LESS rotations, more time on ground but the same high intensity as previous seasons — 2016 wasn’t supposed to be elderly-friendly.

But in footy terms, the year to date has proven that 30 is no longer dirty.

Traditionally, AFL players hit their peak during their mid to late-20s then gradually diminish as their careers finish up.

But an array of players well into the back-end of their playing days have channelled their inner Benjamin Buttons in 2016, producing ample dashing performances — most importantly consistent performances — as if they were ageing in reverse.

Round 18

For those who haven’t seen the 2008 film, Benjamin Button — a character played by Brad Pitt — is a man who ages backwards with bizarre consequences.

Except, for the below AFL players, there have been no consequences in 2016. Only subsequent brilliant displays on the field.

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“We’re seeing guys in their 30s having a significant influence,” former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson told Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight.

Many of those 30-plusses impacting games are players who are thriving in new environments.

North Melbourne’s Jarrad Waite, GWS duo Heath Shaw and Steve Johnson and Essendon top-up recruit James Kelly have all changed clubs in recent years but stepped up as the veterans of their new playing lists.

“Sometimes having a change of scenery help those mature age recruits,” Sanderson said.

Arguably the greatest example of a footy Benjamin Button this year has been Waite, who is in career-best form at 33-years-old.

Jarrad Waite’s marking ability has played a big part in his form spike in 2016. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

With his Kangaroos undefeated and sitting on top of the ladder, Waite has seemingly had a breakout year. He’s ranked first in the competition for score involvements and goal assists, while he currently sits third on the Coleman Medal table.

Most impressively, the tall forward is averaging a career-high five tackles per game, while he’s ranked second in the league for total tackles inside forward 50.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for Waite, who played just 78 of a possible 138 games (57 per cent) during his final six years at Carlton due to knee and back injuries, as well some ill-timed suspensions.

Conversely, since arriving at the Kangaroos, Waite has played 29 of a possible 31 games.

Waite believes his form spike can be put down to North’s superb injury-avoidance program, which hasn’t put pressure on his troublesome back.

“North Melbourne do injury prevention better than I’ve ever seen,” Waite told Fox Footy’s On The Couch last month.

“We’d probably spend a day working on injury prevention, so instead of treating an injury once it has occurred, it’s pretty mundane but we do that much exercise on it so everything’s strong and you can get through the season. That’s probably the one thing that helped me and my footy and my durability.”

“I feel like I’ve got some continuity now. It’s taken to the second half of my career.”

Waite isn’t the only elder Kangaroos statesman playing brilliant footy in the twilight of his career.

North Melbourne's Brent Harvey is averaging two goals per game this season. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

The oldest of the lot, 37-year-old Brent Harvey, is still one of the best players at the Kangaroos and is still among the top 10 per cent in the competition for Champion Data’s kick rating.

In his 21st AFL season, Harvey (415 games) is charging towards Michael Tuck’s games record of 426 matches with such energy and enthusiasm that Roos coach Brad Scott has given up on trying to change him.

“We’ve tried (to slow Harvey down) because we thought we’d have to,” Scott said last month.

“We test a little bit differently now, we use a lot more GPS technology to test the speed and agility and workrate and his numbers are the same or better than they’ve been in my time at North Melbourne, which is just remarkable.

“We tend to group guys into age groups where we might have to manage workloads, but he just doesn’t miss a session for us.”

Another little old bloke seemingly improving with age is Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell, who, according to Gerard Healy, has put together “five or six years of the very best football at the Hawthorn Football Club the game has ever seen”.

At 33, Mitchell is averaging career-high disposals, uncontested possessions, inside 50s, clearances and metres gained in 2016, proving how heavily the Hawks still rely on Mitchell.

Champion goalkicker Jason Dunstall believes sits comfortably alongside the greatest of all-time at Hawthorn. That includes the likes of Leigh Matthews, Peter Hudson, John Platten and Tuck.

Sam Mitchell is ranked No. 1 in the competition for disposals in 2016. Source: AAP

“He’s a bloke that up until 12 months ago, never ever got the kudos he deserved from outside the club. He does it week-in, week-out and he virtually doesn’t miss a game,” Dunstall told Fox Footy.

“I don’t think people have rated him as highly as what they should have. It’s not just consistency, it’s a consistently high level.

“Here’s a guy who was potted for being too slow and too small. He uses both feet, he handballs the ball like Greg Williams used to and he just goes with the first option and it’s usually the right one.”

And we can’t forget veteran Crows on-baller Scott Thompson, who, as he has done for well over a decade, continues to rack up the footy at will.

“He’s getting older and older but better and better,” Crows teammate Brodie Smith told foxfooty.com.au last month.

