MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 10: Oscar Allen of the Eagles runs with the ball during the round four AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on April 10, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
Whether they're playing for a lesser-followed club, excelling in an overlooked position, or simply not getting the recognition they deserve — these five stars have flown under the radar this season.
One GWS star is having an All-Australian season, while a Gold Coast defender is reaping the rewards of a positional switch.
These footballers are in career-best form or have simply found the perfect balance of ball-winning and impact for their team.
With the departure of midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, you could be forgiven for writing this GWS midfield off. But, the brilliance of Stephen Coniglio has led the Giants one win away from the top eight.
The 29-year-old is quietly averaging a best-ever 30 disposals per game and sits fifth in score involvements per game. Coniglio isn't just winning the ball at a huge rate, he's taking ground and punishing teams with his penetrating kicking.
The Giants midfielder is finding career form and is building a strong partnership with fellow ball magnet Tom Green that can challenge the AFL's best midfields.
While teammate Toby Greene took the Brett Kirk Medal for best-on-ground against Sydney in Round 7, Coniglio's two-goal, 28-disposal haul was similarly impressive.
Off-field, St Kilda has found a new gameplan and outlook through Ross Lyon, but it's on-field where one Saint has been setting the standard. Brad Hill, now in his fourth season at St Kilda, has been one of the most consistent performers this year.
Hill has been finding the ball with ease as a winger and is making great use of his possessions. The 29-year-old's disposals efficiency sits at 75%, breaking opposition lines with running and kicking alike.
The midfielder is backing up a strong 2022 season in his current form, but with his club in a position to play finals, his talents have been put to better use. His creativity and run are an X-factor for the Saints.
Brad Crouch is another who has flown under the radar for St Kilda. The inside midfielder is 12.7 contested possessions, which is releasing outside runners like Hill to great effect.
Currently sitting sixth in the AFL for total goals, Oscar Allen has been a shining light for the downed Eagles. The 196cm key forward was sidelined for the entirety of 2022 with a foot injury and has returned as one of the club's most valuable players.
Allen's 18 goals put him eight majors ahead of the next-best Eagle, Jake Waterman, and at a 2.6 goal-per-game average. For a team ranked fourth last in points scored, his impact has been vital.
The 24-year-old has big shoes to fill with the recent retirement of West Coast great Josh Kennedy, but is already the Eagles' best forward target and continues to gain confidence as the side's spearhead.
Darcy Macpherson is in career form, with a switch from small forward to the backline a masterstroke in unlocking his potential.
The medium defender is winning 13 more possessions this year than he was in 2022, for an average tally of 23 disposals in 2023.
At 175cm, Macpherson has been elite overhead and has been able to take the occasional contested or intercept mark to influence the game.
Having struggled to consolidate a position in the Sun's best 22, the 24-year-old has breathed new life into his career as a defender.
Steele Sidebottom isn't a name that often flies under the radar (how could it?), although the 32-year-old hasn't quite seen the same hype as Nick Daicos and Scott Pendlebury as of late.
Collingwood sits alone atop the ladder and Sidebottom has been at his most influential during the club's untouchable run of form. While the midfielders' numbers aren't at an all-time high, he's been among the league's most damaging, with the Magpies great casually hitting targets on either foot.
Sidebottom, like his longtime teammate Pendlebury, seems to find the ball at the most opportune times — playing a game-winning role in the Pies' one-point win over Adelaide in Round 7.
The Collingwood veteran remains one of the club's most important players, as it seeks to win its first premiership since 2010.