Key Players for the 12 teams in the hunt

With four rounds remaining, here are the players from clubs in the finals race who are key to their side's September ambitions. Richmond: Jack Riewoldt Jack may have lost his place as the Tigers' out and out best player to Dustin Martin some time ago, however for the Tigers to play the way they do he is the key. Riewoldt, playing as the lone tall in their forward line has to compete aerially time and again to ensure the Tigers' small forwards can cause havoc once the ball hits the deck. For the Tigers to go back to back, Jack will be all important, especially to nullify the potential danger that Jeremy McGovern can be. [caption id="attachment_22365" align="alignnone" width="696"] Jack Riewoldt during the round 15 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium on June 28, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia.[/caption] West Coast: Jeremy McGovern The two-time All-Australian will more than likely make it three in a row this year, due to his outstanding season so far. McGovern can be a one man brick wall for the Eagles, with any balls coming in high almost a lock for him to have a big impact on. The Eagles have the scoring power up front with Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling but McGovern holds that defence together and makes it a formidable task to penetrate when he is on form. [caption id="attachment_21015" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Jeremy McGovern of the Eagles marks the ball during the round one AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium on March 25, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)[/caption] Collingwood: Brodie Grundy May be the best ruckman in the competition at the moment, flip a coin between him and Max Gawn. Grundy's ability to link up in the play and move around the ground has turned him into a star, averaging 20 disposals per game. This to pair with his rucking ability, feeding the likes of Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom makes him crucial to the Pies' chances come the end of the year. [caption id="attachment_19293" align="alignnone" width="696"] ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Brodie Grundy of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2018 AFL Round 04 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Collingwood Magpies at Adelaide Oval on April 13, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Port Adelaide: Charlie Dixon As he showed against the Bulldogs, Charlie Dixon can be close to unstoppable when he is full of confidence and can get a running jump at the footy. Combining this with how strong Dixon is as a one on one player means if the Power can get him up and running consistently, then they will be hard to stop. [caption id="attachment_20783" align="alignnone" width="696"] ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Charlie Dixon of the Power celebrates after kicking a goal during the round 12 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Richmond Tigers at Adelaide Oval on June 8, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)[/caption] GWS: Lachie Whitfield Whitfield has been a revelation since being moved to half back at the start of this season. The 2012 number one draft pick is ranked in the top ten for marks, uncontested possessions, metres gained, disposals and effective disposals. His smooth moving use of the footy sums the Giants up to a tee and that free-wheeling style of the AFL's Ferrari will scare some come crunch time. [caption id="attachment_15501" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Lachie Whitfield of the Giants looks to handpass during the round 19 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Fremantle Dockers at Spotless Stadium on July 29, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] Melbourne: Max Gawn Big Maxy has dominated the competition this year, amassing 303 hitouts to advantage in season 2018 (via @sirswampthing on twitter). To put that in context, no club (yes, club) has reached 250 so far this year. This ability to feed his on ballers such as Clayton Oliver along with the fact Gawn ranks 2nd in the AFL for total contested marks this season makes him the key to Melbourne's finals aspirations. [caption id="attachment_21957" align="alignnone" width="450"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Max Gawn of the Demons marks the ball during the round 17 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 14, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)[/caption] Hawthorn: Tom Mitchell This year's Brownlow Medal favourite leads the Hawks in most areas, including leading the league in disposals and clearances. The clearances aspect of that is especially crucial, as the Hawks are ranked 15th in the competition for clearances per game. Mitchell is also ranked in the top ten for tackles in the competition. [caption id="attachment_22166" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: Tom Mitchell of the Hawks celebrates a goal during the round 18 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Hawthorn Hawks at Etihad Stadium on July 22, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)[/caption] Geelong: Tom Hawkins The Cats' powerhouse could be in career best form at age 30, having kicked 18 goals in the past three weeks. Hawkins' hot form has moved him into second on the Coleman Medal tally. The big Cat is also 4th in goal assists in the competition, as well as 4th in contested marks. [caption id="attachment_22134" align="alignnone" width="696"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 21: Tom Hawkins of the Cats celebrates a goal during the 2018 AFL round 18 match between the Geelong Cats and the Melbourne Demons at GMHBA Stadium on July 21, 2018 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Media)[/caption] Sydney: Lance Franklin Sometimes the most obvious answer is the answer and perhaps there is no better player to carry a side on his own than the great Buddy Franklin. The Swans have struggled to score all season long and will need the very best of Buddy to carry them back to September and potential glory. [caption id="attachment_14764" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 12: Lance Franklin of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal during the round 21 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Fremantle Dockers at Sydney Cricket Ground on August 12, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] North Melbourne: Jarrad Waite Oft-injured and maligned but the best from Jarrad Waite has proven to be as good as anyone in the competition over the years. Waite is expected to return to the team very soon as the Kangaroos give one more push for the finals. In the nine games Waite has played in 2018, he has averaged 16 disposals and 2.4 goals per game and can be the perfect foil for Ben Brown. [caption id="attachment_21085" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA - MAY 27: Jarrad Waite of the Kangaroos celebrates after scoring a goal during the round 10 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Optus Stadium on May 27, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Essendon: Michael Hurley The two-time All-Australian has enjoyed another outstanding season as the rock in the Essendon defence. Hurley has the tough job of playing on the opposition's number one forward as well as organising the rebound of the ball from defence. Hurley is 5th in the AFL for rebounds per game in 2018. [caption id="attachment_20099" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: Michael Hurley of the Bombers kicks the ball during the 2018 AFL round 02 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Essendon Bombers at Optus Stadium on March 31, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Adelaide: Rory Laird The Crows' extremely slim finals chances will be helped by a big final month from Rory Laird. Laird is 2nd in total intercept possessions over the 2018 season and ranked 11th in total rebound 50s. A big last month could help the Crows replicate that dashing style which carried them to a Grand Final last season. [caption id="attachment_21816" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 20: Rory Laird of the Crows celebrates victory during the round five AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Adelaide Crows at Sydney Cricket Ground on April 20, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption]