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Sport Nation
Your AFL club's most improved player so far in 2025
SEN • May 30th, 2025 6:45 pm
Improvement can come in a variety of forms.
Whether it be a fringe player breaking through, a budding star thrown into a new role, a player with potential getting more opportunity or someone making the most of a teammate's injury.
We have assessed each of the 18 clubs and picked out who we believe to be the most improved so far in 2025.
See our list below:
Josh Rachele & Riley Thilthorpe
The Crows have a few key candidates for this category who have all improved their game in 2025.
We all know what Josh Rachele is capable of given he has delivered some quality footy at the top level early in his career, but he was dropped late last year.
There was a lot of chatter surrounding the former Pick 6 for not having a “team-first focus” but he has bounced back strongly this season and there is much more substance to his game.
Rachele has already kicked 17 goals at an average of 2.1 and has provided 11 goal assists with one of the strongest goal assist strike rates in the league.
Riley Thilthorpe’s enormous improvement has come through his ability to get his body right and as a result play consistently.
The 22-year-old is in the All-Australian mix with his 25 goals (seventh in the league) and 31 marks inside 50 (third in the league) and is one of the premier key forwards in the AFL so far this season.
This is the sort of form Crows fans would have been waiting for from their two prized draft picks.
Andrew Slevison
Logan Morris
The Lions haven’t had many huge improvers in 2025 given how elite the side already was last season, but one that’s taken a big step is young forward Logan Morris.
The 20-year-old is averaging 1.8 goals a game compared to the 1.3 he kicked each outing last year. He’s also averaging more disposals, tackles and inside 50s than he did in his debut season.
While his progress is pretty linear for a player who’s moving from his first to second season, Morris has been much more of a focal point for a Brisbane side without Joe Daniher.
Even though that means more footy has gone his way, the pressure on him has no doubt increased while the opposition are putting in more effort to shut him down.
Expect him to continue going up from here.
Lachlan Geleit
Cooper Lord
Although the Blues have struggled in recent weeks, Cooper Lord has grown exponentially within a strong Carlton midfield.
Often used as the substitute in the early stages of the season, Lord was handed a full opportunity in Round 8 and has comfortably locked up his role in the side ever since.
Across his last three games, the 20-year-old has averaged a very solid 17 disposals and six tackles a game, comfortably presenting as one of the Bules’ best in their clash with the Giants in Round 11.
Through what has been a dire few weeks for Carlton fans, Lord has provided a spark worth a shout.
Jaiden Sciberras
Ned Long
The poster boy in this bracket, Ned Long has probably been the most improved player in the AFL, let alone just at his club.
In the eight full games he’s played in 2025 (not including the three where he started as the sub), Long is averaging 21.75 disposals, 7.75 tackles (4th in the AFL) and 4.75 clearances a game. To put that in perspective, he averaged 8.4 disposals, 5.3 tackles and 0.7 clearances in his seven games in 2024.
His impact hasn’t just been on the stat sheet though, with Long’s willingness to do the dirty work on ball helping free up Nick Daicos which has been huge with the likes of Tom Mitchell and Jordan De Goey injured.
Aged just 22, it wouldn’t shock to see both Long and Daicos form a long-standing midfield partnership at the Magpies across most of the next decade.
Lachlan Geleit
Archie Roberts
Wowee, what a season this second-year player is having.
After only making his debut in Round 21 last season, Archie Roberts has gone on to become one of Essendon’s best.
With less than 20 games under his belt, the young defender is averaging an incredible 24 disposals, 19 effective disposals, and three rebound 50s this season.
As his teammates have fallen like flies with injuries this season, Roberts has had to stand up.
He has become one of Essendon’s most important players down back, easily being the Dons’ most improved player, after only playing four games in his debut season.
Connor Scanlon
Matthew Johnson
There weren’t many that jumped off the page from the Dockers, however, Matthew Johnson was the obvious choice given his ability to solidify his spot in Freo’s best 22.
The 193cm midfielder was terrific in the Dockers' horrible Round 1 loss to Geelong, picking up a career-high 27 touches and matched it again in the Round 7 win against the Crows.
