Champion Data: One club has the three highest-ranked AFL players

One team has four of the top six players on Champion Data’s player ratings ahead of the 2026 season according to analyst Daniel Hoyne.

Without giving away everything, that club is the Western Bulldogs… although the players are yet to be revealed.

In 2025, all of Marcus Bontempelli, Sam Darcy, Ed Richards and Bailey Dale were highly rated according to Champion Data, and there’s every chance they fall in that order in this year’s list at 1, 2, 3 and 6.

Hoyne’s teaser of the 2026 player ratings was great news for Kane Cornes who stated in January that ‘It’s over’, regarding the Dogs potentially winning this year’s flag.

The duo discussed this year’s ratings on SEN Breakfast.

Cornes: “When we look at the pre-season version of where everyone sits, can you give us a teaser to who is the best (in player ratings)?”

Hoyne: “Yeah, I can do that, and I think you might be pretty happy about this Kane.”

Cornes: “Does he play for the Western Bulldogs?”

Hoyne: “One, two and three might play for the Western Bulldogs…

Cornes: “Lift up the cup! Lift it up! It is over.

Hoyne: “1, 2, 3… and number 6 play for the Dogs too.”

Cornes: “Imagine having 1, 2, 3, 6 and missing finals. This is unprecedented stuff.

“That is a remarkable situation.”

Listen to Hoyne’s full chat with Kane Cornes and David King here.