Grand final’s league of extraordinary players

Saturday’s premiership decider is a reunion of the game’s modern-day greats.

With a Brownlow and two Norm Smith medals to his credit, Richmond’s Dustin Martin is just one of several decorated players set to play in the grand final Picture: Getty Images

A legion of modern day greats will vie for the 2020 AFL premiership in a once-in-lifetime grand final to be played in Brisbane next Saturday.

Reigning premiers Richmond and their rivals Geelong are blessed with some of the biggest names in football, champions who can draw fans to games with their individual brilliance.

The first grand final between two Victorian clubs since the Cats defeated Collingwood in 2011 shapes as a classic given the form and reputations of the contenders.

The Tigers are slight favourites and were successful in their only clash against the Cats this year, but Geelong has been dominant in five victories at the Gabba this year.

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Gary Ablett Jnr, who will play his 357th and final game on Saturday, rates among the best footballers ever and performed brilliantly in the Cats preliminary final win over the Lions.

Dustin Martin, who compiled one of the greatest seasons in history in 2017, is arguably the AFL’s most constructive player and kicked two crucial goals against Port Adelaide on Friday.

Should he dominate again on Saturday, he could become the first triple Norm Smith medallist, ahead of Gary Ayres, Andrew McLeod and Luke Hodge.

Fellow Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield will play in his first grand final in his 260th outing after more than a decade of excellence with Adelaide and Geelong.

Should the Cats claim their first flag since 2011, Dangerfield will have endured the fourth longest wait in history to taste premiership glory behind Shane Crawford (305th game), Paul Williams (294th game) and Matthew Boyd (282nd game).

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin is also a Brownlow medallist. He has already made history this finals campaign when overtaking Jack Dyer as the Tigers longest serving skipper.

Should Richmond win another flag following their deeds in 2017 and 2019, Cotchin will be one of only eight men to captain a premiership side at least three times.

His counterpart Joel Selwood never claimed a Brownlow Medal, but he was a Rising Star and is among the most influential players Geelong has seen.

Selwood will become just the sixth player to captain 200 AFL games when he leads the Cats on to the ground at the Gabba.

The company he joins is remarkable, for Stephen Kernahan, Dick Reynolds, Nick Riewoldt, Ted Whitten and Michael Voss were high-calibre champions. But he is a worthy addition.

At either end stands a Coleman medallist. Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt has topped the goalkickers table three times, while Tom Hawkins claimed his Coleman a month ago.

Standing alongside Riewoldt is Tom Lynch, the million dollar forward seeking a second premiership in his two seasons at the Tigers.

The revered Rioli surname will again feature, so, too, a Pickett. The hard-running Tiger Daniel Rioli is seeking a third flag.

Marlion Pickett made one of the most remarkable debuts a year ago when Richmond thrashed the Giants in the 2019 grand final. His 20th game could secure a second flag.

Ireland, too, is represented. Zach Tuohy has long been a star, switching from Carlton to Geelong and then from defence to attack in a stellar career.

His teammate Mark O’Connor handles a Sherrin as though he was born with one in his hands, even though he is now in only his fourth season of Australian rules.

There are All Australians on every line and a heady mix of veterans nearing the end of distinguished careers and young talents just getting a taste of success.

Harry Taylor and Dylan Grimes have made the lives of key forwards miserable for more than a decade.

Shai Bolton and Brandan Parfitt play with a verve reminiscent of distinguished teammates a decade or more their senior.

Rival coaches Damien Hardwick and Chris Scott are steeped in football history and shared the field in their glory days as players.

Both played in two premierships as players, Hardwick with Essendon in 2000 and Port Adelaide in 2004, Scott as a member of the all-conquering Lions in 2001 and 2002.

Hardwick played under legends Kevin Sheedy and Mark Williams, who did remarkable things for their clubs. He then served an apprenticeship with Alastair Clarkson.

Hardwick had to fight for his career at Punt Road but, after revisiting some of his methods, has built a champion squad seeking to join the Lions, Geelong and Hawthorn as the outstanding clubs of this century.

Scott coached a premiership in his first season with Geelong in 2011 but, despite boasting a winning percentage rarely seen in football, a second opportunity has only now arrived.

Mentored as a player by the legendary Leigh Matthews, the Cats coach is set to field the oldest grand final side the game has seen.

He evoked the wisdom of Matthews after their success on Saturday night, stating he would advise his players that they were later in their careers than they imagined. Ablett would not disagree.

The message from both coaches to their champions will be similar. The time to pounce is now.