AFL crucial cogs, Round 12: Which players need to stand up for your team?

There will only be 14 teams featuring in Round 12, as Carlton, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs have a bye.

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

Brisbane

Lachie Neale proved that he’s still capable of having a big impact when the Lions defeated the Hawks quite comprehensively in Round 11; the two-time Brownlow Medallist had 32 disposals, five score involvements, five intercept possessions and five tackles.

The Lions co-captain will face a tough challenge in Round 12 against Essendon; he may go head-to-head with Jye Caldwell at times or get tagged.

Essendon

Andrew McGrath polled three coaches votes in Round 11 against the Tigers in the Dreamtime at the ‘G game; the Bombers vice-captain had 31 disposals and seven intercept possession against a team that possesses some handy small forwards.

The 26-year-old will need him to be at his best defensively in Round 12, as Brisbane have some talented small forwards; Callum Ah Chee and Charlie Cameron combined for seven goals in Round 11.

Collingwood

Ned Long polled eight coaches votes in the Magpies Round 11 win over the Kangaroos, finishing with 15 score involvements and 14 tackles.

The former Hawk was delisted in October 2023; subsequently, Long joined Collingwood’s VFL team and five months later, he was promoted to the club’s senior side through the 2024 mid-season rookie draft with the 19th pick.

The midfielder should play with a point to prove, given the Magpies are playing against a team that thought he was surplus to requirements.

Hawthorn

Blake Hardwick has the capability of playing in defence or in attack. In Round 11 against the Lions, the utility had four score involvements, four intercept possessions and a goal.

There’s no doubt that Hawthorn will need him to be at his best when they take on Collingwood and it will be intriguing to see where Sam Mitchell uses him, given the Magpies are blessed with good small forwards and at the other end of the spectrum the Hawks may need to utilise him forward.

Gold Coast

Ben Ainsworth performed well in the Suns’ win over the Saints in Round 11; the 179cm forward had 15 disposals, two goals, six score involvements and five tackles.

It’s great to see that Ainsworth has become a permanent part of the Gold Coast best 22 this season. There should be plenty of opposition planning going into stopping Ben King, Bailey Humphrey and Ben Long, so Ainsworth could get off the leash when the Suns take on Fremantle.

Fremantle

Josh Treacy can be an elite player of the competition. Round 11 shows that he has work to do, as he went goalless in the Dockers’ 49-point win over the Power.

What the Dockers need from Treacy is to make a contest in Round 12 against the Suns. The 195cm key forward must bring the ball to ground, but it’s going to be tough, because he will be matched up against Sam Collins, who has averaged the fourth most intercepts per game of any player in the competition this season, with 7.6.

If Treacy can do that, it will give Murphy Reid and Shai Bolton the opportunity to go to work.

GWS

Lachie Whitfield is a player who is a game changer when at his best with his run and carry and willingness to take the game on.

The running defender will be up against a Richmond outfit that possess some handy small forwards, and they are a team that have nothing to lose.

Richmond

Jacob Hopper was brought to the Tigers on a long-term deal to bring success, which hasn’t come to fruition yet. This season it has been great to see him injury free and doing what he does best.

The midfielder has had the most disposals of any Richmond player this season, with at least 22 in all 11 games, and is averaging the 19th most contested possessions of any player in the competition per game with 11.64.

Since the Giants will be without Finn Callaghan and Stephen Coniglio, there’s an opportunity for Hopper to go head-to-head with Tom Green and ensure that Richmond are competitive.

Sydney

Nick Blakey hasn’t been at his best in season 2025; he has not been utilized to get the maximum output from him, as he is a player that possesses plenty of run and dash and has a lethal left foot.

The 25-year-old isn’t having the same damage from an optics perspective, because we’re not seeing his run ad dash predominantly through the corridor.

The Swans need to get the ball in his hands in space so that he can cause damage and get back to his All-Australian best.

Adelaide

Reilly O’Brien should be the permanent number one ruckman for the Crows for the foreseeable future.

The Crows stalwart showed what he’s capable of in Round 11 against the Eagles; he had 18 disposals, 45 hit-outs, a goal and 12 score involvements, which are impressive stats.

What will be interesting is whether the Swans play one or two rucks; either way O’Brien should be looking to prove his Round 11 performance wasn’t an aberration.

Melbourne

Christian Salem is a player that goes under the radar and is extremely underrated; the 29-year-old possesses a lethal left foot, great ball-handling, decision making and leads by example.

The 185cm defender polled six coaches votes in Round 11 against the Swans, finishing with 31 disposals, 12 score involvements, four tackles and four intercept possessions.

What the Demons need from him is to take confidence and belief from his performance in Round 11 and build on that when Melbourne takes on St Kilda.

St Kilda

Bradley Hill is a player that has to the show more leadership; the 31-year-old has plenty of experience, so he should be having more of an impact on games for the Saints.

The utility needs to use his footy smarts and influence the game, because as it stands his form isn’t up to his usual standards.

West Coast

Reuben Ginbey has the capability to play in defence and in the midfield. Despite that, the 20-year-old appears to be settled into his role as a key part of the Eagles back six, with ten of his 11 disposals in Round 11 against the Crows intercept possessions.

The 20-year-old has the most intercepts of any Eagles player so far this season, with 68, ten more than the second best, Liam Baker.

Round 12 is going to be a tough test for the Eagles defence and Ginbey in paticular, as the Cats possess some quality tall forwards; Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale.

Geelong

Shannon Neale should take plenty of confidence from kicking five goals and having 11 score involvements in the Cats’ 14-point win over the Western Bulldogs in Round 11 and also showed his athleticism in a quality display.

The key forward should benefit from the Eagles being without their experienced key defender, Jeremy McGovern. In Round 12 most of the Eagles’ focus will probably be on stopping Jeremy Cameron, which should mean that Neale has a field day.