Welcome to Zero Hanger's top 50 player rankings for 2025 - a list based primarily on a player's 2025 production in addition to their career pedigree and future projections.
The bar is as high as ever to impact as an AFL footballer consistently, let alone to a star level. All-Australian discussions are in constant debate as several guns often find themselves snubbed from proper recognition.
Here is the second edition (40-31) of our top 50 AFL players right now...
READ: PART 1 (50-41)
37th - Brodie Grundy
2024 rank: N/A
The revival of Brodie Grundy was something to behold in 2025 as he captivated not only Swans fans with his deft taps and impressive ball-winning ability, but fans across the league with his loveable personality and positive demeanour.
Looking at his skillset in a purely on-field sense, however, Grundy's return to one of the game's best ruckmen played a vital role in Sydney's late-season charge toward September.
Grundy was one of just six ruckmen to average 35 hitouts per game in 2025, and among all listed AFL rucks, only Grundy and Gold Coast's Jarrod Witts won at least 50% of their ruck contests (minimum 10 games played).
Grundy achieved remarkable feats in 2025, from his 62 hitout performance vs North Melbourne in Round 19 to his 39-disposal, 22-contested possession and nine-score involvement performance against Essendon in Round 9. His surprise resurgence is something the Swans faithful will hope to see repeated in 2026 as the Bloods aim for a return to September with a fully healthy squad.
