Former Sydney premiership player Jude Bolton has revealed his top five most improved players in the AFL this season, in a column for ESPN.com.au.
With the season now over a third of the way through, teams have established themselves and contenders while others have shown themselves to be pretenders, and the same goes for some of the stars of the game.
Fremantle's Nat Fyfe, Melbourne's Max Gawn and Western Bulldogs' Jackson Macrae have all starred throughout the season, as those three players are looking at certain All-Australian berths after eight rounds.
Some stars like Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Mitchell, Dustin Martin and Zach Merrett have all failed to fire at stages throughout the season, but many are expecting them to all find their best soon enough.
However, Bolton has come up with a list of his top five most improved players, and the full article can be seen here.
"In the absence of Brodie Smith and the exodus of Charlie Cameron, Seedsman has been a revelation since coming into the Crows side late last year. Slight of build, fleet of foot, the vast improvement since his time at Collingwood has come through the confidence of more game time and the chance to settle into a position," Bolton wrote.
"With six goals in 2018, Seedsman is averaging 617 metres gained -- No. 1 in the league by a whopping 75m -- 25 disposals and six score involvements a game. He's has become an important cog in a very short period of time."
"After a terrible run with injuries, Pearce has emerged as a potential All-Australian," Bolton wrote.
"With 47 intercept possessions from his eight games this year, Pearce looks to have elevated himself to new heights with his ability to win one-on-ones or stop his direct opponent from marking. This includes a list of tough matchups against players such as Jeremy Cameron, Charlie Dixon, Joe Daniher, Josh Kennedy and Tom Lynch, all of whom Pearce has successfully negated."
"His willingness to work both ways and apply pressure on an opposition prime midfielder (he averages seven tackles per game) has been evident. When the likes of Josh Kelly, Brett Deledio and Toby Greene return to the GWS line up, it will only further aid the development of this young star," Bolton wrote.
"There were huge wraps on him as a junior and now Curnow has taken some massive steps forward to regularly impact at AFL level," Bolton wrote.
"Despite the lack of supply and a poor start to the year for the young Blues outfit, Curnow has increased his averages in key areas such as disposals, contested marks and inside 50s."
"Such is the leap that Brown has taken again this season, the entire competition has taken notice," Bolton wrote.
"Brown has booted 26 goals for the season and a North Melbourne side that is exceeding expectations from wins against Sydney and Hawthorn in recent weeks -- not to mention pushing Richmond all the way in Round 8 -- means he should continue to get the supply needed to kick upwards of 70+ this year."