The top 50 AFL players after season 2021 (10-1)

The 2021 season has finally been and gone, with the Dees getting up in the big dance against the Dogs to break a 57-year drought and cap off an action-packed year.

With this, Zero Hanger has collated a list of the top-50 players in the competition now the year is over, with the final part containing spots 10 through 1.

The top 50 AFL players after season 2021 (50-41)
The top 50 AFL players after season 2021 (40-31)
The top 50 AFL players after season 2021 (30-21)
The top 50 AFL players after season 2021 (20-11)

Darcy Parish

The Bombers midfielder was arguably the most improved player of the season, stepping up to the plate in a year when his side took an unexpected step towards the promised land.

Parish was excellent for Ben Rutten's side, consistently turning up to put on some scintillating displays after spending the bulk of his career to this date under the radar.

You would be hard-pressed to find a midfield-relevant stat - competition-wide - that Parish isn't at least top 20 in.

The 24-year-old finished first in the league for total centre clearances, fourth for total inside 50s, seventh for total handballs and eighth in total contested possessions - simply mind-blowing stats for someone who almost doubled his output of disposals from 2020 (326 to 701).

With Essendon boasting a fantastic crop of youngsters, Parish is set to be the focal point of a side that is very much on the up after years of mediocrity.

Jack Steele

This quiet achiever had another great year at the Saints, earning both back-to-back All-Australian blazers and club best and fairests.

The tackling machine had his first year as St Kilda co-captain and was emphatic from Round 1 to 23, rarely putting up a quiet performance as his side failed to replicate their 2020 dash to the second week of finals footy.

Steele finished first in the league for total tackles - unsurprising but still an incredible achievement - as well as sixth for contested possessions per game, displaying his innate ability to run both ways.

There was never any doubt over the 25-year-old's leadership skills, with the New South Welshman preferring to let his actions do the talking over his words in order to inspire his teammates to strive for greatness.

With St Kilda still far from a finished product, it's up to those around Jack Steele now to get on his level and propel Brett Ratten's side up the table once again.

Sam Walsh

With only three seasons of AFL football under his belt, it's beyond belief how Sam Walsh is this good at only 21 years of age.

The midfielder was easily the Blues' best this year, winning the club best and fairest and scooping up his first All-Australian selection in what was a huge year from the youngster.

Walsh finished seventh in the competition for effective disposals, sixth in handballs per game and averaged 29.8 disposals per game across his 22 matches in 2021 - an absolutely mammoth output.

Throw in the fact that he managed to poach fourth place in the Brownlow Medal tally and it seems that it's a matter of when, not if, Walsh takes home 'Charlie'.

After a year that tested Carlton as an establishment, the appointment of Michael Voss could signal a new era for the Blues with the development of Walsh in 2021 possibly foreshadowing what lies ahead.

Jack Macrae

There's leather-poisoning, and then there is a lazy Saturday for Jack Macrae.

The Doggies ball magnet was brilliant this season in a midfield brigade widely considered the best in the business, however would be disappointed that his side stumbled at the final hurdle during the decider.

His third consecutive All-Australian selection was his most justified yet, finishing with some crazy totals that are hard to comprehend.

His haul of 881 disposals is an AFL/VFL record for the highest tally in a season and his number one ranking across the entire league for effective disposals is no mean feat too.

The 27-year-old also ranked second in the competition for goal assists, showing that his eye for setting up play is top drawer when compared to his peers.

Macrae is now only just entering his prime years and, if opposition players don't find a way to stop him in his tracks, could very well have another record-breaking year in 2022.

Dustin Martin

2021 was a rough year for three-time Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin, whose Richmond side failed to feature in September action for the first time since their drought-breaking 2017 season.

The bullish mid-forward found success hard to come by, only managing 16 games in 2021 with a kidney injury in Round 18 prematurely ending his season.

'Dusty' finished sixth across the league for goal assists per game and ninth for inside 50s per game, with the accolades stopping there for the Tigers show-stopper.

Martin's place on this list does factor in his previous achievements, however it will be intriguing to see how he holds up after sustaining such a serious injury, with the Tigers dearly missing his spark in the closing games of this year.

At 30 years of age and with his club at a crossroads, is 2022 the last chance for Dusty and Richmond to taste the ultimate glory before it's too late?

Max Gawn

Max Gawn showed in 2021 that he is so much more than a ruckman, guiding his Dees to a drought-breaking premiership that sent much of Melbourne into raptures.

