THIS time last year, all of Adelaide and much of the footy world wondered if Rory Sloane was capable of somehow, someway filling the massive void left by departing superstar Patrick Dangerfield.

We didn't have to wait long to find out.

In round four, Sloane had his fingerprints all over his side's sensational four-point victory against Sydney at Adelaide Oval.

Sloane v the Swans: round four, 2016

Dangerfield who?

Sloane was at the top of his game when he went against Dangerfield for the first time in round eight, collecting 28 touches, 11 tackles and going inside 50 seven times.

Without Dangerfield to help with the heavy lifting, Sloane has taken on the task himself.

Sloane attended 62 per cent of centre bounces last year, more than double his attendance rate over his previous seven seasons.

It is now clear Sloane is the heart and soul of the Crows.

Although he stands only 183cm, this tenacious fighter has earned the respect of not just his teammates, but the entire competition and his fellow players.

Sloane has jumped 19 spots in the AFL Players' Top 50, voted by the players themselves as the League's 11th best player.

He is the best pressure player among offensive players in the competition and has the second-highest amount of pressure points.

At 26, Sloane – last year's All-Australian vice-captain and Crows club champion for a second time - is hitting his prime years and carrying his footy club along for the ride.

- Lee Gaskin

Stats: Champion Data Prospectus

12. Dustin Martin

Richmond
Midfield
Last year's ranking: 20
Official AFL Player Rating: 30
Debut: 2010
Games: 153
AFL Fantasy value: $646,000

The explosive Tiger won his first club best and fairest last year after moving into the midfield and developing his inside game. His numbers followed accordingly and he climbs 10 spots in the AFL Players' Top 50 to his highest ever ranking. In 2016 Martin racked up a career-high 31 disposals a game, as well as an average of over five clearances. The move into midfield cost him on the scoreboard, with the tough midfielder dropping from 24 goals in 2015 to just nine. However, the Tigers plan to get more attack from him in 2017 with the arrival of Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia to release him to the forward half more often.

11. Rory Sloane

Adelaide
Midfielder
Last year's ranking 30
Official AFL Player Rating: 8
Debut: 2009
Games: 141
AFL Fantasy value: $639,000

The tough, tenacious, inside mid emerged from the shadows of Patrick Dangerfield to win his second Malcolm Blight Medal and claim All Australian honours for the first time. He averaged over 25 disposals a game (inside the top 50) and seven tackles (inside the top 10). He also polled 24 votes in the Brownlow Medal (fourth overall) but was inelgible for that award.

10. Alex Rance

Richmond
Defender
Last year's ranking: 19
Official AFL Player Rating: 27
Debut: 2009
Games: 150
AFL Fantasy value: $461,000

The three-time All Australian defender continues to do it all. Ranked by his fellow players as the best defender in this year's AFL Players' Top 50 countdown, Rance can lock down on opponents, cut off forward forays and rebound offensively. He rated elite for disposals and intercepts last year, and was above average for kicking, metres gained, spoiling and defending in one-on-one contests. Has been consistent and durable in the last two years, having missed just two games, and placed runner up in the club's best and fairest last season after winning it in 2015.

Who else made the cut in the AFL Players' Top 50?

• 50-41: Tough-as-nail Demon's time arrives

• 40-36: Magpie Treloar soars in the spotlight

• 35-31: What rising Blue Patrick Cripps still needs to improve

• 30-26: Baby Bomber Zach Merrett's next challenge

• 25-21: Who is the Giants' most valuable player? 

• 20-16: The day Max Gawn became invincible

• 15-13: How Tom Lynch stacks up against the greats 

Who's next?

• Check out the rest of the AFL Players' Top 50 as they are revealed

• The players pick the teams set to plummet

• Breakout stars: The players name the seven most likely to explode

• Who topped the count in 2016?