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Full Noise by SN
Champion Data's Top 10 AFL players so far in 2026
SEN • May 6th, 2026 10:00 am
Champion Data has released its Top 10 players in the AFL through eight rounds of the 2026 season!
With a pair of Dockers, a pair of Dees and a superstar recruit, the database has ranked every player in the competition from bottom to top, revealing the 10 best in the competition.
Daniel Hoyne named each player on SEN's Sportsday, and will update the Top 10 every four weeks for the remainder of the season.
See the list below:
10. Nick Watson (Hawthorn)
"Very rare to have a genuine small forward in the top 10.
"Usually it is midfielders or ruckmen. That is how good of a season this guy is having. It's extraordinary what he is doing."
9. Luke Jackson (Fremantle)
"Having a sensational season."
8. Shai Bolton (Fremantle)
7. Brodie Grundy (Sydney)
6. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
5. Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
"He has been in the top three rated players on the ground in every game so far.
"There has only been two other players in the history of the game to do that - Patrick Dangerfield, who went on to win a Brownlow, and Tristan Xerri last year."
4. Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)
3. Max Gawn (Melbourne)
2. Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
1. Christian Petracca (Gold Coast)
The Glaring Omission
"Nick Daicos is going extremely well - he is the 12th best player in the game. 366 players that are rated, he is the 12th best player.
"The only reason why he is not in the top 10 - Anzac Day, his ball use, the rating in that game hurt him. Round 0 against St Kilda - he was the 19th rated player on the ground. His other performances have been elite."
