| Year | Player | Age | Club | Drafted | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Patrick Cripps | 28 | Carlton | #13 National 2013 | 207 (24) |
| 2023 | Lachie Neale | 29 | Brisbane | #58 National 2011 | 246 (26) |
| 2022 | Patrick Cripps | 26 | Carlton | #13 National 2013 | 159 (21) |
| 2021 | Ollie Wines | 26 | Port Adelaide | #7 National 2012 | 182 (24) |
| 2020 | Lachie Neale | 26 | Brisbane | #58 National 2011 | 178 (19) |
| 2019 | Nathan Fyfe | 27 | Fremantle | #20 National 2009 | 173 (20) |
| 2018 | Tom Mitchell | 24 | Hawthorn | #21 National 2011 | 111 (24) |
| 2017 | Dustin Martin | 25 | Richmond | #3 National 2009 | 178 (25) |
| 2016 | Patrick Dangerfield | 25 | Geelong | #10 National 2007 | 178 (24) |
| 2015 | Nathan Fyfe | 23 | Fremantle | #20 National 2009 | 112 (20) |
| 2014 | Matt Priddis | 28 | West Coast | #31 Rookie 2005 | 173 (22) |
| 2013 | Gary Ablett | 28 | Gold Coast | #40 National 2001 | 253 (21) |
| 2012 | Sam Mitchell | 29 | Hawthorn | #36 National 2001 | 221 (24) |
| 2012 | Trent Cotchin | 21 | Richmond | #2 National 2007 | 86 (22) |
| 2011 | Dane Swan | 26 | Collingwood | #58 National 2001 | 175 (24) |
| 2010 | Chris Judd | 26 | Carlton | #3 National 2001 | 198 (20) |
| 2009 | Gary Ablett | 24 | Geelong | #40 National 2001 | 168 (22) |
| 2008 | Adam Cooney | 22 | Western Bulldogs | #1 National 2003 | 112 (25) |
| 2007 | Jimmy Bartel | 23 | Geelong | #8 National 2001 | 108 (23) |
| 2006 | Adam Goodes | 26 | Sydney | #43 National 1997 | 186 (25) |
| 2005 | Ben Cousins | 26 | West Coast | Father-Son 1995 | 209 (24) |
| 2004 | Chris Judd | 20 | West Coast | #3 National 2001 | 68 (23) |
| 2003 | Nathan Buckley | 30 | Collingwood | Zone 1992 | 228 (24) |
| 2003 | Adam Goodes | 22 | Sydney | #43 National 1997 | 111 (24) |
| 2003 | Mark Ricciuto | 27 | Adelaide | Zone 1992 | 240 (24) |
| 2002 | Simon Black | 22 | Brisbane | #31 National 1997 | 100 (25) |
| 2001 | Jason Akermanis | 23 | Brisbane | Zone 1994 | 141 (24) |
| 2000 | Shane Woewodin | 23 | Melbourne | #18 Pre-Season 1996 | 94 (25) |
| 1999 | Shane Crawford | 24 | Hawthorn | #13 National 1991 | 136 (22) |
| 1998 | Robert Harvey | 26 | St Kilda | 203 (24) | |
| 1997 | Robert Harvey | 25 | St Kilda | 179 (25) | |
| 1996 | James Hird | 22 | Essendon | #79 National 1990 | 88 (24) |
| 1996 | Michael Voss | 20 | Brisbane | 79 (24) | |
| 1995 | Paul Kelly | 25 | Sydney | 112 (22) | |
| 1994 | Greg Williams | 30 | Carlton | 202 (22) | |
| 1993 | Gavin Wanganeen | 19 | Essendon | #12 National 1989 | 61 (22) |
| 1992 | Scott Wynd | 21 | Western Bulldogs | 79 (24) | |
| 1991 | Jim Stynes | 24 | Melbourne | 111 (24) | |
| 1990 | Tony Liberatore | 23 | Western Bulldogs | 37 (19) | |
| 1989 | Paul Couch | 24 | Geelong | 97 (26) | |
| 1988 | Gerard Healy | 26 | Sydney | 192 (20) | |
| 1987 | Tony Lockett | 20 | St Kilda | 93 (22) | |
| 1987 | John Platten | 23 | Hawthorn | #19 National 1981 | 51 (26) |
| 1986 | Greg Williams | 22 | Sydney | 58 (24) | |
| 1986 | Robert DiPierdomenico | 27 | Hawthorn | 157 (25) | |
| 1985 | Brad Hardie | 22 | Western Bulldogs | #16 National 1982 | 25 (25) |
| 1984 | Peter Moore | 26 | Melbourne | 210 (22) | |
| 1983 | Ross Glendinning | 26 | North Melbourne | 135 (24) | |
| 1982 | Brian Wilson | 20 | Melbourne | 69 (21) | |
| 1981 | Bernie Quinlan | 29 | Fitzroy | 259 (24) | |
| 1981 | Barry Round | 30 | South Melbourne | 258 (22) | |
| 1980 | Kelvin Templeton | 23 | Western Bulldogs | 123 (22) |