Where the grand final will be won: The key players and match-ups that could shape Sunday’s premiership decider

Grand finals, naturally, are the hardest game of the year to tip, and despite Augusta-Margaret River having beaten Busselton twice already this year — this decider is no exception. Here are some of the game-breakers and key match-ups this weekend that could see the game won one way or the other. Busselton forward line This is an unconventional forward setup, essentially going without a key marking target other than the resting rucks, but for Busselton, this approach has worked. Liam Creighton’s incredible hands and contested marking ability certainly help this forward line function, but Mitch Howlett and Aiden Fraser’s ability to find separation on a lead also causes defenders grief. If Jackson Lavell-Lee goes to Creighton to try to combat him with size in the air, it leaves big tasks for Lincoln Adams and whoever takes the place of injured defender Jack McMahon, to deal with Howlett and Fraser. That’s not to mention Jaxon East, who could be the most dangerous of the lot but plays higher up the ground and Bronson Stallard, Josh Fleming and Kester Decke when they rest forward. Max Paterson Augusta-Margaret River people will refuse to tell you that Max Paterson is a tagger. But the plucky midfielder has done some brilliant run-with jobs on some of the competition’s best midfielders already this season and he has already blanketed Busselton’s Mitch Tenardi. A fortnight ago Jesse Gribble copped the attention and although he found enough of the football, Paterson was never more than a couple of strides away and the Bunbury star had less than his normal effect. He is likely to go to Tenardi again, despite the gun midfielder’s influence being down recently. His defensive work in the midfield is what allows Hayward medallist Simon Moore to do what he does. Kael Coleman This man is a game breaker. He will play mostly at half-back, but don’t be surprised to see him float forward and even through the middle. But wherever he is, his explosive pace and smart decision making means he’s capable of turning the game with one bit of play. If the grand final gets tight late, it will be interesting to see where Coleman gets deployed and if Busselton give him space, they’ll get burnt. Taylor match-up As far as lockdown defenders go, Busselton’s Zac Pethybridge has become one of the best. He’s gone from being a role player in Dave Lewis’ grand final team of last year to one of the most dependable minders in the game. On Sunday, he will be the most likely candidate to play on Hawks star Harry Taylor — a contest which could define the game. Taylor has kicked 33 goals from his 17 games this season, playing as a slightly under-sized key forward alongside rising star winner Cody Rodgers. But the last time he played Busselton, Pethybridge kept him goalless. The other option would be for Ethan Bowman or Joe Budiselik to take Taylor and Pethybridge tackle the assignment on Rodgers. But Budiselik’s size better suits a role on Rodgers and Bowman will want to be as unbridled as possible given the importance of his ball use coming the other way, leaving Pethybridge the man for the biggest job of all