Opinion Who is currently the best player in the AFL

[RCAB]

Not a stat we have access to but I think two stats that would be amazing to have for midfielders is

- Metres gained from effective disposals

- Assisted metres gained from effective disposals (so, how far did the ball go based on who you passed the ball to, ie, did you make the right decision in who to pass the ball to)

If we had both, I feel like we would know so much more about the effectiveness of midfielders.

Acutally we do track it.

Retained metres equals possession retained only.

Retained Metres Gained - 2026 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Retained MG
1	Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera	St Kilda	Midfielder	8	360.20
2	Kysaiah Pickett	Melbourne	Midfielder	8	333.30
3	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	7	312.11
4	Max Holmes	Geelong	Midfielder	8	306.55
5	Christian Petracca	Gold Coast	Mid-Forward	6	278.29
6	Bailey Smith	Geelong	Midfielder	8	277.38
7	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	8	276.28
8	Isaac Heeney	Sydney	Midfielder	6	269.12
9	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	7	263.41
10	Bradley Hill	St Kilda	Midfielder	8	261.13

Retained Metres Gained - 2025 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Retained MG
1	Bailey Smith	Geelong	Midfielder	23	319.52
2	Max Holmes	Geelong	Midfielder	26	308.97
3	Finn Callaghan	GWS	Midfielder	21	287.89
4	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	23	275.96
5	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	18	271.19
6	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	Midfielder	25	264.85
7	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	25	257.99
8	Errol Gulden	Sydney	Midfielder	10	249.27
9	Chad Warner	Sydney	Midfielder	23	243.57
10	Jordan Dawson	Adelaide	Midfielder	25	220.55

Retained Metres Gained - 2025 + 2026 Amalgamated

Rank	Player	2026 Team	2026	2025	Blend
1	Max Holmes	Geelong	306.55	308.97	307.76
2	Bailey Smith	Geelong	277.38	319.52	298.45
3	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	312.11	257.99	285.05
4	Finn Callaghan	GWS	260.18	287.89	274.04
5	Kysaiah Pickett	Melbourne	333.30	207.33	270.32
6	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	263.41	275.96	269.69
7	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	248.75	264.85	256.80
8	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	236.91	271.19	254.05
9	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	276.28	214.58	245.43
10	Zach Merrett	Essendon	249.30	218.68	233.99

Assisted metres is gained by a teammate that receives an uncontested possession.

Assisted Metres Gained - 2026 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Assisted MG
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	8	457.16
2	Justin McInerney	Sydney	Midfielder	8	433.10
3	Clayton Oliver	GWS	Midfielder	8	388.97
4	Scott Pendlebury	Collingwood	Midfielder	6	384.90
5	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	7	379.47
6	Jai Newcombe	Hawthorn	Midfielder	8	374.32
7	Christian Petracca	Gold Coast	Mid-Forward	6	363.22
8	Lachie Neale	Brisbane	Midfielder	8	352.98
9	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	Midfielder	8	350.16
10	Ollie Wines	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	5	330.23

Assisted Metres Gained - 2025 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Assisted MG
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	20	349.94
2	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	Midfielder	25	349.37
3	Tom Green	GWS	Midfielder	23	345.49
4	George Hewett	Carlton	Midfielder	23	342.70
5	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	18	336.02
6	Andrew Brayshaw	Fremantle	Midfielder	24	330.11
7	Will Ashcroft	Brisbane	Midfielder	27	323.43
8	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	Mid-Forward	23	314.32
9	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	25	313.17
10	Touk Miller	Gold Coast	Midfielder	23	312.49

Assisted Metres Gained - 2025 + 2026 Amalgamated

Rank	Player	2026 Team	2026	2025	Blend
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	457.16	349.94	403.55
2	Justin McInerney	Sydney	433.10	284.66	358.88
3	Scott Pendlebury	Collingwood	384.90	311.14	348.02
4	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	379.47	313.17	346.32
5	Jai Newcombe	Hawthorn	374.32	310.11	342.22
6	Clayton Oliver	GWS	388.97	286.92	337.95
7	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	350.16	314.32	332.24
8	Lachie Neale	Brisbane	352.98	291.64	322.31
9	Ollie Wines	Port Adelaide	330.23	299.48	314.86
10	Will Ashcroft	Brisbane	302.05	323.43	312.74

