Ahead of Saturday’s grand final, The West Australian has ranked every Sydney and Brisbane player based on their ability to impact the result of the contest.

1. Isaac Heeney (Sydney)

Has had a monster year in the midfield, but is a weapon as a forward too, which makes him a real trump card.

2. Lachie Neale (Brisbane)

Two-time Brownlow-winner and the best clearance player in the game. Sydney will have to run someone tight with him to limit influence at stoppage.

3. Chad Warner (Sydney)

His 2022 decider was the third-highest rated grand final of the century and he has since become one of the most explosive midfielders in the league.

4. Errol Gulden (Sydney)

The third of Sydney’s big three and is crucial to their boundary-focused ball movement. Had six score involvements in each final so far.

5. Dayne Zorko (Brisbane)

Sets up Brisbane’s ball movement from the back half. They struggled when he struggled against the Giants and could have James Jordon tagging him. Important to shut down.

6. Joe Daniher (Brisbane)

Kicked three and took eight marks in last year’s grand final. Kicked four in the semifinal, but had to carry the ruck load last week. Will command best defender.

7. Brodie Grundy (Sydney)

Was brought back from the wilderness to Sydney for days like this. Oscar McInerney’s injury opens the door for him to set up their clearance game.

8. Tom Papley (Sydney)

Sydney’s ignitor. Has returned from injury in hot form this finals series and is set to be their barometer. If he’s got going, they’re in the contest. Likely match-up is Brandon Starcevich.

9. Charlie Cameron (Brisbane)

Out to break a grand final curse dating back to 2017. Hasn’t gone goalless since round 13 and has kicked two goals in each final. Didn’t kick a goal while opposed to Harry Cunningham the last time they met.

10. Cam Rayner (Brisbane)

The No.1 draft pick has had his best season yet and has peaked in the finals. Is a wrecking ball at half-forward and through the midfield but as he showed in the preliminary final, loves a big goal.

11. Harris Andrews (Brisbane)

One of the best roll-off defenders in the competition. Big watch with Sydney’s mark-heavy ball movement is how they enter forward-50 around Andrews.

12. Will Aschroft (Brisbane)

Has had big influences on games in the past month, which is remarkable given he’s only played 30. Is the wildcard in their midfield and helps create the chaos they like having in there.

13. Josh Dunkley (Brisbane)

Is likely to go head-to-head with Isaac Heeney or Chad Warner in a battle that will shape the game. Has been there, done that.

14. Nick Blakey

Crucial to their transition, but hasn’t had the best finals series and turnovers are creeping in when he bites off too much. Lions will have to look at cooling him.

15. Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)

Has become a real clearance factor in the past two months and had a ripping finals series. Was one of their best on this day last year.

16. Justin McInerney (Sydney)

The winger is the second most effective field kick in the competition. Swans went around the boundary from defensive 50 80 per cent of the time against Port Adelaide, so there’s a big role for their outside runners.

17. Logan McDonald (Sydney)

Is set to play despite battling an ankle injury this week. Shrugged off a tough year with a strong finish as their forward-50 efficiency improved through the finals.

18. James Jordon (Sydney)

One of only two premiership players in the Swans’ team. Has tagged all year, but done it off half-forward as of late. Good chance he goes to Zorko, unless they decide he’s best-placed to slow down Neale.

19. Harry Cunningham (Sydney)

His direct opponents have gone goalless in six of his past nine games, including Cameron. There are plenty of challengers on the deck in Brisbane’s forward-line but you can count on him to shut one of them down.

20. Jarrod Berry (Brisbane)

Smashed his own disposal record this season and has lifted his contested ball work in the finals series.

21. James Rowbottom (Sydney)

The tackle machine is a good midfielder in his own right, but could be used to put the brakes on Neale around stoppage if they send Jordon to Zorko.

22. Zac Bailey (Brisbane)

Kicked a famous goal in last year’s grand final. Had 19 disposals and kicked two last week and is a tough match-up when he rolls further up the ground.

