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‘The moment’: Buckley’s 8 players that will decide the finals
SEN • September 3rd, 2025 2:19 pm
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has listed one player from all eight finals team who could provide ‘the moment’ for each team in September.
Whether it’s a big goal, break from centre or huge defensive stop, Buckley has these players as the most likely from each team to stand up when the game is there to be won or lost.
Buckley explained the criteria for his ‘moment’ players with Gerard Whateley.
“There’s eight teams that are left and there’s four games in week one which are salivating,” Buckley said on SEN Mornings.
“Out of those teams, who is the player that we will look back on as being the most likely from their team to have been in ‘the moment’?
“The moment is the difference. Think about finals which are arm wrestles where something breaks out to decide it.
“Collingwood’s premiership two years ago against Brisbane it was that centre bounce with Nick Daicos and ultimately De Grey to finish that goal.
“So, who is the player from each team that is the one that will make the difference in these moments?
“These are guys who can handle it, they’re combative enough and they’re made for finals. It’s not just physicality, it’s the psychology of being able to handle it.
“These guys can meet the moment… there’s more than one in each team, but these are my most likely”
Check out Buckley’s picks for each team below.
Adelaide
Riley Thilthorpe
Geelong
Max Holmes
Brisbane
Cam Rayner
Collingwood
Jordan De Goey
GWS
Toby Greene
Fremantle
Hayden Young
Gold Coast
Matt Rowell
Hawthorn
Josh Battle
Listen to Buckley discussing each of his picks with Gerard Whateley.
