15 statistical feats from the 2026 AFL season

The 2026 AFL season has come and gone, leaving behind yet another season of numerical data.

Individually, this season was an all-timer, with several players etching their names in the game's record books.

We've dug out 15 of our favourite individual statistical feats, ranging from record-breaking numbers to quirky anomalies.

One-Twos

In 2026, Nick and Josh Daicos broke the record for the most total disposals by two brothers in the same AFL season.

This is the second time in consecutive years that the Daicos’ have eclipsed the record, with Will and Levi Ashcroft also making the top 10 for the second straight year.

Top 10:

1. Nick and Josh Daicos (2026) - 1448 (797 + 651)
2. Nick and Josh Daicos (2025) - 1421 (750 + 671)
3. Matt and Brad Crouch (2017) - 1386 (825 + 561)
4. Kane and Chad Cornes (2007) - 1339 (696 + 643)
5. Nick and Josh Daicos (2023) - 1332 (682 + 650)
6. Will and Levi Ashcroft (2026) - 1296 (771 + 525)
7. Matt and Brad Crouch (2019) - 1286 (620 + 666)
8. Nick and Josh Daicos (2024) - 1278 (705 + 573)
9. Will and Levi Ashcroft (2025) - 1250 (733 + 517)
10. Joel and Adam Selwood (2009) - 1202 (687 + 515)

Safe Hands

St Kilda's Callum Wilkie took 221 marks in 2026, tying Harris Andrews’ 2025 tally as the 14th most in a single season in AFL history.

Seven of the top 20 played for St Kilda, with Nick Riewoldt (four times), Sam Fisher, Stewart Loewe and now Wilkie, all tallying all-time seasons.

Pinned

Brisbane's Josh Dunkley topped the table for tackles in 2026, with 189 across all 27 games – the seventh most in AFL history.

His tally was 43 tackles short of Tom Atkins’ all-time record of 232 set in 2025.

Video Game Numbers

That wasn't the only feat Josh Dunkley achieved in 2026.

With 2535 AFL Fantasy Points, Dunkley finished ninth in the competition for total points this season.

This is the fifth straight season that Dunkley has finished in the top 15 for total points, only missing the top five twice (2026, 2023).

In the last three seasons, Dunkley is the only player to finish in the top 10 each year.

In The Mixer

In 2026, five AFL players cracked the top 20 for the most inside 50s in a single season in AFL history.

Geelong's Bailey Smith mounted the second most in history with 177, while Ed Richards’ 164 (7th), Shai Bolton’s 157 (11th), Nick Daicos’ 152 (17th) and Chad Warner’s 149 (20th) all made the list.

The Little Things

With 214 one percenters, Bulldog James O’Donnell slotted into the top 20 of all time for the most one percenters in a single season.

208 of his 214 one percenters were spoils.

Whoops!

Harley Reid’s tally of 155 clangers in the 2026 season is the most of any player in a single season across AFL history.

Reid gave away the most free kicks of all players with 68 – the most in history – while also being awarded the most free kicks of any player this year with 58.

Leather Poisoning

St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera tallied 39 kicks against North Melbourne in Round 20 - the equal fourth highest in a single game in AFL history.

Gone

Adelaide's Sam Berry tallied 19 tackles against Port Adelaide in Round 8 - the second most in a single game in AFL history and just one short of the record, held by teammate Rory Laird.

Running Routes

67 of Jack Gunston’s 109 marks in 2026 were taken on the lead, a total of 61.47 per cent of his total marks across the year.

Only two other players (minimum 10 marks) mounted a percentage over 50 per cent.

• Jamie Cripps - 52.94 (9 of 17 marks)
• Liam Fawcett – 50.00 (9 of 18 marks)

Wait... Who?

Nick Watson topped the league for total forward 50 ground ball gets with 60.

Unsurprising.

Following Watson, Jake Stringer managed 59, just one short of The Wizard.

Adds up.

In third with 51... Patrick Cripps.

Pillars

Only five ruckmen managed a hitout win percentage over 50 per cent (minimum 10 ruck contests).

Both of Gold Coast’s ruckmen made the list – Ned Moyle (51.8 from 1077) and Jarrod Witts (50.5 from 734).

Two of Fremantle’s ruckmen also made the list – Mason Cox (58 from 483) and Sean Darcy (51.2 from 250).

Hawthorn's Ned Reeves was the only other ruckman to make the list, statistically the most dominant hitout ruckman of all players with over 500 ruck contests (52.8 per cent win rate from 685).

Shoe

Fremantle's Luke Ryan was the only AFL player to tally a disposal efficiency of over 90 per cent across the season (minimum 100 disposals), with 90.1 per cent (514 disposals).

Gold Coast’s Oscar Adams finished just behind with 89.9 per cent (129 disposals).

Only three other players with over 500 disposals managed an efficiency over 85 per cent:

• Caleb Daniel (85.7 from 582)
• Callum Wilkie (86.1 from 512)
• Karl Worner (86.1 from 503)

Ryan was also the only player with over 100 disposals to average over 90 per cent by foot, with 91.8 per cent kicking efficiency.

Slot Machine

With 3.5 goals per game, Hawthorn's Jack Gunston tallied one of the best averages in recent history.

Tied with Taylor Walker in 2023, Gunston mounted the highest average goals per game since Josh J. Kennedy in 2017.

Only Kennedy, Lance Franklin and Barry Hall averaged a higher percentage since 2010. In that time, no player has averaged more than 3.7 goals per game.

Almost!

With 56 behinds, West Coast's Jake Waterman booted the most behinds since Lance Franklin in 2017 (60).

Buddy’s tally in 2017, alongside his tally in 2011 (61) and 2012 (64) are the only seasons trumping Waterman's total since 2010.