AFL: Champion Data reveals the deepest lists, with GWS, Carlton and Collingwood rated highly
The Bombers had plenty of stars, but severely lacked at one end of the ground last season. Champion Data lift the lid on which club has the best depth across the AFL.
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Halfway through the 2023 season, few would have expected the GWS Giants or Carlton to make finals, let alone shape finals.
The two clubs got on spectacular rolls and powered through to preliminary final losses.
While both clubs have superstars — Toby Greene at the Giants and Charlie Curnow at the Blues — they also have deep lists.
Champion Data has combed through each 2023 list and picked out the players rated in the top 50 in every position to help discover the best depth.
It’s no surprise that Collingwood finished with the most players inside the top 50 in their respective position, with the Pies winning the flag in September thanks to a perfect spread of contributors.
Instead of just listing how many players made the grade, each club has been ranked by depth.
To rank all 18 clubs, points were assigned per player bracket within the top 50, with three points per top-10 player, two points for players ranked 11-30 and one point for those ranked 31-50.
For example, GWS had seven top-10 players (for 21 points), six ranked 11-30 (12 points) and nine ranked 31-50 (nine points) to equal a total of 42.
When two teams were tied, the tie-breaker came down to the team with more total players ranked inside the top 50 per position.
The depth analysis is based on 2023 lists, so retirees like Isaac Smith (rated the seventh-best mid-forward in the game) or players traded like Lachie Schultz (eighth-best general forward) remain counted to their 2023 clubs.
Only players who played at least 12 games qualified, with rankings based on ranking points.
Check out where your clubs sits in the depth charts, from the high-flyers to the cellar dwellers needing more contributors.
1. GWS GIANTS
Depth analysis points: 42
Top 10 players: 7, Top 11-30 players: 6, Top 31-50 players: 9, Total players: 22
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN
Defenders – Top 10: 3, Top 11-30: 2, Top 31-50: 2
Midfielders – Top 10: 1, Top 11-30: 4, Top 31-50: 1
Forwards – Top 10: 3, Top 11-30: 0, Top 31-50: 6
Top 10 players: Toby Greene (3rd – gen fwd), Kieren Briggs (6th – ruck), Lachie Whitfield (9th – gen def), Sam Taylor (9th – key def), Brent Daniels (10th – gen fwd), Harry Himmelberg (10th – key def), Jesse Hogan (10th – key fwd)
You only had to watch the back end of the 2023 season and two winning finals to see how the Giants played as one.
At times, Adam Kingsley’s side appeared to all move together and have winners everywhere, and that was reflected in our depth numbers.
GWS led the entire league in players rated top-10 in their position with seven and only Collingwood had more top-50 players.
The Giants finished top on our rankings by winning the tie-breaker over Carlton, due to having more players on the top-50.
Given the growth last season, where will the Giants sit in 12 months time?
2. CARLTON
Depth analysis points: 42
Top 10: 4, 11-30: 13, 31-50: 4, Total: 21
Defenders – Top 10: 2, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 1
Midfielders – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 7, 31-50: 2
Forwards – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 3, 21-50: 1
Top 10 players: Charlie Curnow (1st – key fwd), Blake Acres (6th – wing), Nic Newman (6th – gen def), Jacob Weitering (7th – key def)
Many judges have the Blues with the best list in the competition and these numbers back that up.
Carlton has a great spread across the ground and even has room to grow: Sam Walsh was rated 21st among midfielders and Patrick Cripps 34th last season.
If those two play full seasons at their best, the Blues will be in incredible shape.
Carlton has the stars — Charlie Curnow, Jacob Weitering — and the role players — Blake Acres, Nic Newman — each in their respective top 10.
All fantastic signs ahead of season 2024.
3. COLLINGWOOD
Depth analysis points: 41
Top 10: 5, 11-30: 7, 31-50: 12, Total: 24
Defenders – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 5
Midfielders – Top 10: 4, 11-30: 2, 31-50: 5
Forwards – Top 10: 0, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 2
Top 10 players: Josh Daicos (2nd – wing), Steele Sidebottom (5th – wing), Darcy Moore (6th – key def), Nick Daicos (6th – mid), Taylor Adams (9th – mid-fwd)
More than perhaps anything else, Collingwood’s premiership was built on depth.
Every player filled a role in Craig McRae’s system to a tee and no other team had has many players rated in the top 50 for their position than the Pies’ 24 – which is more than can fit into a team.
Taylor Adams (ninth, mid-forward) drops off the Magpies list, but Lachie Schultz (eighth, general forward) is a pretty good replacement next season.
If the Pies are to become a dynasty team, players like Ash Johnson (40th, key forward), Isaac Quaynor (44th, general defender) and Bobby Hill (41st, general forward) will need to become genuine stars.
Jordan De Goey was ranked 38th for midfielders so could easily vault into the top 10 next year.
4. MELBOURNE
Depth analysis points: 40
Top 10: 5, 11-30: 10, 31-50: 5, Total: 20
Defenders – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 2, 31-50: 2
Midfielders – Top 10: 4, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 1
Forwards – Top 10: 0, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 2
Top 10 players: Clayton Oliver (2nd – mid), Christian Petracca (3rd – mid), Max Gawn (3rd – ruck), Steven May (8th – key def), Lachie Hunter (10th – wing)
Melbourne’s numbers show the strengths and weaknesses clearly.
The Dees have possibly the best top-end midfielders in the game with Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Max Gawn all rated in their respective top 3.
But Jacob van Rooyen (22nd, key forward) was the only genuine key forward to earn a ranking and the firepower upfront was severely lacking.
The Demons have long had a strong defence, but only Steven May (eighth, key defender), Jake Lever (17th, key defender) and Trent Rivers (29th, general defender) made the top 30.
5. BRISBANE LIONS
Depth analysis points: 39
Top 10: 5, 11-30: 8, 31-50: 8, Total: 21
Defenders – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 2
Midfielders – Top 10: 3, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 4
Forwards – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 2
Top 10 players: Joe Daniher (3rd – key fwd), Harris Andrews (4th – key def), Dayne Zorko (5th – mid-fwd), Josh Dunkley (10th – mid), Zac Bailey (10th – mid-fwd)
It may surprise a tad to have Brisbane so low on these rankings, but there is plenty of growth in the numbers.
Superstars Lachie Neale (16th, midfielder) and Charlie Cameron (15th, general forward) are better than their rankings suggest and Hugh McCluggage (36th, midfielder) was marked well down on his usual output.
The Lions may have the best list in the league and are well balanced across the field.
6. ADELAIDE
Depth analysis points: 39
Top 10: 6, Top 11-30: 9, Top 31-50: 3, Total: 18
Defenders – Top 10: 0, 11-30: 2, 31-50: 3
Midfielders – Top 10: 3, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 0
Forwards – Top 10: 3, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 0
Top 10 players: Taylor Walker (2nd – key fwd), Rory Laird (4th – mid), Izak Rankine (5th – gen fwd), Ben Keays (7th, gen fwd), Jordan Dawson (8th, mid), Reilly O’Brien (9th – ruck)
Crows fans will tell you they should have made finals — if not for a certain poster — and our rankings show why.
Adelaide has six top-10 players, a figure only bettered by GWS.
Josh Rachele (11th, general forward) was just outside that top-10 and should jump in soon.
Adelaide showed it can be a deadly attacking side in 2023 but needs a boost in defence, with Josh Worrell (15th, key defender) the highest-rated backman despite only playing 12 games.
Veteran Rory Sloane fell to the 60th-ranked midfielder.
7. SYDNEY
Depth analysis points: 38
Top 10: 3, Top 11-30 11, Top 31-50: 7, Total: 21
Defenders – Top 10: 1, Top 11-30: 3, Top 31-50: 2
Midfielders – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 5, 31-50: 3
Forwards – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 2
Top 10 players: Errol Gulden (1st – wing), Isaac Heeney (4th – gen fwd), Jake Lloyd (8th – gen def)
The Swans are waiting on a key forward to pop.
