It's time for the 2024 edition of our Australian sports Power Rankings. ESPN's team of reporters and editors have put their heads together, and voted for their lists of Australia's most influential active athletes -- with the collation of the lists making the final 25.
We've judged them on success, influence on and off the field, star power, potential, longevity at the top, level of competition, and sheer talent, to come up with this year's definitive list. It's sure to cause some debate, but here it is!
2023 Power Rankings | 2022 Power Rankings | 2021 Power Rankings | 2019 (inaugural) Power Rankings
Explained - how ESPN's top 25 Aussie Power Rankings was decided
* Numbers in brackets represent last year's spot.
25. Gout Gout (New entry)
You could have been forgiven for not knowing the name Gout Gout a couple of weeks ago, but after the 16-year-old's astonishing performances at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships it feels like the whole world has woken up to the youngster's immense sprinting talent. Gout Gout broke Peter Norman's 200m national record, which had stood for 56 years, and also laid down some scorching times in taking out the under-18's 100m. Already likened to all-time great Usain Bolt, a comparison the Jamaican has made himself, Gout Gout has all the raw gifts to push for Olympic gold in the future, maybe even as soon as 2032 on home soil. He will head overseas to start competing in 2025, with more viral highlights destined to follow thereafter.
24. Sam Kerr (2)
From second in last year's power rankings to second last in this year's, it's been quite a drop for Sam Kerr. But it makes sense when you remember her ACL injury means she hasn't stepped foot on the pitch this year. And while there were some discussions about leaving her off the list altogether, the nation is still obsessed with Kerr. She was the fourth most googled Australian this year, behind John Singleton, Julian Assange, and Raygun. She's been subjected to the good (announcing she is expecting her first child with pregnant fiancée, Kristie Mewis), the bad (she was charged with causing a police officer harassment, alarm or distress for an incident in January 2023 that is set to go to trial next year. She pleaded not guilty), and the ugly (she and Mewis copped a wave of anti-gay abuse following their announcement). Even when she isn't playing, Kerr ticks more boxes than not to warrant still making this list.
23. Steve Smith (23)
It feels like Smith is hanging on to this list by dint of longevity -- at least that was until his incredible century at the Gabba against India. His overall record will forever stand the test of the time, but 2024 has brought a series of challenges. One of those Smith took upon himself when he said he wanted to open the batting following the retirement of David Warner. That move only lasted four Tests but he did make an unbeaten 91 against West Indies at the Gabba when Australia suffered a shock defeat earlier in the year. Out of Australia's T20I side, he gave a reminder of his short-form skills as he joined Major League Cricket in the U.S., but, given his innings most recently against India with the series in the balance, people will remember while his form may be temporary, his class is permanent.
22. Travis Head (10)
Firmly entrenched as one of this generation's cult heroes, Head, like the team itself, has endured a more up and down year than his magical 2023 where so much he touched turned to gold. He has, however, produced more match-winning performances, with two centuries at his home ground, Adelaide Oval, firstly against West Indies and then -- most significantly -- against India when Australia had their backs to the wall following a heavy defeat. Throw in his most recent knock -- 150 in the third Test at the Gabba with the series against India firmly in the balance -- and it's evident he's one of Australia's form batters. He was also player of the series in the ODIs against England, which include a ferocious 154 not out at Trent Bridge. Red, white or pink ball, few can take the game away from an opposition as Head can.
21. Alexander Volkanovski (5)
It wasn't a great year for Volkanovski, which is why he has slid down this list over the past 12 months. Australia's second ever UFC champion, Volkanovski had his run as king of the featherweights ended in brutal fashion by Ilia Topuria, losing via KO in the second round of their February title fight. That was a third defeat in four fights for Volkanovski, dating back to 2023 when he was twice beaten by Islam Makhachev at lightweight. Can Volkanovski get back the strap he lost to Topuria? That question remains unanswered, while doubts surround Topuria's own immediate future, with rumours he could move up to lightweight himself. But at 36 years of age, Volkanovski is all too aware his time in the sport is fast running out -- and you can guarantee he will want to bow out on a bright note. It all goes on the line for the knockabout Illawarra native in 2025.
