COLLINGWOOD
Scott Pendlebury: The reigning Norm Smith medallist on the back of 29 disposals in the Grand Final replay, Pendlebury attracts medals in the big games. The winner of the past two Anzac Medals, Pendlebury finished third in Monday's Brownlow Medal count, won All Australian selection and is already second on the line of betting to take home 'Charlie' in 2012 (Sportsbet). Averaging 29.5 disposals and a goal a game in 2011, the 23-year-old continues to grow in stature and is likely to go into Saturday as the outright favourite. And rightly so.
Betfair odds: $8.60

Dane Swan: The newly crowned Brownlow medallist heads into Saturday's match in exceptional form, averaging 35.5 touches and 1.5 goals from his past eight games. Best on ground in last week's preliminary final, the three-time All Australian is a noted eye-catcher who kicks goals, and barring injury, is almost a guarantee to feature prominently among the vote-getters on Saturday.
Betfair odds: $9.20

Dale Thomas: Thomas looked a step behind the pace in Friday night's preliminary final after two weeks out with suspension, but don't discount the recent All Australian inductee. The 24-year-old was Collingwood's best across both Grand Finals last year, averaging 26.5 disposals and earning votes in both Norm Smith counts. Will be better from last week's run and has the ability to make the impossible look easy. As an onballer who spends time forward, he is never far from the play.
Betfair odds: $16.50

Travis Cloke: Unlike the Brownlow Medal, the Norm Smith Medal isn't exclusively a midfielders' award. Kicked a career-high 66 goals in 2011, including four hauls of five goals or more, Cloke could be hard to ignore if he gets a run on. Likely to be minded by Cats defender Harry Taylor, Cloke will be hoping to turnaround his most recent showing against Geelong where he was kept goalless and spent time in the rooms with an injured knee. Missed two crucial goals in last year's Grand Final so prepare for a wild ride if you back the big centre-half forward.
Betfair odds: $25

Leon Davis: Likely to attract the 'Cinderella story' vote, Davis has pulled himself off the canvas in a resurgent season. Down and out after being dropped for last year's Grand Final replay, Davis has reinvented himself as a creative half-back, earning a place in the All Australian team and is considered one of coach Mick Malthouse's favourites. One of only three Pies (with Chris Tarrant and Krakouer) from last week's preliminary final side without a premiership, a Norm Smith would be a fitting finale to Davis' redemption.
Betfair odds: $27

Heath Shaw: It's safe to assume Shaw won't be backing himself or any other teammate to win the Norm Smith after spending eight weeks on the sidelines during the season for gambling on a match. Since the suspension, Shaw has returned to his rebounding best, averaging 19.5 kicks, setting up the Pies off half-back. Shaw's smother on Saint Nick Riewoldt became the defining moment of last year's Grand Final replay and as a player who doesn't hesitate when putting his body on the line, Shaw is certain to be noticed in the clinches.
Betfair odds: $28

Luke Ball: The former St Kilda captain built on last year's successful debut season with Collingwood, improving his disposal average (21.1 to 21.7) and kicking 10 more goals (17). Ranked fifth in the League for tackles, Ball loves the hard ball, which tends to win admirers on the AFL's biggest stage. Was quiet in the first Grand Final last year before finishing fifth in the Norm Smith voting in the replay. His fourth Grand Final in a row, Ball is familiar with the big stage and finally looks comfortable in the black and white.
Betfair odds: $30

Andrew Krakouer: The Norm Smith voters love nothing more than a fairytale and in a match set to feature a few, Krakouer's might just take the cake. Discarded by Richmond in 2007, Krakouer joined the WAFL before serving a 16-month prison term for assault. On his release, Krakouer returned to Swan Districts and stunned the League, winning the Sandover Medal, Simpson Medal (for best afield in the Grand Final), club best and fairest and a premiership. In the premiership win, Krakouer collected 40 touches and kicked 4.3, including the sealer on the siren, so he has form in big matches.
Betfair odds: $65