“He’s had a lot of the footy … and he does a lot of hard work inside. He’s just a workhorse and gets the job done every week.

“He’s getting around a lot of the younger guys in the midfield and making them better. In terms of a leadership aspect and his performance game day, you couldn’t ask any more of him.”

Oh, then there’s a bloke called Nick Riewoldt, who is remarkably suited to the modern-day game even though he’s 33-years-old.

“The level of footy he’s playing at the moment is amazing,” Saints young gun Jack Billings told foxfooty.com.au on Saturday.

“His voice on the field and what he does from Monday to Friday in leading by example is awesome.

“He’s a star so hopefully he can continue to do that.”

St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt is ranked No. 1 in the competition for marks. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

With so many veterans continuing to perform well during the twilight of their careers, foxfooty.com.au has ranked the top 15 Benjamin Buttons in the AFL.

*Note: All players ranked were over the age of 30 at Round 1. Apologies to Melbourne’s Bernie Vince, who just missed out.

1. Jarrad Waite (North Melbourne, 33)

With some continuity finally under his belt, Waite has arguably been the biggest improver of all veterans this season, averaging career-high goals per game. His hands and marking ability have been the most impressive.

2. Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, 33)

Now comfortably among the best players to ever don a Hawthorn jumper. Remarkably, he’s ranked No. 1 in the league this season for average disposals and second for effective disposals.

3. Scott Thompson (Adelaide, 33)

The Crows’ humble, workmanlike midfield has been led superbly in 2016 by Thompson, who’s ranked first at the club this season for disposals, tackles, uncontested possessions and clearances.

4. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda, 33)

An inspirational skipper with timeless talent, Riewoldt is averaging career-high disposals and is ranked No. 1 in the AFL for marks per game this season. With a big heart — figuratively and metaphorically — he has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the rotations cap.

5. Matt Priddis (West Coast, 31)

Accumulated 54 Brownlow votes across the past two seasons and bound to poll many more in 2016. Priddis has been the best on-baller at the contest in the competition this season, averaging a whopping 16 contested possessions a game — a career-high and league-high.

6. Kade Simpson (Carlton, 31)

One of the past decade’s most severely underrated players, Simpson is averaging career-high disposals, uncontested possessions, marks, rebound 50s, metres gained, intercept possessions and disposal efficiency off half-back this season.

7. Leigh Montagna (St Kilda, 32)

A proven player yet consistently goes under the radar. Montagna is averaging career-high marks, metres gained and uncontested possessions, proving he hasn’t lost any of that trademark gut-running ability.

8. Heath Shaw (GWS Giants, 30)

As the Giants have risen, so has the former Pie. Shaw this season is averaging more disposals, contested possessions, marks and rebound 50s than ever before across his career.

Heath Shaw is providing the GWS Giants with stunning run out of defence. Source: AAP

9. Brent Harvey (North Melbourne, 37)

As the great Sandy Roberts once said: “What more can you say?” As intelligent and efficient as he has ever been across his 21-season career, Harvey had a career-high haul of six goals against Melbourne in Round 3. Remarkable.

10. Bob Murphy (Western Bulldogs, 33)

Would’ve been close to the No. 1 Benjamin Button had it not been for his unfortunate, ill-timed knee injury. By Round 3, he was averaging a career-high 28 disposals, 22 uncontested possessions and 514m gained per game.

11. James Kelly (Essendon, 32)

His career was effectively finished at the end of last season, but a reprieve from the Bombers has helped Kelly average career-high disposals, marks, uncontested possessions and intercept possession. In a young, inexperienced team, his wisdom and leadership has been invaluable.

12. Steve Johnson (GWS Giants, 32)

It’ll never be a case of ‘what Geelong has lost GWS has gained’, but Johnson — a three-time premiership player — is the perfect man to be among the Giants’ talented playing list at this stage of its development. And he’s thriving too, averaging career-high inside 50s and booting 16 goals from five games already this season.

13. David Mundy (Fremantle, 30)

Injury has somewhat stalled the start of Mundy’s 2016 campaign, but we saw him take his game to the next level in 2015, averaging career-high disposals, contested possessions, score involvements and clearances. Now back in the senior side, expect the Freo skipper to thrive.

14. Josh Gibson (Hawthorn, 32)

His Round 2 haul of 44 disposals during the Hawks’ thumping of West Coast proved he isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Remarkably, Gibson is the only Hawk to play every minute of his every game so far this season.

15. Corey Enright (Geelong, 34)

Halfway through last season, Enright seemed cooked. But the Cats veteran has carried his scintillating form from the back-end of 2015 into 2016, averaging career-high intercept possessions, score involvements, tackles and rebound 50s.