When I was playing there were three players that gave me sleepless nights in the lead-up to games.

Chris Judd – Had the rare combination of lightning speed coupled with elite endurance, never uttered a word during a game and nothing rattled him.

Simon Black – He was so clean and could lose you at the stoppage. Also had an underrated work rate and a massive engine. Always stayed on the move, was highly competitive and hated getting beaten.

Boomer (Brent Harvey) – Was always my hardest opponent and the man that I just couldn’t stop. Turned one possession into three and was so dangerous when he went forward.

Which players are a nightmare to match-up on and give their opponents sleepless nights in the lead up to games?

10. Daniel Talia

Talia does have the offensive flair of the game’s best key defenders but he makes you work for every kick. He’s still one of the best lock-down defenders in the game and not many forwards ever get a hold of him.

9. Jeremy McGovern

It must be tough going into a game as a forward and your main task is to stop the defender that’s matching up on you. Nothing annoys coaches more than the opposition marking the ball in defence and McGovern is one of the best we have ever seen at doing this. He shows his man no respect and reads the cue of the kicker quicker than anyone else.

8. Matt de Boer

It’s been one of the great career comebacks that I’ve seen. Takes on the best midfielders every week and rarely gets beaten. Has the size and strength to match it with the bigger, modern day midfielders. If you get a kick on him you know you’ve earned it.

7. Ben Brown

Super smart forward who works so hard off the ball. No many defenders can match him for speed and length and because he’s such a reliable set shot for goal he punishes his opponents on the scoreboard. A star.

6. Patrick Dangerfield

Speaks for itself really. Power, speed and strength. If he doesn’t get you in the midfield he will get you when he rests forward. Good luck trying to stop him for four quarters.

5. Robbie Gray

Next time you watch Gray live have a look at the panic he causes the opposition, particularly at a stoppage in the forward half of the ground. He is so good at losing his man in congestion and his timing off the ruckman’s hand is a work of art. Often draws free-kicks because his opponents get nervous and hold illegally.

4. Charlie Cameron

One of the scariest positions for any player in today's game is one out with Charlie Cameron inside forward 50. Cameron doesn’t do the damage in the air but is the best at winning one-on-one ground ball contests inside 50. His speed and finishing ability make him the competitions premier small forward heading into 2020. What a headache.

3. Brodie Grundy

Not only do Grundy’s opponents have to compete with him at the centre bounce and around-the-ground stoppages, they then have to chase him all over the park and try and stop him getting midfield statistics. His strength, massive engine, skill and competitiveness must give his opposing rucks genuine nightmares.

2. Dylan Grimes

As Charlie Cameron found out in the finals, Grimes can play on either a tall or a small and has elevated himself into the AFL’s premier key defender. Doesn’t hesitate to mark the ball which has been the biggest improvement in his game in the last two seasons.

1. Dustin Martin

When Dusty plants himself in the goal square, clears out the forward 50 and calls the ball in long - it's game over. Is capable of turning the game in the space of 10 minutes like he did with his 6 goals in the qualifying final against Brisbane last year.