The player at your club with the highest ceiling

Which player at your club has the ability to become the best player in the AFL?

This all-in is inspired by Kane Cornes’ assessment of emerging Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy who he believes has a “frightening” footy ability.

Cornes said: “I’m just not sure how he’s going to be stopped. If you’re looking at top 50 lists, if he’s not number one as the best player in the competition then something’s wrong.”

We have looked at each of the 18 clubs and put forward who we reckon has the scope to be one of the league’s very best.

Riley Thilthorpe

Last year’s minor premiers have plenty of strong options here, but after 2025, Riley Thilthorpe stands above the rest.

At 23, Thilthorpe made his first All-Australian team as he emerged as perhaps the best centre half forward in the competition.

There aren’t many players at his size that can move like he does, and if it wasn’t for Sam Darcy, many would be calling Thilthorpe the biggest tall threat up forward in the AFL for the next decade.

Izak Rankine, if he gets consistency, could also be a top 10 player in the AFL and Jordan Dawson is probably already at that level.

Still, Thilthorpe could easily be the best player on a premiership team, and the sky is really the limit for him.

Lachlan Geleit

Will Ashcroft

Probably the hardest team to pick given the smorgasbord of talent, but Will Ashcroft probably has to be the pick after his 2025 finals series.

While he hasn’t put together an All-Australian worthy season in his first three attempts, with injury somewhat to blame, Ashcroft has shown in the big moments that he could easily be a top 10 player in the AFL.

There’s an argument that Jaspa Fletcher or even Levi Ashcroft could even have some more tools that could also see them join that top 10 echelon one day, but Will has to be the pick, given he looks well on that path already.

With him at the coal face for the next decade and longer, don’t expect the Lions to fall away anytime soon.

Lachlan Geleit

Jagga Smith

Although he’s yet to feature at AFL level, the hype surrounding Jagga Smith is as real as it gets.

An incredibly smooth mover, pacey, clean and a proper ball magnet, Smith’s potential is far from overblown.

Recovering from an ACL injury that ruled him out of his debut season, Smith will be itching to compete at the top level, appearing set to feature in the Blues’ Opening Round clash with Sydney.

While the likes of Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering remain Carlton’s top dogs, Jagga’s ceiling could be up there with the highest amongst the competition.

Jaiden Sciberras

Nick Daicos

No need to think too hard about this.

Already a top two player in the AFL, having turned 23 earlier this month, Daicos’ ceiling is just about unrivalled.

Not only can he be the best player in the AFL (and he may already be that), but he could genuinely be Collingwood’s greatest ever, and by some margin.

After perhaps the best individual start to a career in recent AFL history, if Daicos’ trajectory continues and the accolades keep coming… it’s scary to think what we could be looking at by the time he hangs the boots up.

Also, the Magpies don’t really look to even have any other top 10 in the league candidates on their list now. Absolute no-brainer.

Lachlan Geleit

Nate Caddy

Essendon have a few promising youngsters to look forward to, but the prospect of what Nate Caddy could be would have to excite most.

Already compared to a young Charlie Curnow, Caddy could be Essendon’s best key forward since Matthew Lloyd.

Zach Merrett is already a six-time BnF winner, and while there’s almost no way Caddy can match his consistency, the young forward’s ceiling is the game-winning top-five player in the comp that Essendon need should he deliver on his enormous potential.

Lachlan Geleit

Hayden Young

Another tough one, the Dockers certainly aren’t short for talent with high ceilings.

With all of Caleb Serong, Jordan Clark, Luke Jackson, Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Murphy Reid 25 and under, you’d expect the Dockers to compete for some time, but there’s one player also in that group who could be the best of the lot if his body allows – Hayden Young.

While he’s been behind both Serong and Andrew Brayshaw in terms of midfield time throughout his time at the Dockers, Young’s size, movement and kicking ability give him the highest ceiling of the lot should everything click for him.

Turning 25 in 2026, this could be the year that Young becomes Freo’s best player and one of the top mids in the league.

Lachlan Geleit

Jeremy Cameron

Yes, he’s 32 and won’t get better from here, but it’s hard to look past Jeremy Cameron for Geelong.

20 Brownlow votes and 88 goals as a key forward in 2025 is simply mind-blowing.

It’s pretty easy to argue that Jezza was the best player in 2025 and therefore, is the AFL’s best heading into 2026.

There’s a chance that Max Holmes and Bailey Smith could become that, but the likelihood for them, given the glut of gun midfielders, is that they remain ‘just’ top 10 players in the AFL.

Out of that duo, it’s probably Holmes who edges Smith, given his immense athletic profile.

Lachlan Geleit

Bailey Humphrey

Gold Coast are spoilt for choice in the talent department, but if we’re thinking ceiling, only one man should be considered.

Bailey Humphrey could well be next Dustin Martin. With incredible strength, explosive power and elite goal sense, Humphrey – particularly under Damien Hardwick – is a variable that could elevate the Suns to the very top.

