JON Ralph ranks the players based on their importance to their team's victory in Saturday's Grand Final.

1. Sam Mitchell

The Hawks won the 2008 flag without the master extractor’s best, but surely Hawthorn needs 20-plus disposals from him this time. If Ryan Crowley dominates him, Fremantle wins.

2. Aaron Sandilands

A huge man and a huge Norm Smith Medal candidate. The 211cm giant has been dominant in both finals with 64 hitouts and eight contested marks combined.

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3. Lance Franklin

Will these be his last two hours in brown and yellow? No real influence so far in September. Boasts a brilliant finals record, but has skeletons from last year. Time to step up, Bud.

4. Matthew Pavlich

Born for September. Now in his 11th finals, perfectly poised to take this game by scruff of the neck. The Pav-Brian Lake battle is immense. Monsters teams on the MCG.

5. Luke Hodge

The 2008 Norm Smith Medallist was masterful v Sydney but quiet against Geelong. Builds a wall across half-back. Along with Mitchell, must dominate for Hawthorn to win.

6. Cyril Rioli

Broke the 2008 Grand Final apart, but was smashed by Nick Smith last year. Just one game in a month and modest stats in the prelim. Still, a game breaker.

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7. Nathan Fyfe

Another big Norm Smith candidate. How did he miss the All-Australian side again? Does it all, and with a oodles of class. Magnificent year.

8. David Mundy

Exploded into the preliminary final with 12 first-quarter touches. Must be quelled. Liam Shiels maybe? 504 touches and 125 clearances this year. Centre-square warrior.

9. Chris Mayne

The complete package. A tackling machine. A sharpshooter (36.12) this year. And a perfect foil for Pavlich. With straight kicking at a premium, he is the GF money man.

10. Shaun Burgoyne

"Silk" is a hugely underrated finals weapon. He had 10 tackles to go with his 21 touches in last year’s GF. Three goals in the prelim. Is an alternate target for Crowley.

11. Michael Barlow

The Shepparton kid has averaged 27 possessions and nearly six tackles, ripping opponents to shreds. His best year by far. 62 touches and four goals in two finals so far this year.

12. Brian Lake

The fairytale is alive. Surely Lake gets Pavlich. Can suffer brain explosions, but the best marking defender in the game. Massive role on game day.

13. Jarryd Roughead

The Coleman Medallist did it all. Sixty-eight home-and-away goals with stints in the ruck and midfield. A quiet finals series so far, and a poor Grand Final last year (0.3). Enormous stakes for the Roughnut.

14. Ryan Crowley

Even this ranking might be too low. Obliterated his opponents this year. Will a Jordan Lewis or Luke Hodge try to legally smash him to help Mitchell?

15. Michael Walters

Another sharpshooter (44.23 this year) in a game where the outcome depends on accurate kicking at goal. Super overhead for his size. Can win it off his own boot in five lethal minutes.

16. Jordan Lewis

Can turn a final, can play a defensive tag at half forward, and is third in the comp at the money kick — hitting a target inside 50. But must lift after two quiet finals.

17. Isaac Smith

No player kicks longer or is more capable of breaking lines in the Hawthorn side. The boy from Cootamundra will likely get tagged with Mzungu, so needs to run him off his feet.

media_camera Isaac Smith launches the Hawks into attack. Picture: Michael Klein

18. Josh Gibson

The 2013 All-Australian defender must stop the energiser bunny in Mayne. How does he combat him and yet still get third up against Pavlich? Huge task ahead.

19. Grant Birchall

The Tasmanian smooth mover slaughtered Freo in R4 with 37 possessions, 28 of them contested. Needs to combat the Freo press. Will De Boer go to him?

media_camera Grant Birchall brushe Mitch Duncan aside. Picture: Michael Klein

20. Luke McPharlin

Is it a risk for the high-marking defender to play despite calf and groin issues? Can he play the game out? Can he dominate Roughead or Gunston?

21. Michael Johnson

The All-Australian might get Franklin if he pushes further up the ground. A brilliant season but Surely Hawthorn won’t let him play loose this time.

