50. Nic Naitanui
West Coast
Ruck
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 292
Debut: 2009
Games: 146
AFL Fantasy value: $417,000
It's been a long time since the West Coast ruckman has been seen. His absence stretches back to round 22, 2016, when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Despite the long layoff, it's hard to forget what the big man offers at his best. Naitanui is one of the most exciting players in the competition and will make the Eagles' midfield far more dangerous if he can return to his peak.
49. Rory Laird
Adelaide
Defender
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 78
Debut: 2013
Games: 101
AFL Fantasy value: $707,000
The Adelaide backman was underrated for a period but has won over the respect of the competition after earning a reputation as a prolific ball-winner. He finished third in last year's best and fairest as the Crows made the Grand Final and only once did he pick up fewer than 20 disposals. After consecutive years of making the squad, Laird was recognised in the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team for the first time last season.
48. Ollie Wines
Port Adelaide
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 33
Debut: 2013
Games: 107
AFL Fantasy value: $703,000
There's so much speculation about where the 23-year-old will play after his contract expires at the end of this season because of the traits he has shown. Wines entered the AFL with a man's body and has shown he is as tough as they come, and will be highly sought after if Port can't lock him in beyond 2018. For all the talk about the Power's recruits, Wines will continue to be one of their most important players.
47. Adam Treloar
Collingwood
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 40
Official AFL Player Rating: 9
Debut: 2012
Games: 122
AFL Fantasy value: $761,000
One of the more consistent players in the competition, Treloar's lowest disposal count last year was 21. The Magpies haven't had a lot of recent success but their midfield is full of stars and Treloar is one of their best. His kicking sometimes comes under criticism but the former Giant can be relied upon to run hard all game long.
46. Steele Sidebottom
Collingwood
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 39
Official AFL Player Rating: 55
Debut: 2009
Games: 185
AFL Fantasy value: $745,000
Another Magpie jet who runs through the middle. Sidebottom is close to the fittest player at the club and can deliver the ball on either side of his body. After winning his maiden best and fairest last year, Sidebottom can go to another level by playing more in attack and kicking more goals, as he did in 2011, when he averaged a goal per game.
45. Shaun Higgins
North Melbourne
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 127
Debut: 2006
Games: 183
AFL Fantasy value: $665,000
Injuries plagued Higgins for much of his time at the Western Bulldogs but his body has proven much more durable at North, and he was rewarded with the Syd Barker Medal last year. The classy midfielder can hit the scoreboard and offers a different option to many of the in-and-under types at the Kangaroos. It's a sign of faith by the club that it recently re-signed Higgins until the end of 2020.
44. Tom Scully
GWS
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 84
Debut: 2010
Games: 151
AFL Fantasy value: $576,000
Scully is as impressive as anyone in the AFL when it comes to being able to cover kilometres. He has shown over several years that no one can match him as a midfielder covering territory and the left-footer can consistently produce huge efforts, running both ways. The former Demon has been nominated for the All Australian squad over the past two seasons.
43. Seb Ross
St Kilda
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 59
Debut: 2012
Games: 81
AFL Fantasy value: $718,000
The onballer took his game to the next level in 2017 and was a runaway winner of St Kilda's best and fairest. He can be assigned a variety of jobs, whether that involves winning the football himself or stopping an opposition player. The left-footer runs hard, rarely fumbles and can be relied upon to deliver the football accurately.
42. Dane Rampe
Sydney Swans
Defender
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 117
Debut: 2013
Games: 115
AFL Fantasy value: $470,000
It's not a coincidence Sydney started slowly last season while Rampe nursed a broken arm. He has become perhaps the Swans' most important defender, because he can stop an opponent while providing rebound. The Rampe story is all the more remarkable considering he was originally picked up as a rookie in 2013.
41. Steven May
Gold Coast
Defender
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 93
Debut: 2011
Games: 106
AFL Fantasy value: $545,000
40. Dyson Heppell
Essendon
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 26
Official AFL Player Rating: 231
Debut: 2011
Games: 129
AFL Fantasy value: $707,000
After a year out of the game following a suspension for his part in the 2012 supplements saga, the Bombers captain was typically industrious in 2017. Heppell averaged 26.4 disposals and 4.7 clearances per game, and was particularly influential in Essendon's finals run in the second half of the season.
