THEY are the game's quiet achievers who probably don't get the recognition they deserve.

The reliable defenders, the hard-running half-forwards and the tough midfielders who go under-the-radar as the game's big stars get the votes, the accolades and the attention.

The players below are unlikely to be in All-Australian discussions this year, but true fans know the value they hold inside the four walls of their football club.

Check out your club's most underrated player below.

SAM BERRY

In a midfield that includes star pair Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine, Berry has been the anchor in a career-best sixth season. Having evolved from the tackling machine he was early in his career, Berry has broken out as a combative, contested ball-winner who is averaging career-high disposals (23.0), clearances (5.7), contested possessions (12.0), and inside 50s (3.4). The 24-year-old produced a career-best 30 disposals against Collingwood before requiring a week on the sidelines, but his body of work has been vital to the Crows contending as a top-six team. Investing in the mental side of the game has made a difference, with Berry building his self-belief and ability to stay calm when games aren't going his way. – Nathan Schmook 

RYAN LESTER

Now with 250 games under his belt, Lester has been praised for being a good guy and a culture setter at the Lions, but in 2026 he is also playing the best football of his career. Prior to the calf injury he suffered in the lead-up to the round 11 loss to Greater Western Sydney, Lester was arguably in All-Australian form and will almost certainly be in the top three of Brisbane's best and fairest at that stage. After missing four matches, his return following the mid-season bye coincided with Brisbane's best stretch of the season. Lester cannot only nullify an opponent with his desperate defensive style, but his ability to win intercept possessions has taken his game to a new level. - Michael Whiting

BEN AINSWORTH

It was a trade that went relatively under the radar last October, now Ainsworth's first season in Carlton colours has been similarly unsung. The former Gold Coast forward is well on track to surpassing his career high for goals, with the 23 majors he's already kicked this season just two off a personal best set in 2022. His smarts and clean ball use have consistently allowed him to have a forward-half impact as well, demonstrated by the fact he's also averaging 17.3 disposals and 5.6 score involvements per match. Alongside fellow fresh faces in Carlton's attack like Will Hayward and Talor Byrne, he's added a dynamic new element to the side's forward picture and already looks a steal for the pick No.29 that was paid for him by the Blues last year. - Riley Beveridge

BILLY FRAMPTON

Craig McRae made it clear on Sunday night what most Collingwood supporters have thought for months: Frampton should be included in the All-Australian squad. The key defender has stood up down back all season long, around so many changes due to key injuries to Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard and Jeremy Howe, plus the next wave that would have come in. The 29-year-old is averaging close to 12 disposals and 5.6 marks per game and is quietly having the best season of his career. - Josh Gabelich

DYSON SHARP

Essendon might have won a couple more games in the middle of the season if not for Sharp’s shoulder injury, which he sustained in a crucial stage of the Bombers’ tight round nine loss to Greater Western Sydney. The first-year Bombers midfielder missed about a month but has returned and taken on more midfield responsibilities. The past month has seen Sharp average 23 disposals and more than five clearances a game and because he has stepped in so seamlessly to an AFL midfield and looks like he has been playing for four or five years, it has gone slightly under the radar. The Bombers rewarded him for that with a two-year extension, though to the end of 2030, earlier this week, and he will be a starting midfielder in round one next year. - Callum Twomey

MATT JOHNSON

While Karl Worner is arguably the most improved player in the game, fellow quiet achiever Johnson has received much less attention for the critical role he has played in the Dockers' rise this season. A big-bodied midfielder with speed, Johnson's game comes with risk and reward. He takes on tacklers, steps through traffic, and holds the football for a moment longer than some players. When it works, he plays match-winning roles, with his late goal assist and clutch 50m goal against Collingwood in round five a great example.  His disposal efficiency has gone through the roof in his fifth season and his ability to play defensive midfield roles has given Justin Longmuir more flexibility within games. – Nathan Schmook 

OLLIE HENRY

After a quieter 2025 when he was in and out of the side and tallied just 14 goals from 15 games, Henry has rediscovered some of his best form this year. With 39 goals from 20 games, he's just two majors shy of his career-best total of 41 in 2023. He's been particularly important in the Cats' recent run of four successive wins in the absence of star spearhead Jeremy Cameron, kicking 13 goals in that time to help fill the void up forward. The 24-year-old has gone goalless just twice in 20 games this season and looms as a key part of Geelong's hopes of going deep into September. – Michael Rogers

NED MOYLE

In one of the tougher decisions for Damien Hardwick in 2026, he moved away from former captain Jarrod Witts as the No.1 ruckman and gave the keys to Moyle. And after playing just 13 senior games in his first five seasons at the Suns, the 24-year-old has not let his coach down. Having shown he was too good for VFL over a prolonged period, Moyle has been exposed to all of the competition's great ruckmen, and usually held his head high with his good leap and combative play at ground level. With another pre-season to build strength and fitness, Moyle could take an even bigger jump in 2027. - Michael Whiting

HARVEY THOMAS

Thomas could walk down George St and not be recognised, but his season has certainly caught the eye inside the four walls at the Giants. A tireless worker on the wing, Thomas is averaging close to 20 disposals (almost double his 2025 output), three marks and four tackles per game and if All-Australian selectors are to pick two genuine wingmen in the team of the year, he would be firmly in the conversation alongside the likes of Ollie Dempsey. It has been a frustrating season on many fronts for the Giants, but the development of Thomas - the sixth-last pick in the 2023 draft - has been a huge bonus. - Martin Smith

