Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Football
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Live sport on SN this weekendThe wildcards who could become the best player in the AFL
SEN • February 2nd, 2026 11:17 am
Which players could jump into the best player in the AFL discussion in 2026?
Looking past the obvious names like Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli, Sam Darcy and others, SEN Breakfast’s Kane Cornes and David King focused on some ‘wildcards’ who others may not be thinking of.
The pair discussed a handful of players, with King nominating Hawthorn’s Jai Newcombe as someone who could make the leap, while Cornes threw up North Melbourne’s Colby McKercher to take a ‘giant leap’ and potentially be a player who enters that discussion down the line.
King: “In the footy discussions which we have most weekends with your mates, the topic came up of how many players could actually elevate to be the best player in the competition this year?
“Is there some wildcard options in there? Some of the names that came up I thought were interesting.
“Could Jai Newcombe be the best player in the competition?”
Cornes: “No.”
King: “Well, why not? I think his finish to the season suggests he can get to that level.
“Kozzie Pickett could be in that discussion. I think he could have a huge season.”
Cornes: “Yep, top five.”
King: “Errol Gulden? They won seven of the 10 games he played in the back half of the year. When he plays, they’re a different product and he’s only 23. I think he's got that sort of leap in him.
“Everyone's talking about Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, and the change to the rules is only going to help him, particularly with his centre bounce work.
“I think there's going to be the same names that we keep hearing. I mean, Daicos is going to be there, Darcy is going to be there. Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell will still be around the edges.
“But have you got a wildcard? I think mine is Newcombe.”
Cornes: “My wildcard is Colby McKercher, because I think he is Errol Gulden with more speed and more tricks.
“He's not tough enough yet, he's not as tough as Errol Gulden, and I think he still has moments where he can be better there…
“At the moment, there are still too many cheapies, kick-ins and around-the-back stuff. But tell me he doesn't have every physical attribute and skill that you need to be the next Errol Gulden (but better).”
King: “He's probably two years away from being able to break into that.”
Cornes: “I think we're going to see a giant leap this year.”
Listen to the full chat here:
