Risers and Sliders: The three players at every AFL club with biggest change in performance this year
Three of Geelong’s ageing stars are well down on their output from 2023, with the end well and truly nearing for at least one of them. See your club’s risers and sliders here.
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It’s been a rough year for some of the superstars of the game with Tom Hawkins, Toby Greene, Taylor Walker and even Dustin Martin down on what we expect.
Those big names are among those to have experienced the biggest drops in output compared to what they delivered last year.
But on the flip side, some equally big names have launched into this season and improved in a big way, including Brodie Grundy, Jason Horne-Francis and Max Gawn.
As we hit the middle of the 2024 season, these are the three players from each side who have risen or slid the most, based on their SuperCoach average, thanks to Champion Data.
To qualify, players had to play at least seven games this year and at least 12 last season.
ADELAIDE
Possibly the best development of what shapes as a lost season for Adelaide has been Izak Rankine’s leap into an All-Australian level player.
It’s a major win that he has become a star, while Jordon Butts’ improvement down back has also been good.
Taylor Walker’s brilliant 2023 season was always going to be hard to follow up and he has struggled with form and fitness this year, while Brodie Smith has fallen away drastically.
BRISBANE LIONS
Surprisingly, given how the Lions have tumbled down the ladder so far this year, they have experienced the smallest drop away in its worst three sliding players.
Charlie Cameron is the big concern here. After three consecutive seasons of kicking more than 50 goals, he has largely struggled to get dangerous and his accuracy has fallen off, kicking 18.17 so far this year.
Dayne Zorko has been something of a revelation playing off half back and has had some huge games, while Jarrod Berry is delivering at the right time, given he is a free agent this year.
CARLTON
Harry McKay is enjoying his best season since winning a Coleman Medal, but Tom De Koning is the story here.
The youngster has grabbed the No.1 ruck role and has pundits salivating over him as potentially one of the best big men in the league. It feels like the sky is his limit.
Blues fans shouldn’t be too concerned about Weitering dropping away in SuperCoach points this year, his intercept marking and intercept possessions have both dropped but he will be hard to keep out of the All-Australian team.
COLLINGWOOD
It appeared a few Magpies were struggling early this season as the reigning premier started sluggishly but most have righted the ship.
After gathering just seven disposals on Anzac Day, Steele Sidebottom has shown good signs since and is holding down his job on the wing.
Lachie Schultz had a tough time finding the ball early but is winning over Pies fans with his pressure.
A super pre-season set Patrick Lipinski up for a big year and he has taken a substantial step forward in what has often been a depleted team.
ESSENDON
Todd Goldstein was quietly super on the stats sheet in his last year at North Melbourne and while he hasn’t kept that up, he has found himself splitting more time with Sam Draper and still doing a decent job.
Xavier Duursma has been a tick as a recruit so far and Sam Durham has been a magnificent find.
Matt Guelfi has seen an uptick in all his numbers this year and is rated above average for goals, tackles, marks and elite for goal assists.
FREMANTLE
A couple of big ticks here for Fremantle.
Josh Treacy looks like a bona fide key forward and a great foil for Jye Amiss.
And Jordan Clark is delivering on the promise he showed early in his career and has been one of the best running defenders in the game this year.
The sliders aren’t all bad news.
If the Dockers move past Jaeger O’Meara that might be for the better, and similar applies to Michael Walters.
GEELONG
Some big positives and some big negatives here for the Cats.
First the positives: Jack Bowes has at times been the best midfielder on the team, Tyson Stengle is back in All-Australian form and adding all the time to his next contract.
Speedster Max Holmes could well find himself with a green blazer this year.
Now the negatives: So consistent for so long, Tom Hawkins looks close to the end of his glittering career and Mark Blicavs has lost his regular touch.
One of the biggest concerns for Chris Scott over the bye break will be finding a way to get Tom Stewart back in form after tags have diminished his impact.
GOLD COAST
Mac Andrew’s leap into potential star defender has been a triumph this year, while Sam Flanders has become a SuperCoach darling.
Ben Long’s move from defence to attack has been a winner, too.
No player on this list has had a bigger percentage drop-off than David Swallow and it appears the Suns stalwart is on his way to retirement.
