FREMANTLE captain Nat Fyfe is the club’s only elite player, according to Champion Data’s list ratings to be released later this month.

And the official statisticians rate the Dockers’ rebuilding list as the second-worst in the competition in the 2018 AFL Prospectus, better than Carlton’s but worse than battlers Gold Coast and Brisbane.

West Coast’s list has been rated 12th, while reigning premiers Richmond come in at only ninth. Sydney, which recovered from a slow start last season to finish sixth before bombing out at the semifinal stage, has been judged to have the best list.

Champion Data’s ratings are done by comparing players with others across the competition who play in the same position. Footballers are rated either elite — which places them in the top 10 per cent — above average, average, below average or poor.

Fyfe, 26, was a strong contributor as he played 21 games last year on return from a broken leg and the 2015 Brownlow medallist appears well placed to go to another level this year.

Fremantle, one of five clubs to have only one elite player, have a further five players classed as above average. Former captain David Mundy, midfielder Lachie Neale and forward Michael Walters are joined by new recruits Nathan Wilson and Brandon Matera in the second category.

The Eagles have six players rated elite, equal most in the AFL along with Adelaide and Port Adelaide.

The super six are returning ruckman Nic Naitanui, spearhead Josh Kennedy, midfielder Luke Shuey and defenders Jeremy McGovern, Shannon Hurn and Elliot Yeo.

That analysis aligns with the club’s own voting for the John Worsfold Medal.

Naitanui missed all of last season with a knee injury, while the other five players filled the top five positions on the leaderboard.

But it also highlights a drop off at the Eagles, with only two more players, Tom Barrass and Mark LeCras, rated as above average.

West Coast’s list was rated the third-best in the league at the beginning of last season but it has tumbled to 12th on the back of their big list turnover, which has included the retirements of Brownlow medallists Matt Priddis and Sam Mitchell.

The Swans boast a competition-high 17 players rated either elite or above average, ahead of the Power with 16 after their trade period recruiting spree.

The list rankings underline the challenge faced by both WA clubs this season as they seek to play finals.

West Coast and Fremantle are ranked 12th and 13th in flag betting markets, with the Eagles paying $29 and the Dockers $31 with TABTouch. West Coast are paying $2.37 to make the top eight and Fremantle $3.65.

The WA teams, who famously recorded a quinella on top of the 2015 ladder before Hawthorn won the premiership from third, have not both missed the finals since 2009. The Eagles and Dockers were also both finals onlookers in 2000, 2001 and 2008.

The Hawks will have the oldest list in 2018, with West Coast having gone from the oldest last year to 10th for age this year. Fremantle’s list ranks 11th for age. The Suns will have the youngest squad under new coach Stuart Dew.

The 2018 AFL Prospectus will be available soon at championdata.com.au or from newsagencies.