Players that enter a new tier 2026

[Lingsface]

There is almost no chance of any of these things happening.
McDonald plays high half forward, he'd need to kick 50+ to get in ahead of a midfielder or genuine small.

McKenzie is a talent with it all before him, but something has to have gone seriously wrong to a lot of players for him to leapfrog to place top 5 in the B&F.

Schubert will be lucky to play 2-3 games at best, he's behind all of Chol, Dear, Ramsden, Lewis and Gunston, and is very raw.

Ok, will have to wait and see.
I think Mcdonald could be a 20 and 1.5 goal player which would get him pretty close. I did say squad so the 44 or what ever it is.
Mckenzie has the talent if he starts on ball he could achieve that.
Schubert is the one that you are probably right on, I think he was the best KPP player in the draft and was an absoloute steal, also can be used in the ruck as well.

 

[Lingsface]

There is almost no chance of any of these things happening.
McDonald plays high half forward, he'd need to kick 50+ to get in ahead of a midfielder or genuine small.

McKenzie is a talent with it all before him, but something has to have gone seriously wrong to a lot of players for him to leapfrog to place top 5 in the B&F.

Schubert will be lucky to play 2-3 games at best, he's behind all of Chol, Dear, Ramsden, Lewis and Gunston, and is very raw.

Schubert looks so promising.
Mcdonald looked very good today, Mckenzie was a dissapointment.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Schubert looks so promising.
Mcdonald looked very good today, Mckenzie was a dissapointment.

It was a glorified match sim, MacKenzie was fine.

 

[Matrix10]

Ldu goes from elite to top 10 players in the comp.

Not unless he has cleaned up his disposal efficiency. very average . at his age. Not likely

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Which players do you see raising up a level in there football for 2026. It might be from unknown to best 22 or a solid player to a very good player or a very good player to a superstar.

These are all stabs in the dark but interested to see others opinions.

Mine are

Adelaide-
Michalanney goes from a good player to a very good player who is verging on AA squad.
Rachele becomes a consistent performer and a non-negotiable on the selection table.
Thilthorpe goes to superstar level.

Brisbane
Fletcher- Becomes an AA level player.
L Ashcroft- Steps up to a top 20-30 midfielder in the comp.

Carlton-
Reidy- Becomes a starting ruckman by seasons end.
Moir- Best 22
Hollands- good to very good

Collingwood
Ed Allen- becomes a very good player
Perryman- Re discovers his form leading into the trade.

Essendon-
Caddy- goes to AA squad
Duhram- Keeps elevating every year goes up to a Sam Walsh level.
Blakiston- Becomes a very good mature pick up.

Fremantle-
Serong- Already a superstar in my mind, but gets the recognition this year around the country.
Draper and Chapman- Step up defensively and become very respected around the league.

Geelong-
O'Sullivan- Becomes one of the best attacking CHB in the league at a very young age, with stints on the wing as well.
Dempsey- All Aus
Edwards- Gets games mid season and shows alot of promise in the ruck.
Miers- AA squad

Gold Coast-
Ballard- The forgotten man takes there defence to premiership standard.
Graham- Will Graham becomes a very good run with onballer.
Walter- Becomes a part of a very scary forward line.

GWS
Callaghan- Goes to superstar levels
Fonti- Becomes a very good player
Cadman- Top 10 in the coleman
Leake- Best 22 season end

Hawthorn-
Mckenzie- Top 5 b and f
Schubert- Plays 15 plus games.
Mcdonald- AA squad

Kangaroos
Mckercher- Top 3 b and f
Curtis- Top 3 small forward in the comp.
Whitlock- Best 22

Melbourne-
Pickett- Superstar
Windsor- Becomes an A grader

Port Adelaide

Sydney
Mills- Gets back to what he was an A grade half back
Rosas- Kicks 30
Co Warner- Becomes a more potent midfielder and is a very important rotation

St Kilda
Wilson- Becomes an A grader.
Flanders- Top 3 b and f.
Windhager and Tauru become very good players.

West Coast
Shanahan- Becomes a highly hyped kpf
Hall- Becomes a consistent best 22 player
Robertson and Mcrae reach their potential.

Dogs
Darcy- top 3 player by season end
Frejiah and Sanders more midfield time and become A grade
O'Donnel keeps improving
West- Recognized as the best 2 way small forward.