JOSH WARD

It's been somewhat of a slow burn but Ward has become a genuinely important cog for Sam Mitchell's side in 2026. With the Hawks needing another midfielder to shoulder more of the load as the likes of Jai Newcombe and Will Day grab most of the attention, the former No.7 draft pick has quietly produced the most complete season of his career. Averaging 23 disposals, four marks, three tackles and four clearances, Ward is capable of winning his own ball and spreading hard to keep the Hawks moving. His consistency has been a hallmark this season, highlighted by a 33-disposal, nine-mark effort against Essendon and last week's 28 touches and seven marks in the heavy loss to Brisbane. Ward, who turns 23 on Saturday, has made himself a dependable contributor in a Hawthorn side looking to push deep into September. - Brandon Cohen

HARRY SHARP

There's no shortage of feelgood stories at the Demons this year, but Sharp almost certainly tops the list. He has quietly become one of the club's most important players, going from a super-sub last year - he was subbed on or off in 11 of his 18 games - to a best-23 lock. After managing just 33 games across his first five seasons, Sharp has played every game in 2026 and is thriving in the Demons' fast-paced system. His elite running power has always been his greatest strength but his confidence has clearly skyrocketed, evidenced by his sublime soccer effort for the third of this three goals against ladder leader Fremantle on Saturday. He's not only been the Demons' most improved player by some stretch this season, there's an argument to be made that he's one of the most improved across the whole competition. He may not attract the headlines like Max Gawn or Kozzy Pickett, but he's been one of the key reasons Melbourne's new-look gameplan has clicked so quickly in Steven King's first year at the helm. - Alison O’Connor

DYLAN STEPHENS

It's been a solid season for Stephens, who has looked settled on a wing and has begun to impact more matches for North Melbourne. He's averaging career highs for disposals, marks, clearances, score involvements and metres gained, highlighting his growing influence. He started the campaign with a bang, winning 20-plus disposals in five of his first seven matches. That consistency has waned slightly in the back half of the year, but he helped spearhead the Kangas' morale-boosting victory over the Bulldogs last Thursday night with maybe his best game for the season with 28 disposals, eight score involvements and five intercepts. After a solid finish to 2025 and an improved 2026, the former No.5 pick is building into a nice piece for a developing North outfit. - Riley Beveridge

COREY DURDIN

One of the lower profile trades from last October has turned out to be one of the best for Port, with Durdin having a wonderful first year at Alberton. The former Blue (who essentially cost his club pick No.29 in a complex three-team trade that also involved Gold Coast), has played every game in 2026 and been a ray of light in a difficult first season for Josh Carr. Durdin has kicked 31 goals in 21 games, being held goalless just twice, and impressed with his energy and polish inside 50. It is more than twice the number of goals he kicked in any of his five seasons at Carlton. Alongside Joe Richards, Durdin has shown he can be a creative forward half presence for years to come. - Michael Whiting

PATRICK RETSCHKO

Eyebrows were raised when a surprise trade dropped between Richmond and Geelong late on deadline day for the soon-to-be-delisted rookie, the Tigers coughing up pick 99 for the untried youngster. But they liked his running game and needed a winger after the retirement of Kamdyn McIntosh, and childhood Tiger Retschko - while not a household name by any stretch - has absolutely thrived in his second AFL season on a list. After breaking into the side in round six, he has played every possible match, averaging 19 touches and five marks. His disposal should continue to be an area of improvement over summer, but his work ethic and speed can’t be questioned. - Sarah Black

JACK SILVAGNI

Less flashy than the other members of St Kilda's now infamous spending spree, Silvagni has quietly become an invaluable part of the Saints' defence. Playing every game this year despite injury concerns, Silvagni has also been the player Ross Lyon has turned to when St Kilda's forwards have failed to fire, with the 28-year-old swinging into attack to great success, most notably in round 12 when he kicked three goals against Hawthorn. Expect Silvagni to feature prominently in the Saints' club best and fairest. - Sophie Welsh

JAI SERONG

In an increduble first season in Sydney, Serong has transformed from a mobile third defender into a reliable wingman and now - remarkably - an onballer capable of stopping some of the best players in the game. Recruited for a bargain after a lack of opportunity at Hawthorn, Serong has played all but one game for the Swans, mostly on the wing, and is averaging almost 18 disposals, five marks and three tackles per game. But his biggest impact in 2026 may still be to come; with Sydney desperate to shake up its midfield mix, Serong has recently moved on ball and done successful shutdown jobs on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jason Horne-Francis. He's also impacted the other way, picking up 24 disposals and three clearances on the weekend to go with a career-high 11 tackles. The trade has already been a massive win for the Swans and the 23-year-old looks set to play a major role in September - in a variety of roles. - Martin Smith

RHETT BAZZO

This was a critical season for Bazzo as he prepared to come out of contract and appeared down the pecking order among the Eagles' key defenders. But season-ending injuries to Reuben Ginbey and Harry Edwards forced the Eagles to hand Bazzo significant responsibility, and he has thrived with it. The 22-year-old has played important lockdown roles while also using his ability to read the play to rank No.2 at the Eagles for intercept possessions (6.3) and No.1 for intercept marks (2.6), taking a game-high seven against Collingwood on Sunday. A safe ball user, he has added stability to a backline that has been undermanned and under pressure without its most important stopper. – Nathan Schmook  

MICHAEL SELLWOOD

Sellwood has risen from nowhere this year to play every game under Luke Beveridge having made AFL debut in Opening Round. After being plucked out of the WAFL midway through last year, Sellwood has proven to be a competitive beast down back and a reliable option across his first full season at the Mission Whitten Oval. The 22-year-old is averaging close to 13 disposals a game and has added plenty of aggression to the Bulldogs' backline. - Josh Gabelich