UnHeralded Sons
FOOTY ANALYSIS
It’s a stars’ world. Stars sell memberships, turn matches, win premierships.
Group One commentator and footy guru Leigh Montagna will tell you that what separates teams, games, and ultimately a season destined for prelim final weekend against missing finals altogether, it’s the quality of your A-Graders.
And on that, I agree.
But what about those who aren’t on billboards, doing TV spots, those whose numbers the kids want on the back of their guernseys.
What about those slightly off-Broadway, under the radar types that actually, those who know and appreciate the nuances of footy, help their teams just that little bit more than you realise.
The surprise packet, the late pick, the no name from God knows where. There’s a bunch of them who are impacting where it matters, but avoiding the spotlight.
Until now.
So come along a quick journey here, it’s heavily informed by maths and science this one actually, but for the purposes of brevity and lightness I’ll keep the presentation pretty straightforward.
Not there isn’t a place for well-polished, long-form columns with graphs and maths, there is, just there are many who do that way better than I so I’ll stay in my lane this morning.
Ok, some parameters, then this’ll make sense. There are many ways to skin a cat, likewise many ways to measure and analyse player performance. Kicks, marks, handballs, then we can get into metres gained and score involvements and then what about first possession post clearance into a score or left foot kicks that hit the intended target inside 50 but not within 15 metres of goal in third quarters when the margin was less than ten points either way, whilst the humidity was under 75%?
Or, how about we do this — when you drill down on the nut and bolts of it all, you can split the game down to four areas:
Pre-Clearance
Impact at stoppages before clean possession is won. Rewards contested work: ground balls, tackles, and first possession in congestion. Suits inside midfielders.
Post-Clearance
Impact after the ball is won and moves into open play. Rewards linking chains, forward movement, and rebound work. Suits outside mids, wings, and half-backs.
Ball Winning
Credit for gaining possession for the team. Includes contested/uncontested possessions, marks, and intercepts. Suits high-volume ball-winners and intercept defenders.
Ball Use
Credit for what a player does with the ball. Focus on metres gained, score involvement, and disposal efficiency. Suits elite users and creative playmakers.
So, what we’ve found is 20 blokes around the leagues, the vast majority not household names, or names you might not have thought about at all recently, sneakily doing as well in some if not many of those four quadrants, if you like, as the bigger names.
If you’re with me, let’s dive in, if you’re not quite, it’ll make sense as we go, I assure you.
Without further ado, and in no particular order:
Brayden Cook - Adelaide
You may remember him from the game winning goal in the final minute of the Showdown a few weeks back. Beyond that though? 23 years old, been in the system a hot minute now, but hasn’t yet been proficient. Or has he?
Onto the wing for the Crows full time now, he has quickly become one of the best in that position across the league. He is highly rated for both post clearance and ball use, hig
hlighting his ability to spread and stretch the ground, use width, but then also with ball in hand ensure the Crows keep possession and maintain the chain.
If you isolate those under 25, he is 2nd for ball use and 5th for post clearance. The only player who is above him for both, is Nick Watson. Best young winger in the game? Probably.
Sam Berry - Adelaide
In the offseason the Crows had a cup of coffee with Christian Petracca, and definitely would have liked to with Zach Merrett. In their view a midfielder, and proper out and out midfielder short. Last year’s final series suggests as much, just lacked one more ‘dude’ in the guts.
Failing to secure that via trade, it would then fall on the shoulders of someone improving big time year on year. Berry has done just that. Numerically he is performing at about 40% up on last year, going from ‘so so’ contributor in the guts to ‘no no, I’ve got this’ instead.
He has rated the second-best midfielder in the game under the age of 25 for pure ball winning, which is elite. Even without the age filter, he is as good at winning the pill as the likes of Caleb Serong and Jack Steele. But interestingly as good pre clearance, so his abilities at a stoppage, as Chad Warner, or Nick Watson, two lads who are dangerous in those situations. Berry, has been just as effective. Impressive.
Wayne Milera - Adelaide
The 28-year-old’s been around for a while now, drafted back in the first round of the 2015 draft so it’s been a slow burn, you could say. But now he has come on big time, and has made the good judges’ All-Australian team, for those doing a projection mid-season. Why?
Put simply, he is elite across the entire competition for both winning the ball but then his influence post clearance. That combination, as a small defender is not nothing.