GEELONG
Joel Selwood: The two-time All Australian led the Cats in average disposals this season with 25.8 a match and tops the Cats count in clearances with 5.3. Renowned for getting his hands dirty and never shirking the issue, Selwood will need to play a major role if Geelong is to claim its third premiership in five seasons. The hard midfielder is also proven at getting the attention of voters, winning the Michael Tuck Medal in 2009.
Betfair odds: $9.40

James Kelly: Coming off a career-best year where he collected season-best numbers in disposals (563, up from 558 in 2010), clearances (100, up from 72 in 2010) and kicks (307, up from 257 in 2010) and won his first All Australian jumper, Kelly will see plenty of ball in the decider. The midfielder also finds himself in the thick of it defensively with 7.5 tackles a match, fourth in the AFL. The only knock on him is that he does tend to slip under the radar, as seen on Brownlow night when he managed just six votes, giving him only 24 career votes over a 193-game career that deserves greater recognition.
Betfair odds: $15.00

Jimmy Bartel: The 2007 Brownlow medallist has been a little off the pace in recent weeks with only 18 disposals and not a single clearance against West Coast. Against Hawthorn in the qualifying final, it was just 19 touches and four clearances and in the final round demolition of Collingwood he again didn't register a clearance. But Bartel can produce the decisive play and often bobs up for a key goal. Has kicked a major in nine of his past 10 matches and if you were to back anyone to kick a critical goal from the midfield, it is Bartel. A class act.
Betfair odds: $15.50

Paul Chapman: A renowned big-game player, Chapman has never disappointed on football's biggest stage. In 2009 he claimed the Norm Smith Medal with a 26-touch, three-goal performance against St Kilda while he had 22 possessions and a goal in the 2008 loss and four goals and 21 touches in the 2007 decimation of Port Adelaide. His possession and goalkicking numbers are down this year but he continues to work hard in the midfield in winning clearances and is always capable of kicking an important goal. Recognisable and a top-class player, Chapman could become only the third player after Gary Ayres and Andrew McLeod to win two Norm Smith Medals.
Betfair odds: $20.00

Brad Ottens: Matching-up against either the injured Darren Jolly or the developing Cameron Wood, Ottens could be in for a field day on Saturday if he gets going.  Ranking 10th in the AFL for average hit-outs with 24.7 a match, Ottens is one of the few ruckmen capable of dominating a match when fit and on-song. Hasn't stood out in any of his three Grand Final appearances and a ruckman hasn't claimed the Norm Smith since Simon Madden in 1985, but Ottens will get every opportunity to win the ruck battle and perhaps the premiership on Saturday.
Betfair odds: $25.00

Steve Johnson: The term match-winner was invented for players like Stevie J, a player capable of the brilliant and the impossible. A hot and cold player, Johnson did little in the 2009 Grand Final but won the 2007 Norm Smith Medal with a spectacular four-goal, 23-touch effort. Is battling a knee injury but in the expected wet conditions, one piece of Stevie J magic could turn the Grand Final. 
Betfair odds: $25.00

Cameron Ling: If the going is heavy then the Geelong skipper could very well come into his own. He will likely tag Brownlow medallist Dane Swan and if he can shut down the Collingwood star, then he will put the Cats in an excellent position to claim their ninth premiership. Ling gets plenty of it with 21.9 touches a match and combined with 3.3 clearances and 4.5 tackles, he is always around the action. Was outstanding in the preliminary final and could be the beneficiary of the conditions.
Betfair odds: $100.00

Andrew Mackie: Dropped after last year's qualifying final, Mackie has bounced back well in 2011, playing in 21 games. The defender was best afield in the preliminary final, picking up 27 disposals and 11 marks. Defenders don't have a great record in the Norm Smith Medal but Mackie is one who can rack up the numbers and look good in doing so, and the role of half-back has become increasingly important over the last few seasons. A definite outside chance. 
Betfair odds: $100.00

The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily the AFL or its clubs