Logan McDonald (27th), Lance Franklin (31st) and Joel Amartey (34th) were only mid-table for key forwards this year, while Hayden McLean was classified as a ruck and ranked 19th.
Franklin has retired, but as the other young forwards continue to grow they will have plenty of support across the field, including from a dominant Errol Gulden on the wing.
Where will Brodie Grundy land in these rankings by season’s end now he is the No. 1 ruck again?
8. RICHMOND
Depth analysis points: 38
Top 10: 4, 11-30: 11, 31-50: 4, Total: 19
Defenders – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 3
Midfielders – Top 10: 2, 11-30: 7, 31-50: 1
Forwards – Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 0
Top 10 players: Dustin Martin (1st – gen fwd), Shai Bolton (2nd – mid-fwd), Jayden Short (7th, gen def), Toby Nankervis (7th, gen def)
Richmond still has top-level punch, with 10 players in the top 20 for their position.
The question marks begin after that.
Has Dion Prestia (53rd, midfielder) passed his peak?
Can Jacob Hopper (58th, midfielder) add some punch to the midfield?
Is Dylan Grimes (86th, general defender) in his final year?
If those players — and a few youngsters — lift, Richmond can play finals in 2024.
If not, star talents like Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton will be stuck mid-table.
9. WESTERN BULLDOGS
Depth analysis points: 38
Top 10: 6, 11-30: 8, 31-50: 4, Total: 18
Defenders – Top 10: 0, 11-30: 2, 31-50: 2
Midfielders – Top 10: 6, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 1
Forwards – Top 10: 0, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 1
Top 10 players: Marcus Bontempelli (1st – mid), Jack Macrae (1st – mid-fwd), Tim English (1st – ruck), Caleb Daniel (3rd – mid-fwd), Bailey Smith (6th, mid-fwd), Tom Liberatore (7th, mid)
Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains said this year the Dogs believed they have a top-four calibre list.
But do they really?
Sure, there is top-tier talent with No. 1 rankings for Marcus Bontempelli (midfielder), Tim English (ruck) and, surprisingly, Jack Macrae (mid-forward).
But after that things fall away pretty quickly.
Only three teams had less players rated in the top 50 and it may not be reasonable to expect Rhylee West, Taylor Duryea, Arthur Jones or Lachie McNeil to jump into the top 50 next year.
Bailey Smith was ranked sixth for mid-forwards and will drop out of the rankings next year after his knee injury.
The Dogs have talent but not quite the depth needed to win games week-in, week-out.
10. HAWTHORN
Depth analysis points: 36
Top 10: 3, 11-30: 10, 31-50: 7, Total: 20
Defenders: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 3
Midfielders: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 6, 31-50: 3
Forwards: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 1
Top 10 players: James Sicily (1st – key def), Dylan Moore (2nd – gen fwd), Karl Amon (7th – wing)
A huge bump for the Hawks after finishing 16th on the ladder this year.
Hawthorn has a great spread of top 50 players across the field and four of their best on-ballers didn’t rate as highly as expected.
Jai Newcombe (29th, midfielder), Will Day (32nd, midfielder), James Worpel (43rd, midfielder) and Conor Nash (49th, midfielder) were not loved by ranking points, but had a strong year as a quartet.
Expect improvement from those four and if the Hawks can add more cream on top, they will really be cooking with gas in this list build.
11. FREMANTLE
Depth analysis points: 36
Top 10: 6, 11-30: 6, 31-50: 6, Total: 18
Defenders: Top 10: 3, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 1
Midfielders: Top 10: 2, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 2
Forwards: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 3
Top 10 players: Luke Ryan (2nd – gen def), Brennan Cox (5th – key def), Sean Darcy (5th – ruck), Lachie Schultz (8th – gen fwd), Luke Jackson (8th – ruck), Hayden Young (10th – gen def)
Fremantle stalled last year and has now lost its best forward, with Lachie Schultz (eighth, general forward) traded to Collingwood in October.
