Naming the 'most improved' team of 2025

A host of players across the competition are enjoying career-best seasons, with some still in the early years of their development, while others are ageing like fine wines. While the AFL doesn't have a 'Most Improved Player Award' like other codes across the globe, there are plenty who would be worthy winners of that title in 2025. At the midway mark of the season, we've identified the most improved players to start the AFL season. So, here's our selected 'most improved' 22 for the season so far... Defenders It's hard to go past All-Australian chance Lachie Ash as arguably the most improved defender in the game this season. Already a key cog in Adam Kingsley's slingshot system, Ash has stepped up as the No.1 man down back for the Giants to make his case for a maiden AA blazer. Gold Coast recruit John Noble has undergone a similar rise in his first season with the Suns, linking up with fellow newcomer Dan Rioli to be pivotal in the Queensland club's transformation as a premiership contender. Brisbane lockdown defender Noah Answerth has flourished in the absence of premiership teammate Brandon Starcevich, often quelling the opponent's best small forwards, rounding out our ground-level backmen. Our key defenders include Collingwood's Billy Frampton, breakout Bomber Zach Reid and forward-turned-defender Jack Silvagni. [caption id="attachment_134286" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Billy Frampton of the Magpies marks the ball during a Collingwood Magpies AFL training session at AIA Centre on December 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] The latter has again returned to the backline, this time after a year on the sidelines due to an ACL injury. Partnering with Jacob Weitering, Silvagni has arguably been the Blues' best stopper this season. Frampton has also stood tall when the Magpies needed him to, filling a void in defence over a year on from Nathan Murphy's retirement, while Reef McInnes' season is over and captain Darcy Moore has spent multiple weeks on the sidelines. Reid looked to have shaken off the worst of his injuries to enjoy a breakout start to this season, only for a hamstring strain to bring an end to his purple patch. Nevertheless, Reid has warranted a spot in this team. Midfielders Three of the game's best players this year have risen to the top ranks thanks to stellar seasons in new roles. Geelong recruit Bailey Smith has become a Brownlow contender in his first season at Kardinia Park, putting up massive numbers each week as a ball magnet in midfield. His departure from the Bulldogs, as well as a season on the sidelines last year, has seen Ed Richards step up as one of the Dogs' most damaging players, with the former flanker now a high-impact contested asset for Luke Beveridge. Richards had a strong year in 2024, but he has emerged as the No.1 ranked player in the competition for score involvements, goal assists and inside 50s this year. Richards' teammate Joel Freijah has followed a similar path, having been drafted as a wingman before being utilised across half-back and now through the middle of the field to be another breakout Bulldog. [caption id="attachment_161817" align="alignnone" width="2560"] ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Ed Richards of the Bulldogs during the round five AFL match between Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions at Norwood Oval, on April 12, 2025, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)[/caption] Meanwhile, Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom might be having the best season of his 17-year career with the Magpies, having shifted back into the middle of the ground after spending most of his career on the wing. Sidebottom's season is rivalling his 2018 run when he won an All-Australian selection, the Copeland Trophy and polled 24 Brownlow votes to finish on the podium. His teammate Ned Long is a good shout for the most improved player in the AFL this year, with the ex-Hawk in the VFL last season. He has emerged as a two-way bull for Craig McRae in Tom Mitchell's absence, working perfectly alongside speedster Nick Daicos. It'll be hard to go past Dockers tall Luke Jackson for the ruck spot, with the premiership ex-Demon having a sensational year as a ruck-midfielder-forward utility for Justin Longmuir, while Carlton veteran George Hewett is another enjoying a career-best season in his age-30 year. Forwards The first name that will come to mind among the most improved forwards this year is Gold Coast's Ben Long, who was struggling for a game at St Kilda not long ago. The pressure forward has booted 23 goals in 10 games this season, kicking at least one major in every appearance to be an important asset for coach Damien Hardwick. North Melbourne's Paul Curtis is enjoying a stellar season with the Kangaroos, ranking in the top 10 of the competition for goals per game with a mean of 2.4. St Kilda's Jack Higgins is going at a similar rate, kicking 29 goals in his dozen appearances to place his name in the mix for All-Australian selection. Young Tigers forward Seth Campbell is thriving in a deeper role than when he started at Punt Road, with his pressure and pace a headache for the opposition. [caption id="attachment_122560" align="alignnone" width="2560"] HOBART, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Debutant, Paul Curtis of the Kangaroos kicks the ball during the 2022 AFL Round 06 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Geelong Cats at Blundstone Arena on April 24, 2022 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] As for the tall forwards, Adelaide's Riley Thilthorpe is hard to overlook, having recorded 27 goals and assisted a further 14, with his combined tally of 41 only beaten by Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron (38 and 7) and in-form Collingwood goalsneak Jamie Elliott (33 and 10), with the latter making this team after having four matches with at least five majors. Sidelined Western Bulldogs youngster Sam Darcy was arguably the game's best forward before his knee injury, with the setback not putting a line through his prospects of making this side. Darcy's teammate Rhylee West is another who has taken a leap from last year, and while he may not have the goal tally to rival others, his pressure in the front half of the field is almost unmatched. Brisbane forward Logan Morris has taken his game to new heights off the back of a premiership-winning rookie campaign, booting 20 goals for the season to date. The Most Improved 22 FB: Noah Answerth, Zach Reid, Jack Silvagni HB: Lachie Ash, Billy Frampton, John Noble C: Joel Freijah, Bailey Smith, Steele Sidebottom HF: Ben Long, Logan Morris, Paul Curtis FF: Seth Campbell, Riley Thilthorpe, Jack Higgins FO: Luke Jackson, Ed Richards, George Hewett I/C: Rhylee West, Jamie Elliott, Sam Darcy, Ned Long

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

Naming the ‘most improved’ team of 2025

We’ve compiled a 22 of the game’s biggest risers of the season so far.

4The Most Improved 22

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