The top 50 AFL players after season 2021 (zerohanger)

[one-eyed]

The top 50 AFL players after season 2021

Benjamin Millard
zerohanger.com
November 9, 2021

The 2021 season has finally been and gone, with the Dees getting up in the big dance against the Dogs to break a 57-year drought and cap off an action-packed year.

With this, Zero Hanger has collated a list of the top-50 players in the competition now the year is over.

1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Christian Petracca
3. Clayton Oliver
4. Ollie Wines
5. Max Gawn

6. Dustin Martin

2021 SEASON AVG
22.6 Disposals
2.3   Tackles
3.6   Clearances

2021 was a rough year for three-time Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin, whose Richmond side failed to feature in September action for the first time since their drought-breaking 2017 season.

The bullish mid-forward found success hard to come by, only managing 16 games in 2021 with a kidney injury in Round 18 prematurely ending his season.

'Dusty' finished sixth across the league for goal assists per game and ninth for inside 50s per game, with the accolades stopping there for the Tigers show-stopper.

Martin's place on this list does factor in his previous achievements, however it will be intriguing to see how he holds up after sustaining such a serious injury, with the Tigers dearly missing his spark in the closing games of this year.

At 30 years of age and with his club at a crossroads, is 2022 the last chance for Dusty and Richmond to taste the ultimate glory before it's too late?

7. Jack Macrae
8. Sam Walsh
9. Jack Steele
10. Darcy Parish

11. Touk Miller
12. Toby Greene
13. Tom Hawkins
14. Travis Boak
15. Patrick Dangerfield
16. Zach Merrett
17. Jarryd Lyons
18. Tom Mitchell
19. Lachie Neale
20. Harry McKay

21. Luke Parker
22. Steven May
23. Jake Lever
24. Nic Naitanui
25. Tom Stewart
26. Jeremy Cameron
27. Joshua Kelly
28. Lance Franklin
29. Darcy Moore
30. Callum Mills

31. Dayne Zorko
32. Jacob Weitering
33. Christian Salem
34. Andrew Brayshaw
35. Nat Fyfe

36. Dylan Grimes

2021 SEASON AVG
13.6  Disposals
5.7    Marks
2.2    Rebound50s

The steadfast defender was tested at many points in 2021 with Richmond's defence coming under real pressure from injuries all around the ground.

In saying that, Grimes still managed a magnificent year and won the club's best and fairest as a result.

The triple premiership player was ranked ninth in total intercepts across the entire competition and put up elite averages in pressure acts and ground ball gets, showing that the 30-year-old can mop it up on the deck as well as in the air.

With the Tigers' defensive stocks taking a hit with the retirements of Bachar Houli and David Astbury, it'll likely be down to Grimes to lead the back-six through what promises to be a riveting 2022.

37. Jack Riewoldt

2021 SEASON AVG
10.9  Disposals
4.9    Marks
2.3    Goals

The Richmond spearhead has taken a backseat in the past few seasons, however with the drop in form that the Tigers saw in 2021, Riewoldt came back into his own.

The 32-year-old managed to boot 51 goals in 22 matches for Damien Hardwick's side this year, finishing third in the Coleman Medal whilst being ranked fourth for total marks inside 50.

Word around Tigerland is that 2022 could be Jack's final year of footy, however there is no denying that the veteran will go down as one of the club's greatest ever players off the back of his illustrious career at Punt Road.

38. Patrick Cripps
39. Bayley Fritsch
40. Tim Taranto

41. Hugh McCluggage
42. Jake Stringer
43. Jacob Hopper
44. Karl Amon
45. Isaac Heeney
46. Ben King
47. Taylor Adams
48. Bailey Dale
49. Cameron Guthrie
50. Tom Papley

https://www.zerohanger.com/the-top-50-afl-players-after-season-2021-50-41-92415/