The big man was instrumental in Melbourne's 13th flag with his goal after the siren against the Cats in Round 23 and his third-quarter romping of the same side three weeks later setting the Dees up to return to the promised land.

Gawn finished first in the league for total hit-outs, third for total contested marks and 15th for total contested possessions - an utterly dominant campaign for one of the best rucks in living memory.

His aforementioned five-goal heroics against the Cats epitomised everything that was great about the 29-year-old, with Gawn finishing the year with a fourth consecutive All-Australian selection under his belt.

With Melbourne in no position to drop off anytime soon, their skipper will no doubt be looking to make it back-to-back flags in 2022 - this time hopefully on the hallowed turf of the MCG.

Ollie Wines

This year's Brownlow medalist was incredible for Ken Hinkley's side and was by far and away the Power's best player.

After flying under the radar for the majority of the season, it was only until the last two months of the home-and-away year that punters viewed Wines as a Brownlow favourite despite consistently putting up stellar performances.

The 27-year-old from country Victoria finished second in the league for total contested possessions, third for total disposals and sixth for total effective disposals, playing a pivotal role in Port Adelaide's run to a second consecutive preliminary final.

On top of his Brownlow, Wines also took home Port's John Cahill Medal by some margin, as well as claiming his first All-Australian blazer in his nine seasons at AFL level.

The only thing that has eluded Wines and co. is a premiership flag, with Port Adelaide failing to make it stick at the penultimate hurdle for a second year on the bounce. With his midfield partner in Travis Boak coming into the final years of his career, it means that Wines may only have a short time left to fill the last empty space in his trophy cabinet.

Clayton Oliver

Another country kid who had a career-best year, Clayton Oliver was imperious in the middle for the Dees as they finally tasted the ultimate success in 2021.

The 24-year-old was unplayable for large chunks of the season, finishing first across the entire competition in several key stats, such as total stoppage clearances and contested possessions per game.

His elite averages of 31.5 disposals, 7.5 clearances and 5.4 tackles per game are astounding, with Oliver now regarded as one of the game's best.

It's the Echuca-born ball magnet's ability to stand up in any match that has Demons fans so confident that Oliver will one day take home a Brownlow after finishing third this season with 31 votes.

At just 24 years old and having already won a premiership, you get the feeling that this man's career will be filled with silverware if he hits the heights of 2021 on a consistent basis.

Christian Petracca

It was always going to be between this man and 'the Bont' for the top spot on this list, however it's 'Trac' that comes in at number two.

His grand final display was arguably the best that has ever been, snapping up the Norm Smith with 39 touches and two goals in what was the 25-year-old's magnum opus.

Petracca's 2021 was his best yet as well, with the stats backing up his reputation as the most bull-like player in the league as he secured a second consecutive All-Australian selection.

The 2014 No.2 pick came in first across the entire league for inside 50s and score involvements per game, third for total contested possessions, fifth in total metres gained and for total centre clearances - a mind-boggling set of accolades for his career-best year.

As it has been said for all of the other Melbourne players on this list, the sky really is the limit for a lot of these players who are edging towards their prime age. Between 'Trac' and the aforementioned Oliver, there could be a fair few Brownlows and flags to come.

Marcus Bontempelli

And here we are, the best player in the AFL - Marcus Bontempelli.

The runner up in this year's Brownlow, Bontempelli's 33 votes would have been enough to take home Charlie in most other seasons, however, the 25-year-old was left empty-handed come the evening's end.

It did not detract from the crazy season that 'the Bont' had overall after guiding his Bulldogs' side to a second grand final appearance in five years.

Aside from his side's performance in 2021, Bontempelli was individually unplayable with his size and skill too much for the vast majority of the competition.

The big-bodied midfielder finished second across the entire league in inside 50s per game, total score involvements and total metres gained, all whilst booting 31 goals in his 26 matches.

It was Bontempelli's ability to hit the scoreboard when it mattered that earned him so many accolades league-wide.

In a losing grand final he managed 25 disposals and three goals, unequivocally putting in his shift despite the negative result.

Similar to Petracca, Bontempelli still has his best years ahead of him at only 25 years of age. With a Doggies outfit that has the capacity to rebound in season 2022, don't be surprised if you see Bontempelli on the podium on Brownlow night or in the grand final post-game ceremony.