TALLS don't get any smaller in finals is a classic football adage, but do goalsneaks get it done more often than big-money key forwards in September?

Bobby Hill, Cyril Rioli, Steve Johnson and Paul Chapman all have Norm Smith medals on their resumes, alongside premiership medals this century, while Gary Ablett Snr is the only key forward to win that award since it was instituted in 1979.

Brisbane's smalls led them to back-to-back flags last year courtesy of Charlie Cameron (four goals), Zac Bailey (three) and Kai Lohmann (two), 12 months after Cal Ah Chee and Lohmann kicked four each.

But it's not just grand finals where smaller types have impacted just as much as the key forwards that win Coleman medals.

While Bayley Fritsch kicked six in the 2021 Grand Final in Perth, Stevie J did it in the 2017 semi-final when he moved to Greater Western Sydney. 

Logan McDonald reached that figure in the shock qualifying final win over Brisbane just over a week ago on the same day Charlie Curnow and Tom Papley slotted five each for Sydney. 

Jack Riewoldt kicked five twice in a final during the 'Dimmasty', but only one player has done it three times.

Most goals in a final in last decade

That player is Charlie Cameron.

The 32-year-old is a two-time All-Australian but his record in September is why he should be regarded as one of the premier small forwards of this generation after another masterclass of the craft on Saturday night.

Cameron kicked four goals in last year's Grand Final after three in the 2023 loss to Collingwood.

Cameron has now kicked multiple goals in 17 of 29 finals, including four threes, a four and three fives – the 2017 preliminary final, 2021 qualifying final and 2026 semi-final. 

Charlie Cameron's multi-goal finals

While no one will get near Gordon Coventry's remarkable tally of 111 goals from 31 finals in the 1920s and 30s, Cameron is now No.2 for finals goals this century after overtaking Tom Hawkins' mark of 56 on Saturday.

Lance Franklin kicked 74 from 28 games in September to be No.1 since 2000 and equal third all-time, four behind Jason Dunstall who slotted 78 of his 1254 goals in finals.

The four teams left all have serious firepower in attack. Freo trio Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss will present problems to Sydney's defence on Friday night, while at the other end of the ground Curnow, McDonald and Papley are all coming off their best individual finals ever.

On Saturday, first-time All-Australian Logan Morris returns to the MCG for the first time since he kicked a career-high eight in the final round, before two twos to start this finals campaign. 

Jack Gunston is still a star at 34 and kicked four goals in two of the grand finals during the three-peat. He has 49 to his name in September to be No.2 behind Charlie Cameron for current players, nine ahead of Jeremy Cameron. 

And then there is Nick Watson. The Wizard kicked four in his first final in 2024, then three the following week, before 2.4 in last year's semi-final and two in the qualifying final win over Fremantle. 

Big bags in finals this century are usually associated with Buddy (eight in 2008, seven in 2007), Alastair Lynch (seven in 2002, six in 2003) or big bad bustling Barry Hall (six in 2003, six in 2006).

But don't forget about the original Wizard Jeff Farmer (eight in 2000), Eddie Betts (six in 2016) or Luke Breust (six in 2015). 

A small or a tall? Who will step up on the penultimate weekend of the season?

Biggest finals goals hauls since 2000