FORMER league best and fairest winners, emerging youngsters, and stars returning from injury - a whole host of players have impressed in the first three rounds of 2026.
Two league best and fairests are putting together career-best numbers, whilst a Giant and a Demon look like they have missed a beat since returning from long-term injuries.
A young Power star is leading the competition in defence, while a new Blues recruit looks right at home in her new colours.
With a quarter of the season now in the books, let’s take a look at who has had a red-hot start to season 2026.
EBONY MARINOFF
Marinoff is off to an excellent start under new coach Ryan Davis and in her first season as standalone captain. The in-and-under midfielder leads her side for contested possessions (12.7), tackles (10) and stoppage clearances (three). Without former teammates Anne Hatchard (traded to Gold Coast) and Chelsea Randall (retired), Marinoff has stood up as have fellow mids Sarah Goodwin and Maddi Newman.
JADE ELLENGER
Ellenger is averaging career-best numbers in her first three matches of 2026. The running defender has set new individual records for disposals (18.7 per game), metres gained (312), contested possessions (8.3), intercept possessions (eight) and ground ball gets (7.7). Ellenger was named best on ground for her efforts in round one in the Lions' big win over Essendon where she had 23 disposals and seven inside 50s.
CLAUDIA WHITFORT
Whitfort seems to have settled into life as a Blue just fine, getting back to career-best numbers in her first three games since joining Carlton. The former Demon, Saint and Sun sent a clear message to the competition in round one when she had 27 disposals, five clearances and five inside 50s against her former side, St Kilda. Whitfort is in the conversation to be one of the recruits of the year.
TARNI WHITE
White has had a solid start this season for the Magpies averaging 409 metres gained and 19 disposals. The 25-year-old was named as her side’s best for her performance against Richmond where she had 25 disposals - more than double her career-average. In the Magpies’ round one match against Richmond, White provided run and dash off the Pies’ half-back line with 523 metres gained, while against the Dockers in round two, White highlighted her physicality, notching up seven tackles.
MADDY PRESPAKIS
Sitting third in the league for disposals, former competition Best-and-Fairest Maddy Prespakis has had a hot start to 2026. Despite the Bombers losing all three of their matches, Prespakis has accumulated the most disposals of the game in rounds one, two and three. The midfielder, who is still just 25 years old, is averaging 10 more kicks per game than last season in a clear change of game style, at a career-best kicking efficiency of 63.6 per cent.
AOIFE HEALY
The Dockers’ rookie has been a surprise packet this season after making her debut in round one against the Power. Healy, who arrived from Cork, Ireland this year, has slotted into the back half of the Walyalup line-up like a Docker to water, and remarkably sits equal-third in the competition for intercept possessions in her first three AFLW games. Healy averages 6.7 defensive-half pressure acts and 13.7 disposals a game. Not bad for someone who just played their third AFLW game.
GEORGIE PRESPAKIS
Prespakis has been everywhere this season, the longsleeve-wearing midfielder averaging 29.7 disposals in her first three matches. In round three against Gold Coast, Prespakis was instrumental in the Cats’ narrow win, finishing the match with 33 disposals, eight clearances and nine tackles. Prespakis is a ball-winner and currently leads the competition for contested possessions, averaging 17 per game.
CHARLIE ROWBOTTOM
The two-time All-Australian has started her sixth season with a bang, leading the disposal count for her side, averaging 30 disposals a game at a disposal efficiency of 64.4 per cent - the highest in her six seasons. With the Suns' young brigade coming through the ranks, it’s easy to forget that the former No.1 draft pick is a youngster herself at just 22 years of age.
ALYCE PARKER
After missing most of last season with injury, Parker has picked up right where she left off. The two-time All-Australian and four-time club best-and-fairest sits equal second in the competition for clearances (7.3) and contested possessions (15.7). Parker also leads her side in disposals (23.3) and tackles (six) in what has been an outstanding return to the highest level.
AINE MCDONAGH
The Irishwoman currently sits atop the goal kicking tally for the competition with nine goals in three matches. In 2026, McDonagh has been joined by recruit Jac Dupuy in the Hawks’ forward line and as a result has found more freedom to explore up the ground, sharing the key target responsibilities with the former Sun. McDonagh is also averaging career-best numbers in disposals (13), marks (five) and score involvements (5.7).
LIV PURCELL
This season Purcell made her return from an ACL injury that saw her miss all but two matches last season. In her return, Purcell averaged 33.3 disposals per game and sits second in the competition behind only last year’s competition best and fairest winner Ash Riddell (36.3). In a stacked Melbourne midfield, Purcell has not only returned to the line-up - she’s dominating.
JAS FERGUSON
It’s bad news for the competition when the best continues to get better. That’s the case for North defender Jasmine Ferguson who is putting up career-best numbers across her first three games of the season. Ferguson averages four marks this season, three tackles and 9.7 disposals - all of which are the best the defender has achieved in her six-season career. The 27-year-old averages 1.7 rebound 50s and 6.7 defensive half pressure acts - this is more than any other season.
TEAGAN GERMECH
The commentators would have got tired of saying 'Germech' in the Power’s round one outing against Fremantle as every time the Dockers went to send the ball forward, Germech was there acting as a brick wall. The key defender has had an exciting start to her 2026 campaign, leading the competition for intercept possessions where she averages 10.7 per game.
SIERRA GRIEVES
This Richmond youngster is thriving in her second season at Tigerland, averaging 15.7 disposals and 2.3 clearances in 2026. Grieves’ performance in round one against Collingwood where she had 24 disposals, four clearances and six score involvements saw her recognised as the first Rising Star nominee for the year. There is plenty to like about this young player who will learn a lot from former competition best-and-fairest and teammate Mon Conti.
GEORGIA PATRIKIOS
A lot has been spoken about Tyanna Smith’s incredible performances to start the year, but a lesser-known stat is that Smith’s midfield teammate Georgia Patrikios is actually leading the Saints in disposals (24.3). Patrikios has been solid in the club’s first three hitouts, averaging career-best numbers for disposals, marks (4.7) and inside 50s (3.7). The two-time club best and fairest winner looks to be back to her best if the first three matches are anything to go by.
ALLY MORPHETT
While the likes of Matilda Scholz and Mim Strom draw plenty of the headlines when it comes to rucks, Ally Morphett couldn’t have started her 2026 campaign much better. Morphett has polled the maximum 20 coaches’ votes in her first two appearances this year, giving Sydney’s on-ball brigade first use at stoppage. Morphett’s athleticism means she is also able to get involved around the ground as an extra midfielder and use her strong presence in the air.
AMY FRANKLIN
The 23-year-old key forward has provided a focal point for the Eagles this season, kicking five goals in the club’s first three matches. Franklin is a strong mark, taking four marks, including two contested, against the Giants in round one. The 180cm tall also kicked three goals straight in the Eagles round two loss to the Suns.
ISABELLE PRITCHARD
Co-captain Isabelle Pritchard has taken her game to another level this year, putting together two incredible performances in the first three games of the season. The star Dog uses her size and strength so well at stoppage and combines speed and power with great endurance. She’s also a fantastic two-way midfielder: While she has no problems finding the footy, she’s also not afraid to get her hands dirty with the defensive side of the game. With veterans De Berry and Ellie Blackburn out of the side for the foreseeable future, it will be up to Pritchard to continue leading from the front.
