We are now 16 Round into a 2021 season that has produced plenty of surprises and upsets.
Whilst several teams have shot their way up the ladder, we want to look at the players who have been driving this success.
Now that we have a big enough body of work, it's time to laud the performances of the players who have been each club's biggest improvers.
As always, let us know who we have overrated and who we have snubbed.
Western Bulldogs
Bailey Dale
There isn't many names on the Bulldogs list that haven't improved in 2021.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli is in Brownlow Medal form and possibly holds the mantel of the best player in the game.
Josh Bruce has turned his career around to sit 3rd in the Coleman, whilst Aaron Naughton has shown there is simply no limit on his potential.
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The AFL's leading clearance winner, Tom Liberatore, is arguably putting together a career-best season, as is freak ball-winner Jackson Macrae.
However, the biggest explosion belongs to rebounding defender Bailey Dale, who has been electrifying.
The 24-year-old made the move to the backline over the off-season and hasn't looked back since.
Averaging 23 disposals off half-back and taking the 3rd most bounces of anyone in 2021, Dale has been instrumental in the Bulldogs' flag tilt.
Over his first six seasons in the league, Dale was unable to break a permanent role in the Doggies' line-up. But his turnaround has been so sharp that many have him locked in for an All-Australian birth at the end of this year.
