Detailed investigation reveals where your team sits on the AFL's mullet ladder - and the huge number of stars who sport the divisive hairstyle

The mullet has made a stunning return as the AFL's haircut of choice after enjoying its heyday in the 1980s, and now a deep dive into the look has revealed just how popular the brave 'do is and which team has the most.

The hairstyle - short at the sides, long at the back - was extremely popular in the VFL era of footy, but died off.

During COVID the haircut returned in a big way, with many more young stars growing their hair out - and it's not going away anytime soon.

A comprehensive new study by ABC revealed where it is cropping up the most, which positions are most like to to sport it, and whether it improves a player's performance.

The data showed that of the 788 players in the AFL and 18 teams, 150 players are rocking the mullet - which is about 19 per cent of players in the competition.

Three of the longest mullets in the sport are from the Western Bulldogs, belonging to Bailey Smith, Caleb Poulter and Aaron Naughton.

In fact, the Bulldogs have the most business up front, party out the back haircuts in the league, followed by the GWS Giants and Hawthorn - with Geelong having the fewest.

Roughly one in three players aged 21 or below are rocking the look, with the mullet becoming a rarer sight among more senior players.

The data also shows that the look is pretty popular across all positions on the field, with key defenders having slightly less chance of choosing the hairdo.

The research also used AFL fantasy points as a measure of a player's performance to see if a mullet results in better play.

Going off data from Round 8 of this year's competition, the data showed that players with mullets were scoring slightly fewer points than their counterparts on average per game.

Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith, who was appointed  the first-ever menswear ambassador for Aussie brand Cotton On, has previously described his iconic 'do as 'ridiculous'.

'It is a bit, I don't know, all over the shop at the minute,' he said.

'I am just growing it out. I've been growing it for like three years. I know it is a bit ridiculous but it is getting there.'

Bailey also admitted he would be up for making a move to the big screen should he be offered acting opportunities in future.

'I am a massive fan of Chris Hemsworth so Thor, maybe,' he said when asked what character he would play on-screen.

Gold Coast Suns star Sam Collins, who sports a mullet and a moustache, has admitted to cutting his own hair. 

'I cut it myself ... my hair is an evolution of my football,' Collins revealed.

'Since I first got here it's changed a lot. I've a lot more confidence in myself and am comfortable trying to put my fingerprints on the club.

'I'm not the most modern footballer; I am quite small and it's not where I was drafted to play, but it's where I've ended up.

'I play an important role for the team and l love it,' said the 194cm, 98kg defender.

Port star Lachie Jones believes his mullet and mo are the secret to his popularity.

The Power selected him with pick 16 of the 2020 national draft, with the solidly-built halfback's mullet copping some stick from coach Ken Hinkley.

'He is probably the biggest critic at the club of everyone's haircuts, could be a short back and sides and he'd still critique you for it,' Jones said.

'But you just take that and accept it and don't really let it bother you, just move on.

'It will stay for now, obviously received a bit of a following from it.

'It will stay for a while at least.'