Footy fans are more blessed than any other in the world of sport.
No sport combines such astonishing physical feats with such chills of euphoria, heartbreak, and everything in between the way Aussie Rules does.
2024 has already provided its fair share of thrilling plays, profound performances and memorable matches, this list will go through only a fraction of them during the season so far.
Records have been set and players have broken out into AFL stardom with performances from the top shelf.
Before we go through the subjective list, let's take a look the current in-season record holders for each major statistical category:
Disposals: 46 - Caleb Serong (Round 1 vs Brisbane)
Marks: 18 - Luke Ryan (Round 12 vs Melbourne)
Goals: 6 - 6x (Jeremy Cameron, Jake Waterman, Aaron Naughton, Jesse Hogan, Cody Weightman, Eric Hipwood)
Goal assists: 6 - Lachie Neale (Round 10 vs Richmond)
Tackles: 16 - James Rowbottom (Round 10 vs Carlton)
Hit-Outs: 56 - Reilly O'Brien (Round 9 vs Brisbane)
Contested Possessions: 28 - Tom Liberatore (Round 4 vs Geelong)
Contested Marks: 8 - Jake Waterman (Round 5 vs Richmond)
Clearances: 20 - Matt Rowell (O-Round vs Richmond)
One-percenters: 17 - Jack Buckley (Round 8 vs Sydney)
Score Involvements: 17 - Sam Walsh (Round 6 vs GWS)
Intercepts: 16 - Mac Andrew (Round 4 vs GWS)
SuperCoach: 197 - Luke Ryan (Round 8 vs Richmond)
Here is our mid-year list of the top 10 player performances of 2024...
Honourable Mentions:
- Nick Vlastuin (Round 3 vs Sydney)
- 29 disposals @ 100% efficiency
15 intercepts
13 marks
7 score involvements
167 SuperCoach points
- 29 disposals @ 100% efficiency
- Patrick Cripps (Round 6 vs GWS)
- 39 disposals
24 contested possessions
11 score involvements
13 clearances
7 tackles
142 SuperCoach points
- 39 disposals
- Connor Rozee (Round 4 vs Essendon)
- 36 disposals
3 goals
8 score involvements
7 inside 50s
152 SuperCoach points
- 36 disposals
- Blake Hardwick (Round 10 vs Port Adelaide)
- 23 disposals
5 goals
9 score involvements
6 marks
180 SuperCoach points
- 23 disposals
6Caleb Serong (Round 1 vs Brisbane)
- 46 disposals
21 contested possessions
10 clearances
7 tackles
6 score involvements
6 marks
170 SuperCoach points
Serong's 46 downed the Lions in a death-by-a-thousand-cuts fashion back in Round one, getting the Dockers' season rolling after a sluggish start in the match, falling down four goals to nil in the opening minutes.
Stunningly, Serong even copped a tagged to open the second half - given he was on track for 50 - but still found the footy at will, eventually toppling Peter Bell and David Mundy's record tally of 44 touches.
Teammates weren't shocked by the performance; skipper Alex Pearce said the 23-year-old was coming off one of the best pre-season's he had ever seen. Battling with the dynamic midfield combo of Andrew Brayshaw and Nat Fyfe all summer long, Serong's balance of inside strength with outside run and poise was on full show in their first outing at Optus Stadium, setting up what looks to be another All-Australian campaign.
A @freodockers record for disposals in a game.
Caleb Serong, everybody ๐ #AFLFreoLions pic.twitter.com/twejMkl45S
โ AFL (@AFL) March 17, 2024