If Geelong superstar Bailey Smith believes he currently ranks among the top ten players in the AFL competition, he may need to reconsider his position. The dynamic 25-year-old midfielder has received a significant reality check ahead of the 2026 season, courtesy of Channel 7 expert analyst Kane Cornes, who has just released the first installment of his eagerly anticipated annual top-50 AFL players list.
Smith's Impressive Comeback Season
After spending an entire year recovering from a serious ACL injury, Bailey Smith returned to AFL action with explosive impact in the 2025 season. He lit up the field for his new club, Geelong, delivering standout performances that earned him prestigious All-Australian honours. Furthermore, Smith emerged as a genuine Brownlow Medal contender, ultimately finishing third in the voting with 29 votes, behind only Nick Daicos with 32 votes and the winner, Matt Rowell, with 39 votes. Additionally, Smith was the runner-up in Geelong's best-and-fairest award count, underscoring his valuable contributions throughout the year.
A Controversial Ranking Decision
Despite these remarkable achievements, Kane Cornes has positioned Bailey Smith at number 42 in his comprehensive top-50 list, a placement that is certain to ignite vigorous debate among football fans and analysts alike. In Cornes' ranking, Smith finds himself behind several notable players, including Brisbane Lions premiership duo Jaspa Fletcher at number 38 and Josh Dunkley at number 34, Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw at number 32, and Hawthorn small forward Dylan Moore at number 31, among various other star athletes.
Cornes' Explanation for the Ranking
For those who argue that Smith deserves a higher position, Cornes emphasises that merely securing a spot in the top 50 represents an exceptional accomplishment. "You could make the case he should be higher," Cornes acknowledged in an interview with 7NEWS.com.au. "But I didn't want the top 50 dominated by midfielders." Cornes expressed admiration for Smith's relentless gut-running during matches and stated that he "loves the way he plays." However, he maintained that "there are more damaging mids in the top 50 ... Top 40 is still pretty good."
Other Notable Movements in the Rankings
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide's Jason Horne-Francis, often considered a favourite of Cornes, has experienced a dramatic slide down the order. The former number one draft pick has plummeted from position 20 in Cornes' previous top-50 list to number 39 ahead of the upcoming season. Cornes explained this decline, noting, "He just hasn't done it consistently enough, unfortunately, with a bit of injury and a bit of the way Port Adelaide play him. They like to use him forward so he just gets squeezed out of the midfield a bit."
Another eyebrow-raising inclusion is Western Bulldogs key forward Aaron Naughton, who has frequently faced criticism from Cornes for inconsistent performances. Naughton concluded the previous season with 60 goals, trailing behind Ben King, Jack Gunston, and the league's leading goal-kicker, Jeremy Cameron.
Partial List of Kane Cornes' Top-50 AFL Players
The following players occupy positions 50 through 31 in Cornes' ranking:
- Aaron Naughton
- Sam Walsh
- Tom Liberatore
- Dayne Zorko
- Mitch Georgiades
- Will Ashcroft
- Josh Treacy
- Zac Bailey
- Bailey Smith
- Jordan Clark
- Bailey Dale
- Jason Horne-Francis
- Jaspa Fletcher
- Toby Greene
- Charlie Curnow
- Connor Rozee
- Josh Dunkley
- Tom Green
- Andrew Brayshaw
- Dylan Moore
AFL expert Kane Cornes will unveil his highly anticipated top-10 players on Monday and Tuesday during the 6pm 7NEWS broadcast, available for free streaming.
