There are two types of players when we get to September: those who rise to the occasion, and those who crumble under the finals pressure.
For the superstars of the competition, there is an expectation that they will rise and deliver for their clubs in September, but in the first week of the 2026 AFL Finals, there were many who crumbled under the pressure.
Now with a spot in a preliminary final on the line, there are five players firmly in the gun, in need of a major response in this weekend's semi-finals.
Josh Treacy
For the better part of the 2026 AFL season, Treacy was widely regarded as the league's premier key forward, being awarded his first All-Australian blazer at centre half forward.
But in Fremantle's qualifying final defeat, the forward was unsighted, kicking one late goal which was ironically his only kick for the match.
Treacy was outmatched by the much smarter Josh Battle, who dominated him in the air, taking five marks to Treacy's one, while also beating him on the ground, with Battle amassing 16 disposals to four for Treacy.
Priding himself on his physicality, Treacy was soundly beaten, looking disinterested with a lack of intent for the ball and for the physical contest, ranking in the bottom third for pressure acts on the ground.
Treacy has been the beacon of the Fremantle forward line, charging up the ground to take big contested marks and deliver inside 50.
On the season, Treacy ranks first in contested marks in the AFL, seventh in goals and fourth amongst key forwards in score involvements.
