Which players are most respected by their peers? We asked the players to share their opinions via a survey for AFL.com.au’s Players’ Top 50.
Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe has been voted the second-best player in the competition, jumping five places in the Players’ Top 50 compared to this time a year ago, following a career-best season in 2014.
“The mantle as the best player in the game is not far away” – Former Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy
Fyfe was named the AFL Players’ Association’s Most Valuble Player last season after averaging 27 disposals and six clearances per game, and booting 24 goals for the year.
In 2014 the 23-year-old claimed his first All-Australian selection and polled the second-most votes in the Brownlow Medal, despite missing four matches.
The high-flying Docker also claimed his second Fremantle Best and Fairest award, becoming the third player to claim multiple Doig Medals.
According to Fox Sports commentator and former Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy, Fyfe has all the attributes to build a reputation as the game’s best player.
“The mantle as the best player in the game is not far away, it’s within his grasp and it’s certainly within his ability,” Healy said on Fox Sports’ AFL Round Table.
“Being able to be that superstar for the same amount of time as Judd was, week-in-week-out, and [be the consistent champion that] Ablett continues to be is not going to be easy, but he’s got the opportunity.”
AFL PLAYERS’ TOP 50 SO FAR – 50 TO 2
2. Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
3. Joel Selwood (Geelong)
4. Lance Franklin (Sydney)
5. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
6. Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
7. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
8. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
9. Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
10. Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
11. Josh Kennedy (Sydney Swans)
12. Jobe Watson (Essendon)
13. Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
14. Matt Priddis (West Coast Eagles)
15. Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
16. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
17. Steve Johnson (Geelong)
18. Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
19. Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions)
20. Aaron Sandliands (Fremantle)
21. Dayne Beams (Brisbane)
22. Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
23. Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
24. Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
25. Harry Taylor (Geelong)
26. Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)
27. Luke Parker (Sydney)
28. Chris Judd (Carlton)
29. Callan Ward (Greater Western Sydney)
30. Marc Murphy (Carlton)
31. Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
32. Bryce Gibbs (Carlton)
33. David Mundy (Fremantle)
34. Brendon Goddard (Essendon)
35. Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney)
36. Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide)
37. Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions)
38. Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
39. Dustin Martin (Richmond)
40. Dan Hannebery (Sydney)
41. Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn)
42. Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
43. Josh Kennedy (West Coast Eagles)
44. Ryan Griffen (Greater Western Sydney)
45. Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
46. Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
47. Travis Cloke (Collingwood)
48. Dane Swan (Collingwood)
49. Brett Deledio (Richmond)
50. Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)