Finals are typically known as the time where the cream rises to the top. The pretenders are separated from the contenders and champions rise on the biggest of occasions.
Last year, it was Mason Cox's out-of-the-blue prelim performance against the Tigers which shocked the AFL world, while Dom Sheed became the toast of Western Australia after his Grand Final heroics.
So who will it be this year? Which player is ready to take their game to the next level this 2019 finals series?
We've gone through each finalist and named the player ready to emerge this September.
Narkle is still a fringe player at the Cats, only playing his first game of the season in Round 21 against North Melbourne.
However, his form over the last three rounds of the season is likely to have secured him a spot in the Cats lineup for their first final against the Magpies on Friday night.
Most recently Narkle shone against Carlton in Round 23, racking up 27 touches and a goal in a dominating performance.
The 21-year-old is a real live wire in a Cats team that at times has lacked the scoreboard impact to back up its rock solid defence.
With speed to burn, Narkle could provide the x-factor needed to break lines during critical phases of the match.
His forward pressure will also suite the intensity of a finals match and his six tackles against the Blues seem to show that he is getting into form at the right time.
Perhaps most surprising about Narkle's return to in 2019, has been his clearance ability.
The young forward is averaging 5.3 clearances per game since his return this season, placing him in the top 35% of players for this category.
While Narkle may not be one of the A-grade midfielders in Geelong's side, he may ultimately prove to be the extra edge the Cats require if they are to go all the way in September.
A high draft pick, McCluggage has always been touted for big things.
Now as a key part of a young and exciting Lions outfit, McCluggage is a barometer for this Brisbane side.
An impressive 28 disposal outing against Richmond in the final round of the home and away season ensured McCluggage enters Saturday's rematch against the Tigers in good form.
While the Tigers midfield group will be concerned with the likes of Dayne Zorko and Lachie Neale getting off the leash, McCluggage may not attract as much attention as his midfield counterparts.
The south-west Victorian has the polish and class to execute in pressure situations and will likely be thrust into the spotlight to do so at the weekend.
A strong runner, you can bet McCluggage will have a chance to break the game open late in the game should the contest be close.
The question is: Is he ready?
After missing a large chunk of time midway through the home and way season, Jayden Short returned to the Tigers team with a 22 disposal performance against the Saints in Round 15.
A consistent run of games has followed, culminating in a solid Round 23 outing against week one opponents, Brisbane.
The 23-year-old took seven marks off half back line two weeks ago, while also racking up 23 disposals in a good hit out ahead of the first week of finals.
After missing out on premiership glory in 2017, Short will be hungry to taste glory with the Tigers this year and his rebound from the defensive 50 will be key in achieving this goal.
Similarly to Jason Johannisen in 2016, Short's ability to gain territory by foot could open up some of the close contests the Tigers will likely be a part of in the coming month.
Short led the league for metres gained last season and will likely be put in a position to shine in a defence without its best player.
Accompanied by similarly emerging elite talent Nick Vlastuin in the back-half, Short will take his finals opportunity with two hands after the heartbreak of missing out in 2017 and the disappointment of the Tigers preliminary final defeat last season.
Although Moore will enter the Pies clash with the Cats with lingering hamstring worries, the young backman has a chance to be the match-winner in what will likely be a close contest.
Having missed most of last season with soft tissue injuries, Moore returned to the Collingwood team against Geelong in Round 1 this year and was impressive, particularly in the first half.
The father-son draftee will be key in setting up Collingwood's rebound from the defensive half of the ground, particularly given the tight structures Geelong's defence can set up if given time.
Moore's ability to play up forward may also give coach Nathan Buckley a useful alternative if things aren't going well for the Pies on Friday night.
While Moore was shaky in his return for the Pies two weeks ago, in his last full game for the side he racked up 21 touches and six marks against the Hawks.
If his body give him a chance over the finals campaign, Moore could add another level of composure and class to Collingwood's defence and may emerge as an elite intercept defender.