 

[Fadge]

I'm not even certain Roberts is that much worse of a footballer other than playing a kick-in role

5.3 post-clearance contested possessions to 3.9, and a clanger only 10.1 touches, compared to 6.5. Roberts doesn't really do pressure or tackles either, but has only lost one of seven defensive one-on-ones this year. Roberts has also kicked accurately at his one shot for goal, unlike Daicos who has been inaccurate.

And there we have it, folks.

If there was any doubt at all prior to this post, there should be zero doubt now...

 

[RUNVS]

I like players who run both ways, have a physical presence and don't pull out of contests.

It is an important factor too, one not considered enough. Sure, if you get 25 disposals and a goal that could be considered a good game, but if your direct opponent gets 25 disposals and 2 goals then overall you were a net negative for your team.

 

[RCAB]

Nearly up to a 1,000 posts. It would be nice if we could somehow recycle energy wasted on internet forums.

 

[RUNVS]

Acutally we do track it.

Retained metres equals possession retained only.

Retained Metres Gained - 2026 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Retained MG
1	Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera	St Kilda	Midfielder	8	360.20
2	Kysaiah Pickett	Melbourne	Midfielder	8	333.30
3	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	7	312.11
4	Max Holmes	Geelong	Midfielder	8	306.55
5	Christian Petracca	Gold Coast	Mid-Forward	6	278.29
6	Bailey Smith	Geelong	Midfielder	8	277.38
7	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	8	276.28
8	Isaac Heeney	Sydney	Midfielder	6	269.12
9	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	7	263.41
10	Bradley Hill	St Kilda	Midfielder	8	261.13

Retained Metres Gained - 2025 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Retained MG
1	Bailey Smith	Geelong	Midfielder	23	319.52
2	Max Holmes	Geelong	Midfielder	26	308.97
3	Finn Callaghan	GWS	Midfielder	21	287.89
4	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	23	275.96
5	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	18	271.19
6	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	Midfielder	25	264.85
7	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	25	257.99
8	Errol Gulden	Sydney	Midfielder	10	249.27
9	Chad Warner	Sydney	Midfielder	23	243.57
10	Jordan Dawson	Adelaide	Midfielder	25	220.55

Retained Metres Gained - 2025 + 2026 Amalgamated

Rank	Player	2026 Team	2026	2025	Blend
1	Max Holmes	Geelong	306.55	308.97	307.76
2	Bailey Smith	Geelong	277.38	319.52	298.45
3	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	312.11	257.99	285.05
4	Finn Callaghan	GWS	260.18	287.89	274.04
5	Kysaiah Pickett	Melbourne	333.30	207.33	270.32
6	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	263.41	275.96	269.69
7	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	248.75	264.85	256.80
8	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	236.91	271.19	254.05
9	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	276.28	214.58	245.43
10	Zach Merrett	Essendon	249.30	218.68	233.99

Assisted metres is gained by a teammate that receives an uncontested possession.

Assisted Metres Gained - 2026 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Assisted MG
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	8	457.16
2	Justin McInerney	Sydney	Midfielder	8	433.10
3	Clayton Oliver	GWS	Midfielder	8	388.97
4	Scott Pendlebury	Collingwood	Midfielder	6	384.90
5	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	7	379.47
6	Jai Newcombe	Hawthorn	Midfielder	8	374.32
7	Christian Petracca	Gold Coast	Mid-Forward	6	363.22
8	Lachie Neale	Brisbane	Midfielder	8	352.98
9	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	Midfielder	8	350.16
10	Ollie Wines	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	5	330.23

