Merrett-Murray Medallist Joel Patfull continues to earn due recognition after being identified by former Herald Sun Chief Sports Writer Mike Sheahan as one of the competition’s top 50 players for 2012.

Sheahan, whose Top 50 has almost become an AFL institution, revealed Patfull as his 39th most influential player across the competition over the past season.

“No player in the 50 has a lower profile, but that's not his concern," Sheahan wrote in Wednesday's Herald Sun.

"He kept going to the best of the tall opposition forwards this year, beating them or containing them every time.”

Patfull becomes the first Lions player to be included on the prestigious post-season list since Captain Jonathan Brown ranked 28 at the end of 2010.

Brown, who has been a regular feature on Sheahan’s Top 50 over the years, recently told SEN radio in Melbourne that Patfull’s significant contribution to the Club often gets understated by the general football public.

“For a lot of outsiders, people wouldn’t realise how good a year Joel Patfull had,” Brown said.

“I might be biased, but I think Joel Patfull should have certainly been in the All Australian 40-man squad.”

“He plays on the opposition’s best forward every week - whether they’re small, medium, or tall - and I reckon he’s only had about 10 goals kicked on for the whole year.”

Patfull’s appearance in the Top 50 comes less than one month after being crowned as the Lions’ 2012 Club Champion.

Although the dour defender seems to enjoy his relatively low profile, it is terrific to see him finally get the recognition he deserves.

A full list of the Lions' representation in Mike Sheahan's 'Top 50' since 2009 has been provided below:

2012 (post-season)
Joel Patfull (39)*

2012 (pre-season)
Jonathan Brown (16)
Matthew Leuenberger (46)

2011 (post-season)
Nil

2011 (pre-season)
Jonathan Brown (12)

2010 (post-season)
Jonathan Brown (28)

2010 (pre-season)
Jonathan Brown (5)
Simon Black (26)
Luke Power (30)
Brendan Fevola (31)
Mitch Clark (40)

2009 (post-season)
Jonathan Brown (7)
Simon Black (22)
Mitch Clark (24)
Luke Power (26)

2009 (pre-season)
Jonathan Brown (7)
Simon Black (12)
Luke Power (30)
Daniel Bradshaw (34)

*Players ranked 1-30 on Mike Sheahan’s post-season list for 2012 are still to be revealed