22. David Hale

A brilliant finals series this year. Quality GF last year but tired badly against Mike Pyke. Must break even with Sandilands in the centre yet still continue his goal output.

23. Stephen Hill

Average of 19 touches per game doesn’t do his impact justice. If he gets it 25 times, Freo just win. Will be tagged, maybe by Shiels.

24. Liam Shiels

Huge role ahead for tagger Shiels, who kept Joel Selwood quiet early last week. Will he get Mundy, or Fyfe, or Hill?

25. Zac Dawson

Poor old Zac. Constantly underrated, constantly written off. He doesn’t care because he has delivered on GF day. Has bad moments, but should reduce the effect of Gunston or Roughead.

26. Tendai Mzungu

The midfielder of Zimbabwean descent is the Dockers' Mr Fixit. Can tag, can kick a goal, can get off the chain when others are locked down. Went to Brad Hill, Isaac Smith and Shane Savage in Round 4.

27. Jack Gunston

The former Adelaide sharpshooter came of age in the prelim, with 4.2 plus two goal assists. Has kicked 42.16 this year. Now needs to bury the demons of that last-quarter poster last year.

28. Luke Breust

The prototype for a small forward — a crafty crumber or adept on the hit-up lead. But 2.5 in September so far. Must nail his set shots.

29. Brad Sewell

If one of his two hurried snaps wobbled through last year, he was the Norm Smith Medallist. Instead consistent finals performer Sewell will try to shrug off a quiet preliminary final.

30. Hayden Ballantyne

Can you elevate a player based on his ability to antagonise? When the game breaks open late he will revel in the space provided. Has kicked 34.28 this year.

31. Paul Duffield

The veteran defender provides valuable rebound and stout defence. Could take Gunston at times if Hale pushes forward as the fourth key defender.

32. Brent Guerra

Missed last year and was desolate. But in 2008 was great with 25 touches. If Birchall is tagged he might get off the chain. Must hit targets to penetrate Freo press.

33. Zac Clarke

His impact has dulled with big Sandi back, with just 18 touches in two finals. But can help wear down Hale with his relentless run.

34. Ben Stratton

Stood up when it counted with telling marks against Geelong. Unassuming, but will need to help out Lake (on Pav) if Gibson is busy with Mayne.

35. Lee Spurr

Who, all those Hawks fans say? This bloke has been massive all year, the 26-year-old a cornerstone of the Dockers defence. Could he get Cyril?

36. Danyle Pearce

This bloke could break open a Grand Final but his total of 9.21 has hurt him despite averaging 20 touches. If he dominates tomorrow, it’s a recruiting masterstroke.

media_camera Fremantle speedster Danyle Pearce is looking forward to playing in his second Grand Final.

37. Matt de Boer

The midfielder/tagger was nearly the sub last week, and didn’t do much. Could get the green vest. Or could get Birchall and make a mockery of his lowly rating at 37.

38. Nick Suban

A razor of a left foot which helped slice and dice Sydney given his two goals. One of Rossy’s success stories. Could be sent to Brad Hill.

39. Bradley Hill

Might be under-rating him given his stupendous preliminary final. If Freo sits on Smith, he is the genuine speed merchant who must fire. Will play on his brother Stephen at times.

40. Lachie Neale

Sucked it up as the sub last week then came up and kicked a big goal. Versatile, underrated, not shaken by the big stage. Another great recruitment story at pick 58.

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41. Paul Puopolo

Love his energy, love his bull at a gate style. Two solid finals after 15.6 this year. But the spectre of last year’s GF — just six possessions — means he must redeem himself.

42. Max Bailey

Missed last year’s GF but has secured his place given his quality tap work. Subbed a comp-high seven times. Needs to impact the game, not just float.

43. Cameron Sutcliffe

Has held his own in September, with the steady midfielder playing his role to a tee. 8.1 for the year, and just keeps stepping up.

44. Jonathan Simpkin

The injury to Brendan Whitecross has opened the door. Could possibly be be the sub so would have to make an impact in 40 minutes of footy.