Often regarded as the best players in the competition, the AFL's top midfielders are placed in the upper echelon of football talent.
The most likely position to win the AFL's esteemed awards, from Brownlows, to Norm Smith's, to club best and fairests, midfielders clean up as they roam the full field. Regularly running farther than other players, the best midfielders have incredible endurance as they accumulate touches of the football again and again.
In recent times, the ability for midfielders to hit the scoreboard has become a key part of the best midfielders' game, whilst influential touches are seen as greater than amassing a pile of possessions for little impact.
With onballers typically the best player on each team, there are plenty of players to choose from when determining a top 10. So, before we delve into the 10 best midfielders, here is a group of players unlucky not to be rewarded with a spot on the list...
Snubs:
*Positions based on Champion Data's 'midfielder' qualifications.
1. Lachie Neale
The reigning premiership captain edges out Cripps and the like by a slim margin to win the number one spot as the AFL's best midfielder.
As mentioned previously, Neale averages near identical stats to Cripps - +0.5 in disposals, -0.2 in clearances, and -0.3 in score involvements - and shares the title of dual-Brownlow medallist.
But with his hands on the premiership cup, Neale's resume is bolstered slightly extra, with Brisbane's on-field success under his captaincy emphasising the 31-year-old's leadership qualities.
Neale's on-field greatness reached its peak in the grand final, where he recorded 35 disposals and nine clearances, finishing second in Norm Smith voting. It was a superb year capped off with the ultimate glory, and hence, Neale heads into 2025 as the AFL's best midfielder.