To be not only good at one, but elite at both those quadrants is rare air, depending on how you want to slice it the only other player, who plies their trade down back, doing anything remotely similarly is Nick Blakey, who is having an outrageous year on the stat sheet. It’s essentially Blakey, then Milera, then daylight. Whether its scoring from back half turnover, scoring chains that start in the defensive half, whatever, Milera has become a gun.
Ryan Lester - Brisbane
The Lions haven’t been going great guns, and their scores against much the same, but not due to this guy. Lester is 33, so another one who has not just snuck up on us, he is in his 16th season no less. But having some year.
He has snuck into the top ten for post-clearance across the entire competition. Top ten. When you isolate defenders, the only ones having greater influence are his teammate Harris Andrews, and Nick Blakey. Andrews, Blakey, then Lester. Incredible. But he is also having above average impact on securing possession as well, more influential in that part of the game than both Max Holmes and Tom Stewart.
Make it make sense. But until you do, Lester, well done to you mate, go get ‘em.
Matthew Carroll - Carlton
This one’s easy, although even knowing I’ve looked it up it still doesn’t seem to gel. But the rusted-on Blues fans might be nodding their head already. In short, Matty Carroll has been the best young midfielder in the comp for post clearance work. For getting on the outside and influencing. Overlap handball, groundball, finding a teammate, moving the ball forward, Carlton’s wins of late, their first halves under Vossy, when they were playing well and leading, Carroll was playing a major part in that.
Statistically his effectiveness has been higher than Ed Richards or Finn Callaghan, again this is beyond the clearance, and for ball use rated higher this year than Lachie Neale, whose having some year. And Carroll hasn’t yet turned 21. Going places.
Oli Florent - Carlton
Another Bagger, I know, but Oli’s been doing alright without many of you noticing. Since moving south from Sydney, Voss deployed him as a halfback option. This is only an assumption, I’ll declare, but an attempt to get more effective rebound than what Saad has been providing to this point.
What Florent’s done in this new role has been nothing short of excellent. He is rated elite for all defenders for pre-clearance and ball use, so that’s ground ball, first possession, but then having the impact and efficiency with ball in hand from there. In perspective he has rated better than Ash and Blakey at pre-clearance. There are only 5 defenders rated top 15 in both: Ash, Blakey, Sinclair, Dale and Florent. That’s good company.
Lawson Humphries - Geelong
A Cats special when he was taken at the complete arse end of the draft, now he has all the makings of a special player, but I don’t think yet with the plaudits or acclaim he warrants.
Silky off half back, he has become a trusted part of the Chris Scott setup in turning defence into offence for Geelong, and especially prevalent this season. Already a solid player but this year his performance is up ~27%, a seismic jump for someone already doing good things. But where?
He is simply amazing post clearance, but also elite for ball use, in real simple terms he is all about impact, impact, impact. He is better than both Shai Bolton and Bailey Smith for post clearance, he has elite ratings in that quadrant, only a smidge behind Kozzy Pickett. But then for ball use, right with Lachie Whitfield and Darcy Wilmot.
Bodhi Uwland - Gold Coast
The 22-year-old Gold Coast native might be better known by those down south for being Zeke’s older brother, who went pick 2 in last year’s draft. But Bodhi is no mug, albeit from the humble beginnings of the 2022 rookie draft.
A locked in part of Damien Hardwick’s back six, Uwland is putting together a sneaky good year, like scarily good. He has jumped up big time in his impact on games, over 50% uptick on his rating points from 2025, a huge leap. He is rated this year elite for post clearance, only just behind Blakey, Dale, Sinclair and Ash for defenders, which is supreme company. But also elite for ball-winning, like Blakey too. He is in that conversation of player now, without anyone noticing.
If you isolate players under 23, he is top ten for post clearance and ball-winning, basically on par with Nick Watson for both, but as a back pocket, essentially. Don’t sleep on Bodhi.
Lachie Weller - Gold Coast
Been around a while, started at Freo, a first-round pick back in 2014, now in the twilight of his career, one that hasn’t had much fanfare really, has it? One could argue his biggest claim to fame is that he was traded for pick 2, seemingly overs, in 2017, a pick that become Andy Brayshaw for the Dockers.