Rioli and September success is a pairing AFL fans have become accustomed to over the years.
While maybe not quite as dynamic as Cyril, Willie Rioli has been an important part of the Eagles forward set up in the past two seasons.
While the likes of Liam Ryan may often take attention away from the 24-year-old, Rioli has been gaining momentum over the last few rounds of the home and away season.
A three-goal game against the Hawks in Round 23 as well as a mightily impressive 21 disposal and seven tackle outing against the Crows two weeks beforehand, primes Rioli for an exciting finals campaign.
With an average of 3.4 tackles per game, Rioli's forward pressure will likely suite the heated finals environment and his eye for goal could allow him to shine on the biggest stage.
While still managing to snag a goal in each final the Eagles played during their premiership season, Rioli will still believe he can improve upon his performances.
Greater Western Sydney's second key tall has often been in the shadow of Coleman medal winner Jeremy Cameron's dominant home and away season.
Often overlooked is Himmelberg's goal assist ability, for which he ranks a clear first in the entire competition in both total goal assists and goal assists per game.
Alongside this, Himmelberg already has some finals experience at a young age as the 23-year-old has been a key part of previous Giants finals campaigns.
With the pain of failure in these campaigns still looming over this determined Giants side and with Himmelberg approaching the prime years of his career, the time for Himmelberg to truly become an elite household name is now.
An elimination final matchup with the Western Bulldogs will be a tough ask for Himmelberg and the out-of-form Giants, however, there is nothing like a key marking target to provide a simple yet effective forward option for the Giants to turn their form around.
While largely ineffectual during the last encounter between GWS and the Dogs, the bye week may have offered Himmelberg the chance to get some much needed recuperation after a home and away season in which he played all but one game.
With the likes of Cameron taking attention away from him, this could be Himmelberg's chance to shine.
With the likes of Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith and Ed Richards playing well in recent weeks, the Doggies enter their finals campaign with a large list of players ready to breakout.
However, the aerial prowess of young Aaron Naughton could be the x-factor needed if the Bulldogs are to go deep into September.
The 195cm forward is entering his first finals campaign on the back of a stellar home and away season, which he finished with the most contested marks out of any forward in the competition.
Although GWS Giants defenders Phil Davis and Nick Haynes will likely make it tough for Naughton to continue his marking ways on Saturday, the young forward will likely have decent service from the likes of Jack Macrae and Marcus Bontempelli in the Dogs midfield.
Should he start well, Naughton certainly has the aerial capabilities to break a game open similar to the way Mason Cox did against the Tigers last year.
While Cox has not kicked on to bigger and better things since that performance, at such as young age Naughton certainly has the potential to develop into an elite marking forward.
It is very often said that young key position players take longer to develop, so for Naughton to sustain elite level play over to coming weeks should the Dogs win, would be very difficult.
However, this list is about players displaying their first signs of elite level performance in finals matches and Naughton has the potential to be a big game player.
Redman has been a standout for the Bombers defence this season.
While the likes of Saad and McKenna get a lot of the credit for the daring run the Bombers can generate out of defense, the foot skills and tenacity of the 22-year-old have impressed Bomber fans all year.
Redman will likely have a challenge on his hands dealing with a potent West Coast attack during the first week of finals, however, the South Australian-born defender had a good game when the Bombers last faced the Eagles.
The recently resigned backman accumulated 22 touches, five marks and four tackles in the Round 15 encounter, while many of his teammates could not say the same in what turned out to be a dominant West Coast win.
The likes of second tier midfielders Darcy Parish and Andrew McGrath are also likely candidates for a breakout finals campaign.
However, the challenge of containing the Eagles forward line along with the defensive discipline needed if the Bombers are to go far in this finals series, means Redman will be put under the microscope.
Given the way Bombers fans have reacted to his first year of consistent first team football, many are expecting big things.