Your club’s most underrated player in 2026

Inspired by Adam Simpson’s Ask AI segment on Whateley, we’ve pulled together each club’s most underrated player.

We’ve canvassed passionate supporters from around the traps to come up with the best candidates for each of the 18 clubs.

We’re looking at a mix of overall and underrated 2026 form.

So, who flies under the radar the most at your club?

Sam Berry

Simmo asked AI and Sam Berry was one of the three names spat out.

So who are we to argue? (AI does get a lot wrong still, but seems it’s nailed this).

Berry has produced some massive performances for the Crows in 2026 and this season is comfortably his best from a disposals and clearances point of view.

He’s racked up his top six disposal hauls this season including his career-best of 30 against Collingwood on Thursday night. He also had 29 when winning the Showdown Medal against Port in Round 8.

The rugged sixth-year midfielder has stars Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine around him and is not afraid to do the dirty work which largely goes unnoticed.

Andrew Slevison

Conor McKenna

Every premiership side needs reliable role players, and few come more reliable than Conor McKenna.

A swingman capable of playing all over the park, the Irishman has enjoyed a seriously good year ahead of the ball.

With 17 goals up to this point – the most across his career – McKenna’s flexibility to play a sufficient role both forward of and behind play is crucially important for any side.

Alongside Bruce Reville, Darcy Fort, Darcy Gardiner and Noah Answerth, the Lions are stacked for elite role players.

Jaiden Sciberras

Matthew Carroll

Injury robbed us of a Matt Carroll masterclass this year.

The 21-year-old was trusted heavily by Michael Voss, playing 17 games in 2025 before bursting onto the scene in his 10 games this season.

A winger with a superb tank and a knack for goal, Carroll averaged nearly a goal per game swinging forward. His best game was his last, mounting 16 disposals at perfect efficiency and booting three in Carlton’s win over the Dogs.

Unfortunately, Blues fans will have to wait until next year for Carroll’s return after suffering an ACL rupture.

Jaiden Sciberras

Harry Perryman

Collingwood’s Mr Fix-It, Perryman is surely a dream for Craig McRae to coach.

Neat and tidy with ball in hand and willing to play in any third of the ground, Perryman does the little things which help his team win games of footy. Whether that’s as a defensive mid or lockdown defender, Perryman is an A+ role player.

One of the first picked when available, Perryman was honoured with a fifth-placed finish in Collingwood’s best and fairest last season, a year where the Magpies fell just short in a prelim.

Lachlan Geleit

Archer Day-Wicks

In what has been a dire season for the Bombers, Archer Day-Wicks’ consistent effort and commitment has been something to hang their hats on.

He may not be a key size in stature, but his ability overhead is exceptional, as he has proved so on numerous occasions.

Seasons like these are quick to expose those that aren’t mentally up for the fight, and the 20-year-old has passed with flying colours in his second season, doing all the things that the stat sheet won’t show but the coaches love.

Jaiden Sciberras

Karl Worner

The Dockers are comfortably the best defensive team in the competition, and Karl Worner plays a crucial role in their solidity down back.

Featuring in all 18 games this season, Worner’s ability to win and use the football alongside his defensive acumen is as strong as any.

At just 24, Worner is averaging just under 20 disposals at 85 per cent, with a defensive one-on-one loss percentage of just seven per cent this season. Severely underrated.

Sam Switkowski has been an underrated Docker for some time but more and more people are now beginning to notice his class.

Jaiden Sciberras

Zach Guthrie

In a team with some absolutely elite, top-end stars, there are some wearing the blue and white hoops who fly under the radar.

Zach Guthrie is the consummate professional who plays his role every week with zero fuss and plenty of impact.

Guthrie, who was much maligned early doors, has not missed since 2022, playing 110 consecutive games and counting.

Lawson Humphries is another under-the-radar Cat who frequently plays well. He has been a mainstay since debuting late in the 2024 season.

Plucked from the WAFL colts and ressies, he’s up averaging 20 disposals now and is one of the prime distributors out of the back half behind Tom Stewart and Max Holmes.

Andrew Slevison

Ned Moyle

Having solidified a spot starting 23 this season, the mid-season draftee has been a bright light despite the Suns’ recent struggles.

The 24-year-old has become one of the competition’s best in the contest, currently ranked second for hit outs (32.1 per game) with only Brodie Grundy ahead.

He is largely considered the No.1 ruckman at the Suns now having taken the mantle from veteran Jarrod Witts.

That dominance in hit outs has helped rank the club in the top four for clearances.

Will Graham is a hard-working role player who Dimma loves but has struggled to get on the park this season.

Nicholas Quinlan

Phoenix Gothard

The small forward has had to wait two seasons to break into the AFL side and has quickly proven why the club drafted him earlier than projected with Pick 12 in 2023.

Making his debut in Opening Round, Gothard has been putting forward pressure on his opponents, having laid 3.7 tackles per game, with the majority of those coming within the forward 50.