Yes, Matt Rowell just won a Brownlow and yes, Noah Anderson is one of the game’s best players.

But in terms of pure ceiling, 21-year-old Bailey Humphrey could very well be the best player in the AFL if his progression remains linear.

Jaiden Sciberras

Finn Callaghan

One of the game’s fastest improving players, Finn Callaghan has all the necessary traits to become an out and out superstar.

With powerful run, great size and elite use, Callaghan was a standout for the Giants across 2025 in what was the epitome of a breakout season.

While Tom Green and Aaron Cadman both have the capacity to step into superstardom, Callaghan’s 20 contests in ’25 were as exciting as it gets.

At 23 years of age and with another pre-season under his belt, it’s only up for the All-Australian squad member.

Jaiden Sciberras

Josh Weddle

A complete unicorn, Josh Weddle is one of those talents that don’t come around all that often.

At 192cm, Weddle is capable of absolutely everything at AFL level. An incredible athlete, Weddle’s current positioning behind the ball has put his top-tier run and carry on display, thriving as an intercept defender and more than capable of defending against the best one on one.

That said, the back flank is far from the limit. Weddle’s cameos forward of the ball have been as good as any, while his running capacity - and the absence of Will Day - could also suggest a future on-ball.

A unicorn by all accounts, Weddle’s talent is undeniable, and under the guidance of Sam Mitchell and the Hawthorn coaching staff, the 21-year-old could rapidly become one of the competition’s best.

Jaiden Sciberras

Kysaiah Pickett

Oozing with talent, Kozzy’s 2025 felt like the beginning of a tremendous rise to the top.

Undoubtedly the most frightening small forward in the competition, Pickett’s shift on-ball was a glimpse of his best, dominating with his explosive power and elite IQ to star on numerous occasions.

And with midfield time up for grabs at the Demons, 2026 could be the year that Pickett takes his game to the highest degree.

One of the highest ceilings in the AFL and a contract to match, Kozzy is most definitely the Dees’ brightest.

Jaiden Sciberras

Harry Sheezel

One of the game’s best young talents, Harry Sheezel is already one his club's best players, claiming two best and fairest nods within his three years thus far.

And it’s safe to say that it’s hardly the start for the Roos' superstar.

Tying the record for the most disposals in a single game with 54 last season, Sheezel’s capacity to control a game is as good as anyone’s, with his damage on and ahead of the ball only improving with time.

Once the wins start to flow on for the young Roos, there’s no doubt that the 21-year-old will enter conversations involving the competition's best.

Jaiden Sciberras

Zak Butters

Butters is comfortably Port’s best player and is rated in many top 10 lists league-wide.

He’s won three Power B&Fs in a row, has two All-Australians to his name and has three years on the trot with 20 or more Brownlow votes.

And he’s just 25.

He is already one of the AFL’s very best and despite his diminutive stature has the talent and tenacity to become the league’s top player.

Andrew Slevison

Sam Lalor

This is purely forecasting given what we’ve seen from the no.1 draft pick in the first 11 games of his career.

Lalor possesses the attributes and composure to become a legitimate A-grader and seemingly has the work ethic and commitment to make it to the very top.

Tim Taranto is arguably Richmond’s best player as it stands, but has he reached his ceiling?

At the ripe old age of 19, Lalor has A LOT still to come. He could be rubbing shoulders with the competition’s elite players within the next few seasons.

Andrew Slevison

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

This guy has the hopes of an expectant St Kilda fanbase resting squarely on his shoulders.

The Saints were holding their breath for much of 2025 as Nasiah went about plotting his future and there were raucous scenes (we assume) in most Bayside homes when he put pen to paper.

Wanganeen-Milera has taken giant strides over the last few years and is now keeping company with the elite echelon.

If his ascendance continues then he could well be the game’s best player. But will it be in red, white and black or other colours?

Andrew Slevison

Isaac Heeney

Heeney has it all - the skills, the looks, the rig, the performance.

He can star in the midfield, he can dominate as a forward, he can turn a game in minutes.

The star Swan’s last two seasons in particular have been outrageous (after a slow start to 2025) and if he can find yet another level beyond that then the no.1 mantle is beckoning.

Teammate Errol Gulden is pure class, Chad Warner is a gun but a little inconsistent. Both are in plenty of top 20 lists.

Or could two-time Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow explode in Sydney and better what he did with Carlton?

Andrew Slevison

Harley Reid

This one is quite clear to us from an Eagles perspective.

Reid certainly has the potential to be a proper top-liner. He’s already put together a decent highlights reel and has produced some massive games at AFL level.

Now he needs to get his fitness down pat and consistently produce with substance.

The Victorian is the great white hope for West Coast who will be desperate for him to stay well beyond 2028.

Andrew Slevison

Sam Darcy

The poster boy for this article.

While Marcus Bontempelli is arguably the best player in the league as it stands, Darcy is well on the way.

When looking at the Doggies’ stacked list on paper he is the one who jumps out.

His ceiling, like his reach, is enormous.

Andrew Slevison