Assisted Metres Gained - 2025 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Assisted MG
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	20	349.94
2	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	Midfielder	25	349.37
3	Tom Green	GWS	Midfielder	23	345.49
4	George Hewett	Carlton	Midfielder	23	342.70
5	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	18	336.02
6	Andrew Brayshaw	Fremantle	Midfielder	24	330.11
7	Will Ashcroft	Brisbane	Midfielder	27	323.43
8	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	Mid-Forward	23	314.32
9	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	25	313.17
10	Touk Miller	Gold Coast	Midfielder	23	312.49

Assisted Metres Gained - 2025 + 2026 Amalgamated

Rank	Player	2026 Team	2026	2025	Blend
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	457.16	349.94	403.55
2	Justin McInerney	Sydney	433.10	284.66	358.88
3	Scott Pendlebury	Collingwood	384.90	311.14	348.02
4	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	379.47	313.17	346.32
5	Jai Newcombe	Hawthorn	374.32	310.11	342.22
6	Clayton Oliver	GWS	388.97	286.92	337.95
7	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	350.16	314.32	332.24
8	Lachie Neale	Brisbane	352.98	291.64	322.31
9	Ollie Wines	Port Adelaide	330.23	299.48	314.86
10	Will Ashcroft	Brisbane	302.05	323.43	312.74

Thanks a lot for that. All that information is very interesting, and I think a much much better indicator than disposals or clearances.

 

[21yf]

Who is currently the best player in the game? Why make an account for validation over past players in threads about current players?

I didn’t start the GOAT topic. I merely corrected it.

 

[Footy Smarts]

There's one player who keeps destroying all those named in this thread. Oisin Mullin has entered the chat...

 

[RUNVS]

Acutally we do track it.

Retained metres equals possession retained only.

Retained Metres Gained - 2026 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Retained MG
1	Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera	St Kilda	Midfielder	8	360.20
2	Kysaiah Pickett	Melbourne	Midfielder	8	333.30
3	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	7	312.11
4	Max Holmes	Geelong	Midfielder	8	306.55
5	Christian Petracca	Gold Coast	Mid-Forward	6	278.29
6	Bailey Smith	Geelong	Midfielder	8	277.38
7	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	8	276.28
8	Isaac Heeney	Sydney	Midfielder	6	269.12
9	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	7	263.41
10	Bradley Hill	St Kilda	Midfielder	8	261.13

Retained Metres Gained - 2025 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Retained MG
1	Bailey Smith	Geelong	Midfielder	23	319.52
2	Max Holmes	Geelong	Midfielder	26	308.97
3	Finn Callaghan	GWS	Midfielder	21	287.89
4	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	23	275.96
5	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	18	271.19
6	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	Midfielder	25	264.85
7	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	25	257.99
8	Errol Gulden	Sydney	Midfielder	10	249.27
9	Chad Warner	Sydney	Midfielder	23	243.57
10	Jordan Dawson	Adelaide	Midfielder	25	220.55

Retained Metres Gained - 2025 + 2026 Amalgamated

Rank	Player	2026 Team	2026	2025	Blend
1	Max Holmes	Geelong	306.55	308.97	307.76
2	Bailey Smith	Geelong	277.38	319.52	298.45
3	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	312.11	257.99	285.05
4	Finn Callaghan	GWS	260.18	287.89	274.04
5	Kysaiah Pickett	Melbourne	333.30	207.33	270.32
6	Ed Richards	Western Bulldogs	263.41	275.96	269.69
7	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	248.75	264.85	256.80
8	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	236.91	271.19	254.05
9	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	276.28	214.58	245.43
10	Zach Merrett	Essendon	249.30	218.68	233.99

Assisted metres is gained by a teammate that receives an uncontested possession.