Sam Switkowski (25th, general forward) was the next best attacker, but Jye Amiss (36th, key forward) should rise up these rankings.
Both Luke Jackson (eighth, ruck) and Sean Darcy (fifth, ruck) rated highly for the same position, while Caleb Serong (13th, midfielder) and Andrew Brayshaw (14th, midfielder) missed the top 10.
The Dockers need more depth and they probably need Serong and Brayshaw to nudge the top-five to be a big improver next year.
12. GEELONG
Depth analysis points: 35
Top 10: 6, 11-30: 5, 31-50: 7, Total: 18
Defenders: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 3
Midfielders: Top 10: 2, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 2
Forwards: Top 10: 3, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 2
Top 10 players: Tom Stewart (1st – gen def), Jeremy Cameron (5th – key fwd), Gryan Miers (6th – gen fwd), Isaac Smith (7th – mid-fwd), Max Holmes (8th – wing), Tom Hawkins (9th – key fwd)
Surprisingly, Geelong had nearly identical numbers last year, with 18 players rated in the top 50 and six top 10s.
A number of players tumbled down the rankings, such as general forwards Tyson Stengle (rated fifth in 2022 and 54th in 2023) and Brad Close (fourth to 29th).
The Cats were praised for nabbing Ollie Henry (47th, general forward), Tanner Bruhn (67th, midfielder) and Jack Bowes (71st, general defender) during the 2022 trade period.
However, the trio didn’t add much in terms of rankings points.
It is those players in the younger cohort of the list that will need to drive the club forward.
13. ESSENDON
Depth analysis points: 35
Top 10: 5, 11-30: 8, 31-50: 4, Total: 17
Defenders: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 1
Midfielders: Top 10: 3, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 0
Forwards: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 0, 31-50: 3
Top 10 players: Jordan Ridley (2nd – key def), Nic Martin (4th – wing), Zach Merrett (5th – mid), Jye Caldwell (8th, mid-fwd), Kyle Langford (8th, key fwd)
Brad Scott’s team has a pretty solid midfield in place — with Nic Martin (fourth, wing), Zach Merrett (fifth, midfield) and the surprising Jye Caldwell (eighth, mid-forward).
Ben McKay is planned to come in and help the excellent Jordan Ridley, but McKay only ranked the 31st best key defender while at North Melbourne last year.
Up forward is the other hole, with Peter Wright not playing enough games to qualify last year and Kyle Langford (eighth, key forward) the only top-30 attacker.
There are some building blocks in place here.
14. PORT ADELAIDE
Depth analysis points: 33
Top 10: 3, 11-30: 8, 31-50: 8, Total: 19
Defenders: Top 10: 3, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 4
Midfielders: Top 10: 0, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 2
Forwards: Top 10: 2, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 2
Top 10 players: Dan Houston (3rd – gen def), Charlie Dixon (4th – key fwd), Jeremy Finlayson (6th – key fwd)
Is Port Adelaide the team that won 13 games in a row and looked like a premiership contender or the team that got swept aside to a straight-sets finals exit?
These numbers suggest Ken Hinkley’s men are closer to the latter.
Zak Butters (11th, midfielder) and Connor Rozee (20th, midfielder) have better reputations than their rankings, while Jeremy Finlayson (sixth, key forward) is the opposite.
The Power midfield is probably another year or two away — Jason Horne-Francis was ranked 59th among midfielders and Ollie Wines 54th.
If their weapons become true top-10 players, the Power will be contenders.
But this list has some holes that need to be plugged, with their bevy of recruits not rating highly either.
15. ST KILDA
Depth analysis points: 32
Top 10: 5, 11-30: 5, 31-50: 7, Total: 17
Defenders: Top 10: 2, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 1
Midfielders: Top 10: 2, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 3
Forwards: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 3
Top 10 players: Rowan Marshall (2nd – ruck), Mason Wood (3rd – wing), Callum Wilkie (3rd – key def), Jack Sinclair (4th – gen def), Mitch Owens (7th – key fwd)
Much like Port Adelaide, St Kilda outperformed its rankings on the field in a credit to the players and coaches.
