1-46: Ranking every 2024 AFL Grand Final player by importance

We’ve compiled a list after assessing how influential every player could be in Saturday’s decider.

EDITOR | September 27, 2024 - 3:37pm

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While it can often be the big-name stars who have the most influence in getting their side to the last Saturday of September, it's the role players who might be the difference makers in delivering a premiership.

All 46 players named to feature this weekend will have a part to play as Sydney and Brisbane look to cast recent grand final heartbreak aside and end their respective premiership droughts.

The Swans are headlined by a dazzling engine room ensemble fronted by Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden, but there's no mistaking the importance of defensive-minded duo James Rowbottom and James Jordon.

Their Brisbane counterparts consist of two-time Brownlow Medal winner Lachie Neale, who doesn't have to look far for support in the form of Josh Dunkley - who has premiership-winning experience - young gun Will Ashcroft and Hugh McCluggage, who would've come close to a Norm Smith Medal last year if the Lions were more fortunate.

Spearhead Joe Daniher had an equal right to claim best-afield honours for Brisbane in the 2023 decider and will again play a pivotal role in this year's grand final, while at the other end co-captain Harris Andrews will be looking to cap off a stellar campaign with a spot on the dais.

He, along with Jack Payne and Ryan Lester, will be tasked with taming the Swans' three tall forwards Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean, but it's the ground-level threats who might pose the most damage for either side.

Charlie Cameron and Tom Papley are arguably the two best small forwards in the competition, with Harry Cunningham and Brandon Starcevich set to go head-to-head with the livewire duo respectively.

All-Australian pair Dayne Zorko and Nick Blakey will look to be the slingshotting defenders out of the backline for their respective sides, with the aforementioned Jordon a chance to try and quell Zorko's impact.

Swans recruit Brodie Grundy looks to be an integral piece in Sydney's premiership hopes and will come up against second-string Lions ruckman Darcy Fort after Oscar McInerney was ruled out of the grand final with a shoulder injury.

Here is our list ranking all 46 players on their potential importance come the opening bounce of Saturday's grand final.