Ok so theres a lot of debate about the Top 50 from Mike Sheahan in the Herald Sun.

Today Im putting a list over the jump which compares his personal preference listing with the points per game top 50 from Champion Data from Season 2011.

I hate putting myself in the camp of Ted Hopkins after his 1970 Grand Final performances, but certainly the work that he has done for the game in terms of statistical analysis has redeemed him somewhat.

Theres no doubt I am fully in favour of the Champion Data Top 50, and think this should be given far more preference than the arbitrary list of an admittedly experienced journalist, carrying all his favourites in his satchel.

That said, I also realise that the CD Top 50 is more a reflection of past performance than the forward looking Sheahan Top 50.   Anyone think the Sheahan 50 though is more backward looking with some of the old favourites in there?

I shudder to think what Bruce McAvaneys top 5 is, but heres my go:

1 CYRIL "hes a little bit special" Rioli
2 Lance Buddy Franklin
3 Chris Judd
4 Adam Goodes
5 Graham Stiffy Johncock

Full Top 50s over the break!  Would love to hear some considered commentary, not as much cheer squad writeups as so often clog opinion sites.

<!--more-->Champion Datas Top 50

1 Scott Pendlebury
2 Gary Ablett
3 Dean Cox
4 Dane Swan
5 Nick Dal Santo
6 Marc Murphy
7 Chris Judd
8 Matthew Boyd
9 Matt Priddis
10 Tom Rockliff
11 Sam Mitchell
12 Todd Goldstein
13 Shane Mumford
14 Andrew Swallow
15 Joel Selwood
16 Lance Franklin
17 Aaron Sandilands**
18 Scott Thompson
19 Dale Thomas
20 Ryan Griffen
21 Adam Goodes
22 Nathan FYFE
23 Brendon Goddard
24 Steve Johnson
25 David Mundy**
26 Luke Hodge
27 Jobe Watson
28 Matthew Pavlich
29 Heath Scotland
30 Brett Deledio
31 Daniel Wells
32 Bryce Gibbs
33 Jack Redden
34 Ryan OKeefe
35 Matthew Leuenberger
36 Jarryd Roughead**
37 Ben McEvoy
38 Jimmy Bartel
39 Paul Chapman
40 Brent Harvey
41 Jonathon Griffin*
42 Heath Shaw
43 Dayne Beams
44 Leigh Montagna
45 Trent Cotchin
46 Cyril Rioli
47 Brent Stanton
48 Brent Moloney
49 Sam Fisher
50 Dustin MARTIN

* Under 10 games    ** Injury affected season

Mike Sheahans Top 50

1 Lance Franklin
2 Gary Ablett
3 Aaron Sandilands
4 Chris Judd
5 Travis Cloke
6 Adam Goodes
7 Scott Pendlebury
8 Jimmy Bartel
9 Dane Swan
10 Joel Selwood
11 Dale Thomas
12 Marc Murphy
13 Sam Mitchell
14 Matthew Scarlett
15 Luke Hodge
16 Jonathan Brown
17 Jobe Watson
18 Sam Fisher
19 Cyril Rioli
20 Matthew Pavlich
21 Shane Mumford
22 Jack Riewoldt
23 Steve Johnson
24 Dean Cox
25 Michael Hurley
26 Dustin Martin
27 Brendon Goddard
28 Nic Naitanui
29 Nick Riewoldt
30 Corey Enright
31 Heath Shaw
32 Trent Cotchin
33 Darren Glass
34 James Kelly
35 Michael Jamison
36 Matthew Boyd
37 Nick Dal Santo
38 Luke Ball
39 Ryan Griffen
40 Nathan Fyfe
41 Josh P Kennedy (Syd)
42 Bryce Gibbs
43 Matthew Kruezer
44 Brad Sewell
45 Drew Petrie
46 Matthew Leuenberger
47 Paul Chapman
48 James Frawley
49 Brett Deledio
50 Ben Reid