North Melbourne's Brent Harvey and Andrew Swallow have been recognised among the league's elite after being named in Mike Sheahan's top 50.

While 2010 Syd Barker Medalist Brady Rawlings was an unlucky omission, Harvey's long standing in the game was again illustrated, rated as the 26th most influential player in the AFL.

Swallow's emergence as an a-grade midfielder over the past two seasons sees him at number 43.

The top 50:
1. Lance Franklin
2. Brendon Goddard
3. Gary Ablett
4. Chris Judd
5. Nick Riewoldt
6. Aaron Sandilands
7. Dane Swan
8. Luke Hodge
9. Joel Selwood
10. Scott Pendlebury
11. Adam Cooney
12. Jonathon Brown
13. Matthew Pavlich
14. Paul Chapman
15. Adam Goodes
16. Jimmy Bartel
17. Cyril Rioli
18. Lenny Hayes
19. Matthew Scarlett
20. Dale Thomas
21. Shaun Burgoyne
22. Brian Lake
23. Jack Riewoldt
24. Alan Didak
25. Ryan Griffen
26. Brent Harvey
27. Marc Murphy
28. Matthew Boyd
29. Mark LeCras
30. Shaun Higgins
31. Brad Green
32. Steve Johnson
33. Heath Shaw
34. Corey Enright
35. Darren Jolly
36. Sam Fisher
37. Brett Deledio
38. Jobe Watson
39. Shane Mumford
40. Travis Boak
41. David Mundy
42. Leigh Montagna
43. Andrew Swallow
44. Nick Dal Santo
45. Jarrad Waite
46. Harry O'Brien
47. Aaron Davey
48. Dale Morris
49. James Frawley
50. Kieren Jack