20. Lachie Neale (22)
Heading into 2024, Neale had achieved just about everything in footy, aside from winning a premiership. This year, he completed his resume by winning the flag with the Lions. In terms of personal accolades, it was another supreme season; he made his fourth All-Australian team, and won a fourth Merrett-Murray Medal to go along with the Gary Ayres Award as the best player in the 2024 finals series. He was arguably the second best player on the ground in the Grand Final too, and could very well have had a Norm Smith to his name. Neale continues to prove himself as one of the most consistent players in the AFL, and deserves his spot as one of the premier athletes in the country.
19. Ellyse Perry (12)
Voted in the top five of ESPN's top 25 Australian sports people of the 21st century, and No. 1 in ESPNcricinfo's top 25 female cricketers, Perry continues to be a leading figure in the game. This year she has been the top run-scorer in both the Women's Premier League in India -- where she also claimed the remarkable figures of 6 for 15 -- and the WBBL. Her recent century against India took her past 3000 ODI runs and across all internationals she became the first female player to score 7000 runs and take 300 wickets.
18. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NE)
Has there been a more memorable code swap debut? Suaalii's performance in the Wallabies' dramatic win over England at Twickenham was so good he was awarded man-of-the-match honours, the 21-year-old repaying the faith of coach Joe Schmidt who had backed his star recruit despite the fact he had not played the 15-man game in more than five years. Suaalii dominated the back pages towards the end of the year thereafter, giving Australian rugby the exact kind of exposure former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said he would. Signed on a mega three-year deal, with a two-year option in his favour beyond that, Suaalii is poised to be the face of the Wallabies for next year's British & Irish Lions Tour and then onto the Rugby World Cup in 2027. Already a star at home, Suaalii's switch to rugby is set to make him one abroad, too.
17. Nestory Irankunda (NE)
If you were weighting these Power Rankings on potential alone, Irankunda would be a lock for a podium finish. The 18-year-old moved from Adelaide United to Bayern Munich in July and, while he is yet to make an appearance for the German giants, the fact that he was included in their Champions League squad underscores how highly he is rated by manager Vincent Kompany. Add in a Socceroos debut and a maiden goal for his country and you can see why Irankunda appears set to climb even higher in the Power Rankings in the years to come.
16. Mollie O'Callaghan (NE)
What were you doing at 20 years of age? Probably not sweeping the pool at the Olympics, coming home with three gold medals, a silver and a bronze as well as crowning yourself the fastest female 200m freestyle swimmer in the world! One of the many Aussie women who dominated the pool in Paris, O'Callaghan etched her name into history with her incredible performance to come over the top and claim victory over the great Ariarne Titmus in the 200m final and claim an Olympic record at the same time. Don't forget her name anytime soon, the LA and Brisbane Olympic Games are well on her radar.
15. Mary Fowler (4)
The Matildas had a disappointing year, especially in comparison to the unbelievable ride that was the 2023 Women's World Cup. As such, there are fewer Matildas on this year's list and they have dropped down a few spots. However, Fowler has continued to go from strength to strength on and off the pitch. She has continued to star for the Matildas and established herself as a starter for Manchester City scoring and assisting in the FAWSL, the FA Cup, and the Women's Champions League. Beyond the field, Fowler has become even more popular inking deals with L'Oreal and Weet-bix in addition to her Adidas sponsorship. She was also one of seven women athletes to be made into a barbie doll, joining the likes of Venus Williams and soccer legend Christine Sinclair.
14. Marcus Bontempelli (24)
For the past few seasons, Bontempelli's name is almost always one of the front-runners when discussing the best players in the AFL. While the Dogs underwhelmed in 2024, his individual brilliance was once again rewarded; he won the Leigh Matthews Trophy (players' MVP) for the third time, moving to second all time behind only behind Gary Ablett Jr. (5), and was named All-Australian captain to go with his sixth blazer. He was also named the best captain for a third time at the AFLPA awards. Bontempelli won't slow down any time soon, and will likely spend another season (or two, or three) as one of the top players in the sport and a dangerous performer on any day.