39. Michael Walters
Fremantle
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 85
Debut: 2009
Games: 111
AFL Fantasy value: $560,000
Made the transition from lively forward to genuine midfield star in 2017, placing fifth in Fremantle's best and fairest despite missing the final five matches with a knee injury. Walters' speed added a new dimension to the Dockers' tough midfield group, with his 32-disposal, three clearance and six-goal effort against St Kilda in round 15 widely regarded as one of the best individual performances of the season.
38. Shaun Burgoyne
Hawthorn
Defender
Last year's ranking: 27
Official AFL Player Rating: 19
Debut: 2002
Games: 64
AFL Fantasy value: $573,000
The oldest player in the competition continues to perform at an elite level. The 35-year-old is blessed with a high footy IQ and his ability to play multiple positions makes Burgoyne an extremely important player for the Hawks. Has an uncanny ability to kick clutch goals in the dying minutes of games, as proven against the Swans in round 10 last season.
37. Bradley Hill
Fremantle
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 218
Debut: 2012
Games: 117
AFL Fantasy value: $660,000
Hill won the Dockers' best and fairest in his first season at the club after being traded from Hawthorn. The speedster looked comfortable in familiar surroundings in Perth, averaging a career-high 23.6 disposals per game in 2017. His transition running is regarded as among the best in the AFL, while his aerobic/speed combination makes Hill a dangerous finisher through the midfield. Still only 24, Hill is a key part of Fremantle's rebuild.
36. Dan Hannebery
Sydney
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 13
Official AFL Player Rating: 53
Debut: 2009
Games: 193
AFL Fantasy value: $665,000
The tough midfielder was statistically down on what he had produced in the previous few seasons, but was still an important player for the Swans. Hannebery, who averaged 24.7 disposals per game in 2017, is part of one of the most formidable midfields in the AFL, alongside Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker. Hannebery is clean in traffic and puts his body in the line more often than he needs to.
35. Michael Hurley
Essendon
Defender
Last year's ranking: 45
Official AFL Player Rating: 79
Debut: 2009
Games: 140
AFL Fantasy value: $663,000
One of the AFL's best key defenders who finds a good balance between attack and defence. The All Australian centre half-back averaged a career-high 25.6 disposals and 6.9 rebounds per game in 2017, establishing himself as a presence in Essendon's backline. Hurley competes strongly in the air and has the ability to roost the football 50-60 metres to teammates upfield.
34. Marc Murphy
Carlton
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 132
Debut: 2006
Games: 236
AFL Fantasy value: $782,000
Murphy, who is set to captain Carlton for a sixth-straight season, had an outstanding 2017 season which culminated in him winning his second best and fairest award. What is impressive about Murphy is that he never stops trying, no matter the situation in the game. He continually tries to create and keep the ball moving in his team's direction. His leadership will be important following Bryce Gibbs' departure to Adelaide.
33. Jeremy McGovern
West Coast
Defender
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 29
Debut: 2014
Games: 79
AFL Fantasy value: $550,000
32. Clayton Oliver
Melbourne
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 71
Debut: 2016
Games: 35
AFL Fantasy value: $715,000
A breakout 2017 season for the young midfielder which saw him win his maiden best and fairest award. Improving his professionalism with attention to his training standards and diet proved to be major factors in his rise. In just his second season, Oliver stamped himself as one of the AFL's top inside midfielders, ranking No.1 in the AFL for handballs, No.7 for clearances and No.3 for contested possessions.
31. Jeremy Cameron
GWS
Forward
Last year's ranking: 30
Official AFL Player Rating: 87
Debut: 2012
Games: 112
AFL Fantasy value: $622,000
The GWS spearhead is a proven goalkicker, booting 63 goals, 53 and 45 in his last three seasons at AFL level. With fellow forward Jon Patton starting to hit his straps, Cameron could really benefit. His agility for a player of his height (196cm) is impressive and he has an excellent vertical leap. If the Giants are to win the flag this year, they need Cameron to go to a new level.