But now in his 12th season I believe, Weller’s arguably in career best. He is essentially on the cusp of being a top ten midfielder in the game for ball use. Right there with Bailey Smith and given Bailey’s last fortnight probably about to go past him. But nevertheless, got separation on Max Holmes below him if you wanted a second comparison.
Speaking of Holmes, who is a superstar of the comp too, Weller is above him for influence post clearance as well. So not on the hook for winning the ball, or getting heavily involved in the stoppage, but for contributing to impact once the Suns have the pill, doing as well for his team as Max Holmes is for Geelong in that facet, how about that?
Gold Coast - Mac Andrew
Mac’s a fun one. Well known, but his form is going undersold. As a key defender, he is elite post clearance, better than James Sicily and Tom Stewart, and better for ball use than Luke Parker. Really simply as a tall, he is performing better in all four aspects than Tom Barrass.
For all round impact on the game, as a defender, only Nick Blakey’s profile looks close. Blakey’s is better, no question, but you’d struggle to try and find a third defender doing similar things, or more to the point, one who plays tall and has that aerial game like the key or intercept defenders do, as opposed to the running types.
He is having some influence on games, and if anything, looking at game by game, his ascending. Look out.
Harvey Thomas - GWS Giants
Only 20 years old, stands 176cm tall and you reckon that’s in shoes, with inserts too. A late pick, so not one of the fashionable, typical Giants first rounders, out of Wagga Wagga, so this not the red-carpet entry into an AFL career you’d expect. For mine, from afar, started out as a small forward, little mosquito buzzing around touching the ball rarely. Not in 2026.
Turned elite across all aspects, all ages for ball-winning and then post clearance, and above average for ball use. Strong all-round game out of nowhere! He pips Noah Anderson for ball-winning, has better numbers post clearance than Ed Richards, and is better than Josh Daicos for ball use. Take that.
Isolating players under 22, only Harley Reid is a better ball winner, and Nick Watson for post clearance. For under 22 players good across all four, it’s essentially him, Reid and Watson. Reid and Watson are rockstars, and for influence on games, Thomas is for all intents and purposes going as well. Not bad for 176cm hey?
Connor Macdonald - Hawthorn
This guy has quietly become quite the all rounder. From a statistical point of view, strong in all four, not just doing nicely in one or two areas of the game.
Let’s cut to the chase, here’s the kind of player he is at the moment for the Hawks — elite pre clearance, as effective as Tom Papley or Toby Greene, and above average for ball use, like Lachie Neale or Andy Brayshaw.
Then, as good post clearance as Jason Horne-Francis, or as useful for winning possession as Sam Durham or Liam Baker.
Fair assembly of established AFL talent there, and Macdonald is performing to that level forward of the ball for Hawthorn, as a mid, as a high half forward, as a gem, let’s be honest. Only 23 as well.
Kade Chandler - Melbourne
This guy’s come on leaps and bounds. He is elite for post clearance work, and above average pre clearance, so he is active in and out of stoppage, when the ball’s in dispute, he is in good company already.
But for ball use, he is top of the tree. He is in the top ten for midfielders for ball use. We’re talking Shai Bolton, Ed Richards levels. He is working hard in the Dees midfield, but it’s with ball in hand and doing the upmost to maximise the opportunity, that’s become his one wood.
There’s being categorised elite, and then there’s top ten in the comp. Amazing impact on games, and hey, when the Dees win, and Chandler’s had a hand in it, it shows.
Harry Sharp - Melbourne
Sharp’s a different case but one worth highlighting just the same. Firstly, his performance is all kinds of levels better than last year, gone from a largely inconsequential player at this level to now a bonafide impactful one.
Strong post clearance work, he is a key part of the get it and go in the Melbourne offense. Not bad either at possession, not his strong suit but that part of his game is going well too.
But ball use, somewhat similar to Chandler, has been huge. Wedged between Caleb Serong and Zach Merrett for ball use, so taking into account those effective chains, gaining metres and nailing it on offense. Ask any Dees fan, he is sneaky important to what they’re doing, and given where he came from, it’s a marvellous achievement.
Tom Sparrow - Melbourne
What’s with all the Melbourne players hey? Were you watching yesterday?
Sparrow’s had similar growth year on year to Sharp, but where Sharp has gone from not much to really quite something, Sparrow has gone from already pretty useful now to downright influential.
