THE BLOCKBUSTER preliminary final clash between Richmond and Collingwood will feature more of the top-100 players in the competition than any other game in this finals series so far.
Looking at the Schick AFL Player Ratings, which are compiled by Champion Data and consider an individual's past 40 matches over a rolling two-year period to assess performance, 16 of those who run on to the MCG on Friday night will be ranked in the top 90.
To put that into context, next best on the list is the qualifying final that saw the Tigers beat Hawthorn, with 15 in the top 100.
Richmond will be led by the AFL's No.1 player in Dustin Martin, while the Magpies will hope their ruckman Brodie Grundy, who is ranked fifth, can dominate Toby Nankervis (No.63).
| GAME RANKING (OVERALL RANKING) | TEAM | PLAYER |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) | RICH | Dustin Martin |
| 2 (5) | COLL | Brodie Grundy |
| 3 (13) | COLL | Scott Pendlebury |
| 4 (18) | RICH | Shane Edwards |
| 5 (19) | COLL | Adam Treloar |
| 6 (27) | COLL | Steele Sidebottom |
| 7 (40) | RICH | Jack Riewoldt |
| 8 (41) | RICH | Trent Cotchin |
| 9 (44) | COLL | Taylor Adams |
| 10 (45) | RICH | Kane Lambert |
| 11 (49) | COLL | Jack Crisp |
| 12 (55) | COLL | Jeremy Howe |
| 13 (56) | RICH | Alex Rance |
| 14 (63) | RICH | Toby Nankervis |
| 15 (80) | COLL | Tom Phillips |
| 16 (87) | RICH | Josh Caddy |
| 17 (104) | RICH | Dion Prestia |
| 18 (113) | COLL | Jordan De Goey |
| 19 (134) | COLL | Josh Thomas |
| 20 (139) | COLL | Will Hoskin-Elliott |
| 21 (160) | RICH | Nick Vlastuin |
| 22 (180) | RICH | Jayden Short |
| 23 (197) | RICH | Dan Butler |
| 24 (202) | COLL | Brayden Maynard |
| 25 (212) | COLL | Tom Langdon |
| 26 (223) | RICH | Brandon Ellis |
| 27 (226) | RICH | Dylan Grimes |
| 28 (232) | RICH | Daniel Rioli |
| 29 (245) | RICH | Bachar Houli |
| 30 (253) | RICH | Shaun Grigg |
| 31 (282) | RICH | Kamdyn McIntosh |
| 32 (288) | COLL | Mason Cox |
| 33 (292) | RICH | David Astbury |
| 34 (312) | COLL | Travis Varcoe |
| 35 (344) | RICH | Jason Castagna |
| 36 (351) | COLL | Tyson Goldsack |
| 37 (365) | RICH | Jack Graham |
| 38 (367) | COLL | Jaidyn Stephenson |
| 39 (388) | COLL | Levi Greenwood |
| 40 (389) | RICH | Jack Higgins |
| 41 (390) | RICH | Nathan Broad |
| 42 (406) | RICH | Reece Conca |
| 43 (417) | COLL | Chris Mayne |
| 44 (446) | COLL | James Aish |
