Sam Mitchell
After finishing third in Monday night’s Brownlow Medal, Sam Mitchell will be hoping for yet another big finals performance.
Having gathered over 30 disposals in all three of the Hawks’ finals this series, Mitchell has been prolific in helping the Hawks to a fourth straight Grand Final appearance.
While he’s said he’s not sure whether the Eagles will use a tagger at any stage on Saturday, Mitchell will be critical around the stoppages.
He’s averaging 5.4 clearances and four inside 50s per game this season.
Josh Kennedy
This year’s Coleman Medallist and All Australian full forward, Josh Kennedy has been in sublime form in 2015 for the Eagles.
Kennedy has notched 80 goals thus far and averaging 6.7 marks a game.
He kicked an important bag of three against Hawthorn in the qualifying final, and in his first Grand Final appearance, will be looking to produce another standout performance to lead his side to its first grand final victory since 2006.
Cyril Rioli
Cyril Rioli’s pressure was crucial in the early parts of the 2014 Grand Final after being recalled for his first game of Round 15 that season.
And with a full season behind him, Rioli poses an even bigger threat ahead of the 2015 decider.
Rioli has kicked 40 goals this year – a career best – including three critical majors in the preliminary final win over the Dockers.
Luke Shuey
Luke Shuey is another Eagle who has enjoyed a stellar season and aided the Eagles’ rise to Grand Finalist.
Second at the Eagles for contested possessions (averaging 10.4 a game), clearances (six) and inside 50s (4.2), the hard-at-it midfielder’s best work has been done in and around the stoppages.
Impressive in the Eagles’ qualifying final win, Shuey will be hoping for a similar performance on Saturday.
Jack Gunston
Key forward Jack Gunston has missed both the semi and preliminary final wins, after suffering an ankle injury in the qualifying final loss to West Coast.
The 23-year-old will have a vital role to play in attack for the Hawks against a West Coast defence that coach Adam Simpson said had been “undersized for a large chunk of the year” after losing key personnel to season-ending injuries.
Gunston leads the Hawks for goals kicked this season with 53 and has averaged 7.3 marks a game.
