NICK Daicos or Marcus Bontempelli? Max Gawn or Sam Walsh? Or someone more unique?

They are key decisions facing tens of thousands of those who are embracing the AFL's newest mini-game, Pack & Play.

PACK & PLAY Open your pack of stars NOW

Pack & Play adds another layer of excitement to every match, giving fans the chance to open digital player packs, discover which players they've unlocked and follow the action in a whole new way.

The Friday night blockbuster at the MCG between the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood will feature two of the game's biggest stars.

But is it Daicos or Bontempelli, for those opening their packs to add to the excitement of the finals beginning?

In Pack & Play, the Bulldogs-Pies clash is broken down into six categories – best and fairest, midfield mix, rebounder, goalkicker, emerging and key position.

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So should players be chasing Daicos or Bontempelli, or see what else presents? Only three flips – where you get a look at a different player – are available in each pack.

But the numbers would suggest landing on at least one of Daicos or Bontempelli is a must.

PACK & PLAY Open your pack of stars NOW

Bontempelli only scored 86 Fantasy points against the Pies in round 12, but his three outings against them before that were 159, 114 and 119.

But as Pies coach Craig McRae indicated on Wednesday, he is likely to get attention from Ed Allan.

Marcus Bontempelli celebrates a goal for the Western Bulldogs against Melbourne in R24, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

He is coming off a recent rest and enjoys playing at the MCG, where his scores this year are 121 and 109, with a 120 against Melbourne in 2025.

Daicos has enjoyed a truly spectacular season as the second highest averaging player of the year, behind only Bailey Smith.

The Bulldogs often opt against running a tagger, and Daicos has scored 109 or more against them in their past four meetings, including a 136 in round two last year.

The intrigue is around when you use your flips, where Daicos and Bontempelli sit in terms of categories, and how desperate you are to get them.

There are alternatives, with Ed Richards, Josh Daicos, Bailey Dale and Darcy Cameron having all enjoyed good seasons.

Josh Daicos in action during Collingwood's clash against Sydney in round 10, 2026. Picture: Getty Images

On Saturday night, Melbourne and Carlton will meet in the second wildcard final.

That game is broken down into the categories of star, run and carry, young gun, experienced, goalsneak and key position.

Interestingly, Gawn is the only Demon or Blue to have posted a 100-plus average this year with 110.

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Walsh (98.4), Kysaiah Pickett (94.8), Patrick Cripps (91.8), Tom Sparrow (91.3), George Hewett (90.3) and Jack Steele (90.2) are next.

When the teams met in round three, it was Gawn (141), Steele (135), Pickett (134), Sparrow (114) and Walsh (105) who posted tons, but the Blues are a different side under Josh Fraser.

Pack & Play is a new match-by-match game running throughout this year's finals, beginning with the wildcard clashes, but you can choose which match you play, or open packs for every final. Quick to play and easy to pick up, it's a new way for every footy fan to be part of the action. Open your pack now.