COLLINGWOOD midfielder Scott Pendlebury has taken a further tumble down the Schick AFL Player Ratings, falling to No. 5 after the Magpies lost to St Kilda last Saturday.
Pendlebury was the game's No. 1 player as recently as round 16 last year before being overtaken by Fremantle's Nat Fyfe.
The Magpies captain finished second in 2015, but has since been surpassed by Geelong's Patrick Dangerfield, North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein and Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray.
Pendlebury has spent more time than usual at half-back this season after dealing with sore ribs, possibly contributing to his fall in the rankings.
He is averaging 26 disposals and 3.7 tackles per game. In each of the preceding five years, Pendlebury has never averaged less than 28.4 disposals or 5.1 tackles.
His player ratings are strong enough that he is not in imminent danger of falling out of the top five.
Sydney Swans inside midfielder Luke Parker's brilliant opening three rounds sees him rocketing up the list to 24, after finishing last season at 37.
Parker is averaging 33 disposals per game in 2016.
His ranking of third in the competition for effective disposals per match demonstrates how well he is using the ball.
Essendon's David Zaharakis has stepped up in the absence of the 12 suspended Bombers, with his ranking jumping 34 spots to sit at No. 100 after three weeks.