Assisted Metres Gained - 2026 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Assisted MG
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	8	457.16
2	Justin McInerney	Sydney	Midfielder	8	433.10
3	Clayton Oliver	GWS	Midfielder	8	388.97
4	Scott Pendlebury	Collingwood	Midfielder	6	384.90
5	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	7	379.47
6	Jai Newcombe	Hawthorn	Midfielder	8	374.32
7	Christian Petracca	Gold Coast	Mid-Forward	6	363.22
8	Lachie Neale	Brisbane	Midfielder	8	352.98
9	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	Midfielder	8	350.16
10	Ollie Wines	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	5	330.23

Assisted Metres Gained - 2025 Top 10 Mids

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Games	Assisted MG
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	Midfielder	20	349.94
2	Noah Anderson	Gold Coast	Midfielder	25	349.37
3	Tom Green	GWS	Midfielder	23	345.49
4	George Hewett	Carlton	Midfielder	23	342.70
5	Marcus Bontempelli	Western Bulldogs	Midfielder	18	336.02
6	Andrew Brayshaw	Fremantle	Midfielder	24	330.11
7	Will Ashcroft	Brisbane	Midfielder	27	323.43
8	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	Mid-Forward	23	314.32
9	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	Midfielder	25	313.17
10	Touk Miller	Gold Coast	Midfielder	23	312.49

Assisted Metres Gained - 2025 + 2026 Amalgamated

Rank	Player	2026 Team	2026	2025	Blend
1	Zak Butters	Port Adelaide	457.16	349.94	403.55
2	Justin McInerney	Sydney	433.10	284.66	358.88
3	Scott Pendlebury	Collingwood	384.90	311.14	348.02
4	Nick Daicos	Collingwood	379.47	313.17	346.32
5	Jai Newcombe	Hawthorn	374.32	310.11	342.22
6	Clayton Oliver	GWS	388.97	286.92	337.95
7	Harry Sheezel	North Melbourne	350.16	314.32	332.24
8	Lachie Neale	Brisbane	352.98	291.64	322.31
9	Ollie Wines	Port Adelaide	330.23	299.48	314.86
10	Will Ashcroft	Brisbane	302.05	323.43	312.74

Though one minor change that I feel (as a Swans supporter) is important, and that is I think Heeney is also a Mid/Forward as he is averaging almost 1.9 goals a game, same as Petracca actually.

 

[Fadge]

It is an important factor too, one not considered enough. Sure, if you get 25 disposals and a goal that could be considered a good game, but if your direct opponent gets 25 disposals and 2 goals then overall you were a net negative for your team.

Really?

Is your analysis THAT simple?

 

[joe444]

Gee, didn't expect Bailey to be so far up the list of retained metres.

 

[RUNVS]

Really?

Is your analysis THAT simple?

It has to be. If your direct opponent has a better game than you it means you are a net negative on the team.

 

[RCAB]

Though one minor change that I feel (as a Swans supporter) is important, and that is I think Heeney is also a Mid/Forward as he is averaging almost 1.9 goals a game, same as Petracca actually.

Actually Heeney is classified as a midfider since 2024. Was considered a general forward prior to that. If you check the tables I posted before Heeney is there in one of them.

Petracca is a Mid-Forward.

So for 2026 specifically, Petracca is elite by these ball-movement measures (even if he was a mid):

• Would be 5th among mids for Retained MG
• 17th in the whole comp for Retained MG
• Would be 7th among mids for Assisted MG
• 11th in the whole comp for Assisted MG

Any all these metrics are available on the Wheeloratings website.

 

[RCAB]

Gee, didn't expect Bailey to be so far up the list of retained metres.

Bailey gets heavily criticised due to one or two horrible shanks he's prone to do every game. If you actually watch him for the whole game, you'll see most of his kicks hit the target. He also carries the ball a lot towards goal, so that counts in meters gained.

 

[Fadge]

It has to be. If your direct opponent has a better game than you it means you are a net negative on the team.

But you're basing the conclusion they had a better game on raw disposal numbers and number of goals.

So THAT simple?

 

[RCAB]

Thanks a lot for that. All that information is very interesting, and I think a much much better indicator than disposals or clearances.

That's why my model doesn't weigh raw numbers like disposals. They don't actually tell you how they relate to winning. Clearances have a little weighting (as there is some correlation with winning) but I'm more interested in how the clearance is won and what happens after that, which is much more important.

