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Jay Clark ranks the AFL’s 50 best players in 2025
Four clubs have five representatives in Jay Clark’s Top 50, but two teams dominate the top of the mountain as footy’s king is crowned. Check out the full list and have your say.
Western Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge is holding three aces.
There’s champion onballer Marcus Bontempelli, the midfield run machine Ed Richards and the man who could dominate the game for the next decade, precocious key forward Sam Darcy.
Underlining the massive top-line threat the Bulldogs pose this September, the Bulldogs officially have three of the best four players in the game.
The Herald Sun’s first-ever mid-year top-50 ranked Bontempelli number one, Richards number three and Darcy number four for their efforts so far in 2025.
A Samurai with the Sherrin, Bontempelli’s ball use and strength in the contest is what keeps perhaps the greatest ever Bulldog in top spot in his 12th season, despite a calf injury which sidelined him for the first five games.
There may be no Brownlow Medal in his CV, but he is building a resume and a legacy which will ensure he sits comfortably among the greatest of the modern era.
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos is the only man who can break up the Bulldogs’ trio at number two after a sizzling return to top form over the past fortnight.
The acceleration and swerve are back after a 40-minute heart-to-heart with Collingwood coach Craig Macrae a fortnight ago helped pull the ripcord on a season which chugged a little early.
Richards has claims for number one, and again drew the tag from the Sydney Swans on Thursday night.
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The growth of his game from bit-part ball user to inside missile is a total triumph, and while ‘Baby Bont’ Joel Freijah missed the top-50 this year, the speed of his development is strikingly similar.
But it is Darcy who was the toughest to slot.
In 1993 legendary football writer Mike Sheahan named North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey at number three of his top-50 when Carey was just 21.
Now Darcy, age 22, enters at number four, and by next year could take Bontempelli’s spot as footy’s new king.
At times, the 208cm key forward looks unstoppable in the air but more than that he is a complete package.
Just forty seconds in on Thursday night he showcased his clean hands with the full-pace mark-on-the-lead.
But it was the third-quarter drop punt from the boundary line which underlined the sublime skills and ball control which make the jet goal kicker truly special.
In September, the biggest question facing opposition coaches will be how they stop all three Bulldogs.
Likewise, the Cats have three top-10 stars but for all the Brownlow Medal hype around Bailey Smith, Max Holmes gets the nod as the greater all-round midfield weapon.
Holmes is number five for the work he does on the defensive end, and his more efficient ball use.
Smith is the most eye-catching ballwinner, and has helped turn the Cats’ engine room from a V6 into a V8, but he is a whisker behind Holmes at six.
And then there is the other superstar forward Jeremy Cameron at number seven who can appear to cruise through games then turn them in a five-minute burst with goals from everywhere.
In the battle of the South Australian midfield jets Port’s Zak Butters snuck in ahead of Crow Jordan Dawson and Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage rounded out the top-10.
50. Darcy Cameron
49. Will Ashcroft
48. Paul Curtis
47. Callum Wilkie
46. Jack Crisp
45. Harris Andrews
44. Lachie Ash
43. Shai Bolton
42. Jason Horne-Francis
41. Nic Martin
40. Dayne Zorko
39. Tom Green
38. Tom De Koning
37. Jamie Elliott
36. Izak Rankine
35. Matt Rowell
34. Tom Liberatore
JAY SAYS: Put some respect on his name. He was enormous in Marcus Bontempelli’s absence in the Bulldogs’ first five rounds and can be All-Australian for first time in his career if he can maintain his stoppage power. A tackle and clearance warrior.
The Numbers say: Has averaged the fourth-most groundball gets of any midfielder this season.
33. Bailey Dale
JAY SAYS: Steers the ship for the Bulldogs out of half-back with his run and counter-attack. Always has time and space and can sneak up on you with his big disposal numbers. Not as eye-catching as other explosive half backs, but has been reliable as ever.
The Numbers say: Has recorded the fifth-best field kick rating of any player in the competition this season.
32. Luke Jackson
31. Touk Miller
30. Jack Sinclair
29. Josh Daicos
28. Sam Taylor
27. Nick Blakey
26. Zach Merrett
25. Kysaiah Pickett
24. Toby Greene
23. Christian Petracca
22. Riley Thilthorpe
21. Connor Rozee
20. Chad Warner
19. Jesse Hogan
18. Lachie Neale
17. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
16. Isaac Heeney
15. Tristan Xerri
14. Andrew Brayshaw
13. Max Gawn
12. Noah Anderson
11. Caleb Serong
10. Hugh McCluggage
9. Jordan Dawson
8. Zak Butters
7. Jeremy Cameron
6. Bailey Smith
5. Max Holmes
4. Sam Darcy
JAY SAYS: Footy’s next big thing has arrived. Sky-scraping reach and expert aerial judgement has made Darcy king of the contested marks and it is daylight second, in only his fourth season. Divine skills on both sides a luxury for a tall like him. Could be number one next year.
The Numbers say: Averaging the most disposals, contested marks, forward 50 marks and score involvements of any key forward.
3. Ed Richards
JAY SAYS: What a transformation. The former flanker has become a brilliant onballer, causing mass damage with his line-breaking run and corridor ball use. Number one for goal assists and score involvements - the ultimate midfield compliment.
The Numbers say: Has recorded a total of 24 goal assists this season - ranked No.1 in the competition.
2. Nick Daicos
1. Marcus Bontempelli
JAY SAYS: Still the crown jewel in the AFL’s midfield pack in his 12th season, but the gap is closing. So precise and damaging in tight spaces and could yet claim a seventh All-Australian jacket despite early calf injury.
The Numbers say: Averaging nine score involvements this season - ranked No.1 in the competition.
