The AFL’s best player produced this unforgettable finals moment. I just had to get out of his way

In the 2007 preliminary final, Geelong led Collingwood by five points with just seven minutes remaining.

We were premiership favourites, but could not shake the desperate and emerging Magpies as a boundary throw-in happened on our half-forward flank.

He pushed his opponent Nick Maxwell into the oncoming ruckmen, sharked Brad Ottens’ tap at pace, dismissed Guy Richards’ despairing lunge and charged towards the corridor to snap the sealer from just inside 50 metres.

The best player in the game had delivered when the team needed him. All we needed to do as teammates was either get out of his way or, if needed, create a block.

At that moment, Shannon Byrnes – who played in two flags at the Cats – lifted a hand to point towards the goal as Ablett flashed by him. I joined James Kelly in being the first to embrace the humble champion. The sound of 98,002 spectators did not pierce my ears. All I can remember thinking is “How good is this bloke, he has just put us in a grand final” and I wanted to hug him for it.

Which brings me to the heavyweight battle between the two best players in the game when Collingwood’s Nick Daicos and the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli meet in Friday night’s wildcard final with their club’s fortunes resting on their shoulders.

Apart from the outstanding Ed Richards , no one else on either team comes close to Nick and “The Bont”.

It means the two stars nearly have to be the best player on the ground for their team to win (note to the Magpies: don’t waste the opportunity of having the best player in the game in your colours).

That’s a much heavier burden to carry into a final than most players face, with the support acts merely expected to play their role.

I was a role player – and maintain that their performance is critical to winning flags – but I never carried the expectations of supporters on my back. My job was to be in the right spot, execute my skills when required, run hard to provide outlets or open up space and win contests.

The burden that falls on the greats is to create opportunities for role players, generate goals or attacking moves and win the ball every time it is in their vicinity and use it well.

Both are also their team’s captain. That means making sure each teammate understands their role and the requirements of them at that moment, as well as delivering the brilliance the team needs of them.

As good as the skippers are, their teammates cannot expect them to do what they do on their own. Their job is to support Nick and The Bont in every way possible.

For every minute of the game, they must be protected. Role players can get in the face of run-with players such as Collingwood’s Ed Allan , who will be trying to restrict Bontempelli’s influence.