13. Nina Kennedy (NE)
Kennedy capped off a golden summer in Paris for Australia with the nation's 18th and final gold medal. The West Australian pole vaulter soared through the sky to beat American Katie Moon, who she famously shared the 2023 World Championship gold with, and Canadian Alysha Newman, clearing 4.90m. She was flagged as a medal hopeful pre-Games and was ruthlessly efficient on her way to a first ever piece of Olympic hardware. Her gold was arguably the high point in what was a strong week for the Aussie track and field team. She became the first Australian woman to win Olympic gold in athletics since Sally Pearson in 2012 and has since been plastered across TV, magazines, and social media.
12. Alex De Minaur (NE)
It was a career-best year for De Minaur, with the Aussie cementing himself into the ATP Top 10 for most of the year, and posting quarterfinal berths at three of the season's four majors (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open). In addition, he notched a first career win over a world No. 1 (Novak Djokovic at the United Cup in January) among five victories over top 10 opponents. De Minaur won two tournaments in 2024, including the ATP 500 event in Mexico, and was the first Australian to make the year-end ATP Finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004. A joint winner of the 2024 Newcombe Medal along with Olympic gold medallist Matt Ebden, De Minaur is just 25 years of age, and may not yet have reached the peak of his tennis powers.
11. Dyson Daniels (NE)
Following a breakthrough Olympic campaign for the Boomers, Daniels had made a case this NBA season for winning both Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved. Leading the league in both steals per game at 3.0, deflections per game with 6.3, and nightly new nicknames, at only 21 years of age, 'The Great Barrier Thief' has seemingly turned himself into an All-Defence First Team-level defender overnight. There is still room for Daniels to develop offensively, especially as a shooter (31% 3PT), but given his astonishing rate of improvement, Dyson has not only overtaken Josh Giddey as Australia's most promising basketball talent, but may also be on a star-like developmental path in the NBA.
10. Patrick Cripps (NE)
According to the AFL's umpires, Cripps' 2024 season was the best by any player we've seen. Look, it probably wasn't (all things considered!), but Carlton's inspirational skipper undoubtedly had a massive year, winning the famed Brownlow Medal with a record 45 votes. Cripps is one of the game's most recognisable players and leaders, and is the face of one of the biggest sporting clubs in the country, and the AFL itself. Having won the league's most prestigious awards two out of the past three seasons, it's only fitting he returns to the list this year.
9. Josh Giddey (9)
Giddey needed a breath of fresh air. After largely being relegated to the bench throughout Oklahoma City's playoffs campaign, few were surprised when the young Victorian was traded to the Chicago Bulls in the offseason. Still, after impressively spearheading Australia's most recent Olympic outing, Giddey has once again showcased his effectiveness as a primary initiator in his first season as a Bull - averaging 11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. At only 22 years of age, Giddey will be a centrepiece for the Boomers for years to come, and with free agency coming up next NBA season, could be one of Australia's highest paid athletes before we know it.
8. Jordan Mailata (6)
Mailata responded to the Eagles' slumping finish to the 2023 season with the best play of his career in 2024. Despite spending a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, the sweet-singing road-grader from Bankstown currently rates as the best tackle in NFL per Pro Football Focus, and third best pass protector at his position in the league by ESPN's Pass Block Win Rate. Throw in rising status as a veteran leader in the Philadelphia locker-room and the 27-year-old is in line for the first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honours of his career.
7. Kaylee McKeown (NE)
Four-time Olympic gold medallist, two-time current world record holder, two-time Olympic record holder and last year's World Aquatics' female swimmer of the year, at just 23-years-old McKeown has conquered world swimming multiple times making it no surprise she's risen to inside the top 10 of ESPN's Power Rankings for 2024. Bursting onto the scene during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she won gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke, she entered Paris as one of Australia's brightest medal hopes. While others might sink under the pressure, it was nothing for McKeown who became the first woman in history to win both titles in two consecutive Olympic Games. Add, too, a silver and two bronzes, and the Queenslander certainly made the most of her time in Paris.
