Thrust onto the big stage, the hopes of a football club, and in some cases an entire city, are placed on the 22 that run out to compete, and that can be a daunting prospect.
How players react in this situation can often override ability as the determining factor in the end result of the match.
There are some that thrive on this pressure. Michael Walters is arguably one such player.
Of his 21 career AFL games to date, four of them have been finals, a remarkable statistic for a player who has just completed his fourth season in the league.
Walters has risen to the occasion in each final Fremantle has played in the past three seasons - all of them being elimination encounters, just to add a few more marbles to the stakes.
In 2010, playing in just his fifth game of the season, Walters kicked an important goal in an elimination final win against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval.
A week later, facing defending premiers Geelong at the MCG, Walters again lifted, booting three goals out of a team total of 10 in a loss.
After missing most of 2011 through injury, he made his return in round 16 this season.
He again showed up in a do-or-die final against the Cats at the MCG with two goals and a number of sublime assists in Freo’s big win over the reigning premiers.
Just last week, Walters was among the best players in the Semi Final loss to Adelaide.
He was in everything early on, setting up two goals in the opening minutes and himself kicking three for the game.
That took his tally of goals to nine from four finals, an average of 2.25 per game, which any small forward would take.
What is it that makes players like Walters perform in big games?
Just go back to the week leading up to the Elimination Final against Geelong recently for a bit of a clue.
Speaking after a win in the last game of the home and away season, Walters’ attitude to facing a red-hot Cats side the following week at the ‘G’ was indicative of the competitive fire that burns within him.
“We have no fears. Anywhere, anytime,” he said, his body language and tone making it very apparent he was ready to go, right there and then even.
‘Son Son’ is a star who is rising at Fremantle, a star who is desperate to shine on the big stage again.