Adelaide:
Michalanney becomes an All Australian calibre defender.
Rachele stands out as a mid-fwd quality player.

Brisbane:
Fletcher pushes the All Australian squad as a genuine gun.
Cameron gets back to his best.

Carlton:
Moir becomes a consistent performer and showcases his game breaking ability.
Jagga quickly becomes one of Carlton’s most important players.

Collingwood:
De Goey plays most of the year and lives up to the potential A Grade calibre quality.
McCreery becomes a genuine mid-fwd threat.

Essendon:
Zak Johnson pushes his name into the best 23 every week and showcases his quality.
Durham pushes further as a consistently quality midfielder.

Fremantle:
Young cements himself as a genuine gun of the competition, A Grade calibre.
Darcy lives up to the hype, and stays fit.

Geelong:
Dempsey takes the next step into the midfield.
O’Sullivan steps up as the quality main key defender in a top 4 side.

Suns:
Will Powell gets recognised as a genuine classy defender.
Petracca regains his top status.

GWS:
Callaghan becomes superstar level.
Coniglio regathers his classy form.

Hawthorn:
Newcombe takes the step up to superstar level.
Ward becomes a genuine gun A Grade midfielder.
MacDonald successfully makes the transition as a mid-fwd and produces pure quality.
Lewis finally stays fit and kicks 50+ goals as a Coleman Smokey.

Melbourne:
Gawn adapts to the new ruck rule changes and stamps that he’s still the best ruck in the league.
Rivers becomes a quality mid.

North Melbourne:
McKercher top 3 B&F.
LDU lives up to the potential and makes the AA squad pushing the side.

Port Adelaide:
JHF consistent year and AA.

Richmond:
Trainor breaks out as a gun intercept and dashing defender.

Sydney:
Mills back to his best.

St Kilda:
Phillipou breakout year as a genuinely quality mid-fwd.
Flanders top 3 b&f.

West Coast:
Reid becomes a genuine A Grade mid consistently.
Shanahan kicks 30+ goals.

Dogs:
Freijah genuine break out as a quality consistent midfielder.
Bont finally wins a brownlow.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

It's time Zac Reid started fulfilling his potential, missed 1pre season session through training loads but flying apart from that.

In terms of players returning to the potential,Darcy Parish looks good in pre season, he was AA so it is there.

Forgot to mention Reid but gun. Should hopefully play most of the season, at his best he’s AA quality.

 

[Lingsface]

Adelaide:
Michalanney becomes an All Australian calibre defender.
Rachele stands out as a mid-fwd quality player.

Brisbane:
Fletcher pushes the All Australian squad as a genuine gun.
Cameron gets back to his best.

Carlton:
Moir becomes a consistent performer and showcases his game breaking ability.
Jagga quickly becomes one of Carlton’s most important players.

Collingwood:
De Goey plays most of the year and lives up to the potential A Grade calibre quality.
McCreery becomes a genuine mid-fwd threat.

Essendon:
Zak Johnson pushes his name into the best 23 every week and showcases his quality.
Durham pushes further as a consistently quality midfielder.

Fremantle:
Young cements himself as a genuine gun of the competition, A Grade calibre.
Darcy lives up to the hype, and stays fit.

Geelong:
Dempsey takes the next step into the midfield.
O’Sullivan steps up as the quality main key defender in a top 4 side.

Suns:
Will Powell gets recognised as a genuine classy defender.
Petracca regains his top status.

GWS:
Callaghan becomes superstar level.
Coniglio regathers his classy form.

Hawthorn:
Newcombe takes the step up to superstar level.
Ward becomes a genuine gun A Grade midfielder.
MacDonald successfully makes the transition as a mid-fwd and produces pure quality.
Lewis finally stays fit and kicks 50+ goals as a Coleman Smokey.

Melbourne:
Gawn adapts to the new ruck rule changes and stamps that he’s still the best ruck in the league.
Rivers becomes a quality mid.

North Melbourne:
McKercher top 3 B&F.
LDU lives up to the potential and makes the AA squad pushing the side.

Port Adelaide:
JHF consistent year and AA.

Richmond:
Trainor breaks out as a gun intercept and dashing defender.

Sydney:
Mills back to his best.

