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 projection.
Ranking an exclusive list ofย AFLย 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)
Here is the third edition (30-21) of our top 50 AFLย players right now...
5. 26 - Dan Houston
The 2024 season for Dan Houston was eventful, highlighted by his highly publicised trade to Collingwood, where he now brings his elite skills to the 2023 premiers.
In the midst of the trade drama, Houston capped off another exceptional year with a second consecutive All-Australian selection, further cementing his place as one of, if not the league's premier half-back flanker.
Houston is the complete package: a smart intercept defender with a strong aerial presence, pinpoint rebounding skills, and a powerful leg that makes him a constant goal threat when pushing up the ground.
His consistency, even in losses, makes him invaluable, especially in challenging games, which Collingwood tend to feature in more than most. The Pies envision him as a key asset on their half-back line, reuniting him with several former junior teammates and boosting a defence that was one of the most formidable in the league not too long ago.
With the Pies aiming to contend for another premiership, Houston's All-Australian form should thrive in the new setting, where he could play a pivotal role in their 2025 campaign and beyond.