6. Nick Daicos (13)
Daicos has been a force in the AFL ever since he made his debut and, after ranking prominently in last year's edition of this list, it's only fair he rises given the incredible strides he took in another enormous campaign which netted him a whopping 38 Brownlow votes -- a new record before being out-polled by fellow star of the game Patrick Cripps. Daicos is the face of arguably the biggest sporting club in the country and it's hard to fathom he is still just 21 given what he has already achieved. Has he hit his peak yet? Potentially, but it's genuinely scary to consider he might not have.
5. Nathan Cleary (3)
At the heart of the Penrith Panthers' four straight premierships and the dynasty lies this unassuming superstar of rugby league. A player of immense talent and a young man who epitomises what it means to be a role model, Cleary is reaping the rewards of a lifetime of dedication and hard work. Awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for man-of-the-match in two of the Panthers' four grand final victories, Cleary is on a path towards being labelled one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He need only overcome his ongoing battle with injury and replicate his complete club level dominance on the State of Origin stage and there will be very few who would deny him that status.
4. Oscar Piastri (14)
Season 2024 felt like an official passing of the torch in Australian motorsport. Formula One fan favourite Daniel Ricciardo had his career in the category draw to a close, but his successor has well and truly arrived, Piastri taking over the mantle as the country's biggest motorsport star. Piastri won the first F1 race of his blossoming career earlier this year in Hungary before doubling up two months later in Azerbaijan, en route to an impressive fourth place finish in the drivers' standings. The 23-year-old from Melbourne's breakthrough season also helped play a key role in McLaren winning its first constructors' championship since 1998.
3. Patrick Cummins (1)
Being the Australia men's captain remains one of the most significant roles in the country. Strangely, Cummins often comes in for as much criticism for having views on wider global issues as to what happens in the middle. It was always going to be tough to match the golden year of 2023 in which Cummins secured two pieces of global silverware and the year has brought tricky periods, not least the defeat to India in Perth. But, with his team under huge scrutiny, Cummins was a central figure in the Adelaide victory. They still have a good chance of defending their World Test Championship title while Cummins has indicated he is keen to carry on in the role until 2027.
2. Ariarne Titmus (16)
Australia's most famous swimmer entered the 2024 Olympic Games with an enormous amount of expectation weighing on her shoulders. Titmus delivered a statement swim on opening night at the La Defense Arena in west Paris, surging clear to secure back-to-back gold medals in the women's 400m freestyle. The 24-year-old from Tasmania was pipped by Australian teammate Mollie O'Callaghan in the 200m distance three nights later, but bounced back in style to double her Paris gold tally with a dominant anchor leg in the 200m freestyle relay. Titmus also pocketed silver for her swim in the 800m, taking her Olympic medal tally to eight, including four gold.
1. Jessica Fox (NE)
Australia's favourite golden girl rocketed back into the public eye on the back of a breathtaking Olympic campaign in Paris. Fox, along with Kookaburra Eddie Ockenden, was given the honour of carrying the Australian flag at the Games' opening ceremony and wasn't about to let her country down. The 30-year-old completed an emotional redemption arc in the K1 before dominantly defending her title in the C1 just days later. Fox also won four World Cup events in 2024, all of which helped to solidify her place as the greatest paddler of all time, as well as Australia's top athlete.
A shortlist of nearly 70 athletes from 19 sports received votes from ESPN Australia's writers and editors.
Honourable mentions for 2024: Ben Simmons, Josh Green, Cameron Smith, Jackson Irvine, Tim Tszyu, Jess Hull, Alyssa Healy, and Cameron McEvoy.
Missing from 2023 edition: Kalyn Ponga, Hayley Raso, Emma McKeon (retired), Caitlin Foord, Ben Simmons, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Smith, Daniel Ricciardo (retired), Alyssa Healy, Tim Tszyu.