The top 50 AFL players after season 2021 (50-41)

See who makes the first instalment of our season rankings 👇

STAFF WRITER | October 14, 2021 - 9:08am

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 part one containing spots 50 through 41.

50. Tom Papley

The pocket-rocket in Sydney's blistering forward line takes out number 50 on this list with a successful 2021 season by his standards.

His explosiveness and fast footwork make him one of the hardest forwards in the game to keep quiet, this year booting 43 goals in 23 games to finish 16th in the Coleman Medal tally.

On top of this, Papley was ranked sixth in the competition for total goal assists meaning that when he wasn't kicking them himself, he was able to provide for his counterparts.

To top off a great year, the 25-year-old captured his first All-Australian blazer and was the only Swan to do so - an overall stellar 2021 for the small forward.

49. Cameron Guthrie

Cam Guthrie is consistently at the heart of everything good in Chris Scott's side, with the veteran always keen to get his hands on the footy.

Scott's team are renowned for their pragmatic 'kick-mark' style of play and with the 29-year-old ranked ninth in the entire league for uncontested possessions per game, it showcases his importance to this Geelong side.

Despite the Cats suffering one of their most demoralising losses ever in a preliminary final against Melbourne, Guthrie can still hold his head high as one of his club's most consistent performers in 2021.

48. Bailey Dale

The Doggies defender has had a stonking season 2021 in what was his breakout year for Luke Beveridge's side.

An integral cog in the Bulldogs' back six, Dale was ranked second for total kicks across the entire league and averaged 13 effective kicks per game - an elite figure for a defender.

His industrious behaviour in defence earned him a spot in the All-Australian side at half back-flank whilst cementing his reputation as one of the best defenders in the game.

47. Taylor Adams

Although the Pies endured one of their most torrid years in recent memory, one thing that did not suffer were the performances of star midfielder Taylor Adams.

Despite missing nine rounds of footy with a persistent knee injury, the 28-year-old still managed to finish 15th in the league for total centre clearances and put up elite averages for disposals and tackles.

With Collingwood firmly focussed on a new era under incoming coach Craig McRae, Adams will be at the very core of their midfield unit with his experience being integral to the youth coming through.

46. Ben King

With both King twins having an outstanding season 2021, Gold Coast forward Ben is the one who takes the cake in this list.

The 21-year-old is quietly mastering his craft under coach Stuart Dew in Queensland, finishing 10th in the Coleman Medal off the back of 47 goals in 22 games.

His brother Max may have a better set of hands statistically but with Ben booting nine more goals in just two more games, it's the Suns big man who has slid into number 46.

45. Isaac Heeney

The enigmatic Swans forward has thrived in a year where John Longmire's side took a giant step in their re-building journey.

For a medium-sized forward Heeney outdid himself in 2021, booting 36 goals in 21 games with his average of 15.9 disposals and 5.7 marks per game putting him in the elite section of forwards.

At only 25 years of age the Maitland-born attacking outlet still has his best years ahead of him and will play a critical role in the Swans' resurgence.

44. Karl Amon

The Port Adelaide wingman had his best year yet at Alberton, establishing himself as one of the most telling kicks in footy.

Although Ken Hinkley's side stumbled at the penultimate hurdle for the second year in a row Amon was one of the shining lights in the side, coming fourth in the club's best-and-fairest count behind the likes of Wines, Boak and Aliir.

Averaging 10.4 effective kicks and 481.7 metres gained per match, the 26-year-old is the play his teammates look to for a killer delivery.

His efforts almost earned him his first All-Australian blazer, with Amon now a player that opposition mids will single out when trying to shut down the Power.

43. Jacob Hopper

The Giants midfielder truly put himself on the map in 2021 through a host of hard-working performances in Leon Cameron's engine room.

A third-placed finish in the club's best-and-fairest saw the 24-year-old recognised as one of the most fearsome mids in the game in a year where GWS was up-and-down with their form.

Averaging elite numbers in contested possessions, total clearances and metres gained, Hopper was handed a new deal by the Giants this year, seeing him extend his stay in orange and charcoal until the end of 2023.

42. Jake Stringer

'The Package' was very much back in vogue in 2021, with the former Bulldog silencing the doubters with a collection of freakish displays.

The mid-forward's eye for goal saw him drag Ben Rutten's side over the line on multiple occasions, with his final tally of 41 goals in 2021 even more impressive when you consider how much of his time was spent in the middle.

His consistency and drive has been questioned many times over the past few seasons however 2021 has seen him re-establish himself as one of the most watchable players in the competition.

41. Hugh McCluggage

The 2016 No.3 pick has been a core player in Chris Fagan's side for the past several years with the class he brings to the outside-mid position integral to the Lions' game style.

Finishing second in Brisbane's best-and-fairest count and winning a spot in All-Australian squad, McCluggage's stats reinforce these outcomes with the 23-year-old ranked No.1 in the league for goal assists while boasting elite averages for his position in inside 50s, marks and effective kicks.

With the Lions still waiting to take the next step and win their first flag since 2003 there is no doubt that McCluggage will continue to be the first name on coach Fagan's magnet board for many years to come.