We have a match-up that is a little different this week. One who relies heavily on burst running versus one elite endurance runner. Both have dangerous parts to their game and both are critically important. Two great players who will figure prominently in the Grand Final.

Mundy is the complete endurance runner. He accumulates possessions through the midfield without a lot of fuss. Doesn't have a great turn of speed but his ability to run at three-quarter pace for the entirety of the game is exceptional. He demanded more attention from opposition coaches a couple of years ago but with the addition of some of the players around him like Nat Fyfe and Stephen Hill the focus has been spread a little wider.

Mundy moves around the ground from contest to contest with great ease, and at 192cm he is almost centre half-forward size. His height makes him hard to contain around stoppages, and when you have that size and that reach it gives you a big advantage from the outset.

The Dockers have probably the biggest midfield in the competition, with Aaron Sandilands (211cm), Mundy (192cm), Fyfe (190cm) and Ryan Crowley (188cm) giving them a really formidable presence. 

Freo coach Ross Lyon doesn't rotate his inside midfielders too much outside. Crowley follows his direct opponent everywhere, leaving Mundy and Fyfe as the inside anchors to win the ball at the coalface and distribute to outside runners like Hill and Danyle Pearce. 

When I coached the Brisbane Lions against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium I instructed Ryan Lester to take Mundy because I see Ryan molding his game around this guy. His feedback to me was how much Mundy runs and runs and keeps running. He wanted to aspire to be able to do the same. It’s a very good example.

Burgoyne's burst is his most dangerous weapon. He normally starts across half-back at the first bounce to ease into the game. As an outsider it seems that Clarkson plays him there so he doesn't burn his tickets early in the match because his endurance is not up to the modern day midfielder. But his burst is well above the modern day footballer. ?

As the game wears on in the second half he will move more onto the ball or slip forward and this is where his true instincts and his damage comes into it. He kicks goals and wins clearances. Damaging ones. 

Burgoyne is not afraid to take on the tackler, and we have become accustomed to his ability to plant his feet and throw his hips to shake himself free. He breaks so many tackles and makes time to distribute the ball. 

Set for his 24th AFL final and his fourth Grand Final, Burgoyne will rely heavily on this skill whether it is in defence or on the ball because the Hawks are facing the best tacklers of our time. Not necessarily because of their technique but by intent and numbers. If he gets through one he will get hit by another. 

Last week Burgoyne played one of the great finals matches, lifting the Hawks off the canvass to get them over the line against Geelong. It’s like he is made for the last quarter. And while the game isn’t really meant for players without elite endurance, Hawthorn’s good player management means he can impact the last half hour when players are tired. He’s such a damaging fourth-quarter player, and if the Hawks are in trouble look for him to go into the middle. 

Mundy – just. I’m thinking Hawthorn will win (just) but I’m tipping Mundy will get on top if he and Burgoyne go head-to-head inside. With Sandilands putting the ball down his throat I’m expecting he’ll rack up some big numbers around the ball to play a key role for Fremantle.