AFL 2026: Every club’s improver and slider, Champion Data analysis column, trade and free agency recruits performance this season, latest news

It’s still early, but six rounds into the season, we’re starting to see the patterns emerge.

Improvers at clubland have started to reveal themselves, while other names have stumbled down the pecking order since last season.

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Powered by Champion Data, Foxfooty.com.au identifies the players at each club who have improved and slid in AFL Rating as compared to their performance last year.

Note: ‘AFL Rating’ is based on Champion Data’s AFL Player Ratings, looking at where on the ground the player has played, and how far above or below expectation the player has performed for the position they play. It uses AFL Player Rating points to evaluate the impact each player is having in each position.

The (+/-) next to each player’s name indicates the increase/decrease in AFL Rating spots since last season.

ADELAIDE CROWS

Improver: Josh Worell (+182)

Slider: Izak Rankine (-85)

Worrell’s ascent is continuous and wouldn’t surprise the club’s supporters, with the stingy defender up to 45th this year in AFL Rating. Meanwhile, Rankine’s inauspicious start to the season also won’t come as a surprise, given he’s still being integrated back into the side. The livewire’s off-field setback has meant that integration has been gradual, as coach Matthew Nicks has alluded to. He’s down six touches per game compared to last year, while his 1.0 goal per game is down from 1.4 and 1.9 the season before that.

BRISBANE LIONS

Improver: Charlie Cameron (+193)

Slider: Darcy Wilmot (-224)

Cameron’s mini resurrection continues, after there were calls last year for him to be dropped by Chris Fagan. His 1.8 goals per game are considered elite (in the top 10 per cent of players in the same position) among fellow forwards, and is his best mark since 2023. Wilmot, meanwhile, is spending more time locking down in defence, with his disposal numbers down compared to the past two years.

CARLTON

Improver: Matt Carroll (+259)

Slider: George Hewett (-238)

Carroll provides much-needed line-breaking speed off Carlton’s half-backline. And while some of his disposal and decision-making could use improvement, he’s been a reason for optimism in the Blues’ dim start to the season. His 4.8 intercepts per game are elite among AFL midfielders. Hewett’s fall-off, meanwhile, is in line with his omission ahead of last Thursday’s loss to Adelaide. The 30-year-old hasn’t been able to get his hands on the footy anywhere near as much this year, averaging 20.5 disposals — down from 28.1. He went from a top-100 player for AFL Rating to 336th through six rounds.

COLLINGWOOD

Improver: Scott Pendlebury (+189)

Slider: Jamie Elliott (-185)

Elliott has had a slow start to the year from a goalkicking perspective, averaging just one goal a game. Not counting the shortened games in 2020, the last time he averaged less than a major a game was in his rookie season in 2012. Unfortunately, it’s a reflection of Collingwood’s struggling attack, as the Pies have been unable to manage a score of 100+ points since Round 18, 2025. At the other end of the veteran scale, Pendlebury has risen from 195th last year all the way up to sixth overall this year, as his impact on Craig McRae’s side continues to be felt.

ESSENDON

Improver: Archie Roberts (+158)

Slider: Sam Durham (-70)

Durham has been out of the midfield for six quarters now, attending zero centre ball-ups last Saturday for the first time this season. Playing more forward of the ball, he’s down more than three disposals per game on last season, yet it might be a better role for him. Roberts, meanwhile, has been the notable riser at Essendon thus far, earning plaudits particularly for his past two matches — notching 37 and 42 disposals — and averaging 30.0 per game for the season thus far.

FREMANTLE

Improver: Isaiah Dudley (+226)

Slider: Sam Switkowski (-254)

The juxtaposition of two small Fremantle forwards sees Dudley currently 55th for AFL Rating after six rounds, averaging 2.0 goals per game in an important role. The 22-year-old has kicked a major in every game so far, including three in each of the Dockers’ first two matches. Switkowski, meanwhile, has gone goalless in three of the five matches thus far. The renowned pressure forward has also recorded fewer pressure acts per game than in his past four seasons.

GEELONG

Improver: Shannon Neale (+62)

Slider: Jeremy Cameron (-248)

Are we starting to see the changing of the guard at Kardinia Park? It’s early, but Neale and Cameron are trending in opposite directions. The former has opened his campaign with 2.4 goals per game, while Cameron had kicked just one goal across the two games prior to Geelong’s win over the Eagles, when he kicked three. It still seems nonsensical to think that he’s fallen to 271st in AFL Rating, but it must be kept in mind that the champion left-footer overcame a Grand Final broken arm and a serious quad strain before the season started.

GOLD COAST SUNS

Improver: Bodhi Uwland (+162)

Slider: Daniel Rioli (-157)

Uwland’s ascension has been one of the better stories to come out of Gold Coast this year, with the defender’s intercept work a marvel. Rioli, though, hasn’t blown everyone away as yet, but his rebounding role remains crucial to the way the Suns want to play in transition.

GWS GIANTS

Improver: Clayton Oliver (+188)

Slider: Callum Brown (-222)

A trade recruit turning heads for the right reasons, Oliver has answered the early challenge of stepping into a more relied-upon role after Tom Green’s season-ending knee injury. The former Demon is averaging five more disposals per game compared to last year, while also making a bigger impact at clearance. But Brown has struggled to get going this season, currently kicking 0.3 goals per game as the Giants struggled to put up a winning score in the three weeks previous to their win over Richmond last Sunday.