St Kilda:
Phillipou breakout year as a genuinely quality mid-fwd.
Flanders top 3 b&f.

West Coast:
Reid becomes a genuine A Grade mid consistently.
Shanahan kicks 30+ goals.

Dogs:
Freijah genuine break out as a quality consistent midfielder.
Bont finally wins a brownlow.

Love it, Moir is a good shout I think!
Also a big fan of Trainor.

Dempsey looks ready to play inside and outside as well, could do some damage.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Love it, Moir is a good shout I think!
Also a big fan of Trainor.

Dempsey looks ready to play inside and outside as well, could do some damage.

Big fan of Moir. He’s so strong aerially but also ground level. Has the xfactor and the class forward of centre. Needs to lift his consistency, ability to get up the ground and involved aswell as his defensive side. Lot of talent and promise tho.

Trainor has the size, aerial capacity, defensive nous and skill to be a serious player.

Dempsey was arguably an AA calibre winger but think he can go to another level as a mid. Damaging and could be a real powerhouse as the forward half mid. Looks a lot stronger.

 

[Grrr]

Richmond's Seth Campbell is a pretty exciting player but will have a lot more class around him and should go up a level.

Ashcroft brothers have more levels to go as well.

 

[Lingsface]

Arty Jones looked like a big improver today.

 

[Lingsface]

Bit onerous that criteria.

I’d say Heeney is unquestionably elite, but I would not have him as one of the ten best players in the comp.

Over the last two years he has the rights to be in conversation for number 1.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Wilson and Philipou are the big ones at St Kilda.

 

[Lingsface]

Wilson and Philipou are the big ones at St Kilda.

Yes and you would hope TDK and Flanders as well can elevate to their potential ceilings.

Wilson and Windsor are two that I compare and can't decide on who I think will end up being the better player in that AFL.

 

[Lingsface]

Please play Dylan Patterson early Suns, he looks like he has something special!

 

[XhazzafootyX]

Max hall aa squad

 

[The Kings Ransom]

For the Suns

Ethan Read:
2024 Year 1 - Had a few impressive moments
2025 Year 2 - Significant impact on a few games, stronger in the air, kicking 19 goals as a 19-20 year old key forward/ruck
2026 Year 3 - Slated to play on the wing so should be involved more, intercepting in defence and pushing hard forward with his excellent running ability. I think set for a step up again this year

Leo Lombard:
2025 Year 1 - Hardly played, injured, not much impact in limited opportunities
2026 Year 2 - Looks incredibly fit and ready to go. Suspect he plays most games

Bailey Humphrey:
2023 Year 1 - Decent first year
2024 Year 2 - Stagnated, subbed off a lot
2025 Year 3 - Huge improvement. One of only 3 players (Bont and Mccluggage) to average >15 possessions, >1 goal, >1 goal assist, >4 tackles. But there were still 6-7 games where he did virtually nothing.
2026 Year 4 - Expect him to go to another level. To become a factor in most games. To go from a good player that can impact games, to a very good player that is hard to stop every week.

Wil Powell

27

Wil Powell

Age

26

Ht

188cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.2

4star

MG

161.0

3star

D

11.8

3star

K

5.2

2star

HB

6.7

4star

M

1.7

2star

T

1.2

2star

MG

156.7

3star

D

8.8

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.6

4star

MG

133.2

3star

:
Will move up the ground and play around the middle a bit more. Expect the same fine skills, but a more significant role.
Will become apparent he's not just a cheap possession getter at half back like many of the players back there.

Dylan Patterson:
Will be a regular by the end of the year.
The team looks dangerous every time he has the ball (from small amount we've seen so far)

 

[Pie_high]

Interesting question.

From the Pies, I think McCreery goes to A-tier. Harvey Harrison, Roan Steele, Ed Allen and Oscar Steene jump up to B or C-tier.

My tier system for reference:

• SS tier: Superstar — top 1% of players (~8 total, 0.4 per club on average).
• S tier: Elite — next 4% of players (~32 total, 1.8 per club).
• A tier: A-Grader — next 10% of players (~80 total, 4.4 per club).
• B tier: Core Best-23 — next 20% of players (~160 total, 8.9 per club).
• C tier: Fringe Best-23 — next 30% of players (~240 total, 13.3 per club).
• D tier: Depth / Developing — bottom 35% of players (~280 total, 15.6 per club).

