The AFL website begun their top 50 player countdown heading into the 2018 season last Wednesday and have now revealed the top five players in the game as voted on as part of the Players’ Annual top 50.
After one of the most dominant individual seasons in recent memory, Richmond's Dustin Martin has shot up 11 spots to first, and is the number one player in the game according to his peers.
Martin's 2017 saw him win the premiership, the Norm Smith Medal, the Brownlow Medal, the AFL Players' Association MVP, the AFL Coaches' Association Player of the Year, the Jack Dyer Medal and an All-Australian guernsey.
He averaged 29.8 disposals, 6.4 clearances, 6.0 inside 50s, 3.5 tackles, 4.1 marks per game and booted 37 goals in 2017, leading the Tigers to their first flag in 37 years.
Last year's top three all shift down a position and remain in the top five, although there's a new member among the game's elite, and is someone who is new to the countdown all together.
Young GWS midfielder Josh Kelly wasn't in the top 50 last season, and debuts at number five this time around after a stellar 2017 campaign.
Kelly won his first All-Australian guernsey and his first club best and fairest award, after helping the Giants to the preliminary final.
The 23-year-old re-signed with the Giants for two years on the eve of the finals last season, after turning down a big money deal from North Melbourne.
5. Josh Kelly - GWS
Last year’s ranking: -
4. Lance Franklin - Sydney
Last year’s ranking: 3 (⇓1)
3. Nat Fyfe - Fremantle
Last year’s ranking: 2 (⇓1)
2. Patrick Dangerfield - Geelong
Last year’s ranking: 1 (⇓1)
1. Dustin Martin - Richmond
Last year’s ranking: 12 (⇑11)