30. Callan Ward
GWS
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 22
Official AFL Player Rating: 28
Debut: 2008
Games: 192
AFL Fantasy value: $659,000
Greater Western Sydney's co-captain (along with Phil Davis) adds hardness to a midfield loaded with talent. Few attack the contest harder than Ward and he tackles with intensity. A durable player, he has notched at least 20 games every season since 2011 and has finished in the top-three of the club's best and fairest in five of the past six seasons.
29. Matt Crouch
Adelaide
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: -
Official AFL Player Rating: 27
Debut: 2014
Games: 72
AFL Fantasy value: $752,000
Crouch was the only Adelaide midfielder to make the All Australian team last year, which says a fair bit about the left-footer's rise to prominence. Crouch's kicking has improved from his early days and he ranked No.2 for disposals in the AFL last year, second to Hawthorn's Tom Mitchell.
28. Cyril Rioli
Hawthorn
Forward
Last year's ranking: 18
Official AFL Player Rating: 125
Debut: 2008
Games: 185
AFL Fantasy value: $543,000
It's been a tumultuous 12 months for the premiership hero. A left knee injury ruined his 2017 season, while Rioli missed a chunk of the pre-season to spend time with his ill father in the Northern Territory. He deserves to be backed in to have a great season because of what he has achieved and at his best, Rioli is close to the most electric player in the competition.
27. Patrick Cripps
Carlton
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 32
Official AFL Player Rating: 30
Debut: 2014
Games: 59
AFL Fantasy value: $692,000
The big-bodied onballer did not deliver on the high expectations placed on him last year but is set to go to another level in 2018. A broken leg suffered in round 16 ended his 2017 season prematurely. At 195cm, Cripps is almost unstoppable at stoppages and has shown in the JLT Community Series he can take marks and have an impact up forward. Cripps is just 22, so there should be plenty of improvement left in him yet.
26. Dayne Beams
Brisbane
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 46
Official AFL Player Rating: 271
Debut: 2009
Games: 147
AFL Fantasy value: $736,000
Playing in Brisbane keeps Beams out of the limelight but he constantly helps carry the Lions' midfield. The captain can win the football, deliver it well and hit the scoreboard. With another year of development into the club's young on-ball brigade, Beams should have more support and be able to thrive.
25. Max Gawn
Melbourne
Ruck
Last year's ranking: 17
Official AFL Player Rating: 17
Debut: 2011
Games: 74
AFL Fantasy value: $605,000
It will be a slimmer Gawn who takes to the field in 2018 and his weight loss should help him cover the ground even better. The big man dealt with a serious hamstring injury last year but in 2016 was widely considered the premier ruckman in the AFL, so Gawn will be keen to reclaim that crown.
24. Luke Parker
Sydney
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 26
Official AFL Player Rating: 16
Debut: 2011
Games: 151
AFL Fantasy value: $693,000
The 25-year-old's since being drafted at No.40 in 2010 are impressive. He has twice been named best and fairest at the Swans and was a member of their 2012 premiership. Few thrive at contests as much as Parker and that attribute, along with his impressive aerial abilities, could be used up forward more often this season.
23. Trent Cotchin
Richmond
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 9
Official AFL Player Rating: 15
Debut: 2008
Games: 198
AFL Fantasy value: $673,000
There have been doubts around how good the Richmond captain is but he dispelled those last year, adding premiership captain to his list of accolades, alongside the 2012 Brownlow Medal. Cotchin's physicality in the finals set the standard for the Tigers and they followed his example. If he spends more time in attack as has been mooted, averaging a goal a game is conceivable.
22. Dylan Shiel
GWS
Midfielder
Last year's ranking: 48
Official AFL Player Rating: 25
Debut: 2012
Games: 112
AFL Fantasy value: $666,000
Earned his maiden All Australian berth last year and it was not hard to see why. Shiel averaged 26 disposals and six clearances last season. His large frame is an asset in congestion but he can also explode away from the contest, and he's an integral part of one of the most dangerous midfields in the competition.
21. Toby Greene
GWS
Forward
Last year's ranking: 24
Official AFL Player Rating: 14
Debut: 2012
Games: 117
AFL Fantasy value: $644,000