This guy’s just flat out dominant pre clearance. His value in that part of the game is bang on par with Marcus Bontempelli. Not bad hey?
Meanwhile knocking on the door of the top 25 midfielders in the comp for ball use. He is not just a one trick pony. Great at winning the ground ball, getting his hands dirty, but when it comes to using the pill and making that impactful decision, he is crushing it.
A free agent this year, dude’s going to get paid wherever that lands.
Jack Ross - Richmond
Here’s a guy many of us couldn’t pick out in a line up, yet is doing great things in a tough situation too. When it comes to ball-winning, he is the eighth best midfielder in the comp, but fourth if you isolate those under the age of 30. When it comes to winning possession, Harley Reid, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Zak Butters, none of those are doing it as well this season as Ross.
Only 25 too, so this is not your veteran, Jack Steele type, done the work, seasoned body. Ross is coming into his own, and amongst the ‘Ferraris’ as David King puts it, having a player like Ross at the coalface is pure gold. Top ten for possession, not nothing at all.
Hugo Garcia - St Kilda
Pre clearance, so getting your hands dirty before an effective clearance takes place, pretty important part of the game as this piece has shown.
Best mids in the game this year at pre clearance, Clayton Oliver, Jai Newcombe, Caleb Serong, Patrick Cripps. Hugo Garcia is fifth. What?!
For context next in my numbers are Petracca, Heeney, Neale. We’re talking proper, proper mids here, and at such an important part of the game, and getting the game going for your team.
And here’s old mate Hugo just doing work at the level of guys on huge coin, with all the accolades. Keep an eye on Garcia.
James Rowbottom - Sydney
Heeney, Gulden, Warner, and now Justin McInerney is getting some love in that heralded Sydney midfield. Don’t sleep on the underrated but quality work Rowbottom is bringing to the table.
Bit of the dirty work, not racking up highlights and massive numbers, but above average for pre-clearance, in fact on par with Warner, so that’s a nice level to be at giving the talent he is. But then in winning the ball, Rowbottom’s 2026 is akin to Josh Dunkley, not flying or near league’s best, but its rock solid.
Only 25, again not as flashy as others, not shooting the lights out, but as a cog in the Swans engine room, doing a lot of important work.
Tim Kelly - West Coast
Ah this guy, we remember him. Only a couple weeks shy of his 32nd birthday, played a smidge under 200 games in his nine seasons of AFL since being debuting as a 23-year-old. Many had washed their hands of Kelly the former elite mid, now in the later years in a dwindling side. 2026 has other ideas though.
He is putting in elite pre clearance and ball winning performances this year, going great guns.
Better than Nick Daicos in both areas, he is the 16th best mid in the comp this year for gaining possession, that’s outstanding, given we thought his best years were behind him. When the Eagles have looked good, it’s been out of stoppage, it’s been their contest work, and Kelly has been a shining light — having a super year.
Ryley Sanders - Western Bulldogs
Bont’s a gun, we know this. Ed Richards has become filthy good; we also are across this. Libba, we love, out of the team, Bam Bam Matty Kennedy is also on a tear at his new club, none of this is news.
But Ryley Sanders, particularly I sense in the absence of Libba, has really elevated to the stage of being as good as some of the bigger dogs in that Bullies midfield.
Only just turned 21 earlier this year, his effectiveness is not only creeping up on his teammates, a top 25 mid in the game for pre clearance, and then just outside the top 30 for winning possession. Better than Shai Bolton for pre clearance, tick, and on par with Ed Richards for possession, tick.
But if you isolate those mids under the age of 23, he shoots up, only Harley Reid and Hugo Garcia are out-gunning him for influence despite the inexperience.
Enlarged role, and having an impact, no question.
If you’ve made it this far, I applaud you. And I applaud these guys, many of them on good money, but not crazy money, going about their business whilst the rest of us fawn over the bigger names.
But make no mistake the value of players like the above, flags are won by well-rounded teams, who have those blokes outperforming their typical output.
…Last but not least in signing this exercise off, Andrew Whelan of Wheelo Ratings fame needs a shoutout and a Price is Right showcase for the work he puts in and the offerings he makes available. Without being able to access the data on wheeloratings.com, we’d all be stuffed. Amazing breadth of information, and as well presented as you could imagine.
Huge thank you to Andrew!