There’s no shortage of stars in this finals series. The Tigers’ fantastic four of Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin; West Coast’s pillars Josh J Kennedy and Jeremy McGovern; Melbourne’s Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver; Buddy, Pendles, Danger, Gaz, Kelly, Mitchell… you get the point.
Stars are stars for a reason. For the most part we know they’ll show up, but in finals, it’s often lesser-known players who can lift for a moment or even a month and reshape September.
Here are eight guys who could play a huge part in their team’s success, or lack thereof.
Geelong – Tim Kelly
Kelly has been a revelation for the Cats. The 24-year-old first-year phenom has looked extremely comfortable from the moment he stepped on the field.
He has poise and composure of a 200-gamer and has given no reason to think the bright lights of September will faze him.
Not once this year did Kelly finish with fewer than 15 disposals in a game and he finished the home-and-away season as one of just eight players to average 20 disposals, 10 contested possessions and a goal a game.
If the Cats make a run from eighth, Kelly will play a big part in it.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
GWS – Harry Himmelberg
With Jonathan Patton out of action since Round 15 and Jeremy Cameron suspended for Rounds 15-19, Himmelberg has had to take on more responsibility in the Giants’ and has performed admirably without setting the world on fire.
Since Round 16, the 22-year-old has kicked 16 goals in eight games and booted at least two goals six times.
He’s shown he’s not intimidated by the big stage – he was one of the Giants’ best with four goals in their preliminary final loss to the Tigers – and has the size, agility and smarts to play a big role this September.
If Himmelberg can step up, GWS become very dangerous.
Sydney – Tom Papley
Papley, like the Swans, hasn’t had a great 2017, but even though he’s in just his third season, the opportunistic forward has a habit of stepping up in September. In half a dozen finals, Papley has booted 11 goals.
He’s smart in traffic, good when the ball is on the deck and willing to do the defensive work – not that there’s really an alternative when you’re playing for Sydney.
Like most good small forwards he can be a bit of a pest as well. Papley could change the course of a game in a few minutes and always looks at his most dangerous when he’s buzzing around Lance Franklin.
Melbourne – Jake Melksham
Melksham had already become an important cog in the Demons’ forward set-up, but when a foot injury brought Jesse Hogan’s season to a premature end, the former Bomber became even more significant.
The Roar’s Ryan Buckland put out a twitter poll earlier in the week asking whether Melksham should be an All-Australian, and while the overwhelming response was no – and Ryan might have had his tongue planted in his cheek – it wasn’t THAT far-fetched. Melksham finished the season No.1 in the league for goal assists despite missing two games. His 7.2 score involvements a game ranks in the top-20, as did his 4.5 inside-50s.
His ability in the air and aggressive kicking make him an extremely dangerous player and difficult match-up. He’ll be a crucial conduit in Melbourne’s attacking forays for as long as their season is alive.
Hawthorn – James Sicily
Sicily might be overqualified for this list. If not for a late-season injury he would have almost certainly earned his first All-Australian selection.
In many ways he represents everything Hawthorn: He reads the play well, is clean, a beautiful kick and has a habit of overstepping the line.
Sicily is just the kind of player you want to break down the Tigers. He won’t be flustered by their pressure and can cut them up by foot. Here’s hoping he’s fit and ready to fire.
(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Collingwood – Tom Phillips
Collingwood’s midfield is chock-full of quality. Even 13 years into a sure-fire hall-of-fame career Scott Pendlebury is underrated, Steele Sidebottom just earned a well-deserved first All-Australian jacket, as did Brodie Grundy.
If Adam Treloar and Daniel Wells can get on the park, it might be the best midfield in the competition.
A player rarely mentioned in that group is Tom Phillips, who has had a breakout season on the wing and was unlucky to miss out on a spot in the All-Australian squad of 40.
Phillips set career-high marks in almost every statistical category this season, and his averages of 14.6 kicks and 434.1 metres gained where the best at Collingwood.
He’s an important link in Collingwood’s attacking chain and he can probably expect a little extra attention now that the stakes are higher. The Magpies will be hoping he can handle it.
West Coast – Dom Sheed
Sheed has been a solid, albeit it inconsistent player for a few years now. His endurance is a strength, though his kicking can let him down.
His 2018 of 21.8 disposals and 12.3 kicks are slightly down on last year’s numbers, but in the final three rounds of the season, in which his return coincided with the forced omission of star winger Andrew Gaff, Sheed stepped up, averaging almost 28 disposals and 14 kicks a game.
The former No.11 pick is not Andrew Gaff, but his best Andrew Gaff impression might be enough to help the Eagles deep into September.
Richmond – Toby Nankervis
There aren’t many unheralded players left in this powerful Richmond side, but few carry a heavier load than workhorse Nankervis.
At just 199cm and not particularly bouncy, Nankervis is outmatched physically most weeks by bigger and more athletic direct opponents.
But while he might not get his hands to hitouts as often as his opponents, he always seems to find a way to have an impact.
Much like his Richmond predecessor Ivan Maric, Nankervis’ greatest strength might be that he tries really, really hard – and giving a stuff is still one of the most important things in sport.
Nankervis’ road to another flag might go through Ben McEvoy, Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn; he’ll definitely be up for the fight.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
A touching moment for the Demons star with Jacob Hopper.
It's a festival of footy as Anzac Round dawns, with matches to be played across a whopping five days in 2024's most spread-out 'weekend'…
There's an old saying that you should never argue with an idiot, because they'll drag you down to their level and then beat you…
The ball hit the boundary umpire's leg and rebounded back into play, leading to debate over whether a throw-in should have been called for.
