COLLINGWOOD will enter the Grand Final with a more loaded team than West Coast.
That's not an opinion, but is based on an analysis of the Schick AFL Player Ratings, which consider an individual's past 40 matches over a rolling two-year period to determine their ranking within the game.
Breaking down each outfit, the Pies will have eight of the top-100 ranked players in the League run out on to the MCG, compared to the Eagles' five.
MEGA-PREVIEW Eagles v Magpies
That's not even taking into account Jordan De Goey (No.101) and Brayden Sier (No.464), whose rankings would be adjusted to No.78 and No.100 respectively if they had each recorded 40 matches since the opening round of last season.
Refining the measure to look at top-50 players and again the Magpies hold sway, this time 6-3.
Furthermore, they have more men entering the decider in peak form. Nine Collingwood players are in the midst of career-best campaigns, compared to six for West Coast.
Take a look below to see where all 44 who have been named for the decider are ranked in the competition.
GAME RANKING (OVERALL RANKING) | TEAM | PLAYER |
---|---|---|
1 (4) | COLL | Brodie Grundy |
2 (16) | COLL | Scott Pendlebury |
3 (20) | COLL | Adam Treloar |
4 (22) | WCE | Jeremy McGovern |
5 (25) | COLL | Steele Sidebottom |
6 (32) | WCE | Luke Shuey |
7 (34) | COLL | Taylor Adams |
8 (35) | WCE | Elliot Yeo |
9 (42) | COLL | Jack Crisp |
10 (61) | COLL | Jeremy Howe |
11 (66) | WCE | Shannon Hurn |
12 (79) | COLL | Tom Phillips |
13 (95) | WCE | Josh Kennedy |
14 (101) | COLL | Jordan De Goey |
15 (115) | WCE | Jack Redden |
16 (121) | WCE | Jack Darling |
17 (126) | COLL | Josh Thomas |
18 (140) | COLL | Will Hoskin-Elliott |
19 (144) | WCE | Tom Barrass |
20 (160) | WCE | Dom Sheed |
21 (176) | WCE | Jamie Cripps |
22 (183) | WCE | Mark LeCras |
23 (202) | COLL | Tom Langdon |
24 (204) | COLL | Brayden Maynard |
25 (254) | COLL | Mason Cox |
26 (262) | WCE | Lewis Jetta |
27 (277) | WCE | Liam Duggan |
28 (280) | WCE | Chris Masten |
29 (281) | WCE | Nathan Vardy |
30 (303) | COLL | Travis Varcoe |
31 (311) | WCE | Scott Lycett |
32 (336) | COLL | Tyson Goldsack |
33 (352) | WCE | Willie Rioli |
34 (354) | COLL | Jaidyn Stephenson |
35 (369) | WCE | Mark Hutchings |
36 (381) | COLL | Levi Greenwood |
37 (406) | COLL | Chris Mayne |
38 (411) | WCE | Tom Cole |
39 (438) | WCE | Will Schofield |
40 (442) | COLL | James Aish |
41 (446) | COLL | Brody Mihocek |
42 (464) | COLL | Brayden Sier |
43 (465) | WCE | Liam Ryan |
44 (511) | WCE | Daniel Venables |