AFL Players' Top 50: Bont's five best finals moments

MARCUS Bontempelli collects accolades almost as easily as disposals.

Last year alone he became a premiership player, Sutton medallist in the Western Bulldogs' drought-breaking season and took home his first All Australian jumper to mount in his trophy room.

He also finished top-10 in the Brownlow Medal and, as stand-in captain, became the youngest skipper of a winning side in VFL/AFL history following the Dogs' round 11 triumph over West Coast.

Many fans and commentators wondered where he ranked amongst the best young players the competition has ever seen.

Now 'The Bont' has been recognised by his peers among the top five footballers in the competition. He rises an incredible 44 places in the fourth annual AFL Players' Top 50.

• Check out the rest of the AFL Players' Top 50 as they are revealed

And the 21-year-old superstar is still only just getting started.

At his best, Bontempelli wins his own ball at the coalface, glides through heavy traffic as if others are standing still and releases teammates from stoppages.

But he is equally damaging wheeling onto his lethal left boot and driving the Dogs forward, or drifting into attack and using his lanky 192cm frame to outmark opponents.

According to Champion Data's 2017 Prospectus, Bontempelli is already the definition of a complete midfielder.

But he still has so much scope for improvement entering his fourth season.

Scarily, kicking goals was the only category that he was rated 'elite' for an onballer last season, after averaging one major per match.

His disposal (24.4), contested possession (11), clearance (4.2), tackle (4.7) and score assist (1.2) numbers were all above average and rising.

Just how much better could 'The Bont' become in 2017 after another pre-season? We can't wait to find out.