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.
We have accumulated who we believe are the league's best of the best, but before it is unveiled, here is a list of players who just missed the cut:
Unlucky to miss:
Patrick Cripps
Josh Daicos
Nick Vlastuin
Darcy Cameron
Gryan Miers
Touk Miller
George Hewett
Shai Bolton
Josh Worrell
Josh Battle
Here is the first edition (50-41) of our top 50 AFL players right now...
848th - Zac Bailey
2024 rank: N/A
After a few years on the outskirts of top 50 lists like these, Bailey asserted himself as one of the more versatile forwards in the AFL in Brisbane's successful premiership defence.
Bailey averaged a career-high 20.0 disposals per game in 2025, kicking 42 goals from 26 games. It included a 23-disposal, 10-score involvement effort in Brisbane's Grand Final win, which saw Bailey notch three goals (and six behinds) in the Lions' second consecutive premiership.
Now, Bailey could chase a significant payday, with multiple clubs offering him millions to leave the Lions via free agency in 2026, offers which will likely remain in place if he produces another 40-goal campaign.
You have to wonder how these lists are compiled. What do they look for? Clearly it is the flashy players. Collingwood played in the Preliminary Final despite only having 2 players in the top 50. Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne had, apparently, more of the best players in the competition but couldn’t even make the finals. Go figure.