Footy fans are more blessed than any other in the world of sport.

No sport combines such astonishing physical feats with such chills of euphoria, heartbreak, and everything in between the way Aussie Rules does.

2024 has already provided its fair share of thrilling plays, profound performances and memorable matches, this list will go through only a fraction of them during the season so far.

Records have been set and players have broken out into AFL stardom with performances from the top shelf.

Before we go through the subjective list, let's take a look the current in-season record holders for each major statistical category:

Disposals: 46 - Caleb Serong (Round 1 vs Brisbane)
Marks: 18 - Luke Ryan (Round 12 vs Melbourne)
Goals: 6 - 6x (Jeremy Cameron, Jake Waterman, Aaron Naughton, Jesse Hogan, Cody Weightman, Eric Hipwood)
Goal assists: 6 - Lachie Neale (Round 10 vs Richmond)
Tackles: 16 - James Rowbottom (Round 10 vs Carlton)
Hit-Outs: 56 - Reilly O'Brien (Round 9 vs Brisbane)
Contested Possessions: 28 - Tom Liberatore (Round 4 vs Geelong)
Contested Marks: 8 - Jake Waterman (Round 5 vs Richmond)
Clearances: 20 - Matt Rowell (O-Round vs Richmond)
One-percenters: 17 - Jack Buckley (Round 8 vs Sydney)
Score Involvements: 17 - Sam Walsh (Round 6 vs GWS)
Intercepts: 16 - Mac Andrew (Round 4 vs GWS)
SuperCoach: 197 - Luke Ryan (Round 8 vs Richmond)

Here is our mid-year list of the top 10 player performances of 2024...

Honourable Mentions:

  • Nick Vlastuin (Round 3 vs Sydney)
    • 29 disposals @ 100% efficiency
      15 intercepts
      13 marks
      7 score involvements
      167 SuperCoach points
  • Patrick Cripps (Round 6 vs GWS)
    • 39 disposals
      24 contested possessions
      11 score involvements
      13 clearances
      7 tackles
      142 SuperCoach points
  • Connor Rozee (Round 4 vs Essendon)
    • 36 disposals
      3 goals
      8 score involvements
      7 inside 50s
      152 SuperCoach points
  • Blake Hardwick (Round 10 vs Port Adelaide)
    • 23 disposals
      5 goals
      9 score involvements
      6 marks
      180 SuperCoach points

2Max Gawn (Round 11 vs St Kilda)

  • 27 disposals
    1 goal
    18 contested possessions
    34 hit-outs
    10 score involvements
    10 clearances
    3 contested marks
    5 intercepts
    7 marks
    5 inside 50s
    8 free-kicks
    180 SuperCoach points

St Kilda ruck Rowan Marshall copped a Max Gawn mauling in Round 11 against the Dees, as the bearded big stuffed the stat sheet in just about every category possible in Melbourne's 38-point win.

In a comical twist, Gawn was uncertain to play in this match, undergoing a pre-game fitness test ahead of the clash to assess a sore calf. Later revealing that he might add it to his pre-game routine, you can understand why.

Gawn monstered the ruck battle from the opening tap - finishing 34-16 - but didn't stop there. He won the footy with contested possessions and clearances like a pure on-baller, gobbled contested marks and intercepts like a key defender, then influenced the scoreboard like a full-forward.

Once again he proved that at his best, he is the biggest trump card in the competition and one of the most valuable players this century.

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