Your AFL club's A-Graders: Pickering's definitive list

SEN's Liam Pickering has named his A-Graders for every AFL club heading into the 2026 season.

Pickering's A-Graders are each club's cream of the crop, and he also named the B-Graders on each team who make up the top end of each best 23.

From clubs with seven A-Graders to clubs with none at all, check out Pickers' full grades below from SEN Sportsday.

Adelaide

Jordan Dawson, Riley Thilthorpe, Izak Rankine

B-Graders: Josh Worrell, Mark Keane, Dan Curtin, Callum Ah Chee, Ben Keays, Darcy Fogarty, Tex Walker, Jake Soligo

“11 players that every week, can win them a match.”

Brisbane

Harris Andrews, Lachie Neale, Zac Bailey, Cam Rayner, Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft

“That’s the seven.”

B-Graders: Ryan Lester, Jack Payne, Dayne Zorko, Jaspa Fletcher, Jarrod Berry, Darcy Wilmot, Kai Lohmann and Logan Morris.

“That’s not even including Levi Ashcroft. I think he will be an A eventually, I think Fletcher will be an A.”

“15 at the top end… good luck beating that!”

Carlton

Jacob Weitering, Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh

“That’s it. Walsh is an A-Grade player when he plays.”

B–Graders: Adam Saad, Adam Cerra, Harry McKay, Will Hayward, Nic Newman, George Hewett

“Who can go to the next level? We don’t know what Jagga Smith and Harry Dean are going to do at the moment. Ollie Florent is a bit below.

“Nine players that they can rely on, week in week out.”

Collingwood

Darcy Moore, Nick Daicos, Josh Daicos, Jamie Elliott

“That’s it for me at the moment.”

B-Graders: Brayden Maynard, Scott Pendlebury, Harry Perryman, Steele Sidebottom, Darcy Cameron, Jordan De Goey, Jeremy Howe, Jack Crisp.

“Dan Houston isn’t reliable. Isaac Quaynor is a bit stiff.”

Essendon

Zach Merrett

B-Graders: Nic Martin, Andy McGrath, Jordan Ridley, Sam Durham, Brayden Fiorini, Kyle Langford, Jye Caldwell

“The one I would put in next would be (Archie) Roberts, but he is not quite there yet. I can see (Nate) Caddy getting there, (Isaac) Kako getting there, (Archie) Perkins should get there, and (Zach) Reid could get there.”

Fremantle

Alex Pearce, Hayden Young, Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw

“That’s their four.”

B-Graders: Luke Ryan, Jordan Clark, Brennan Cox, Luke Jackson, Josh Treacy, Shai Bolton, Patrick Voss

Geelong

Zach Guthrie, Tom Stewart, Max Holmes, Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron, Bailey Smith

B-Graders: Jack Henry, Ollie Dempsey, Gryan Miers, Tyson Stengle, Mark Blicavs, Tom Atkins.

“Room to move on Shaun Mannagh and Sam De Koning.”

Gold Coast Suns

Sam Collins, Noah Anderson, Ben King, Matt Rowell, Christian Petracca

B-Graders: Charlie Ballard, Wil Powell, Touk Miller, Bailey Humphrey, Jarrod Witts, Bodhi Uwland

“I think (Uwland) is a bloody good player. You could make a case for (Ben) Long and Will Graham”

GWS Giants

Sam Taylor, Lachie Whitfield, Lachie Ash, Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Tom Green, Finn Callaghan

“The top end is real good.”

B-Graders: Jack Buckley, Harry Himmelberg, Toby Bedford, Aaron Cadman, Brent Daniels

Hawthorn

James Sicily, Jai Newcombe, Will Day

B-Graders: Blake Hardwick, Tom Barrass, Josh Battle, Karl Amon, Jarman Impey, Dylan Moore, Josh Weddle, Jack Gunston, Lloyd Meek

“Nick Wtason will definitely get there. Mitch Lewis can get there, Conor Nash can get there, and I like Connor Macdonald too.

“I’m not as bullish on them as everyone else.”

Melbourne

Max Gawn, Kysaiah Pickett

“They are the only two.”

B-Graders: Christian Salem, Jack Viney, Brody Mihocek, Jake Melksham

“This is where their issue is going to be. There are some kids that can go to another level. Xavier Lindsay is going to be a star. Harvey Langford is going to be a star.”

North Melbourne

Nick Larkey, Harry Sheezel

B-Graders: Charlie Comben, Tristan Xerri, Paul Curtis, Luke Davies-Uniacke

“They’ve got some real holes. Luke Parker was an A-Grader, but he’s not anymore. Tom Powell could be.

“Finn O’Sullivan will be an A-Grader, same as McKercher. Jy Simpkin is not there.”

Port Adelaide

Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis

B-Graders: Todd Marshall, Kane Farrell, Mitch Georgiades, Miles Bergman

“I haven’t got Ollie Wines anymore. They’ve got a long way to go.”

Richmond

Nick Vlastuin

“Lynch was, Prestia was, but only one A-Grader.”

B-Graders: Noah Balta, Tom Lynch, Jayden Short, Toby Nankervis, Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia

“This is not a knock on them, it’s just where they are at. I think (Josh) Gibcus can be a good player if he gets a run, Sam Banks is talented.

“Their kids are good. Sam Lalor could be anything!”

St Kilda

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Callum Wilkie, Jack Sinclair

B-Graders: Mason Wood, Max King, Tom De Koning, Jack Macrae, Rowan Marshall

“I’ve got question marks on Jack Higgins and Marcus Windhager. I’m not as bullish as everyone else.”

Sydney

Charlie Curnow, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden, Tom Papley

B-Graders: Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Callum Mills, Brodie Grundy, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney

“If you’ve got double figures, you’ve got a really good chance of finishing at the top end.”

Western Bulldogs

Bailey Dale, Marcus Bontempelli, Sam Darcy, Ed Richards, Tom Liberatore

B-Graders: Josh Freijah, James O’Donnell, Aaron Naughton, Rhylee West, Cody Weightman, Tim English

“Treloar is in there, but he hasn’t been playing. Weightman, I’ve still got him there because I think he will play at some stage.”

West Coast

“No A-Graders. Not one, and they are lucky to have as many as six B-Graders.

B-Graders: Reuben Ginbey, Brandon Starcevich, Liam Baker, Brady Hough, Elliott Yeo, Harley Reid

“Baker has been good for West Coast, but at the moment, he is still a high-end B. Elliott Yeo in there, but he never plays.

“Harley Reid, watch this space.”