Giants players celebrate following the AFL 1st Qualifying Final match between the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at ANZ Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Sydney, Australia.

Our old friends at Champion Data are at it again, this time ranking each team's list against each other to see which side has the best list in the competition ahead of the 2017 season.

Champion Data took into account the list transition over the past off-season, ranking clubs based on players retained, who they drafted, the quality of their other ins - whether that be through trade or free agency - and the quality of the players that left the club.

Following their premiership win last season, the Bulldogs had the best off-season in terms of keeping their 2016 players, with 35 Dogs returning after their 2016 success, which saw them rate at the top in that category.

The Giants' off-season was the most fruitful in terms of draftees according to Champion Data, with GWS' draft selections (led by number two pick Tim Taranto and number five pick Will Setterfield) selected as the best efforts by any side on the night.

Hwthorn's other ins saw them ranked as the number one side in the competition in that category with Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara, Ty Vickery and Ricky Henderson all welcome additions throughout the off-season.

Unfortunately for North Melbourne, their eight departures from Arden Street saw them rank at the top of the list for quality of players that left.

Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito, Nick Dal Santo and Daniel Wells all left the club following the 2016 season, and a lot of veteran experience went with them.

After taking all of that information and plenty more into account, Champion Data came up with the following rankings for each club's list, with the top spot occupied by a side most fans are fearing in 2017.

The GWS have the best list in the competition and are here to stay in 2017, as they edge out last season's beaten grand finalists Sydney and finals contenders West Coast for the top spot.

Champion Data ranks each list from best to worst

  1. GWS
  2. Sydney
  3. West Coast
  4. Hawthorn
  5. Western Bulldogs
  6. Adelaide
  7. Port Adelaide
  8. Collingwood
  9. Geelong
  10. St Kilda
  11. Melbourne
  12. Richmond
  13. North Melbourne
  14. Fremantle
  15. Essendon
  16. Gold Coast
  17. Carlton
  18. Brisbane