18-38: Ranking the best AFL players by age

Our Zero Hanger AFL Player Ratings have determined the best players at each age group, going from 18 to the ripe age of 38. The ratings are a fan-voted AFL player concept where two players are compared to each other based on a certified Elo rating algorithm, and you get to choose who you believe is the better player. We've looked at the top three for each age group, or the maximum amount of players. SEE MORE: Check out Zero Hanger's AFL Player Ratings (These rankings are accurate as of May 14) 18 Willem Duursma, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 133Jacob Farrow, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 334Sam Grlj, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 400 Prodigy Willem Duursma ranks number one for best 18-year-old in the AFL, which is a huge gap between first and second. Young guns Jacob Farrow and Sam Grlj follow Duursma, putting together solid seasons from the backline, showing promising signs for their futures. 19 Murphy Reid, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 23Finn O'Sullivan, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 125Levi Ashcroft, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 172 Murphy Reid, who has had a stellar second season for the Dockers, ranks as the best 19-year-old. Averaging 23 touches for the second-best side in the league has really put him as one of the best small forwards in the AFL. Kangaroos' Finn O'Sullivan has had a solid second season as he explores more midfield time and a role as a tagger. Ranking less than 50 spots behind is a premiership player, Levi Ashcroft, who averages 20 touches in a stacked Brisbane midfield. 20 Archie Roberts, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 67Cooper Trembath, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 120Nate Caddy, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 132 Archie Roberts has been one of the Bombers' only bright lights in a tough season, averaging the second most touches in the AFL off half back with 32 a game. His game has really improved as a distributor. High flyers Cooper Trembath and Nate Caddy round out the top three, both showing great promise to be future stars in the AFL. Caddy is averaging two goals a game in a weak Bombers side, while Trembath has been a key focus in the Kangaroos' rise up the ladder. 21 Nick Watson, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 25Harry Sheezel, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 38Logan Morris, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 53 The AFL has big-time players at the age of 21, with arguably the most entertaining player right now in Nick Watson, ranking as the best at his age. Watson ranks fifth in the Coleman medal race, while ranking first for goals among small forwards. Sheezel has been elite for the Kangaroos in season 2026, averaging over 30 touches. Two-time premiership player Logan Morris caps off the top three, as well as the Lions' top goal kicker this year. 22 Sam Darcy, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 18Will Ashcroft, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 20Jye Amiss, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 65 Sam Darcy is still ranked as the best 22-year-old even after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Darcy still earns a spot in the top 20 players. The back-to-back Norm Smith Medallist, Will Ashcroft, is right behind Darcy in the rankings, as he has turned himself into one of the best midfielders in the AFL, Then, Dockers Sharpshooter Jye Amiss rounds out the top three with his solid season up forward. 23 Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 5Nick Daicos, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 8Josh Treacy, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 12 The top three 23-year-olds rank pretty highly in the best players across the league, with stars Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Nick Daicos ranking in the top 10, respectively. Dockers Josh Treacy is having another terrific season, putting him at 12th in our rankings. His strong hands and goal-kicking ability have been on full display this year. 24 Kysaiah Pickett, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 9Luke Jackson, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 22Mitch Georgiades, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 40 The dazzling Kysaiah Pickett ranks as the best 24-year-old in the best season of his career, becoming a real Brownlow contender in 2026 for the new-look Demons. Ranked as the third-best ruck in the AFL, Luke Jackson is second-best for his age; his dominance in the middle and up forward has been electrifying to watch. Port Adelaide's key forward Mitch Georgiades ranks shortly behind him, with his great season currently sitting third in the Coleman race. 25 Ben King, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 6Zak Butters, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 10Noah Anderson, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 24 Coleman medal leader Ben King is seen as the best 25-year-old in the competition, with his accuracy and consistency towards goal, you can bank on him to kick multiple goals each week. Star Zak Butters might be deemed stiff in the overall rankings as he currently sits tenth. He could arguably be a top-three player. There wouldn't be a surprise if he finds a way to climb rankings throughout the season. Suns captain Noah Anderson is ranked 24th, which puts him as the third-best player at 25. 26 Nick Blakey, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 19Ed Richards, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 35Connor Rozee, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 39 Swans speedstar Nick Blakey has been super important for the premiership favourites and is having another all-Australian season after missing out last year. Bulldogs midfielder Ed Richards has come from the clouds to become one of the better midfielders and ball users in the league. The Power captain, Connor Rozee, still ranks in the top 40 despite missing most of the season with injury so far. 27 Sam Taylor, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 26Josh Daicos, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 30Nick Larkey, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 36 Ranking as the fourth best defender, Giants Sam Taylor finds himself as the number one player at his age. Taylor has yet to play a game in 2026, but his body of work over the years has put him as one of the best defenders across the league when on the field. Collingwood star Josh Daicos has had another solid season as a defender for the Pies. Kangaroos captain Nick Larkey comes in just behind Daicos. 