THE BLOKES who roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and win the footy take centre stage in this week's episode of Personal Best.

Sydney Swan Josh Kennedy is emerging as one of the best midfielders in the AFL and when judging the best extractors of the past 25 years had clearly done his homework.

Three current players - St Kilda's Lenny Hayes, Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell and Essendon's Jobe Watson - made his list and they were joined by some of the giants of the game.

Anthony Stevens (North Melbourne), Scott West (Western Bulldogs), Greg Williams (Geelong, Sydney Swans and Carlton), Todd Viney (Melbourne) and Garry Hocking (Geelong) are among those who Kennedy rated in his top 10.

West, a perennial placegetter in the Brownlow Medal was particularly well rated by Kennedy. "Those who played against him said he was impossible to stop and always knew where the ball was going. His sharp hands made him almost unstoppable," Kennedy said.

But, a bit like the Brownlow, he didn't make it to the top of the tree. To see who topped Kennedy's list and to see his entire top 10, click on the video player above.