Not many outside of the Saints faithful would have had Ross Lyon’s team as one of the top-eight in the league last season.
But they plugged away all year and earned a finals berth despite having just 10 players ranked in the top 30 — the equal lowest in the league.
Max King didn’t qualify for this list given his time sidelined with injury last season, but Mitch Owens (seventh, key forward) and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (25th, general defender) both had super campaigns.
St Kilda will need more from the likes of Jack Steele (45th, midfielder) and Brad Crouch (39th, midfielder), but the growth in this team will come from the youngsters.
16. GOLD COAST
Depth analysis points: 31
Top 10: 4, 11-30: 6, 31-50: 7, Total: 17
Defenders: Top 10: 0, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 1
Midfielders: Top 10: 3, 11-30: 2, 31-50: 2
Forwards: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 1, 31-50: 4
Top 10 players: Sam Flanders (4th – mid-fwd), Jarrod Witts (4th – ruck), Ben Ainsworth (9th – gen fwd), Brandon Ellis (9th – wing)
The Suns just didn’t have enough contributors last year.
Gold Coast tied with St Kilda for the least amount of top-30 players, with 10, and only North Melbourne had fewer top-50 players.
It wasn’t just the young players to blame, as Rory Atkins (52nd, general defender), David Swallow (61st, midfielder) and Ben Long (84th, general defender) didn’t make enough impact.
Injury had some effect, but top-line players like Matt Rowell (25th, midfielder), Touk Miller (31st, midfielder) and Ben King (32nd, key forward) also didn’t add enough so will need to lift in 2024.
Damien Hardwick’s team should be eyeing a finals spot but a whole heap of improvement will have to come to get there.
17. WEST COAST
Depth analysis points: 30
Top 10: 0, 11-30: 12, 31-50: 6, Total: 18
Defenders: Top 10: 0, 11-30: 4, 31-50: 2
Midfielders: Top 10: 0, 11-30: 5, 31-50: 3
Forwards: Top 10: 0, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 1
Top 10 players: Nil
Every club had at least three players rated top 10 for their position — except West Coast which had none.
It’s a torrid tale for the Eagles.
Even those who were fit and experienced didn’t deliver, with Andrew Gaff (22nd, wing), Tim Kelly (24th, midfielder) and Jack Darling (24th, key forward) not at the level needed.
The Eagles had the most players ranked 11-30 and hope to see some of those players make a leap, but their second-highest ranked player was the retired Shannon Hurn (13th, general defender).
Basically, the Eagles had no stars and a lot of injuries in 2023.
Not a good combination.
18. NORTH MELBOURNE
Depth analysis points: 30
Top 10: 3, 11-30: 8, 31-50: 5, Total: 16
Defenders: Top 10: 1, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 2
Midfielders: Top 10: 2, 11-30: 3, 31-50: 2
Forwards: Top 10: 0, 11-30: 2, 31-50: 1
Top 10 players: Harry Sheezel (5th – gen def), Luke Davies-Uniacke (9th – mid), Todd Goldstein (10th – ruck)
It’s probably not a surprise to see the Roos come in last.
No club had less players in the top-50, so lets look at who could make that grade in 2024.
Jy Simpkin (57th, midfielder), Will Phillips (64th, midfielder), Jaidyn Stephenson (73rd, general forward) and Paul Curtis (77th, general forward) can all lift.
Tarryn Thomas ranked 42nd for midfielders and needs to rise, while Todd Goldstein (10th, ruck) was one of the highest at the Roos and he is now gone.
The good news is Harry Sheezel (fifth, general defender) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (ninth, midfielder) should both keep getting better.
The Roos will continue to lose plenty of games in 2024 but will hope their young players can soon develop into top-10 calibre contributors.
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