Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has listed his top seven mature age recruits in the AFL for Sportsday Radio.ย 

Lloyd has gone with James Podsiadly as his number one mature age recruit of all time, ahead of Hawthorn's Paul Puopolo and Sydney's Dane Rampe.

Podsiadly was a revelation when he made his debut for Geelong in 2010 as a 29-year-old. He kicked 169 goals in 83 games for Geelong and played in the 2011 premiership, before crossing to Adelaide in 2014 where he played a further 21 games over two seasons.

Puopolo made his debut for the Hawks as a 24-year-old in 2011 and went on to play in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 premierships.

Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe was third on the list after made his debut at 23 in 2013. He was named All-Australian in 2016 and announced co-captain at the start of the 2019 season.

Other players to make the list include Andrew McKay, Adrian McAdam, Brody Mihocek and Tom Stewart.

Players unlucky to not make the list include Richmond premiership player Kane Lambert and former Fremantle and Gold Coast midfielder Michael Barlow.

Lambert was recruited from VFL club Williamstown in 2015 as a 23-year-old and played a crucial role in Richmond's rise to the 2017 flag.

Michael Barlow set the AFL world alight in his first season at the Dockers in 2010 and was one of the favourites for the Brownlow Medal before breaking his leg in round 14.