Kane Cornes' Top 50 AFL players

SEN's Kane Cornes has released the first instalment of his top 50 AFL players ahead of the 2026 season!

Counting down on 7NEWS, Cornes has officially listed the 50 players he believes lead the line ahead of the new season.

From a Brownlow contender in the 40's to three Bulldogs within the top 15, Cornes' rankings are certainly contentious!

See Cornes' rankings below:

50. Aaron Naughton (WB)

49. Sam Walsh (CAR)

48. Tom Liberatore (WB)

47. Dayne Zorko (BRI)

46. Mitch Georgiades (PA)

45. Will Ashcroft (BRI)

44. Josh Treacy (FRE)

43. Zac Bailey (BRI)

42. Bailey Smith (GEE)

41. Jordan Clark (FRE)

40. Bailey Dale (WB)

39. Jason Horne-Francis (PA)

38. Jaspa Fletcher (BRI)

37. Toby Greene (GWS)

36. Charlie Curnow (SYD)

35. Connor Rozee (PA)

34. Josh Dunkley (BRI)

33. Tom Green (GWS)

32. Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)

31. Dylan Moore (HAW)

30. Lachie Neale (BL)

29. Nick Blakey (SYD)

28. Zach Merrett (ESS)

27. Jack Gunston (HAW)

26. Hayden Young (FRE)

25. Jai Newcombe (HAW)

24. Nick Larkey (NM)

23. Chad Warner (SYD)

22. Finn Callaghan (GWS)

21. Izak Rankine (ADE)

20. Max Holmes (GEE)

19. Jordan Dawson (ADE)

18. Sam Taylor (GWS)

17. Caleb Serong (FRE)

16. Riley Thilthorpe (ADE)

15. Errol Gulden (SYD)

14. Max Gawn (MEL)

13. Ed Richards (WB)

12. Kysaiah Pickett (MEL)

11. Matt Rowell (GCS)

10. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK)

"Wanganeen-Milera rounds out the top 10 after a historic 2025 campaign where he claimed his maiden best and fairest and All-Australian honours at just 22 years of age," Cornes told Channel Seven.

"The move from half-back to the midfield was genius and his Round 20 match-winning heroics was legendary."

9. Harris Andrews (BL)

"The three-time All-Australian takes the No.9 spot as the game’s premier key defender.

"Could have easily won the Norm Smith and his finals series was as good as it gets."

8. Hugh McCluggage (BL)

"The new Brisbane captain was a statistical powerhouse last year, ranking in the league’s top five for score involvements, inside-50s, and total clearances and finally earning his first All-Australian blazer.

"He’s a beautifully balanced and versatile midfielder."

7. Jeremy Cameron (GEE)

"The All-Australian captain is fresh off a monster 80-plus goal season and is still the AFL’s best and most damaging key forward."

6. Isaac Heeney (SYD)

"Heeney is the league’s most dangerous dual-threat, winning a second best and fairest and a third All-Australian blazer in 2025.

"Heeney is one of the league’s most clutch performers."

5. Noah Anderson (GCS)

"Anderson breaks into the top five after a career-defining season where he claimed the AFL Coaches Award and captained the Gold Coast Suns to their first finals series.

"He is a beautiful hybrid midfielder who is as comfortable winning the ball on the inside as he is cutting up the opposition in open space."

4. Zak Butters (PA)

"Butters averaged career-high numbers in 2025 and solidified himself as a top-five player.

"He is a fearless, high-impact players who has elite skill and ball-winning ability.

"The free-agent is set to sign the AFL’s biggest contract."

3. Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

"Bontempelli maintains his top-three standing through unparalleled versatility, coming off a 2025 season where he earned a record seventh All-Australian blazer and ranked second in the league for goal assists.

"The Bont combines elite clearance work and more damage per possession that no other player can match."

2. Nick Daicos (COL)

"Daicos cements elite offensive production is showing no signs of letting up, averaging over 30 touches per game for the third consecutive season.

"Daicos combines high-volume ball-winning with elite scoreboard impact and metres-gained, even though he receives more opposition attention than any other player."

1. Sam Darcy (WB)

"Darcy’s rare combination of 208cm height, elite mobility, refined foot skills and insane competitiveness makes him the league’s most dominant prospect since Wayne Carey.

"Ranked No.1 in the league for contested marks per game last season, and if his body stays sound 80-plus goals is not out of the question."