The unheralded players who can make an impact in the AFL finals

You don’t need to be a superstar to make a difference.

Each of the eight AFL finalists has an array of superstars. Talent is a pre-requisite to be a finals side, however, which unheralded players can be difference makers in September?

Sydney: Aliir Aliir
The Sudanese revolution provides the spark in a stacked Sydney squad.

Aliir’s reading of the play is exceptional and his cool, calm demeanour with the football makes you second-guess yourself when you remember this is his first year in the seniors.

In ten games, Aliir averaged an 83 per cent disposal efficiency rating, 14.7 disposals, 7.5 intercept possessions, 3.4 score involvements, and 226.2 metres gained. These are elite numbers, and in a Swans team that can sometimes lack pace or speed, Aliir’s rebounding ability is influential.

While Heath Grundy is the stopper and Dane Rampe is the intercept machine, Aliir’s attack on the game adds another element to a Sydney side oozing talent.

Geelong: Scott Selwood
The ‘other’ Selwood in the Geelong line-up, Scott’s impact could be felt in full on Friday night against Hawthorn.

Since overcoming foot and ankle injuries, and working his way back through the VFL, Selwood has provided the Cats with a legitimate tagging weapon.

In his three senior games, Selwood has shut down David Zaharakis, Trent Cotchin, Dayne Zorko and Pearce Hanley. While he has been stopping the opposition’s most proficient ball-winner, Selwood has quietly got his fair share of the footy. He is averaging 21 disposals, at an 84.1 per cent efficiency rating, and is involved in 6.3 scoring chains.

Selwood’s biggest challenge will be shutting down Sam Mitchell against the Hawks. If he can do that, Geelong will go to another level.

Hawthorn: James Sicily
The Hawks have found themselves another game winner. Sicily has the capabilities to be the next Hawthorn finals cult hero, following in the footsteps of Matt Spangher and Will Langford.

In just his fourth senior game, Sicily showed he isn’t afraid of the big stage. He booted three clutch goals in the fourth quarter against the Western Bulldogs in Round 3, including the winner.

Sicily always seems to get to the right place at the right time. He provides flair in the forward line, and when the opposition has its hands full with the likes of Cyril Rioli, Jack Gunston and Paul Puopolo, it’s easy to dismiss Sicily’s impact.

Don’t be surprised if he pops up at some stage in September to kick a winning goal – or two.

Greater Western Sydney: Josh Kelly
Get ready, AFL – one of the Giants’ stacked midfielders is going to make his name in the finals.

Kelly has all the ingredients for finals football. He is a clean ball user, evident by his 72.1 per cent disposal efficiency, and provides an immense amount of outside run for a midfielder, as he racked up 383.1 metres gained this season.

He can even make an impact on the scoreboard – Kelly kicked 14 goals this season and was involved in an average of 6.2 score involvements.

However, where he has taken himself to another level is his work inside the contest. Before this season, Kelly’s highest contested possession average was 5.9. In 2016, that number has raised to eight per game, as he has moulded himself into an all-around midfielder.

GWS has an unfair bunch of sensational midfielders, but Kelly is the most underrated. After September, he won’t be.

Adelaide: Charlie Cameron
It’s easy to be forgotten in the league’s best forward line.

While the firepower of Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch collect the headlines, Cameron’s speed, energy and crumbing simply adds another option.

The bye week came at a perfect time for Cameron, who looked like he needed a change of batteries. When he is at his best, like he should be come finals, Cameron is electrifying.

While he can be a goal sneak, Cameron has improved his forward pressure, averaging 4.5 tackles this season, and developing into a lethal weapon in all aspects up forward.

The speedster is a game changer, and in the finals, those players come at a premium.

Cameron is easily forgotten in the Crows’ forward stocks, but if you do dismiss him, don’t be surprised when he leaves you in the dust.

West Coast: Tom Barrass
The form team heading into September, the Eagles’ spatial defence has reached another level.

Barrass has been the man to elevate it.

He forms with Jeremy McGovern the best intercept duo in the finals. In games where West Coast gave up a number of inside 50s, such as their Round 18 win over Melbourne, Barrass was a calm, physical presence in defence.

Even though he played just nine games, Barrass has established himself as a key pillar in the Eagles’ backline. Not only does he provide 5.8 intercept possessions, but his use of the footy is elite – 89.4 disposal efficiency percentage is an astonishing rate, and evident of his composure coming out of defence.

West Coast lacked polish in last year’s grand final, but Barrass gives them an elegant ball user this September.

Western Bulldogs: Shane Biggs
Biggs has been the constant in a makeshift Bulldogs’ defence this season.

Teams with continuity hold an extra advantage in the finals, and while the Dogs don’t have this mantle, they know what Biggs is going to provide them. In fact, his masterful ball use and defensive mechanisms could help overcome the side’s devastating injury list.

Biggs can play on both big and small forwards, without losing any type of defensive advantage. His speed helps him maintain the smalls, while his solid aerial work keeps him honest on the talls.

It’s Biggs’ attacking mindset with the football, though, that can help give the Bulldogs a much-needed spark in September. He averaged 378.3 metres gained, 3.7 score involvements and a 76.3 disposal efficiency percentage this season, and this skillset can help an improbable finals run.

North Melbourne: Jamie Macmillan
One player that hasn’t felt the effects of North’s form slump has been Macmillan. In fact, he has only increased his output off the Roos’ halfback line and it should hold him in good stead in the finals.

Macmillan’s game now has a greater scope and it’s thanks to his terrific use of the footy. He broke the 400 average metres gained mark this season, while maintaining a 78.9 disposal efficiency percentage and 4.5 intercept possessions.

Finally overcoming injury troubles, Macmillan unlocks a new dimension for the Kangaroos. Known for their lack of pace and attack, Macmillan is able to generate scoring chains out of defence and give the Roos a much-needed energy spark.

Many have written North off, but if Macmillan is at his best, he can take the Roos to another level.