DAYNE Beams' return has lifted Collingwood above all rivals when it comes to star quality.

Nathan Buckley's team is the only one to boast 10 players in the top 100 Official AFL Player Ratings.

The Magpies' perfect 10 comprises All Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy (No.4), midfielders Adam Treloar (18), Scott Pendlebury (21), Steele Sidebottom (28), Taylor Adams (31), defenders Jack Crisp (44) and Jeremy Howe (61), ex-Lion Beams (65), wingman Tom Phillips (87) and emerging star Jordan de Goey (90).

CHECK 'EM OUT Take a look at the Official AFL Player Ratings

And that doesn't include influential trio in small forward Jamie Elliott, veteran midfielder Daniel Wells and swingman Darcy Moore, each of whom would be in contention for the top 100 had it not been for injury.

In further reason for optimism for the 2018 grand finalist, the Magpies are one clear of Adelaide, which has nine top-100 performers – Rory Sloane (10), Matt Crouch (42), Hugh Greenwood (59), Bryce Gibbs (69), Richard Douglas (73), Sam Jacobs (74), Rory Laird (86), Eddie Betts (94) and Tom Lynch (96). Crows skipper Taylor Walker's ranking (106) drifted out to three figures for the first time since mid-2016.

Rory Sloane (left) is the Crows' top-ranked player but the skipper has slipped a little. Picture: AFL Photos



Then comes 2017 premier Richmond and fellow top-four qualifier Hawthorn with eight each.

The star-studded Tigers possess the No.1 player in the game in superstar midfielder Dustin Martin, along with Shane Edwards (17), Jack Riewoldt (34), Trent Cotchin (46), Kane Lambert (49), Alex Rance (54), Toby Nankervis (60) and Josh Caddy (88), while Dion Prestia sits at No.102 and his former Gold Coast teammate Tom Lynch is expected to leap up the list from his injury-impacted No.187.

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The Hawks are also well endowed with high-end talent with Ben McEvoy (13), Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell (15), Luke Breust (39), elder statesman Shaun Burgoyne (45), Jack Gunston (50), ex-Power star Chad Wingard (66), Jarryd Roughead (82) and Liam Shiels (100). Just outside this bracket are vice-captain Isaac Smith (104) and the rising James Sicily (136).

The resurgent Magpies, who came within a straight kick of the premiership this year, also boast a competition-high six players in the top 50 (and that doesn't include Beams), followed by Richmond and Hawthorn with five apiece and Sydney's four.

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Essendon, tipped by many to enter premiership contention next year, has six top-100 players (equal-fifth in the AFL), courtesy of its recruitment of ex-Giants star Dylan Shiel, while several Bombers are hovering around the mark including Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (105), club champion Devon Smith (108), Adam Saad (109) and Jake Stringer (121).

The acquisition of Dylan Shiel gives the Bombers six players in the top 100. Picture: AFL Photos



Port Adelaide still has five double-digit players despite trading two – Wingard and Jared Polec (No.93, North Melbourne).

At the bottom end of the scale, the ravaged Gold Coast lost its highest-ranked player in midfielder Jarryd Lyons (No.38, Brisbane), along with co-captains Steven May (No.146, Melbourne) and Lynch (No.187, Richmond), leaving ruckman Jarrod Witts (No.72) as the only Sun in double figures.

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Reinforcing the task before Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew, he has charge of the only team that doesn't have a player inside the top 50.

Queensland rival Brisbane is far better placed. Despite losing Beams, the Lions still have six players in the top 100 after gaining former Dockers champion Lachie Neale (No.12) and ex-Sun Lyons.

To determine the Official AFL Player Ratings, Champion Data employs a complex algorithm that ranks players based on their previous 40 games, with extra weighting given to their most recent 30 games.

By the numbers Club Players in the top 100 Players in the top 50 Collingwood 10 6 Adelaide 9 2 Richmond 8 5 Hawthorn 8 5 Geelong 6 4 Melbourne 6 3 North Melbourne 6 3 Brisbane 6 3 Essendon 6 2 West Coast 5 3 Greater Western Sydney 5 2 Port Adelaide 5 2 Western Bulldogs 5 2 Sydney 4 4 St Kilda 4 1 Fremantle 3 2 Carlton 3 1 Gold Coast 1 0

*As ranked in the Official AFL Player Ratings