Champion Data provided the most relevant statistics for defenders, midfielders, forwards and rucks, and from there we came up with shortlists for each category. Forwards, for example, need to hit the scoreboard hard (scoreboard impact), kick straight (accuracy), help their teammates score (score involvements), and tackle like Cyril Rioli when the ball is in their team's forward zone (tackles inside 50). Mids need to get the ball (in contested and uncontested situations), clear it, put pressure on the opposition when they have the ball (tackles), and help the team score.

There are some rules. We have included only grand final stats; not performances from the regular season or other finals.

Also, these are players who have stepped up on the game's biggest stage to help their team win one or more premierships. So you won't find Collingwood's Nathan Buckley or St Kilda's Lenny Hayes here. Both are champions, no question, and both had blinders on grand final day, winning Norm Smith Medals in 2002 against Brisbane (Buckley) and the drawn 2010 decider against Collingwood (Hayes). But neither gets a guernsey because they have not tasted the ultimate success. If only Hayes' kick for goal with 90 seconds left on the clock had bounced left, for a goal, instead of right, for a behind, it would be a very different story.

Equally, for players who have won at least one flag, but also played in losing grand finals, we have also included their stats from the losing grand finals.

Lance Franklin, for instance, falls into this category. He won flags with Hawthorn in 2008 and 2013, but kicked three goals in a losing grand final for the Hawks in 2012, four goals for Sydney against his old team in the 2014 decider and was curtailed by a rolled ankle and a desperate Bulldog, Dale Morris, on the big day in 2016.

There are some interesting names on the shortlists. Essendon hard man Dean Wallis is probably best remembered for being brought down in a tackle by Carlton's Fraser Brown, which won the Blues the 1999 preliminary final.

But when the millenium turned, Wallis was among Essendon's best in their 2000 grand final triumph. Brisbane Lions ruckman Clark Keating barely played during the 2002-03 seasons because of shoulder injuries, but he wasn't called a September specialist for nothing and his 39 hit-outs in the '02 grand final (hit-outs to advantage are included for this exercise), make the first ruck a tough choice. Brad Ottens, anyone?

Of course, there are some greats, whose reputations are only enhanced by their grand final exploits, who pick themselves. Good luck leaving out dual Norm Smith Medallist, four-time premiership Hawk and three-time premiership captain Luke Hodge, for instance.

Now it's over to you: pick your best 22. You can have six defenders, five midfielders, one ruckman and six forwards on the field, and one player from each positional category on the bench.

Then share your team and gloat about how good it is on social media, and see how your side would measure up against the teams selected by Age experts.