A STUTTERING start to the season has cost Richmond superstar Dustin Martin the mantle as the game's best player, according to the AFL Player Ratings.

The Player Ratings is a ranking system using a variety of stats based on an individual's past 40 games over a rolling two-year period.

He's been replaced by explosive Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield, whose blazing hot form continues an intriguing tug-of-war over the crown as the competition's leading performer.

Who wants to be No.1?

No.1 Date Dangerfield R12, 2016 Martin R4, 2018 Dangerfield R9, 2018 Martin R10, 2018 Dangerfield R19, 2018 Martin R22, 2018 Dangerfield R23, 2018 Martin Finals, 2018 Dangerfield R2, 2019

Inside Martin's early slide

An All Australian for three years running, Martin has come under the spotlight after an underwhelming beginning to 2019.

His average disposal, goal assist, inside 50, clearance, contested possession and metres gained numbers are all down from the past three seasons.

Those stats should be viewed through the context of this campaign being only two games old though.

What is damning though is his combined tally of tackles and goals this year: zero.

So talented offensively, he's never been a prolific tackler, but Martin has averaged a tick over three per match throughout his 203-match career.

His scoreboard impact has been noteworthy for an onballer, having booted almost 1.5 goals per match over the past two years.

Martin is yet to repeat the heights he hit in an extraordinary 2017. Along with the Brownlow and All Australian guernsey he was awarded that season were the AFL Players' Association MVP, the AFL Coaches' Association Player of the Year and the Norm Smith Medal.

The story is different for Dangerfield. Free of the nagging back injury that hindered him in 2018, the six-time All Australian is in blistering nick.

After a sublime 37-disposal and two-goal effort in a dominant victory over Melbourne, he's looking like the man who pulled off the trifecta of the Brownlow, AFLCA Player of the Year and AFLPA MVP in 2016.

AFL PLAYER RATINGS: Who are your club's leaders?