The Western Australian’s output has increased significantly averaging just 15.8 touches a game in 2024 compared to 19 so far in 2025 with 6.45 of them being contested compared to just 4.8 last year.
The 22-year-old is finally starting to repay the faith shown in him when the Dockers took him when he slid to Pick 21 in the 2021 national draft.
Luke Mathews
Ollie Dempsey
From 2024 Rising Star to 2025 All-Australian wingman? It’s not out of the question…
Ollie Dempsey has been stellar in his second season of consistent footy, providing all the run and penetration that he did last year while adding in a newfound ability to hit the scoreboard.
The 22-year-old is on track to almost double his goal output from last season, having booted 18 majors through his first 11 games, enough to trail only Jeremy Cameron Geelong’s goal kicking race.
With the Cats set to make yet another flag push, Dempsey’s role looks like it will continue to grow as the year goes on.
Jack Makeham
Ben Long
There could’ve been a number of players from Damien Hardwick’s side but Ben Long takes the cake for his rapid rise to start 2025.
The former Saints defender is a pivotal part of Gold Coat’s dynamic forward setup and has become an unlikely goal kicking find since being thrust into attack last year, hitting the scoreboard in every game so far in 2025.
The 27-year-old has booted 22 goals from his nine games with his standout performances coming against West Coast in Round 1 and Hawthorn in Round 11 when he kicked four goals on both occasions.
Together with Bailey Humphrey and Ben King, the trio have formed one of the most lethal forward combinations across the competitions that could see the Suns finally qualify for finals.
Luke Mathews
Lachie Ash
Is this the most improved player in the competition? (Ned Long aside).
Don’t get us wrong, Lachie Ash has always been good, but he has turned himself into arguably the best half-back in the league.
In All-Australian form, the 23-year-old is averaging 28 disposals this year, compared to last season where he averaged 20.
But the biggest improvement in his game is the way he uses the ball. Last year he was ranked 105th in the competition for effective disposals, but now he has flown to the top of the list, ranking second for most effective disposals in 2025.
If Ash keeps this outstanding form up for the rest of the season, don’t be surprised to see his selection in the All-Australian squad.
Connor Scanlon
Josh Ward & Harry Morrison
Josh Ward replaced James Worpel in Hawthorn’s lineup in Round 1 and he hasn’t looked back.
The 21-year-old was in and out of Sam Mitchell’s side in 2024, but has made himself undroppable in 2025 with his dependability around the contest.
Ward has been a model of consistency, compiling 20 disposals in seven of 10 matches so far this season and has forced himself into the Hawthorn midfield unit in the absence of Will Day.
He sits fourth at the club for clearances, fifth for contested possessions and fifth for score involvements.
In 2025, Harry Morrison has played the most consistent footy of his career to date.
A bit-part player in the previous few seasons, the 26-year-old has featured in all matches and has made a wing position his own.
Hawks fans know what they’re going to get from Morrison every week and that is a nice comfort to have.
Andrew Slevison
Kysaiah Pickett
Kozzie Pickett has been superb since returning from suspension in Round 4, with the star Demon quickly becoming the team’s most important player.
The Demons have won five games and lost three with Pickett in the side this season, with the wider AFL community witnessing the emergence of a potential All-Australian unfolding before them due to the rise in his numbers at the mid-way mark of the season.
Since returning, Pickett has quickly risen to the top of Melbourne’s goal kicking tally (18 goals), whilst also averaging a now career high in disposals (20.4), clearances (3.8) and score involvements (7.8).
The form of Jake Bowey also cannot be unrecognised, with 22-year old finding himself in career best form as well so far in 2025.
The small defender is averaging a career high in disposals, kicks, marks, tackles and metres gained so far this season, as well as being on track to record the most amount of score involvements in one season for himself in his five year career to date.
James Jordon tagging him in Round 10 is a feather in the premiership defender's cap, further exemplifying the impressive season he is currently putting together.
Zac Sharpe
Dylan Stephens
The former fifth overall pick struggled to kickstart his career in its infant stages, however Dylan Stephens has most certainly lifted with his increased opportunity at North.
