WELCOME back to The 25.

AFL.com.au's rolling list of the top players is back for the second edition of the AFLW season, where we will rank the best of the best in the women's comp every month throughout the year.

The criteria is simple – if every player in the competition was fully fit and lined up against a wall right now, who would you pick first? Multiple members of the AFL.com.au team did exactly that, with our overall consensus forming the final list.

For September's edition, five new players enter the rankings, while one player has jumped a whopping 11 places.

Melbourne is the best-represented club with four players, while the irrepressible North Melbourne has three players selected, as does Sydney.

As for those unlucky to miss out, two Blues were among the five players on the cusp of selection.

Despite having a delayed start to 2026 through injury, Chaplin remains in The 25, albeit six spots lower than last time. Chaplin is one of the game's best intercept defenders, reading the play expertly and making smart decisions with ball in hand. The Demon has played in just two of the four games to the season, but has performed solidly, averaging 17.5 disposals and 5.5 marks, two of which are intercept marks. Chaplin's ability to direct traffic is impressive, with her disposal efficiency at 71.4 per cent while her knack for popping up for an important mark remains a hallmark of her game.

Rowbottom enters The 25 for the first time after producing four excellent performances in the first four rounds. The 22-year-old’s best game to date was the Suns’ round three game against the Cats where she had 39 disposals, five clearances and 421 metres gained. This midfield bull is one of the best ball winners in the competition and leads by example for her young Suns team.

A newcomer to The 25 this edition, Hill has been rewarded for her fantastic start to the year where she's been a big part of Carlton's 4-0 record. Hill sits seventh in the competition for disposals, averaging 27.5 a game and leads the Blues for inside 50s with 4.8. Hill is also 11th in the competition for score involvements averaging six a game and leads the Blues for pressure acts with 19.8, showing her impact across the ground. This smart footballer doesn't waste a possession, with her workrate and decision making a key feature of her game.

Although this Swans midfielder’s numbers are down on last season, Gardiner has jumped up one place from the pre-season edition of The 25. One of the hardest runners in the game and with a knack of finding plenty of the footy, Gardiner is averaging 23 disposals across the first four rounds. The 23-year-old has improved her attacking game this season, having had 16 score involvements in the four rounds and kicking two goals, the same as her output for the entire 2025.

Smith caught everyone’s eye in round one against the Blues, when the Saints mid kicked two spectacular goals from centre clearances. The speedy-mid with excellent footy IQ is deservedly in The 25 for the first time as reward for her first four matches in 2026, her ability to change games making her one of the competition's most exciting midfielders. Smith has been a shining light for the Saints’ in their poor start to the season.

Despite having a strong start to the year, the Cats’ Irish star has fallen five positions in The 25, perhaps due to the rise of the forwards around her. The flukish goal-scorer is part of a fully functioning Cats’ forward line in 2026 with both Chloe Scheer and Jackie Parry back to the peak of their powers. Luckily for Scheer and parry, Moloney is averaging career-best numbers in goal assists and has kicked six goals for far in 2026, including four goals in a one quarter against the Bombers in round four. While less showy than in previous seasons, Moloney still has an uncanny ability to make the unbelievable happen.

One of the competition's biggest improvers this season, Wales has well and truly earnt her debut in The 25. The young ruck has taken her game to the next level in 2026, impacting not only at stoppages but also across the ground with her outstanding workrate. Wales can take a strong overhead mark as well as apply pressure at ground level, highlighting her versatility. Wales' numbers in the first four rounds speak for themselves, with the 23-year-old averaging 20.5 disposals, 6.5 marks and 4.5 tackles.

Fish holds her position at 18 after a strong start to the year where she has played 100 per cent game time in the first four matches. Last year’s Rising Star winner averages 483.6 metres gained, up from 454.8 last season and is also up in average disposals (24.8) and tackles (five). This young defender continues to improve, her silky skills and her desire to take the game on making her one of the game's best players in just her second season.

Molloy started the season with a bang, playing a huge part in the Swans first-ever victory over Adelaide where the former-skipper had 20 disposals, seven marks, nine score involvements and a goal. You can almost guarantee that Molloy will make the highlight reel in every match she plays, with her class and finish around goal second to none. Despite averaging career-best numbers in disposals (16.8), Molloy is one of the biggest sliders from the first to the second edition of The 25, falling eight spots from nine to 17 as other players make their claims.

Dawes has dropped slightly in the rankings, falling four places from 12 to 16. The 25-year-old’s numbers are slightly down on last season, perhaps as the Lions go through some early hiccups in 2026, but you wouldn’t think it would be for long given the competitive nature of this hard-working, determined, in-and-under Lion. Dawes is a heart and soul player and leads the Lions for clearances (4.3) and averages five tackles a game.

The Dogs’ co-captain is another player to take a big leap in the rankings, moving from 25th to 15th since the first edition of The 25. Pritchard leads the Doggies for clearances (6.3) and inside 50s (3.3) showing how damaging she is in stoppages clearing the ball with her booming left foot. The 24-year-old is also key to the Bulldogs’ scoring leading her side for score involvements (five), whilst the midfielder can hit the scoreboard herself having kicked three goals so far.

Strom has held 14th position in The 25, despite the ruck’s numbers being slightly down on her 2025 output due to an injured shoulder in round four that saw her miss part of the game. The Fremantle ruck averages 18.8 hit outs, which is 11th in the competition, but it’s the tall’s ability to get clearances that stands out, averaging 5.3 per game, the most of any ruck. Strom has been the All-Australian ruck for the past two seasons, with her athleticism and work rate making her stand out from her counterparts.

