Despite breaking their 37-year premiership drought last September, Richmond will need to come from the clouds once again in 2018 according to Champion Data, as their list is still a far way off the game's elite.
According to the AFL's leading data supplier, Champion Data rate Richmond's list as the ninth best in the competition, with their best 22 rated as the seventh strongest.
Sydney are at the top of both lists, as the Swans have been ranked number one for both overall list strength, and best 22.
Close behind Sydney in list strength is Port Adelaide, who added senior players Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts and Steven Motlop in last season's free agency period.
Adelaide in third and GWS in fourth round out the four strongest lists in the competition, with all four sides finishing in the top six on last season's AFL ladder.
The Swans lead the league with 17 players rated either 'elite' or 'above average', with Port Adelaide boasting 16 players in the two categories.
For perspective, the Tigers won the premiership with just three 'elite' players (Dustin Martin, Alex Rance and Shane Edwards) and nine in the 'above average' column.
At the other end of the scale, Carlton's list has been ranked as the league's worst, while Fremantle have been placed in 18th spot with the weakest best 22, given captain Nat Fyfe is the Dockers' only 'elite' player.
Collingwood will be looking to break their finals drought but will need to do so with the league's 10th best list, although should their best 22 stay on the park for most of the season, the Pies could be finals bound, given their strongest 22 rates sixth in the competition.
After adding Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad, Essendon's list is still below Collingwood's in overall strength in 11th, while their best 22 is eighth among the competition.