28 Hugh McCluggage, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 49Tim English, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 61Jake Waterman, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 72 With a sluggish start to 2026, Hugh McCluggage still lands as the best 28-year-old in the AFL. Even with his injuries to start the year, his terrific season in 2025 gives him the benefit of the doubt. Once he gets in a better groove, expect him to jump in the rankings. Tim English and Jake Waterman round out the top three for their age. Both have had solid seasons, not as good as they could've been, but still are among the top influencers for their teams. 29 Harris Andrews, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 7Jordan Dawson, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 16Charlie Curnow, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 28 Brisbane co-captain and two-time premiership player, Harris Andrews, not only ranks as the best 29-year-old but also ranks as the best defender in the AFL. Arguably has been the best defender over the past few years, earning his spot in the top ten of our rankings. Crows captain, Jordan Dawson, ranks 16th in the rankings, having a phenomenal few weeks for the Crows as he continues to move up in the leaderboard. Then comes two-time Coleman medalist Charlie Curnow, who snuck into the top 30 of the rankings. 30 Marcus Bontempelli, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 2Isaac Heeney, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 3Christian Petracca, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 4 The prime age of 30 easily has the best three players at their age compared to the rest, having three of the top four players in the league. The best 30-year-old by no surprise is Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, who could be on for his first Brownlow in 2026, ranking second best in the AFL. Then stars, Isaac Heeney and Christian Petracca, follow shortly behind, ranking third and fourth. 31 Lachie Whitfield, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 27Jack Sinclair, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 29Jesse Hogan, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 56 Dashing half-backs, Lachie Whitfield and Jack Sinclair, rank as the top two 31-year-olds. Both are sitting inside the top 30 and averaging nearly 30 touches, great seasons across half back, distributing for their respective teams. Whitfield's teammate, Hogan, rounds out the top three. Even in a down season, Hogan has still kicked 10 goals in seven games and has been a presentable target up forward for the Giants. 32 Brodie Grundy, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 17Lachie Neale, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 31Toby Greene, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 62 Brodie Grundy is having another stellar season for the top of the ladder Swans, earning himself the highest-ranked 32-year-old and second-highest-ranked ruckman. He is right now on track to be an All-Australian for the first time since 2019. Lachie Neale has been elite this year, being one of the best midfielders in the AFL once again in his 15th season. Then, Giants captain Toby Greene finishes as the third-best player for his age, with his new role as a midfielder. 33 Jeremy Cameron, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 1Tom Stewart, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 33Jamie Elliott, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 60 The number one-ranked player in our leaderboard is showcased at the age of 33. Jeremy Cameron has had a slower start to the year compared to last year, but he has been turning the gears over the past few weeks to get back into form, earning himself a spot as a top player in our ranking. Tom Stewart and Jamie Elliott follow as the next best 33-year-olds. Stewart has been solid once again for the Cats at half back, while Elliott might be having a down year, he still ranks among the top players at his age. 34 Max Gawn, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 11Jack Gunston, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 15Jake Melksham, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 257 The number one ruckman over the past decade still finds himself ranked as the highest ruckman in the AFL at the age of 34. The Demons have been putting him more forward, and it has worked perfectly; his ability to influence a game by himself has been unreal again in 2026. Hawks Jack Gunston has been unbelievable once again, currently second in the Coleman medal race and has a real chance to win to take out the award in his 17th season. Then Jake Melksham ranks at 257 as a top-three player at his age. 35 Jeremy Howe, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 120Mark Blicavs, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 133Steele Sidebottom, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 150 Jeremy Howe has been solid for the Magpies down back, once again ranking him 120 in the league, putting him as the best 35-year-old in the league. Veteran Mark Blicavs and Howe's teammate Steele Sidebottom rank in the top 150 players in our ranking, which is proving their worth as players across their amazing careers. All three players are still significant contributors for their teams. 36 Patrick Dangerfield, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 69Taylor Walker, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 70 Patrick Dangerfield and Taylor Walker are the only players at their age, and both are still having a good impact for their clubs, which is why they rank right next to each other in our player rankings. Walker has had the better season so far, but both are still impacting at a good level most weeks. 37 Dayne Zorko, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 57 Zorko is having another great season, after winning his second premiership. Dashing and distributing off halfback, carving through defences consistently every week. Still averaging 24 touches a game, Zorko is primed for another impactful year for the Lions. 38 Scott Pendlebury, AFL Player Ratings Overall: 71 AFL legend, Scott Pendlebury still rolling along at age 38. About to surpass the AFL leading games record in Round 11, Pendlebury has been crucial for the Pies just like every other season. Averaging 24 touches at his age is unbelievable, and his composure is as good as ever. Ranking 71st in our rankings is something we won't see at his age again.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	SYD	10	8	2	32	150.6
2	FRE	9	8	1	32	131.6
3	GEEL	10	7	3	28	123.5
4	GC	10	7	3	28	119.3
5	HAW	9	6	2	26	116.8
6	BL	10	6	4	24	116.6
7	MELB	9	6	3	24	103.9
8	COLL	10	5	4	22	102.6
9	ADEL	9	5	4	20	101.7
10	WB	9	5	4	20	92.4

18-38: Ranking the best AFL players by age

A look at who the best players by age are according to our fan-voted AFL Player Ratings 👇

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