The 2020 AFL season has been anything but ordinary, and as we enter the intensity of the compressed fixture, team depth and top-tier excellence becomes even more important. 

After eight rounds, we're getting a much clearer sense of where teams fit within the league hierarchy, however we'll have an even better idea once they've all travelled through the gauntlet of two-games a week competition. 

While we took a look at the Stats Insider’s AFL Player Ratings in the pre-season, a new analysis is called for, one which shines a stronger light on how much top-tier talent each team is possessing, and which might indicate which club is best placed going forward. 

THE ELITE

It's Collingwood who lead the way where top-100 representation is concerned with a league-high nine players. Surprisingly, they're joined by Sydney who have also have 9 players which is a brilliant return for a club who's clearly in re-building mode.

The Giants are next up with 8 top-100 players, with Toby Greene leading the way, ranked #8 overall. 

The Wets Coast Eagles were top off the pops in the pre-season with nine players in the top-100, however that figure is down to seven, with Brad Sheppard surprisingly out front, coming in at #34. Distinguished and decorated Eagles Josh Kennedy (#62) and Andrew Gaff (#80) have dropped significantly from their lofty pre-season status, while Jack Darling now finds himself at #120 overall.

Port Adelaide, who've topped the ladder for each and every week so far, have seven players in the top-100, with their reliable veteran Travis Boak the clubhouse leader, ranked #12. 

RELATED: AFL 2020: 18 Clubs, 18 Reasons To Smile

THE GOOD

Ironically, the 2020 flag favourites Brisbane have just six top-100 players, however in Lachie Neale (#1), Charlie Cameron (#20) and Harris Andrews (#26) the Lions do possess a strong presence at the very top, with Andrews graded out as the #1 overall key defender.

RELATED: Brisbane's Lachie Neale is currently #1 overall as per the Stats Insider Player Ratings. Check out very player along with their DNA visualisation

Richmond, a club who has taken the competition by storm in recent seasons, have six players in the top-100. They just pulverised the Western Bulldogs on Wednesday night, a team who also has six players in the top-100, with Caleb Daniel one of season's surprise stories, currently ranked #17 overall.  

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

Perhaps the most notable downfall since the beginning of this season is Geelong, who presently have just four players in the top-100. The always brilliant Patrick Dangerfield is ranked #9, however it's a steep drop-off until we find our next Cat, with Mitch Duncan coming in at #56. 

Adelaide, along with the significantly improved St Kilda, have both shown a slight improvement with their player contributions, each offering up four top-100 players. Matt Crouch leads the way for the struggling Crows, ranked #46 overall, while Rowan Marshall is the premier Saint, ranked #31 overall, but fifth among all ruckmen. 

Melbourne, despite enjoying the services of the exceptional Max Gawn, have just four players in the top-100, with Christian Petracca and Steven May just squeezing in at #95 and #99 respectively.

Fremantle, along with the Gold Coast Suns, have only two players each in the top-100. In the Dockers defence, both Nat Fyfe (#4) and Micheal Walters(#10) are elite, however it's a considerable drop until we see another Docker, with Liam Ryan coming in at #89. While Jarrod Witts is the only Sun to make the top-100, he does come in at a highly respectable #22, and grades out as the third best ruckmen in the league.

Did you enjoy this article? Join our free mailing list to get the best content delivered straight to your inbox, or join the conversation by leaving a comment below or on the Stats Insider Twitter or Facebook page.