Champion Data has revealed its list of elite-ranked players at every club entering the 2021 season, courtesy ofย The Herald Sun.
To be eligible players must have played at least five matches and rankings are relevant to position.ย
As always seems to be the case with Champion Data's rankings, there was some mystifying calls made, both with players who were included and excluded from the elite-ranked list.
Some surprise names who were graded as elite-ranked players include Carlton's Zac Fisher, Collingwood's Mason Cox, Hawthorn's Ben McEvoy, Port Adelaide's Steven Motlop, West Coast's Oscar Allen and Western Bulldog Bailey Williams.
Brisbane's Charlie Cameron, Carlton's Patrick Cripps, Collingwood quartet Scott Pendlebury, Brodie Grundy, Darcy Moore and Taylor Adams, Essendon's Zach Merrett, Fremantle's Luke Ryan, Geelong's Jeremy Cameron, Giants duo Lachie Whitfield and Toby Greene, Melbourne's Steven May, Port Adelaide's Travis Boak, Richmond's Tom Lynch, Sydney trio Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Tom Papley, West Coast's Brad Sheppard and Bulldog Jack Macrae headlined those who were not rated as elite.
In fact, five of the six defenders from last year's All Australian team were not considered elite as well as the midfield line.
Adelaide were the only club to not have a single player ranked elite and four clubs only had one player.
Five clubs - Brisbane, Collingwood, Hawthorn, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs boast five elite players.
Check out the full list below.
Champion Data's elite-ranked players at every AFL club entering 2021 season
Adelaide - none
Brisbane Lions - Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Lachie Neale, Jarryd Lyons, Hugh McCluggage
Carlton - Adam Saad, Zac Fisher, Sam Walsh
Collingwood - Jack Crisp, Jordan De Goey, Brayden Maynard, Mason Cox, Steele Sidebottom
Essendon - Jordan Ridley
Fremantle - Nat Fyfe
Geelong Cats - Mark Blicavs, Tom Hawkins, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Menegola
Gold Coast Suns - Sam Collins, Matt Rowell
GWS Giants - Harry Perryman
Hawthorn - Luke Breust, Chad Wingard, James Sicily, Ben McEvoy, Jack Gunston
Melbourne - Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn
North Melbourne - Todd Goldstein
Port Adelaide - Robbie Gray, Steven Motlop, Zak Butters, Charlie Dixon
Richmond - Nick Vlastuin, Shane Edwards, Dustin Martin
St Kilda - Dan Butler, Jack Steele
Sydney Swans - Jake Lloyd, Isaac Heeney, Dane Rampe
West Coast Eagles - Liam Ryan, Jeremy McGovern, Jack Darling, Oscar Allen, Nic Naitanui
Western Bulldogs - Caleb Daniel, Bailey Williams, Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Hunter
