With the 2024 season in the rear-view mirror, it's time to list the cream of the crop of AFLย talent.

We've compiled a list of the top 50 players in the competition, assessing each candidate on a subjective mix of their 2024 production, career pedigree and future projections.

Ranking an exclusive list ofย AFL stars has never been more difficult. Each team is littered with candidates on all lines, and different players press their case for All-Australian recognition every week.

A plethora of genuine stars have not even made the cut inside the top 50, a handful of names have been included despite interrupted campaigns, while a few have been featured ahead of their time.

SEE:ย TOP 50 AFTER 2024 (50-41)
SEE: TOP 50 AFTER 2024 (40-31)
SEE: TOP 50 AFTER 2024 (30-21)
SEE: TOP 50 AFTER 2024 (20-11)

Here is the final edition (10-1) of our top 50 AFLย players right now...

5. Isaac Heeney

Heeney was the clear-cut best player in the competition for most of 2024, bucking all expectations by maintaining his ridiculous early season form for most of the season.

His performances waned as Sydney regressed, until he re-established his standing with a qualifying final performance for the ages against GWS, highlighted by perhaps the mark of the decade so far and a clutch fourth-quarter goal from well inside the centre square.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Isaac Heeney of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal during the round eight AFL match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at SCG, on May 04, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

If Sydney's finals campaign culminated in a premiership and Norm Smith Medal for Isaac Heeney, as many expected, there would be little hesitation to crown him the best player in the AFL entering 2025.

Unfortunately a sour end to the season diminishes the hype dramatically, with Heeney's grand final performance producing a meagre 14 disposals and five clangers in a 10-goal loss.

His overall season was still one of the best in recent memory, averaging more than 25 disposals a game and kicking 34 goals, but now there is pressure to take that form to the grandest stage of all.