AFL crucial cogs, Round 17: Which players need to stand up for your team?

Round 17 has plenty of milestones: North Melbourne celebrate their 100th year anniversary on Thursday night against Western Bulldogs, while Tom Liberatore, a stalwart of the Dogs, plays his 250th game.

Chris Scott will also coach his 350th game for the Cats against the Tigers on Saturday.

Here’s who needs to stand up for your team to taste victory.

North Melbourne

Toby Pink did a great job in Round 15 against the Blues, keeping Charlie Curnow goalless and having seven intercept possessions.

Unfortunately, the key defender lowered his colours in Round 16 against the Hawks, as Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston combined for 12 goals.

it won’t get any easier for the 26-year-old: he will have to do his best to curtail the influence of Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton at times.

Western Bulldogs

Ed Richards had his worst game of the season in Round 16 from a disposal perspective; Swans tagger James Jordon restricted the Western Bulldogs utility to 16 disposals. Despite that, Richards had the most clearances of any Bulldogs player in that game, with six.

Richards will be looking to bounce back against the Kangaroos.

Carlton

Charlie Curnow has been kept goalless in his past two games; the Blues key forward needs to be better than that.

He isn’t even halving contests and competing to his optimum level.

The Blues will be desperate for Curnow to bring effort when they face Collingwood in what could is a critical game in the tenure of Michael Voss, because the coach needs his team to bounce back from being obliterated by the Power in Round 16 and it starts with their spearhead.

Collingwood

Jack Crisp is Mr Reliable. The former Lion has played the most games consecutively for a reason: he’s consistent.

Crisp is coming off a solid game against the Eagles in Round 16 accumulating 27 disposals, four score involvements, four intercept possessions and finishing the game with six tackles, so he should have plenty of confidence.

West Coast

Reuben Ginbey has delivered in spades; the 20-year-old kept Jamie Elliott to one goal in Round 16 against the Magpies.

Ginbey proved his versatility as he got the better of Jeremy Cameron for three and a half quarters in Round 12.

The utility looks at home in defence and will need to be at his best against GWS, who possess a dangerous forward line.

GWS

Jake Stringer is an impact player who’s difficult to get a read on, having done nothing all season. He should gain plenty of confidence having kicked two freakish goals for the Giants, who had a narrow win in Round 15 against the Suns.

Stringer is a lively match winner at his best and at he’s worst a liability; therefore, it will be interesting to see how Adam Kingsley uses him, given Jesse Hogan may be rested against an improving Eagles outfit.

Essendon

Archer May proved that he’s a player with plenty of potential, kicking two goals against the Dockers, to go with 14 disposals.

The step-son-of a gun could prove to be difficult for the Suns to stop if May can perform to his optimum level.

There’s an opportunity for the key forward to cement a spot in the Bombers’ team given Nate Caddy or Peter Wright will be matched up on the best Suns defender, Sam Collins.

Gold Coast

Bailey Humphrey is a lively forward who has the potential to become a fantastic footballer.

Humphrey kicked two goals from four scoring shots and finished the game with seven score involvements, but was subbed out in the fourth quarter.

The 185cm utility has so much upside and will have the opportunity to show his wares against a Bombers outfit set to welcome a few defenders back.

Geelong

Tom Atkins is a competitor and has developed into a key player in the Cats best 22.

The 180cm midfielder has the most tackles in the competition with 141, which is 24 more than the next best Matt Rowell.

Atkins will need to play his role for the team against Richmond; the 29-year-old will probably be up against Jacob Hopper or Tim Taranto who are experienced midfielders.

Richmond

Jasper Alger showed some good signs in Round 16 against the Crows; the No.58 pick in the 2024 national draft kicked two goals.

Alger will need to step up and bring the ball to ground in the absence of Tom Lynch through suspension in Round 17 against the Cats. Who knows, maybe the Tigers forward line will be more unpredictable and the 18-year-old can ensure he’s a permanent part of the Tigers’ best 22.

Brisbane

Hugh McCluggage is a star of the competition and deserves to be classified as an elite player.

McCluggage rarely disappoints and always brings effort and his stats stack up; the 185cm midfielder has had the most score involvements of any Lions player so far this season, with 113, which is 18 more than the next highest, Will Ashcroft.

The 27-year-old will face a stern test in Round 17, based on the way in which the Power midfield performed against the Blues in Round 16, who possess a midfield comprising of Zak Butters, Miles Bergman and Jason Horne-Francis.

Port Adelaide

Mitch Georgiades has kicked the equal third most goals of anyone in the competition, with 38 goals, which is the same as Ben King.

Georgiades has been forced to be the main target for the Power, because Jack Lukosius and Todd Marshall have been injured, while Esava Ratugolea has cemented his spot in defence and doesn’t look like a viable forward option.

The 192cm forward is a key part of the Power system and they need him to bring the ball to ground and hit the scoreboard when they face Brisbane.

St Kilda

Alixzander Tauru displayed why he was the No.10 pick in the 2024 national draft: ‘The Flying Viking’ finished the game with 14 spoils in Round 16 against the Dockers.

But the 194cm defender will have his work cut out against a Hawks forward line that should be full of confidence, as Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston kicked 12 goals between them in Round 16.

Hawthorn

Nick Watson is nicknamed ‘The Wizard’ for a reason; the 170 cm small forward can do freakish things, which was there for all to see when he was moved into the centre bounces by Sam Mitchell and kicked a goal of the year contender in Round 16 against the Kangaroos.

Watson has the challenge of playing to his optimum level every week and will need to work hard defensively against St Kilda, because they possess two high quality half-back flankers: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair.

Sydney

Brodie Grundy has been performing well of recent times, arguably the best in his career in the past few weeks; perhaps it’s a case of third time lucky, after being traded by the Magpies and then the Demons.

But, it won’t get any easier for the Swans ruckman, because he’ll be up against Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy at times, in Round 17.

Fremantle

Josh Treacy is one of the most important players for the Dockers; the key forward worked hard in the Dockers narrow win over the Saints in Round 16.

Treacy kicked three goals, had six score involvements and two intercept possessions. There’s no disputing his value to the team, because he’s their best forward and works hard defensively.

The 22-year-old will need to perform well against the Swans in a danger game for the Dockers.

Adelaide

Reilly O’Brien has averaged the second most hit-outs per game of any ruckmen in the competition this season, with 38.80.

O’Brien has plenty to prove, because his contract runs out at the end of the season, so he may not be at the Crows in 2026.

The 29-year-old will face a stern test, when he faces off against Max Gawn in Round 17.

Melbourne

Steven May will need to play out of his skin if the Demons are to avoid a shellacking in Round 17.

The key defender will be up against a Crows forward line that possess three key forwards and a couple of other potential tall targets; Daniel Curtin who played on the wing and Max Michalanney whose role was to be a defensive forward in Round 16 against the Tigers.