 

[tiger_tough]

Brady Hough

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Brady Hough

Could be anything, or everything.

 

[Lingsface]

For the Suns

Ethan Read:
2024 Year 1 - Had a few impressive moments
2025 Year 2 - Significant impact on a few games, stronger in the air, kicking 19 goals as a 19-20 year old key forward/ruck
2026 Year 3 - Slated to play on the wing so should be involved more, intercepting in defence and pushing hard forward with his excellent running ability. I think set for a step up again this year

Leo Lombard:
2025 Year 1 - Hardly played, injured, not much impact in limited opportunities
2026 Year 2 - Looks incredibly fit and ready to go. Suspect he plays most games

Bailey Humphrey:
2023 Year 1 - Decent first year
2024 Year 2 - Stagnated, subbed off a lot
2025 Year 3 - Huge improvement. One of only 3 players (Bont and Mccluggage) to average >15 possessions, >1 goal, >1 goal assist, >4 tackles. But there were still 6-7 games where he did virtually nothing.
2026 Year 4 - Expect him to go to another level. To become a factor in most games. To go from a good player that can impact games, to a very good player that is hard to stop every week.

Wil Powell:
Will move up the ground and play around the middle a bit more. Expect the same fine skills, but a more significant role.
Will become apparent he's not just a cheap possession getter at half back like many of the players back there.

Dylan Patterson:
Will be a regular by the end of the year.
The team looks dangerous every time he has the ball (from small amount we've seen so far)

Dylan Patterson looks like he has something special, just something different to most others. Looked like a young Shaun Burgoyne at the championships.

 

[g_TRAIN]

Wilson and Philipou are the big ones at St Kilda.

Max Hall too

 

[Donflicted]

Adelaide:
Michalanney becomes an All Australian calibre defender.
Rachele stands out as a mid-fwd quality player.

Brisbane:
Fletcher pushes the All Australian squad as a genuine gun.
Cameron gets back to his best.

Carlton:
Moir becomes a consistent performer and showcases his game breaking ability.
Jagga quickly becomes one of Carlton’s most important players.

Collingwood:
De Goey plays most of the year and lives up to the potential A Grade calibre quality.
McCreery becomes a genuine mid-fwd threat.

Essendon:
Zak Johnson pushes his name into the best 23 every week and showcases his quality.
Durham pushes further as a consistently quality midfielder.

Fremantle:
Young cements himself as a genuine gun of the competition, A Grade calibre.
Darcy lives up to the hype, and stays fit.

Geelong:
Dempsey takes the next step into the midfield.
O’Sullivan steps up as the quality main key defender in a top 4 side.

Suns:
Will Powell gets recognised as a genuine classy defender.
Petracca regains his top status.

GWS:
Callaghan becomes superstar level.
Coniglio regathers his classy form.

Hawthorn:
Newcombe takes the step up to superstar level.
Ward becomes a genuine gun A Grade midfielder.
MacDonald successfully makes the transition as a mid-fwd and produces pure quality.
Lewis finally stays fit and kicks 50+ goals as a Coleman Smokey.

Melbourne:
Gawn adapts to the new ruck rule changes and stamps that he’s still the best ruck in the league.
Rivers becomes a quality mid.

North Melbourne:
McKercher top 3 B&F.
LDU lives up to the potential and makes the AA squad pushing the side.

Port Adelaide:
JHF consistent year and AA.

Richmond:
Trainor breaks out as a gun intercept and dashing defender.

Sydney:
Mills back to his best.

St Kilda:
Phillipou breakout year as a genuinely quality mid-fwd.
Flanders top 3 b&f.

West Coast:
Reid becomes a genuine A Grade mid consistently.
Shanahan kicks 30+ goals.

Dogs:
Freijah genuine break out as a quality consistent midfielder.
Bont finally wins a brownlow.

Zak Johnson shout out +Respect

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Zak Johnson shout out +Respect

He’s seriously talented. Big fan

 

[Lingsface]

Levi Ashcroft average 25 disposals a game.
Lombard plays every game.

 

[KanesBurner]

Levi Ashcroft average 25 disposals a game.
Lombard plays every game.

I’m big on O’Sullivan and SDK as key defensive pillars. Heard SDK might be moving to the ruck though?