23. Callum Ah Chee (Brisbane)

West Australia is the sort of player that could win a Norm Smith. He’s explosive, kicks goals and has had a coming out party this finals series.

24. Eric Hipwood (Brisbane)

Watching Eric Hipwood is a wild ride. Kicked six in a game earlier this year, but hasn’t snagged multiple goals since round 18.

25. Tom McCartin (Sydney)

Will take the deepest forward, which will largely be Hipwood. Hasn’t had his best year, but at his peak is one of the best back-shoulder defenders around.

26. Joel Amartey (Sydney)

Had 16 touches last week — easily his best for the year — and kicked three. Booted nine earlier in the year but can fade out of games just as easily.

27. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane)

Is their emerging excitement machine and capable of bursting a game open with a run of goals. His kicking inside-50 is excellent too.

28. Luke Parker (Sydney)

The other flag-winner for the Swans. Playing mostly as a forward, but hasn’t had an impact there for a couple of weeks. Was at 31 per cent of centre bounces in the first final, his experience will be important.

29. Will Hayward (Sydney)

Has broken a few games open this season but is the sort of size that can make him easy to shut down. Kicked two against the Lions a few weeks ago but is goalless in two of his past three.

30. Darcy Wilmot (Brisbane)

He’s the chaos man in the back-half for Brisbane. His first three games were all finals and he can shut down players while still bringing his run and flare.

31. Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane)

The dour stopper was disappointed with his grand final last time out, but will get the job on Papley this time and is crucial to the outcome.

32. Jake Lloyd (Sydney)

Has racked it up in the last couple of weeks and snuck forward to kick goals, despite playing mostly across half-back. Is a reliable kick, but not as penetrative as the last time they went this far.

33. Oliver Florent (Sydney)

Another one of the outside players that will play a big role for the Swans. Important for them that he and Blakey get the ball in their hands.

34. Dane Rampe (Sydney)

Will have a role stopping one of Brisbane’s tricky fleet of mid-to-small forwards. Could spend time on Rayner, who has been electric. Took eight marks last week.

35. Ryan Lester (Brisbane)

Will be one of the great stories if they win, living on one-year deals for almost a decade. Had one of his best-ever games in last year’s grand final. Had eight rebound 50s last week.

36. Jack Payne (Brisbane)

Battling back from injury for the finals series after missing out last year, he is likely to get the match-up on McDonald.

37. Hayden McLean (Sydney)

Has kicked three goals in his past five, which doesn’t set the world alight. But he does have a job to do as the back-up ruck.

38. Noah Answerth (Brisbane)

Important stopper down back for the Lions and allows others like Wilmot to get-and-go. Could spend time on Hayward

39. Matt Roberts (Sydney)

The disposal count has dipped in this finals series but he had some big games in the final month of the home-and-away season.

40. Lewis Melican (Sydney)

After being in an out of the side, has become a fairly reliable defender in the back half of the season. Will get the second tall in a duo with McCartin.

41. Braeden Campbell (Sydney)

Came on as the substitute against Greater Western Sydney and blew the whole game up. Then had just eight touches against the Power last week. Is a sub candidate again, but the MCG suits him if he starts.

42. Connor McKenna (Brisbane)

Was the substitute last week, but named on-field for this one. Gives them some run and can use the wide expanses of the ‘G.

43. Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane)

Wins a bit of the footy as a winger, but the Lions would love to see some more score involvements.

44. Darcy Fort (Brisbane)

Is a journeyman back-up ruck, regarded as one of the best reserves in the competition. Played two games this year and has a monster task on Grundy.

45. Robbie Fox (Sydney)

Was their second-leading disposal-winner in the 2022 grand final as a backman. Was their substitute last week and given they are unchanged, looks set to start on the bench again.

46. Logan Morris (Brisbane)

Rocketed into their team in remarkable circumstances early in the season and held his spot. Named on the bench and appears the likely sub.