Malthouse: The lesser lights that could shape the premiership race

James Harmes may not be the first Demon that comes to mind when thinking finals game changer, though the defensive midfielder could have the biggest impact of all.

Oscar McInerney of the Lions celebrates after scoring a goal. Picture: Getty Images

We all know that the superstars will have a profound effect on the outcome of the AFL finals. But the other superheroes are those who play a specific role that simply makes the team better.

Mr Dependability is reliable, team orientated, and knows exactly where he fits into the team structure, and your club can’t do without him this September.

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A player with the potential to have the most bearing during the finals is Demon James Harmes. When he is given the task to settle in on one of the opposition’s best midfielders he gives great defensive coverage for Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca (and Jack Viney when he’s back.)

Midfields win finals. So, if Harmes can negate the best, or close to the best opposition midfielder, Melbourne becomes a far better side because of it.

James Harmes will be important in Dees fight for the flag. Picture: Getty Images

He averages 22 disposals a game (of which 10 are contested,) six tackles and three clearances. It’s not easy to get a role in the Demons’ current classy midfield, but finals football is not about playing Russian roulette through the middle. Harmes could easily play on Brisbane Lions captain Dayne Zorko, Mitch Duncan or Joel Selwood at Geelong, Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak, or Josh Kennedy of Sydney. And he could certainly sit on Tom Liberatore again at the Bulldogs. All of those players have match-winning qualities and it would be up to Harmes to reduce their effectiveness.

Harrison Petty probably wouldn’t rate a mention from many Demon supporters yet, but since the 21-year-old came into the side for an injured Adam Tomlinson, he has slotted into the backline like a hand in a glove.

At 197cm, Petty does all the hard one-on-one work, locking down some highly-rated key forwards, which has allowed Steven May to be better on-on-one and Jake Lever to play his intercept role.

Petty will only get better with experience, and the Demons’ backline, including Christian Salem, is more dangerous with him in it.

The Western Bulldogs need Stefan Martin to be fit and firing through the finals, as evidenced last Sunday when they were overrun by Essendon because Sam Draper got on top of Tim English in the ruck.

Martin has played just seven of 21 games this season (for six wins), but he has done enough to suggest that the loss of Josh Bruce – as damaging as it is – may well be reduced in severity if Martin plays.

Stefan Martin could fill the Dogs’ Josh Bruce sized hole. Picture: Michael Klein

English blossomed when he was allowed to play as the third tall in the forward line as a result of Martin’s bullocking type ruckwork.

Martin is not overly tall at 198cm and his stats aren’t overly impressive, but the way he plays is, which goes to show actions are more important than stats. Martin is tough and hard to move off the ball and provides great support around the ground for the Dogs, particularly for English.

The Achilles heel at the Western Bulldogs is its lack of top-quality tall defenders.

Alex Keath is the cream of the height in the Dogs’ backline, and they desperately need him fit and back in the team. Forward gone back, Josh Schache is still learning the trade, and without Keath against Essendon on Sunday, Peter Wright was allowed to take over and dominate the air for seven goals.

Entering the finals against some big key forwards at Geelong, Port Adelaide, Brisbane Lions and Melbourne, the Dogs need a way to quell their influence. Keath is vital for the efficiency of the Bulldogs’ backline.

Jack Henry won’t wear your pen out with his number of disposals per game, but he proved his value once again for Geelong last week when he was moved forward and kicked two goals to get the Cats back in the game against Greater Western Sydney.

The rise of Jack Henry has been crucial to Geelong’s success this season. Picture: Michael Klein

The 192cm 22-year-old is efficient in the backline, but his importance is that he can play several roles for Geelong. Mr Reliable is a gem to have going into a final’s series as cover for any absentees, and mobility for any overabundance in a particular line, as a jack of all trades.

Since becoming a Cat Isaac Smith has averaged 23 disposals and four inside 50s per game. He’s also a goal kicker. It is sometimes when a player is missing from the team that you realise how important they are, which is exactly what happened to Geelong against the Giants. No Smith meant no defensive coverage and little midfield run.

He is an experienced finals player, as a lot of the Cats are, but he is also a brilliant MCG specialist which may come in handy if finals are played there.

Tom Hickey has been a revelation for the Swans. Sydney just seems to be able to extract the very best out of the journeymen, as Hickey has been. This is his fourth club, and he has been good at every club, but always the second ruck.

For the Swans he took over from Callum Sinclair and is doing a sterling job.

Hickey’s clearances are in the elite category, averaging five a game. He does not have the best mark, but he is an outstanding competitor. He gives Sydney a huge boost at the stoppages, which they are brilliant at.

Oscar McInerney, is an elite clearance ruckman with 5.4 clearances on average a game.

Ironically, he has taken over Stefan Martin’s reins at the Brisbane Lions.

At 204cm, he is a serious danger in the forward line which adds an extra dimension to his game and is critical in the absence of Eric Hipwood. McInerney averages 29 hit outs a game, 10 of which are direct to his teammates. His only area of concern is that he averages just over two marks a game, but the fortunes of Brisbane and its midfield really do rest with big Oscar.

And also, youngster Hugh McCluggage. As a running machine he is a wonderful link between back and forward, which in today’s football is almost a dying art form with the overuse of the kick and little run through the midfield.

He averages 25 disposals a game for 430m gained, and puts the ball inside 50 on average 4.3 times. McCluggage is one of those players relied upon to work in the back half for protection and the forward half for shots on goal. He doesn’t always kick as cleanly for goal as he would hope, but as this improves so too will Brisbane.

Port’s finals chances rely heavily on Aliir Aliir, who has simply been outstanding this year, and easily the recruit of the season (along with Isaac Smith at Geelong.)

Aliir Aliir could be the recruit of the year. Picture: Getty Images

At 26 and 194cm, Aliir’s disposals stats are not over the top, but he is in an elite class for one-on-one football and averages an impressive 260m gained per game.

He is both attacking and can equally defend as well as anyone. Aliir has been a shining light for a rather disappointing Port – albeit that they are top four with very few top-eight scalps – because until his arrival they were sadly undermanned for height in the backline.

He is quick, reliable, rarely panics under pressure, and his disposal efficiency is first class. Coming into a finals series he will prove his worth against some fine opposition forwards.

We’ve seen Dustin Martin win three Norm Smith Medals. Remarkable. We’ve seen predictable results turn into nightmares. And we’ve seen the phoenix rise in unpredictable fashion. All in finals.

But there is always a quiet achiever, too. The unspectacular player who is the spectacular force behind any big result.

Originally published as Malthouse: The lesser lights that could shape the premiership race