HAWTHORN

Improver: Connor Macdonald (+175)

Slider: Karl Amon (-227)

The footy world knew there had to be a name or two step up to help fill the void left by Will Day’s injury, and Macdonald has been part of that fresh air around the ball. The ascending 23-year-old is averaging eight more disposals per game compared to last year, and an elite-rated 8.2 score involvements. He is currently 35th for AFL Rating after sitting 210th last year. Amon is yet to hit his straps — averaging almost five fewer disposals per game — though it should be noted that he missed a game after dealing with cartilage irritation in his knee.

MELBOURNE

Improver: Jack Steele (+268)

Slider: Harrison Petty (-150)

A recruit who’s made a very strong start to life at his third club, Steele has been a tackling machine in the guts for the Dees. His ball-winning and overall presence in the engine room have been of huge value to Steven King’s side, with the 30-year-old averaging five more disposals per game and getting involved in more scores. Petty hasn’t fired in defence, though, with his 3.6 intercept possessions per game considered below average (in the bottom 67-100 per cent of players in the same position) among fellow key defenders.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Improver: Luke Parker (+211)

Slider: Cameron Zurhaar (-118)

Parker has been rejuvenated in defence, and it may have extended his career by a year or two. Shifted behind the ball, the 33-year-old has exhibited his composure and leadership in a backline that’s copped plenty of criticism in recent seasons. His 24.8 disposals per game are considered elite for general defenders, as are his 5.8 intercepts, to currently be 48th in AFL Rating. Zurhaar hasn’t been able to assert himself thus far, kicking more than one goal just twice to start the year, ranking 318th for AFL Rating.

PORT ADELAIDE

Improver: Willem Drew (+139)

Slider: Miles Bergman (-95)

Drew has been a consistent defensive midfielder throughout his time at the Power, with his 23.4 pressure acts and 6.2 tackles per game considered elite among AFL midfielders. It comes after a year where he ranked a lowly 310th for AFL Rating. On the other hand, Bergman, who’s battled injury in the early portion of the season, has yet to assert himself, averaging just 11.5 disposals per game in defence. He’s attended very few centre ball-ups after it was once thought he could develop into one of the league’s bright midfielders.

RICHMOND

Improver: Tim Taranto (+126)

Slider: Nick Vlastuin (-267)

Vlastuin gets a pass for his early performance, given his prolonged recovery from a broken foot at the end of last season. He’ll build into the season, but it very likely won’t end in another All-Australian squad berth. He’s averaging six fewer touches in defence than last year, while his intercept numbers have also dipped. Taranto, meanwhile, has been the best of a struggling bunch when it comes to Richmond’s one-paced midfield, up to 108th for AFL Rating.

ST KILDA

Improver: Hugo Garcia (+212)

Slider: Tom De Koning (-209)

De Koning’s ball use has been very poor this season, in what’s been — it must be said — a slow start to life at St Kilda. His disposal efficiency is categorised as below average among ruckmen, he’s committing an average of 3.7 clangers per game, and he’s not winning as many clearances either. On the other side of the ledger, Garcia’s development at Moorabbin continues to be a bright spot, growing in confidence after ranking 325th for AFL Rating. He’s getting more of the footy, and his 6.0 tackles per game are elite compared to the league’s midfielders.

SYDNEY SWANS

Improver: Dane Rampe (+213)

Slider: Charlie Curnow (-181)

Curnow’s ball use has been poor, which has contributed to this result, while he’s gone goalless in two games. He’s also averaging just 1.8 goals per game, which is the same clip he went at in his final season at Carlton, while he’s taking close to two fewer marks per game this year. His 54.9 per cent disposal efficiency ranks below average among fellow key forwards. Rampe, meanwhile, at age 35, has seen a notable early uptick in performance after an offseason where his spot on Sydney’s list came into question — delisted by the Swans before re-signing as a rookie. He’s risen to 104th for AFL Rating, upping his intercepts and contested possessions.

WEST COAST EAGLES

Improver: Tim Kelly (+139)

Slider: Jack Graham (-175)

Most footy pundits labelled Kelly’s career over, not too long ago. But he’s made a promising start to the year. His rise to 184th in AFL Rating isn’t groundbreaking, but he’s passing the eye test; averaging almost five more disposals per game, an elite-rated 6.0 inside-50s, and getting involved in scores. Graham hasn’t been able to have the same impact in Andrew McQualter’s midfield, with the 28-year-old — who was clearly carrying a shoulder injury in Gather Round — getting less of the footy, despite remaining a defensive beast.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Improver: Connor Budarick (+203)

Slider: Bailey Dale (-166)

Budarick’s fresh start has served him well thus far — despite encountering a hamstring injury in Gather Round — and he’s proving to be more than a handy find for the Dogs in an area of the ground where they needed help. The 25-year-old is averaging almost 10 more disposals per game compared to last year, thriving in a more distributive role. And maybe his arrival has played a part in a lesser influence thus far from Dale, whose disposal numbers have dipped by almost seven per game. An All-Australian last year, he’s also managing fewer intercepts and pressure acts.