Star turns: Role players who stood up in AFL grand finals

Over the last few years, there have been many memorable performances from role players in AFL grand finals, which have helped their team over the line and etched their names in footy history.

Here are some of the greatest out-of-the-box grand final performances over the last few years.

Callum Ah Chee: Brisbane Lions vs Sydney Swans, 2024 AFL Grand Final

Callum Ah Chee dominated against the Swans in last year's grand final, booting four goals and racking up 14 disposals. His performance earned him third place in the Norm Smith Medal voting and was a key pillar in the Lions' premiership success.

Ah Chee started his career at the Gold Suns in 2016 and joined the Lions in 2020. In 2024, Ah Chee only played 12 games and was frequently in and out of the side due to injury. That changed in 2024, when he featured in every game and booted 24 goals for the season, four of those coming in the grand final.

Keidean Coleman: Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions, 2023 AFL Grand Final

Keidean Coleman's 2023 AFL Grand Final was set to be the performance that took him to the next level of stardom. He amassed 26 disposals, 23 of them kicks, and contributed a crucial goal, which earned him second place in the Norm Smith Medal voting. This performance saw the expectations on Coleman increase exponentially, but unfortunately, he has yet to live up to them. After tearing his ACL in the opening round of 2024, he missed the rest of the season and the majority of the 2025 season. He returned for one senior game this season, but injured his quad and didn't make a return.

Billy Frampton: Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions, 2023 AFL Grand Final

Billy Frampton may not have featured in the Norm Smith voting, but Collingwood fans rate his performance highly. Frampton replaced the injured Dan McStay, who tore his MCL, in the preliminary final the week before. Frampton was tasked with a defensive forward role on the Brisbane Lions' co-captain, Harris Andrews, and was able to reduce his impact on the day, and help Collingwood get over the line to win their 16th premiership.

Marlion Pickett: Richmond vs Greater Western Sydney Giants, 2019 AFL Grand Final

Marlion Pickett had a perfect debut game, kicking his first goal and winning his flag. After being picked up in the 2019 Mid-Season Draft, Pickett was selected to debut in the 2019 decider against the Giants. Pickett finished his first game with 22 disposals, which earned him third place in the Norm Smith Medal voting. He would go on to play in Richmond's 2020 premiership side, and only missed two games for the year. Pickett would retire at the end of 2024, finishing as a two-time premiership player and a Richmond legend.

Tom Langdon: West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood Magpies,  2018 AFL Grand Final

Tom Langdon recorded 23 disposals in the 2018 grand final against the Eagles, earning fifth place in Norm Smith Medal voting for the day. Langdon played 89 games across six years for the Pies, and played a season-high number of games in the 2018 season. He would only play one more season after the grand final loss, and he was never able to perform at that level again. 

Liam Picken: Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans, 2016 AFL Grand Final

Liam Picken was one of the premiership heroes for the Bulldogs in 2016, slotting three goals alongside 25 disposals. Picken finished fourth in Norm Smith Medal voting. The Dogs were able to complete their fairytale premiership run with a grand final win over the Swans, becoming the first team at the time to win from outside the top four in the 21st century. Picken played 198 games for the Dogs across nine seasons before finishing up in 2017.

Will Langford: Hawthorn Hawks vs Sydney Swans, 2014 AFL Grand Final

Will Langford played 72 games for the Hawks, but none were more memorable than his performance in the 2014 grand final against the Swans, where he slotted three goals and had 21 disposals, playing a key role in helping the Hawks secure the premiership win. Langford finished equal fourth in the Norm Smith Medal voting for the day.