Who have been the best finals players of the past five years?
David King has taken a look through the best performers in finals games since 2017 based on AFL Player Ratings.
“It’s done off the AFL Player Ratings which some people don’t understand,” King said on SEN’s Whateley.
“I think 5-20 would be pretty close, but there’s no doubting the top five.”
The minimum consideration for this list was five finals over the last five seasons.
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, who won three Norm Smith Medals in this time, sits comfortably at number one.
Martin is in the mix to return for his side’s Elimination Final against Brisbane on Thursday night having not played since Round 16.
1. Dustin Martin (Richmond)
Rating: 20.6
“In the last five years, Dustin Martin has played in 12 finals,” said King.
“In 2017 he had 28 disposals, 20 disposals and kicked 3.3, 29 disposals and 2.2.
“In 2018, 29 disposals and 1.2, and he was banged up in the prelim.
“In 2019, 14 disposals and six goals, 22 disposals and 2.2, in the Grand Final he had 22 disposals and four goals.
“In 2020, 25 disposals and one goal, 21 disposals and two goals and 21 disposals and four goals.
“The numbers are just crazy. He is the highest rated player that we’ve seen over the last five years.
“His rating is over 20. In the 12 years we’ve done ratings points, only five players have had a 20-rated season. So he’s had almost half a season of finals footy rating 20.
“That is just a rare breed. He’s on a different plain. He’s been best on ground in most of the finals he’s played.”
2. Luke Shuey (West Coast)
Rating: 17
“He’s played eight finals and his rating is 17.”
3. Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
Rating: 16.9
“That’s a big number. That’s why he’s a must-tag.
“The Tigers don’t tend to tag, but if they do they go to it pretty quick. It will be interesting to see how they handle Lachie Neale on Thursday night.”
4. Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Rating: 16.7
5. Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Rating: 16.6
“What do you do with Petracca and Oliver?
“How do you get around the pairing?
“Geelong have got a great handle on those players via Mark Blicavs. Not many other teams have been able to clamp those players or even tried.
“They just say, ‘Nah, too hard, we’re just going to have to back our troops’. It plays back to Melbourne’s advantage again.
“It’s a good discussion prior to watching them go crazy on the weekend.”
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6. Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
Rating: 16.2
“He’s a guy that generates scores.
“He’s been a big-game player. So when you talk about these guys leaving your football club at the end of the year, I always track back to this.
“Who helps you win big games? You want to be making clear decisions if you’re allowing Brodie to leave.”
7. Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)
Rating: 15.5
“He’s sneaky, ‘Libba’.
“His game tracks back to contested footy and clearances, taking territory, winning your own ball.
“He’s a sneaky good finals player.”
8. Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
Rating: 15.1
“He’s played five finals and rated at 15.”
9. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Rating: 14.6
“This surprised me. He was a bit lower than I thought he would have been.”
10. Shane Edwards (Richmond)
Rating: 14.5
“He’s a sneaky one. He does a lot of things by stealth.
“Most of his possessions set up and create scores. A lot of his stuff you see on replay, not live.”
If Martin is to play, that will be seven of the listed 10 playing in the finals this year alongside Neale, Petracca, Oliver, Liberatore, Bontempelli and Edwards.
Shuey’s Eagles and Wines’ Power did not quality, while Magpies ruckman Grundy is injured.
