Daicos or Bontempelli? Gawn or Grundy? Wanganeen-Milera? Heeney? There's a number of players who could lay claim to being the competition's finest.
Thanks to Zero Hanger's AFL Player Ratings, we have an answer.
The fan-voted AFL Player Rater pits two players against each other based on their position, using a proven Elo rating algorithm - the same system used in global sports rankings - to produce the live and real-time results.
So who is the best player in the AFL right now?
The footy public says it is Western Bulldogs superstar, Marcus Bontempelli.
Following 144 match-ups against fellow AFL midfielders - of which "the Bont" won just over 92 percent - he amassed 2,129.5 ratings points.
Remarkably, Melbourne captain Max Gawn has an even better 98 percent win rate, but - given the smaller pool of ruckmen and the genuine lack of competition at the position for his 145 matchups - received 1,951.5 ratings points.
The 10 best AFL players right now
The same question gets asked every year, every week: Who is the best AFL player?
Well, Zero Hanger has the answer, based on fans' opinion, performances and their ability to beat opponents, literally, according to our new AFL Player Rating.
Let's get stuck into the top 10 players in the AFL.
Marcus Bontempelli
It is astounding how the Bulldogs midfielder hasn't won a Brownlow Medal in his dominance for the better part of a decade, but his CV stacks up against some of the game's best players. This year has included some special performances, putting him once again in the conversation for Charlie.
Isaac Heeney
The Swans superstar hasn't put a foot wrong as one of the most damaging midfield-forwards in the competition, and has done so for the past few years.
Heeney has taken his game to a new level, consistently hitting the scoreboard whilst finding plenty of the football, pressing his claim for a Brownlow Medal charge.
Jeremy Cameron
The Cats superstar is the reigning Coleman medallist, and has been a reliable goal-kicker over 14 completed seasons, almost reaching the ton last year.
Despite starting slow in 2026, Cameron soon rose to his elite standards, slotting 10 goals against the Western Bulldogs.
Riley Thilthorpe
The Adelaide key forward realised his full potential last year, earning All-Australian honours for the first time after an injury-interrupted start to his AFL career.
Thilthorpe's form has continued into 2026, kicking goals in all outings whilst also adding midfield strengths to his game, which has been used sporadically by the Crows.
Harris Andrews
The Lions co-captain is arguably the best key defender of the past five years, navigating his club to three consecutive grand finals and two victories.
His 2026 campaign has been staggered, with excellent performances surrounding a three-week suspension in Opening Round.
Max Gawn
There's no surprise that the eight-time All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn is among the game's best, but his influence continues to be elevated when it matters most.
Is nine blazers too far-fetched? No one would think so as the Demon champion is on track for a record-breaking nod.
Nick Daicos
The Collingwood father-son gun continues to elevate his game, which has been at a ridiculously high level since he entered the competition in 2022. Very unlucky not to be awarded a Brownlow Medal in the past three seasons, his performance this year has him as the favourite once again, and who could forget that final quarter against Carlton?
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
The smooth-moving Saint rocked the AFL last year with his incredible performances in all positions, resulting in a $2 million payday from the club.
Despite extra attention this year, Wanganeen-Milera has continued to excel, finding plenty of the football whilst kickstarting St Kilda's scoring from the middle of the ground.
Zak Butters
Butters had previously announced himself as a star on-baller, and is one of the most courageous in the game.
In spite of the ongoing contract talks and looming $2 million-a-year deals from a host of clubs, the Port Adelaide professional has remained as a star of the league.
Nick Larkey
Even though he assumed the captaincy at North Melbourne, Larkey has continued to fly under the radar as one of the competition's premier key forwards.
A consistent and accurate goal-kicker, the Kangaroo tall keeps popping up with majors, helping turn the fortunes around for the struggling Arden Street club.
How the AFL player ratings work
The AFL Player Ratings rank the best players in the AFL based on fan votes from the AFL Player Rater. Every player is matched head-to-head against other players in the same position, allowing fans to directly compare and decide who is better in each matchup.
Our system uses an Elo-style rating algorithm, where every player starts on the same rating and gains or loses points after each vote. Beating a higher-ranked opponent results in a bigger increase, while losing to a lower-ranked player leads to a larger drop.
These ratings are live and constantly updating, meaning they reflect current form and momentum across the AFL season. Players can climb quickly with standout performances, but staying at the top requires consistently outperforming other elite players.
If you're searching for the best AFL players, these fan-driven rankings provide a clear and up-to-date view of who is leading the way right now.
Have your say! Head to the AFL Player Rater and start voting today.
