelievable match with a team-high 28 possessions in Hawthorn’s surprise victory.

Ellis was a No.3 draft pick so there was never any question about his talent, but did anyone expect that type of performance on the biggest day of the year?

As eight clubs soak up the bye week and then cast an eye over September, they’re all looking around for their own Xavier Ellis.

Players who aren’t the household names, the young and developing types who aren’t in the top 10 on the list yet but are starting to find their way.

They hold the key to what happens in the coming weeks.

The best players in each side are rated the best because of their consistency of performance.

Most likely their form is going to remain the same in the finals, they stay at that same elite level.

Xavier Ellis was the hero of Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership.

Think about LeBron James in the NBA.

He is always going to play the same way, he is always going to get 30-plus points, but it’s the ones around him who need to have outstanding championship games.

In the AFL you know what “Buddy” Franklin is going to deliver. You know what Rory Sloane is going to deliver. You know what Callan Ward brings to the table.

So what wins your team a finals game is those players from the next group.

If you can get these young players cranking it’s the key to September dreaming.

The “Ellis” of last year’s preliminary final for the Western Bulldogs was Clay Smith.

He’d had his injury setbacks and had done a wonderful job just to get back into the team, but no-one had him pegged as the matchwinner.

Smith was instrumental in getting the Dogs over GWS, kicking four goals from the forward pocket.

They probably don’t win the premiership without him and now he’s a part of Bulldogs folklore forever.

DANGERFIELD’S FINALS X-FACTORS

ADELAIDE: MITCH McGOVERN

The Crows were done against Collingwood before McGovern just took over the game, ultimately kicking the winning goal after the siren. He showed that he was capable of stepping up when some of the regular contributors weren’t having their normal input. A great sign looking ahead at the next month.

Mitch McGovern.

GWS: JACOB HOPPER

Has only played nine games this year but his ceiling is as high as any of the GWS midfielders.

GEELONG: NAKIA COCKATOO

If we can get his hamstring right over the next couple of weeks then look out. Could do anything.

Nakia Cockatoo. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND: TOBY NANKERVIS

What a great trade. Big men in finals are crucial, particularly in extracting the ball from the middle of the ground and this is where Nankervis can have significant influence.

PORT ADELAIDE: SAM POWELL-PEPPER

A lot of pressure to put it on someone who is playing his first year but he’s earnt that pressure by the performances he’s put forward. People aren’t talking about him because he’s been average. Has shown he’s capable of putting together a big game.

SYDNEY: ISAAC HEENEY

Is probably ranked a bit higher than 12 but he hasn’t hit incredible levels this year because of sickness and the inconsistency of youth. If he does in September then he could be the difference.

MELBOURNE: CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

He is going to be some sort of player. Shown flashes of brilliance and looks capable of thriving on the big stage.

Christian Petracca. Picture: Michael Klein

ESSENDON: CALE HOOKER

Still adjusting to playing forward, has been up and down but there have been games during the year where he’s just dominated.

Originally published as Patrick Dangerfield reveals your club’s finals X-Factor