Who is The Deadliest?

As the new Yokayi Footy show launches in partnership with NITV and AFL.com.au, we asking for your help to find The Deadliest – the Greatest Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander footballer.

>> Watch the first episode of Yokayi Footy on Wednesday, March 18 at 8pm AEDT on NITV, AFL.com.au, the AFL Live App, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand

Our selection panel has narrowed the field to a start list of 16, each one of them with champion credentials. 

THE DEADLIEST How were the 16 contenders chosen, and who missed out? 

We've weighted the contenders based on the selection panel's votes and their career achievements, and placed them into a tournament-style bracket.

Now comes the hard part. We need you to decide the eventual winner.

Each week, the Deadliest contenders will face off head-to-head, and your votes will determine the outcome.

In week one, we kick off with the clash between two of the modern game's great entertainers, Lance Franklin and Eddie Betts. 

You can vote on the match-up below, then tune in to Yokayi Footy each week to find out the winners.

Match-up 1: Lance Franklin v Eddie Betts

01:00

The Deadliest: Lance Franklin v Eddie Betts

Buddy and Eddie are two of the most exciting players in recent memory - but who gets your vote?

Lance Franklin

  • Hawthorn/Sydney
  • Noongar/Wajuk
  • 300 games, 944 goals, two-time AFL premiership player, four-time Coleman Medal winner, eight-time All-Australian, two-time Goal of the Year winner.

The greatest forward of his generation, Lance 'Buddy' Franklin might be the last player ever to kick 100 goals in a season.

Known for his brilliant left boot and incredible athleticism for his height, Franklin is one of the few players you could argue you'd most like to build a team around at their peak.  

Could the superstar join the 1000-goal club before all is said and done?

Eddie Betts

  • Carlton/Adelaide
  • Wangkathaa
  • 316 games, 600 goals, three-time All-Australian, four-time Goal of the Year winner

Eddie Betts has a legitimate claim to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, forward pockets of all time.

His goalkicking record speaks for itself, but the manner in which he kicked them has left fans stunned and amazed every single week.

With four Goal of the Year winners, Betts is well ahead of everyone else, with Franklin the only other player to win on multiple occasions.

Once criticised for his record on the big stage, Betts' record in finals stands at 31 goals from 13 games, with six goals against North Melbourne in a 2016 elimination final the standout game.

Tune in to Yokayi Footy each Wednesday at 8pm AEDT on NITV, AFL.com.au, the AFL Live App, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand.  

Head to afl.com.au/deadliest each week to cast your vote for the Greatest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander player