The 12 players most under the pump in the 2024 AFL grand final

There will be plenty of ghosts from the past circling ahead of Saturday’s AFL grand final. Brisbane and Sydney lost the past two deciders – albeit in very different ways – and both teams are littered with players who would lament forgettable performances on those days. Athletes don’t always get a do-over, but they will get exactly that this weekend.

Here are the 12 players most under the pump, for various reasons, entering the league’s biggest game.

Joe Daniher will hope to have a big say in Saturday’s AFL grand final after the Lions’ loss in the 2023 decider.Credit: Paul Rovere

12. Joe Daniher (Brisbane)

Daniher was outstanding in a losing cause in last year’s grand final with three goals, 16 disposals and eight marks, and he’s kicked 56 goals in 2024. He also stepped up in the ruck when Oscar McInerney went down on Saturday, which contributed to him being scoreless. The Lions won despite that, but will need him kicking goals to get past Sydney.

11. Errol Gulden (Sydney)

Five turnovers, and 11 kicks at worse than 55 per cent efficiency. Along with the Swans’ 81-point shellacking from Geelong, those numbers are the usually sweet-kicking Gulden’s memory from the grand final two years ago. He responded with back-to-back All-Australian campaigns, but the best players fire on the biggest stages. Over to you, Errol.

10. Justin McInerney (Sydney)

The silky speedster has become a very good player, as another of Kinnear Beatson’s draft gems, but his finals record is average. He was subbed out two weeks ago with only six disposals in his return from a knee injury before bouncing back with 19 on Friday night. That is his highest tally in seven finals, including only seven touches in the 2022 decider.

Darcy Fort is set to serve as the Lions’ No.1 ruckman in Oscar McInerney’s absence.Credit: AFL Photos

9. Darcy Fort (Brisbane)

Let’s assume ruck journeyman Fort will be Oscar McInerney’s injury replacement. The most recent of the ex-Cat’s 35 AFL games was in round seven against the Giants while also stepping in for McInerney. GWS ruckman Kieren Briggs comfortably took the points over Fort that day. Fort has a big role to play to blunt Brodie Grundy’s influence.

8. Callum Ah Chee (Brisbane)

One of the Lions’ preliminary final heroes with three goals, including the go-ahead score, but Ah Chee won’t want to repeat his game from 12 months ago, when he was subbed out with only six disposals. The ex-Sun has established himself in Brisbane’s forward line and played a career-most 25 matches this season, so will want to finish on a high.

7. Brodie Grundy (Sydney)

There is pressure on Grundy for very different reasons to Darcy Fort. Everyone will expect the former Magpie to dominate the ruck in the grand final, and he is still somewhat rebuilding his reputation after his Collingwood exit then failed stint at Melbourne. This is Grundy’s chance to shine after a good first season for the Swans.

6. Joel Amartey (Sydney)

This could easily be Hayden McLean, who had only four touches in the grand final two years ago, but Amartey is the Swans’ No.1 target. He followed his nine-goal splash against Adelaide with only four goals combined across his next seven matches. Amartey’s two finals have also been wildly contrasting, so Sydney will hope to have the good version on Saturday.

5. Cam Rayner (Brisbane)

Rayner slotted the sealing goal that propelled the Lions into this year’s decider and was shortlisted for All-Australian honours in 2024. However, there is always more to do when you are saddled with the burden and expectation of being a No.1 pick. He will be desperate to atone for an ineffectual grand final performance last year.

Cam Rayner and Jarrod Berry will hope to be smiling after Saturday’s grand final.Credit: AFL Photos

4. Jarrod Berry (Brisbane)

Other Lions midfielders have a higher profile, but Berry is a key cog on the wing. That said, Berry remains dirty on himself for his showing in last year’s grand final loss to Collingwood. He not only won a meagre 11 disposals, but also gave away two costly 50-metre penalties, including one late in the last quarter that set up a Steele Sidebottom goal. This is redemption time.

3. Tom McCartin (Sydney)

Another Swan who would love the 2022 grand final back. Tom Hawkins had the first three scoring shots – two of them goals – at McCartin’s expense, but worse was to come in the third term. McCartin was caught holding the ball 15 metres out from goal, then gifted Geelong another six points with a horror turnover. Has a vital role to play in defence on Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood.

2. Eric Hipwood (Brisbane)

No Lion is as hot and cold as Hipwood. He boasts bags of six and five this season, but went goalless seven times – as he did in last year’s grand final – and kicked one goal on another eight occasions. Hipwood has proven himself capable on the bigger stages, most notably his four-goal night against Melbourne in a do-or-die semi-final two years ago.

1. Isaac Heeney (Sydney)

Heeney’s been brilliant this year, was critical in the Swans chasing down the Giants, and prominent against Port Adelaide. But Heeney had a stinker in Sydney’s 2022 grand final defeat. He failed to win a touch in the first quarter that day – playing as a forward – and finished with only 11, plus one goal. Heeney is a star, but it would tarnish him if he underwhelmed again.

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