Four clubs have five representatives in Jay Clark’s Top 50, but two teams dominate the top of the mountain as footy’s king is crowned. Check out the full list and have your say.
Western Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge is holding three aces.
There’s champion onballer Marcus Bontempelli, the midfield run machine Ed Richards and the man who could dominate the game for the next decade, precocious key forward Sam Darcy.
Underlining the massive top-line threat the Bulldogs pose this September, the Bulldogs officially have three of the best four players in the game.
The Herald Sun’s first-ever mid-year top-50 ranked Bontempelli number one, Richards number three and Darcy number four for their efforts so far in 2025.
A Samurai with the Sherrin, Bontempelli’s ball use and strength in the contest is what keeps perhaps the greatest ever Bulldog in top spot in his 12th season, despite a calf injury which sidelined him for the first five games.
There may be no Brownlow Medal in his CV, but he is building a resume and a legacy which will ensure he sits comfortably among the greatest of the modern era.
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos is the only man who can break up the Bulldogs’ trio at number two after a sizzling return to top form over the past fortnight.
The acceleration and swerve are back after a 40-minute heart-to-heart with Collingwood coach Craig Macrae a fortnight ago helped pull the ripcord on a season which chugged a little early.
Richards has claims for number one, and again drew the tag from the Sydney Swans on Thursday night.
image.png
The growth of his game from bit-part ball user to inside missile is a total triumph, and while ‘Baby Bont’ Joel Freijah missed the top-50 this year, the speed of his development is strikingly similar.
But it is Darcy who was the toughest to slot.
In 1993 legendary football writer Mike Sheahan named North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey at number three of his top-50 when Carey was just 21.
Now Darcy, age 22, enters at number four, and by next year could take Bontempelli’s spot as footy’s new king.
At times, the 208cm key forward looks unstoppable in the air but more than that he is a complete package.
Just forty seconds in on Thursday night he showcased his clean hands with the full-pace mark-on-the-lead.
But it was the third-quarter drop punt from the boundary line which underlined the sublime skills and ball control which make the jet goal kicker truly special.
In September, the biggest question facing opposition coaches will be how they stop all three Bulldogs.
Likewise, the Cats have three top-10 stars but for all the Brownlow Medal hype around Bailey Smith, Max Holmes gets the nod as the greater all-round midfield weapon.
Holmes is number five for the work he does on the defensive end, and his more efficient ball use.
Smith is the most eye-catching ballwinner, and has helped turn the Cats’ engine room from a V6 into a V8, but he is a whisker behind Holmes at six.
And then there is the other superstar forward Jeremy Cameron at number seven who can appear to cruise through games then turn them in a five-minute burst with goals from everywhere.
In the battle of the South Australian midfield jets Port’s Zak Butters snuck in ahead of Crow Jordan Dawson and Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage rounded out the top-10.
50. Darcy Cameron
49. Will Ashcroft
48. Paul Curtis
47. Callum Wilkie
46. Jack Crisp
45. Harris Andrews
44. Lachie Ash
43. Shai Bolton
42. Jason Horne-Francis
41. Nic Martin
40. Dayne Zorko
39. Tom Green
38. Tom De Koning
37. Jamie Elliott
36. Izak Rankine
35. Matt Rowell
34. Tom Liberatore
JAY SAYS: Put some respect on his name. He was enormous in Marcus Bontempelli’s absence in the Bulldogs’ first five rounds and can be All-Australian for first time in his career if he can maintain his stoppage power. A tackle and clearance warrior.
The Numbers say: Has averaged the fourth-most groundball gets of any midfielder this season.
33. Bailey Dale
JAY SAYS: Steers the ship for the Bulldogs out of half-back with his run and counter-attack. Always has time and space and can sneak up on you with his big disposal numbers. Not as eye-catching as other explosive half backs, but has been reliable as ever.
The Numbers say: Has recorded the fifth-best field kick rating of any player in the competition this season.
32. Luke Jackson
31. Touk Miller
30. Jack Sinclair
29. Josh Daicos
28. Sam Taylor
27. Nick Blakey
26. Zach Merrett
25. Kysaiah Pickett
24. Toby Greene
23. Christian Petracca
22. Riley Thilthorpe
21. Connor Rozee
20. Chad Warner
19. Jesse Hogan
18. Lachie Neale
17. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
16. Isaac Heeney
15. Tristan Xerri
14. Andrew Brayshaw
13. Max Gawn
12. Noah Anderson
11. Caleb Serong
10. Hugh McCluggage
9. Jordan Dawson
8. Zak Butters
7. Jeremy Cameron
6. Bailey Smith
5. Max Holmes
4. Sam Darcy
JAY SAYS: Footy’s next big thing has arrived. Sky-scraping reach and expert aerial judgement has made Darcy king of the contested marks and it is daylight second, in only his fourth season. Divine skills on both sides a luxury for a tall like him. Could be number one next year.
The Numbers say: Averaging the most disposals, contested marks, forward 50 marks and score involvements of any key forward.
3. Ed Richards
JAY SAYS: What a transformation. The former flanker has become a brilliant onballer, causing mass damage with his line-breaking run and corridor ball use. Number one for goal assists and score involvements - the ultimate midfield compliment.
The Numbers say: Has recorded a total of 24 goal assists this season - ranked No.1 in the competition.
2. Nick Daicos
1. Marcus Bontempelli
JAY SAYS: Still the crown jewel in the AFL’s midfield pack in his 12th season, but the gap is closing. So precise and damaging in tight spaces and could yet claim a seventh All-Australian jacket despite early calf injury.
The Numbers say: Averaging nine score involvements this season - ranked No.1 in the competition.
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