Kane Cornes' Top 50 AFL Players: Sam Darcy Dethrones Nick Daicos as No.1

Kane Cornes' Top 50 AFL Players: Sam Darcy Dethrones Nick Daicos as No.1

Channel 7 AFL expert Kane Cornes has unveiled his highly anticipated top 50 players list for the 2026 season, and it features a major shake-up at the summit. Western Bulldogs key forward Sam Darcy has claimed the coveted No.1 position, displacing Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos, who drops to second place.

A Dramatic Reshuffling of the AFL Elite

The full list reveals significant movement, particularly within the top five. While Daicos falls from first to second, his Western Bulldogs teammate Marcus Bontempelli retains his top-five status, holding firm as a premier talent. However, the most striking changes involve Gold Coast captain Noah Anderson and Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters, both of whom have surged into the top five, marking a substantial reordering of the league's elite players.

Notably, Melbourne's Christian Petracca, who was ranked fifth last year, has been excluded from the entire top 50 list. Meanwhile, Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron (down from No.4 to 7) and Sydney's Isaac Heeney (down from No.3 to 6) have both slipped out of the top five but remain within the top ten.

Why Sam Darcy Earns the Top Spot

Cornes' admiration for the 22-year-old Darcy is well-documented. Standing at 208cm, the Bulldogs forward, who is the son of club great Luke Darcy, has yet to receive an All-Australian selection and finished seventh in his club's best-and-fairest last season. Despite this, Cornes regards him as "the league's most dominant prospect since Wayne Carey."

Darcy's credentials are impressive: he won the AFL's Mark of the Year award in 2025 and led the competition for contested marks. Cornes suggests that if Darcy maintains his fitness, an 80-plus goal season is a realistic possibility for the No.2 draft pick from 2021.

Remarkable Rises and Notable Absences

The dramatic slide of Petracca is contrasted by the meteoric rise of Noah Anderson. Following an All-Australian season, the Gold Coast captain has skyrocketed from No.44 to No.5, establishing himself as a bona fide superstar. Zak Butters' entry into the top five is attributed to his career-best performances in 2025, showcasing his fearless play and elite skills.

The list also highlights other key movements, with players like Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage, and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera securing spots in the top ten, reflecting their outstanding contributions and growth.

Kane Cornes' Top 50 AFL Players for 2026

1. Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
2. Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
3. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
4. Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
5. Noah Anderson (Gold Coast Suns)
6. Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
7. Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
8. Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)
9. Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions)
10. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda)

The complete list includes notable names such as Matt Rowell (11), Max Gawn (14), Errol Gulden (15), and veterans like Lachie Neale (30), illustrating a blend of emerging talent and established stars across the league.

This comprehensive ranking by Kane Cornes sets the stage for the upcoming AFL season, sparking debates among fans and analysts alike about the true hierarchy of the game's finest players.