The debate over who the best player in the AFL is rages on week-in-week-out and will forever more as the answer remains subjective rather than objective.
However, in 2026, Zero Hanger has used our fan-driven Player Rater system to determine where footballers rank across the league in the eyes of the devoted.
The ratings are done through the AFL Player Rater and are based on performance and consistency and look to provide real-time rankings of where each player sits.
So how does your club's best 10 players stack up when compared to the rest?
At the halfway mark of the season, we have delved into how you, the fans, have rated players' opening 12-13 games at all 18 clubs, with the analysis below.
Geelong currently has the most players in the overall top 10, with Jeremy Cameron (fourth), Tom Stewart (fifth) and Patrick Dangerfield (10th).
Brisbane, Collingwood, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Sydney and Western Bulldogs all have one player inside the top 10.
Ladder leaders Fremantle and Sydney are tied with the most players inside the top 50 with six-apiece making the cut from their respective talent-laden squads.
Rankings are as of start of the day June 11, 2026.
3Carlton
The Blues' top 10 doesn't make for pretty reading ranking-wise, but the club's current run of form and momentum could see some of Carlton's fallen stars such as Harry McKay rise up.
Superstar Patrick Cripps leading the way is no surprise, while Blues fans will be hoping Sam Walsh can get back to his All-Australian best. It's not long ago that he was the club's Nick Daicos before there was a Nick Daicos in the league.
Three recent recruits in Will Hayward, Ben Ainsworth and draftee Jagga Smith feature in the top 10.
- Patrick Cripps (24)
- Jacob Weitering (55)
- Sam Walsh (119)
- Will Hayward (150)
- Marc Pittonet (162)
- Ben Ainsworth (202)
- Jagga Smith (208)
- Harry McKay (219)
- Nic Newman (225)
- Adam Cerra (228)
