Nearing the halfway point of the season, many players across the league have taken their game to the next level and continue to improve into integral players for their club's success.
Unlike many other professional leagues around the world, the AFL has no current award or accolade for a Most Improved Player, which made me want to rank the players who have improved the most this season compared to last year.
I'll be judging improvement based on eye test, an uptick in stats, and growth in their respective roles for the club. Note that this is ranking them based on their level of improvement, not the players' form themselves.
Players like Christian Petracca and Will Hayward will miss the cut since their improvement in play is more measured by playing for a different club.
9Brayden Cook
After suffering a concussion towards the end of the 2025 season, Cook had questions coming into the year, especially with his up-and-down form that has plagued his career. However, the midfielder is averaging the most touches he's ever had and shown glimpses of excellence, including a Showdown goal that shook the league.
