Phil Davis' Grand Final tip and the “humungous caveat” to watch out for

Phil Davis has Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage in the spotlight, wondering if he can be the difference between the two midfields in Saturday's Grand Final.

Errol Gulden, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney and Lachie Neale are the established A-graders in this game, with Davis saying McCluggage sits a half-tier behind that group.

The 26-year-old starred in the Preliminary Final victory over Geelong – can he do it again on the biggest stage?

“Can Hugh McCluggage go to another level and be the difference maker in there?” Davis told SEN’s Whateley.

“I think it’s two very even midfields, but I have circled McCluggage because I think what he can potentially do, comparing him to Errol Gulden, that inside-outside hard-sprinting mid.

“Gulden, Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner are all A-graders. Hugh McCluggage is maybe an A- and the question is whether he can go to another level and be the difference maker in the midfield.”

Davis wonders whether the Lions can bounce back emotionally from what was a rollercoaster Preliminary Final.

“Last week was such an incredible game. They would’ve spent last week recovering physically, but also emotionally recovering. That would have taken everything out of them,” he said.

“To then get themselves back up, I thought it was a great idea to get down to Melbourne nice and early.

“That has some elements and there are more distractions in Victoria for Grand Final week, but that yo-yoing is a different kind of challenge to what Sydney has.”

Davis is tipping the Swans to get the job done.

“I just think (Sydney is) as well-placed as they can be given the year that they had. They’ve had injuries, they fought from outside the eight,” the former GWS skipper said.

“I’m a big believer in Brisbane. I think the Swans will be too good. I think they’ll win by three goals. But the humungous caveat is that I think Brisbane has the most talent on their list in the AFL and if that gets going in the last three minutes like it did in the prelim, that’s going to be hard for Sydney to stop.

“Sydney have had the perfect run, they’ve been the best team all year, they deserve it and they should take care of it.”