A total of 47 players have been rated as 'elite' by AFL statistic specialists Champion Data for 2024, with the often contentious ratings system once again including, and excluding, notable players and likely to cause an online stir.

17 of the 18 clubs are represented in the list, with Essendon stunningly the only side not to make the cut.

Less of a surprise is Sydney having the most players rated 'elite' with five, as all of Nick Blakey, Tom Papley, Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and Justin McInerney are named, with the latter being among the leading surprises on the 47-player list.

The selections of GWS veteran Callan Ward and Melbourne forward Alex Neal-Bullen also might surprise a few, while Suns gun Matt Rowell has made the cut despite his drop-off in form since the start of the year.

Among the big omissions are Essendon captain Zach Merrett, Brisbane captains Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews, Rowell's teammate Noah Anderson, Swans pair Chad Warner and Brodie Grundy, and Gold Coast forward Ben King, who sits third in the Coleman Medal race.

Despite fighting for bottom place, both Richmond and North Melbourne managed to eclipse the Bombers with two selections each, while fellow strugglers West Coast have three players named.

Collingwood and Fremantle managed one selection each.

Players are placed into one of six positions; general defender, key defender, midfielder, wing, general forward and key forward, with players who feature in the top 10 per cent for their position listed as 'elite'.

Champion Data's 'elite' player list for 2024 (viaย News Corp)

Adelaide

Mitchell Hinge (general defender)
Izak Rankine (gen forward)

Brisbane

Dayne Zorko (gen defender)
Cameron Rayner (gen forward)

Carlton

Charlie Curnow (key forward)
Harry McKay (key forward)
Patrick Cripps (midfielder)

Collingwood

Nick Daicos (midfielder)

Essendon

None

Fremantle

Caleb Serong (midfielder)

Geelong

Max Holmes (gen defender)
Gryan Miers (gen forward)
Tyson Stengle (gen forward)
Jeremy Cameron (key forward)

Gold Coast

Sam Flanders (gen defender)
Sam Collins (key defender)
Matt Rowell (midfielder)

GWS

Brent Daniels (gen forward)
Toby Greene (gen forward)
Jesse Hogan (key forward)
Callan Ward (wing)

Hawthorn

Dylan Moore (gen forward)
James Sicily (key defender)
Massimo D'Ambrosio (wing)

Melbourne

Kysaiah Pickett (gen forward)
Christian Petracca (midfielder)
Alex Neal-Bullen (mid-forward)
Max Gawn (ruck)

North Melbourne

Harry Sheezel (gen defender)
Tristan Xerri (ruck)

Port Adelaide

Daniel Houston (gen defender)
Zak Butters (midfielder)

Richmond

Liam Baker (mid-forward)
Shai Bolton (mid-forward)

St Kilda

Jack Sinclair (gen defender)
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (gen defender)

Sydney

Nick Blakey (gen defender)
Tom Papley (gen forward)
Isaac Heeney (midfielder)
Errol Gulden (wing)
Justin McInerney (wing)

West Coastย 

Tom Barrass (key defender)
Jeremy McGovern (key defender)
Jake Waterman (key forward)

Western Bulldogs

Bailey Dale (gen defender)
Aaron Naughton (key forward)
Marcus Bontempelli (midfielder)
Adam Treloar (midfielder)