With free agents leaving the market, Ben Ainsworth’s value has risen, but his output hasn’t followed.
GWS GIANTS
It hasn’t quite worked so far this year for Toby Greene, who hasn’t had the same impact on games as he does at his best, with almost all his numbers down on last year.
Kieren Briggs has also failed to dominate with his big frame like he did in the back-end of last year.
It was well expected that Aaron Cadman would be a big improver and no player has seen a percentage leap as large as the 2022 No.1 pick, and somehow his forward mate Jesse Hogan has improved substantially on an excellent 2023.
HAWTHORN
Any questions about how Jack Ginnivan would go at his second club have surely been answered now – he is bigger and better in Hawks colours.
A big improver this year has been Lloyd Meek, who started the season behind Ned Reeves in the ruck stakes.
Luke Breust’s magnificent career has finally shown signs of slowing down and he has been an important teacher for his young forward protegees this year, while Blake Hardwick’s numbers might be down but he has been super as a swingman.
MELBOURNE
No surprise to see the big drops from Harrison Petty – who can’t find the ball up forward – and Clayton Oliver, given his disrupted pre-season.
Bayley Fritsch is still kicking more than two goals a game but his disposal average is way down.
The skipper has been flying though.
Should the season end now, this would be Max Gawn’s second-best SuperCoach campaign ever, only behind 2020.
It was crazy to think Melbourne thought the could split his minutes with Brodie Grundy. But can Gawn keep shouldering such a huge burden?
NORTH MELBOURNE
He has been up and down at times but Zac Fisher has been a clear success as a recruit and Tom Powell has earned a spot as a midfielder of the future with the Roos this year.
Already a stats dream, Harry Sheezel has only been better since moving into the midfield and continues to ascend.
Liam Shiels probably surprised in getting a second season at North Melbourne heading into this year, while co-captain Jy Simpkin copped a huge knock in the pre-season and has taken some time to find form but was instrumental in the club’s first win of the year.
PORT ADELAIDE
The leap Jason Horne-Francis has made is scary when you consider he is capable of much more.
Having been lost a little last year, Ollie Wines and Travis Boak have had strong seasons so far.
Jeremy Finlayson has really struggled, while the Power will want Brandon Zerk-Thatcher to stand tall in the finals.
RICHMOND
It might be buyer-beware should Dustin Martin move on from Richmond at the end of the season.
Where he was unlucky to miss the All-Australian last year, he is a long way off that in 2024.
Jayden Short’s drop off in the last couple of years has been stark.
The risers are all good news for Tigers fans.
Hugo Ralphsmith has found a role on the wing, Rhyan Mansell looks a player and Ben Miller has done well enough in defence.
Good signs.
ST KILDA
Not only has Marcus Windhager become a tagger in vogue, he has improved going the other way too.
Josh Battle is set for a big payday as a free agent and has ticked up in form at the right time, while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera keeps heading towards true stardom.
The Saints will have some interesting choices to make in defence in the backhalf of the year, with Dougal Howard out of contract and struggling.
SYDNEY
How do you leap into premiership favourite status?
Perhaps land two recruits who take big steps forward and play important roles, like Sydney did with James Jordon and Brodie Grundy.
Then turn a forward – Isaac Heeney – into the best midfielder in the game.
Simple right?
The Swans will have little concern about their sliders – Robbie Fox is doing a good job and Braeden Campbell has been stuck as the sub often, hurting his output.
WEST COAST
A drastic drop away from Dom Sheed, who is one of a few senior players not performing.
The Eagles would have wanted more from Jayden Hunt.
Campbell Chesser’s improvement still sees him only registering 46.9 points per game, not a huge number, but he has shown some positive signs.
West Coast’s big improver this year is Jake Waterman, but he didn’t play enough games last year to qualify.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
It’s no secret Luke Beveridge has thrown Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel into new roles and even out of the side this year, and their output has reflected that drastic movement.
Tim English hasn’t quite been the same this season.
But James O’Donnell continues to be a superb story after joining the club from cricket and the Dogs would be really in the mire without Liam Jones at full back.
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Originally published as Risers and Sliders: The three players at every AFL club with biggest change in performance this year
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