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.
9. Adam Treloar
An underrated component to the Western Bulldogs' finals berth in 2024, Treloar was nominated in the All-Australian squad and was squeezed on the bench in a star-studded midfield selection to earn his first All-Australian blazer.
Treloar averaged his best disposal averages since 2019 with 31.5 per game, whilst also averaging 4.5 inside 50s and seven score involvements in 2024.
The 31-year-old also recorded 40+ disposals twice last season and scored 16 goals across his 23 appearances.