Gothard sits behind Jake Stringer, Toby Greene and Aaron Cadman for goals scored this season, and looks set to be a key part of this GWS side going forward.    

Nicholas Quinlan

Josh Ward

It’s time for Blake Hardwick to hand over the baton.

Josh Ward is putting together an outstanding 2026 season in the middle for the Hawks. Prior to Round 20 he has accumulated the second most disposals (400), second most clearances (63) and third most tackles (63) at the club.

Ward was named Hawthorn’s Most Improved player last year and he has taken another giant stride forward this campaign.

The 22-year-old, who turns 23 in August, has become an integral part of Sam Mitchell’s midfield, playing a pivotal role next to potential All-Australian and co-captain Jai Newcombe.

Andrew Slevison

Blake Howes

With the Demons being the competition’s surprise packet, there have been plenty of underrated players emerging under Steven King.

But the 23-year-old has well and truly gone under the radar.

The half-back has had a career-best year across all key metrics, with his defensive skills well and truly on display, which has seen him cement his spot within the best 23.

Nicholas Quinlan

Finn O’Sullivan

He is already a rising star of the competition but Finn O’Sullivan’s unselfishness and team-first mentality has gone under the radar.

Played his first season off half-back as a distributor before being thrust into the midfield this year, firstly used as a stopper shutting down stars like Zak Butters and Zach Merrett, before contributing more as a traditional midfielder.

O’Sullivan has more than enough admirers, but the word from a North source is that people don’t know how good he really is… just yet.

It won’t be long until he’s completely outperformed a list such as this.

Andrew Slevison

Aliir Aliir

The star intercept defender is a constant for the Power who continues to go about his work with minimal fuss.

Josh Carr’s Port has conceded the second fewest points so far in 2026 (at time of writing) and Aliir is a major reason for that.

Yes, he is considered one of the league’s top intercept defenders, but he still doesn’t quite receive the adulation he should.

Aliir has had three straight top-five best and fairest finishes, which shows how highly rated he is at Alberton. We just feel he’s not placed on the same pedestal as some of the AFL’s premier key defenders.

Andrew Slevison

Jack Ross

A tough bunch to pick from at Tigerland because you’re either a seasoned and well-known veteran or a kid still finding his way.

He would be rated internally at Punt Road, but Jack Ross flies under the radar when it comes to a league-wide discussion.

The 25-year-old has had to be patient throughout his career which started just as Richmond’s dynasty had got underway.

After being used in multiple positions (high half-forward and wing) early on, he’s finally been able to gain continuous midfield minutes which has helped his consistency in 2026.

Rhyan Mansell is another worth mentioning. A tenacious, tough, crafty and clever forward who has had a fair load to carry when he’s been fit.

Seth Campbell had been underrated but has shown everyone what he is capable of in 2026.

Andrew Slevison

Hugo Garcia

Hugo Garcia is clearly St Kilda’s most underrated player.

Averaging 24 disposals, six clearances, six score involvements and five tackles per game this season, Garcia has absolutely taken his output to another level. But it’s not just the 21-year-old’s elite ball-winning ability, it is his desire to break lines through damaging runs with ball-in-hand.

While the hype has caught up to Max Hall, Garcia is still quietly going about his business in dominating fashion.

Brad Hill has also reinvigorated himself this season, especially since the injury of Jack Sinclair, and is an instrumental connector between defence and attack.

Liam Stocker is a bull when he is set a role, and you imagine he is one of Ross Lyon’s favourites when he’s applying crunching tackles and throwing himself at everything.

Connor Scanlon & Ethan Clark

Will Edwards

The courageous defender has been excellent for the Swans since debuting in Round 7.

The Category B rookie has held down a key defensive post with aplomb for Dean Cox’s side, unflinchingly attacking the contest with ferocity and velocity.

Only Tom McCartin, who is in the All-Australian conversation, has produced more spoils for the Swans this season. Edwards' one percenters average of eight per game ranks third in the league for players who have played 12 or more games.

Definitely one who has been the doing the dirty work.

Andrew Slevison

Bo Allan

One of the Eagles’ premier young talents, Bo Allan has barely scraped the surface of his elite potential.

In just his second season, Allan has established himself as a first-team lock, with his hard-running capabilities and big-bodied presence proving a major factor in his ongoing development.

While he is yet to truly dominate, the glimpses of stardom have shone through, and it’s only a matter of time before the young midfielder earns recognition league-wide.

Jaiden Sciberras

Bailey Williams

The ultimate Luke Beveridge player who can handle multiple roles whether it be roaming off half-back, impacting off a wing or pushing forward to kick goals when required.

He slotted seamlessly into the rebounding half-back role to replace the injured Bailey Dale, gathering a team-high 29 disposals and nine intercepts against the Suns last weekend.

Williams just goes about his business without any fanfare and regularly gets the job done for Bevo and the Bulldogs.

His numbers have been remarkably consistent across his 11-year career.

Andrew Slevison