The 2020 Finals Series is shaping up to be a blockbuster, with many intriguing matches in the pipeline.
With so much on the line, these are the players for each team which will be integral to their club's run into October.
Charlie Dixon
The 200cm man-mountain has been in scintillating form in 2020, with 31 goals, averaging just under two per game.
Admittedly, he hasn't been Port's best player, that title goes to Travis Boak. However, he is a pivotal piece in the Power's system.
The 13 games in which the Power have won, he has looked a constant menace up forward, using his body to beat out defenders.
Conversely, when Port Adelaide has lost, Charlie hasn't contributed much at all.
In their losses so far this season against Brisbane, St. Kilda and Geelong, Dixon has only managed a singular goal across all three games.
This evidently displays that when Charlie is on, Port are on.
If Ken Hinkley's men thrust deep into October, you can put your house on Charlie Dixon being at the tip of the spear.
Eric Hipwood
The name Lachie Neale not being here might come as a bit of a shock, but it is evident that the Lion's success very much rests on their forward-line's accuracy in front of goal.
This is why Eric Hipwood's performance is critical to Chris Fagan's fortunes in October.
Lachie Neale has had an incredible season, and is clearly the best player in the competition, but the one area where the Lions are incomplete is their goalkicking.
They are ranked first for behinds kicked with 194, 24 clear of second (Port Adelaide).
There have been some subpar displays in front of goal, most notably against the Tigers when the Lions managed 4 goals and 17 points in a 41-point loss.
Although on that evening Hipwood did kick just one major and no points, if the Lions are to push deep into finals, then he will have to pick up the slack should his teammates be inaccurate.
Dylan Grimes
Dylan Grimes has been consistently outstanding since Alex Rance's injury and subsequent departure.
The 29-year-old dual-premiership player has been the main man for the Tigers in defence with his brilliant reading of the game and his safe hands.
This was on full show as the Tigers overcame premiership rivals Geelong by 27 points in round 17.
Grimes ended with 16 disposals, 12 intercepts and four contested marks in a commanding display which earned him even more plaudits.
Richmond are looking scarily good, and with a final against either Port Adelaide or Brisbane on the cards, they look primed for a tilt at a back-to-back flag.
Their defence will be put to the test this October, and Grimes' calm head will be pertinent to the Tiger's success.
Tom Hawkins
The Coleman Medalist has had a spectacular season for the Cats.
Kicking 42 goals, 11 clear of the next-best tally, Hawkins has been mostly unplayable.
Chris Scott will need him to be on his game if they want to right the wrongs of recent finals appearances.
The 32-year-old is averaging 2.5 goals per match and has played in every game so far this season.
The Cats are the highest scoring team in this years competition, and will be looking to keep that form going into October.
With their week one opponent being either Brisbane or Port Adelaide, both of whom have very solid defensive structures, Hawkins' imposing frame will be critical.
Nic Naitanui
It's no surprise that Nic Nat is here.
The 30-year-old is unstoppable on his day and improves the Eagles massively when in the side.
Naitanui seems to be a shoo-in for an All-Australian spot, and his numbers for this season have been sublime.
He is ranked third in the league for hit-outs per match (29.4), fourth for centre clearances per match (2.56) and sixth in total clearances (88), all for a man who stands at 201cm tall and weighs 110kg.
He has only missed the one game for the year, and in that match the Eagles went down in a thriller to the Dogs, with Naitanui sorely missed in the centre of the park.
With a final against either the Pies or the Dogs, Adam Simpson will be relying on Nic Nat to deliver for his side as he usually does if they want to get anything out of October.
Jack Steele
With the Saints returning to the pointy end of the competition for the first time in almost ten years, they will need everyone to stand up when it counts.
But someone who has had a sublime year is star midfielder Jack Steele.
The 24-year-old has been at the core of everything good that the Saints have done, with his work around the ball being stupendous.
Steele is second in the competition for total tackles (92), fifth in clearances from stoppages (53) and eighth in contested possessions (189).
He continued his fine season in the Saints' big win against the Giants on Friday, with 18 disposals, 7 tackles, ten clearances and two goals in a best-on-ground performance.
St. Kilda will either be going up against either the Dogs or Pies in week one, and with both possessing very talented midfield groups, Steele and co. will need to be at their peak to propel their side to a win.
Marcus Bontempelli
Marcus Bontempelli has consistently been in the top bracket of midfielders for the past five years.
Moreover, he has been the Bulldogs' most important player for that length of time too, winning three best-and-fairests and featuring in two All-Australian teams.
This year, he has once again stood up when needed, helping the Dogs to sneak into the eight after their final round win over the Dockers.
Bontempelli had 20 disposals, five tackles and a goal as Luke Beveridge's side ran out five-goal winners.
The 24-year-old's goal threat is something that opposition teams are ever-wary of, however, they can do little to stop it, with the imposing midfielder being able to pull off some spectacular feats of brilliance when required.
The Dogs will be hoping that they can replicate their 2016 finals campaign and win the flag from outside the top four, and 'The Bont' will no doubt be at the core of it.
Jordan De Goey
Collingwood has had an injury-riddled season and, in tandem with some off-field controversy, have done well to stay inside the eight.
Star forward Jordan De Goey has had both legal troubles and injury to deal with, but when he has played the 24-year-old has looked menacing.
In his seven games this year, he has kicked 11 goals and averaged 15 disposals.
The fact of the matter is, when De Goey plays, Collingwood look similar to how they have for the best part of the last two years.
In his return from injury last week against the Suns, De Goey kicked four goals and looked like a man who hadn't been absent from the team since round 7.
His 2019 finals campaign was cut short by injury, and there is no doubt that he will be looking to put his disappointing off-field dramas behind him with a stand-out finals series.