Comfortably enjoying his best season to date, Stephens has featured in 10 games in 2025, seeing a major rise in involvement curtesy of an increased role on the wing.
Averaging 21 disposals, six marks and 400 metres gained in his last five contests, Stephens is proving that development at the top level is hardly linear.
A notable shoutout to an obvious improver in Paul Curtis, and a severely underrated performer in Riley Hardeman.
Jaiden Sciberras
Miles Bergman
Very few have lifted their game for Port Adelaide this season, however Miles Bergman can hold his head high for his improvement this season.
Approaching his contract expiry, Bergman has commenced his transition into his natural midfield role, seeing a major lift in centre bounce attendances within a strong Power engine room.
Up to 18 disposals a game, the 23-year-old is rumoured to have attracted some big money offers for his strong performances across the year. Stay or go, Bergman appears destined to play out a strong career at the top level.
A shining light within a dour season, Bergman has certainly impressed.
Jaiden Sciberras
Seth Campbell
Seth Campbell, Richmond’s 2022 rookie draftee, made fairly significant inroads in 2024 when playing 21 games of AFL football.
He won the Tigers’ best first-year player award last season by kicking 10 goals and averaging 11 touches. But he has taken his game to another level in the first half of 2025.
Campbell leads the club’s goal kicking with 17 majors, has the equal most tackles inside 50 (11 alongside Rhyan Mansell), has the second most score involvements (55), and has provided four goal assists, and is one of the most consistent Tigers this season.
The absence of Jayden Short has allowed Campbell’s fellow Tasmanian Sam Banks to flourish as a rebounding defender.
Banks, who was in and out of the team last year, has been among Richmond’s very best across the last three weeks, resulting in a career-high 29 disposals against Essendon last week.
Andrew Slevison
Jack Higgins
Having kicked 36 goals each of the last two seasons (equal career-highs), to be at 28 already at the half-way mark deserves recognition.
Jack Higgins is keeping this forward line afloat in the absence of Max King and since the departure of Tim Membrey, and is doing a brilliant job as an under-sized full-forward.
Anthony Caminiti has evolved well in defence and developed a handy intercept marking game, and despite taking a few games to look comfortable, he now looks an AFL-level key defender.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has gone to another level. He’s on track to be one of the best players in the comp and is averaging 28.4 touches, comfortably a career-high.
Ethan Clark
Matt Roberts
In a down season for Sydney, Matt Roberts has been a shining light in defence.
After a very strong 2024 season, Roberts has gone to a new level in 2025, averaging more disposals (24.2 v 18.4), marks (6.1 v 5.7), inside 50s (2.6 v 2.1) and rebound 50s (4.7 v 2.9) compared to last season.
Sydney's defence has been one of their strong suits over a seriously long stretch of time, and you can envision Roberts continuing to carry that torch across this next generation of Swans.
While he’s playing a friendly role as a half-back user, Roberts is also fairly strong defensively, and at 21, should only improve from here on both sides of the ball.
Lachlan Geleit
Ryan Maric
Since making the shift down back, Ryan Maric has definitely been the Eagles’ most improved player.
After averaging a measly nine disposals last year, he is now averaging 22 disposals and doesn’t look like slowing down.
The mid-season draft selection has become West Coast’s primary distributor, ranking 1st in the Eagles squad for disposals and effective disposals, and 2nd for rebound 50s, metres gained, and intercept marks.
With Jeremy McGovern still sidelined, expect Maric to keep showing everyone why he is West Coast’s most improved player.
Connor Scanlon
Ed Richards
Ed Richards was already a key cog in the Bulldogs’ vaunted midfield entering the season, having finished fifth in the Charles Sutton medal last season, however he has taken his game to incredible heights in 2025.
Sitting eighth in the AFLCA coaches votes after Round 11, Richards currently leads the league in goal assists and inside 50s, with career highs across the board on his stat sheet.
He was already good, but now he's a gun.
Joel Freijah is another contender for the Bulldogs’ most improved, having taken a huge leap and seized the opportunity with some early-season absences.
The 45th pick in the 2023 draft is now sitting as a lock in Luke Beveridge’s best 23 for the remainder of the year.
Jack Makeham
