Well finals footy is finally here for our AFL exports, with 10 Hampden products (eight players and two coaches) in contention for glory with their respective clubs.
The season ended for seven of our exports last weekend, with their clubs missing out on finals berths this season.
See below for a wrap of their efforts this season:
Finals bound:
Willem Drew (Port Adelaide)
Games: 22
Goals: 4
Will line-up for the Power in a final for the first time this evening following a strong season.
Has averaged 18 possessions, six tackles and four clearances per game which goes to show his inside work is vital to the Power’s hopes when the likes of Ollie Wines and Travis Boak are resting forward.
Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide)
Will be looking to take the Power to its first grand final since 2007 after falling short in recent seasons.
Will be his fifth finals campaign at the helm of the Power, with Hinkley hoping to take Port Adelaide beyond the preliminary final stage after losing to Richmond in the same game last year.
Gary Rohan (Geelong)
Games: 18
Goals: 30
Will enter his fifth AFL finals series and second with Geelong having joined the Cats ahead of the 2020 season.
Playing predominantly as the Cats third tall, Rohan is averaging two goals per game from 10 possessions and looms as an important asset in Geelong’s forward line alongside Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)
Games: 22
Goals: 13
The midfielder from South Warrnambool will be looking to help the Lions go beyond the preliminary final stage this season.
Has been a crucial cog in the Lions midfield, averaging just shy of 25 disposals and is important to his side winning the territory battle given he averages 438.7 metres gained when the ball is in his hands.
Leon Cameron (Greater Western Sydney Giants)
Is looking to take the AFL’s youngest team back to the grand final after reaching the big game in 2019.
The Giants have become perennial finals contenders under Cameron but the South Warrnambool export knows a tough road lies ahead given they must overcome Sydney in the elimination final.
Lewis Taylor (Sydney)
Games: 2
Goals: 0
Has struggled to feature at AFL level regularly this season, but remains an outside chance of breaking into the line-up if the Swans progress beyond the first week.
Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs)
Games: 11
Goals: 2
The only premiership player on this list who at 31 will no doubt be wanting to see success in the twilight of his career.
Has shored up the Bulldogs defence since his return from injury and will play a key role in nullifying Essendon’s forwards in Sunday’s elimination final.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs)
Games: 5
Goals: 7
Has not been included in the Bulldogs squad for Sunday’s elimination final but will continue to push his case at training for a recall should the side progress beyond week one.
Zach Merrett (Essendon)
Games: 22
Goals: 4
Has enjoyed a stellar season which resulted in All-Australian selection.
Along with Darcy Parish, the Cobden export will be vital to the Bombers winning the midfield battle and setting up its attacking forays in its elimination final clash with the Western Bulldogs.
Martin Gleeson (Essendon)
Games: 5
Goals: 0
Has been included in the Bombers extended squad for its final with the Western Bulldogs.
Is capable of playing various roles across defence for the Bombers, but has not been able to establish himself as a regular at AFL level this year.
Season finished:
Jay Rantall (Collingwood)
Games: 5
Goals: 0
Finished the season with a strong performance shadowing Essendon’s Darcy Parish.
Was given opportunities at AFL level on five occasions, including a special debut on ANZAC Day and will be better for the experience.
Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)
Games: 13
Goals: 9
Produced some big numbers for a ruckman which rated him among his position’s elite for disposals.
Was also able to get forward on occasions, with the Portland export kicking two goals on three occasions.
Jamaine Jones (West Coast Eagles)
Games: 15
Goals: 11
An ankle injury sustained against Sydney curtailed the second half of his season but before that the Portland export was enjoying his best season to date.
Recovered in time to kick a goal in round 23 last weekend but 11 goals from 15 matches shows the small forward had an impact for the Eagles in his matches.
Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne)
Games: 15
Goals: 9
Cunnington was producing strong numbers and would have been in All Australian contention before his season was ended following the discovery of a testicular tumour.
Was averaging 26.3 possessions and 7.6 clearances, both elite numbers, up until his season was cut short.
Josh Corbett (Gold Coast Suns)
Games: 16
Goals: 23
Twenty-three goals is a good return considering the Suns struggles this year.
The North Warrnambool product was a regular figure in the side after missing the opening four games.
Sam Walsh (Carlton)
Games: 22
Goals: 12
All Australian selection and numerous best on ground performances go to show just how much Walsh has elevated his game this season.
The 21 year-old will be among the leading chances for the Blues best and fairest following a campaign which saw him average just under 30 possessions and star in only his third season.
Sean Darcy (Fremantle)
Games: 21
Goals: 12
Another local export who has established himself among the game’s elite as his position.
The Cobden product averaged 28.9 hit-outs and was among the elite for possessions for a ruckman with 16.6, while he also pushed forward and hit the scoreboard.