 

[HeathySure]

I'm not even certain Roberts is that much worse of a footballer other than playing a kick-in role

5.3 post-clearance contested possessions to 3.9, and a clanger only 10.1 touches, compared to 6.5. Roberts doesn't really do pressure or tackles either, but has only lost one of seven defensive one-on-ones this year. Roberts has also kicked accurately at his one shot for goal, unlike Daicos who has been inaccurate.

Now do score assists, have you actually watched a bombers game this year?

 

[doppleganger]

Now do score assists, have you actually watched a bombers game this year?

Padlocks doesn't need to watch football games, he has the player ratings to tell him who plays the best in every game.

 

[HeathySure]

There's one player who keeps destroying all those named in this thread. Oisin Mullin has entered the chat.

He was vital last night. I would have given him BOG. He’s been very good all year

 

[Mr Meow]

Adhom Pies are in full force as expected today.

 

[HeathySure]

Adhom Pies are in full force as expected today.

We turn up after a bad game. Guess what, nick and Bont and Heaney and every player will have plenty of bad games

 

[RUNVS]

I am actually enjoying the statistics conversation, and what statistics actually tell you about a player.

I genuinely think the disposals model we have been using for a century is very outdated and does not tell you how good a player is, and I really don't like compound statistics, how a midfielder can win a clearance, hoof the ball forward into the forward 50 and end up getting a score assist, so they end up with 3 or 4 stats based on one kick.

I love the effective metres gained and effective assisted metres gained stats as I feel like, at least for midfielders it tells you so much more about a player than the amount of disposals they have achieved. I also think it is a good metric for defenders too since part of defending is not only winning the ball but getting it out of your defensive 50, setting up attacking plays.

For forwards I think goals and goal assists needs to be valued a lot more than they currently are. It is amazing how little goals are rated, despite goals being the whole point of the game.

 

[Mr Meow]

We turn up after a bad game. Guess what, nick and Bont and Heaney and every player will have plenty of bad games

Agreed. For the season overall so far, their averages are (including Petracca as well):

Turnovers

Daicos: 7.5
Bontempelli: 5.6
Heeney: 4.3
Petracca: 2.9

Score involvements
Daicos: 8.0
Bontempelli: 7.1
Heeney: 8.0
Petracca: 9.6

Combined goals + goal assists
Daicos: 1.6
Bontempelli: 2.8
Heeney: 2.6
Petracca: 3.5

Kicking efficiency
Daicos: 53.2%
Bontempelli: 67.2%
Heeney: 63.2%
Petracca: 64.0%

Player Rating score

Daicos: 15.21
Bontempelli: 19.17
Heeney: 20.57
Petracca: 21.50

The turnover to scoring metric ratio really stands out for one player, as well as efficiency and overall summation of impact.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Some people take this thread wwaay too seriously.

I think it’s daicos like most, but the best in the league is much more debatable now than it has been in previous eras.

It was very obvious during the gas jnr era and then dangerfield for a brief period and then Martin. It has been much more open for debate since then which shows a more even spread at the top than prior years.

 

[joe444]

This is an argument I have unsuccessfully tried to make elsewhere: that it is flawed thinking to assume "all mids who get a lot of the ball will turn it over so even raising it is some of the dumbest posting ever".

Take last year, for example. Many if not most mids are high up on the turnover/clanger/ineffective metric. But not all of them.

 

[Fadge]

I love the effective metres gained and effective assisted metres gained stats as I feel like, at least for midfielders it tells you so much more about a player than the amount of disposals they have achieved. I also think it is a good metric for defenders too since part of defending is not only winning the ball but getting it out of your defensive 50, setting up attacking plays.

Really?

So Cripps in 2024, as one of the best seasons for an inside midfielder in recent times, averaged 183.5 'retained metres gained'. The leader in that stat was Dayne Zorko with 338.2 metres gained.

Cripps' 'stat' for retained metres gained saw him ranked 89th in the competition.

So Cripps just an average plodder in 2024?