Key forward Randall has jumped three places from 16 to 13 after a strong start to the year. Against the Saints in round four, Randall kicked a bag of five, and as a result the Roos star now averages a career-best 2.8 goals a game. One of the comp’s best overhead marks, Randall is arguably the competition’s best key forward. As long as Randall is kicking goals, the Roos will continue winning.

The highest placed of The 25's new additions, Purcell hasn’t missed a beat since returning from an ACL injury this season. Purcell has jumped straight back into the Dees midfield bringing her signature grunt and competitiveness that sees her sit third in the competition for disposals, averaging 32 per game. Purcell leads the Demons for both contested possessions (12.5) and uncontested possessions (19.5) and has been key to her club’s undefeated start to the year.

Carlton’s speedster Fitzpatrick is one of the biggest improvers in this edition of The 25, jumping 11 places from 22 to 11. Fitzpatrick is electric, breaking lines with her speed and agility and will take the game on at every opportunity. Fitzpatrick averages 5.8 score involvements and 2.8 shots on goal a game. Fitzpatrick epitomises Irish flair, with her run and dare making her one of the most exciting players in the game.

McDonagh has kicked three goals in all four matches to start the season to become the competition's leading goalkicker. Her overhead ability coupled with her athleticism makes her Hawthorn's key focal point up forward, while the addition of Jac Dupuy to the Hawks has freed McDonagh up to play slightly higher up the ground to great effect. 

Leading the competition in clearances with 7.7 per game and inside-50s with seven per game, Conti is a joy to watch. Smooth-moving and skilled, Conti is ranked ninth in the competition for disposals (27) and leads her club in a whole range of stats including contested possessions, uncontested possessions, ground ball gets, score involvements, tackles and pressure acts. She's long been the main midfield star at the Tigers, and has had to do the heavy lifting lately in the absence of Ellie McKenzie.

The 2024 competition Best and Fairest winner, Marinoff has had a great start to 2026 under new coach Ryan Davies and has held her position in The 25. So far this season, the hard-working Crows midfielder averages 26.8 disposals a game and more than 10 tackles. She appears to be playing with a renewed freedom in 2026, and her competitive nature is second to none. As the Crows regenerate after losing key players, Marinoff's tenacity and experience will only become more important as the year carries on.

The West Coast star’s stoppage work has gone through the roof to start the 2026 season, averaging 6.8 clearances up from 3.8 last year. She's also bringing the pressure, laying a career-high 12 tackles in round four. The Eagles have struggled to find form so far in 2026 and Roberts' stats have suffered slightly as a result, but the tall midfielder's ceiling is sky high and she remains one of the most naturally gifted players in the competition.

As smooth-moving as they come, Hanks has jumped from 10th to sixth in The 25 after an excellent start to the 2026 season. A classy midfielder, Hanks' game has been elevated this year with the return of running mate Liv Purcell, with the two combining to form a one-two punch of class and grunt in the Demons' engine room. Hanks is averaging a career-best 25.3 disposals at 75.2 per cent efficiency, as well as her highest ever number of tackles with 8.5 a game. The Rising Star winner from 2021, Hanks is a no-fuss character who lets her footy do the talking.

The younger Prespakis sister has taken her game to another level this season, seeing her jump three spots to number five in The 25. Prespakis leads the competition for contested possessions, averaging 16.5 a game as well as ground-ball gets (12.3). Her skill, power and evasiveness have her in the top handful of midfielders in the competition, and her strong season so far is a big factor in Geelong's rise up the ladder. 

The competition's premier ruck, Scholz has moved up the rankings slightly following a solid start to 2026. Scholz leads the competition for hitouts, averaging 27.3 a game and is finding plenty of the footy, averaging 19.8 disposals a game. Scholz's athleticism for her size is unique, while her skill and physicality make her a headache for opposition match-ups. Already with one Mark of the Year under her belt, Scholz is again taking to the skies in 2026. 

No one finds more of the footy than Ash Riddell. Last season’s competition Best and Fairest winner is unsurprisingly leading the competition this year for disposals, averaging 37 per game. Twenty-three of those are uncontested possessions, also the highest in the competition. Her disposal dominance is built on sheer work rate, with her ability to cover ground a hallmark of her game. As a result, she's averaging 5.3 inside-50s and 2.5 rebound-50s per game this year, as well as 4.3 clearances. 

The Melbourne captain has been instrumental to the Demons’ 4-0 start to 2026. Hore is an impact player, damaging in the middle and when she pushes forward in attack. The 31-year-old has started the season averaging 20.8 disposals, 1.8 centre clearances and 6.3 score involvements. Her knack for doing the incredible just when her team needs it - whether it's a clutch mark, impossible goal or game-saving tackle has her up there as one of the most important players in the competition.

No change since last edition of the 25, Garner has started the year in her typical tremendous fashion. Garner has led the way in the Roos’ opening rounds, averaging a career-best 32.8 disposals. The North skipper averages five clearances and six inside 50s per game, and has hit the scoreboard with three goals. Quite simply, Garner can do things others can't, and does them regularly. Her skill, composure and footy IQ are second to none. 

THE FIVE THAT JUST MISSED

26. Nina Morrison
27. Poppy Scholz
28. Ruby Schleicher
29. Harriet Cordner
30. Blaithin Bogue