JOE DANIHER'S impressive performance for Essendon against Gold Coast on Saturday night has seen him dramatically improve his standing in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Vero.

Daniher collected 17 possessions, took eight marks and booted three goals in the Bombers' comfortable win over the Suns.

The effort resulted in the 19-year-old climbing 41 places on the player ratings table, from 687 to 646.

Port Adelaide defender Cameron O'Shea continued his remarkable improvement this season by posting the highest score in round 12.

O'Shea's 30 possessions, four marks, four tackles and two goals equated to 31.2 player ratings points.

He pipped Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett as the leading scorer for the round, although Ablett extended his lead as the No. 1 player in the competition by accumulating 30.9 points in the Suns' loss to Essendon.

Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan posted the third-highest score of the round. Swan's 38 possessions and eight mark in the Magpies' win over the Bulldogs equated to 30.1 points.

Swan remains the No. 8 player in the competition, although he is just one point behind his teammate Scott Pendlebury, who is No. 7.

Hawthorn star Lance Franklin remains the top-rated forward in the League, while West Coast's Shannon Hurn is the No. 1 defender.

Hurn's teammate Nic Naitanui is the No. 1 ruckman.

Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield is within one point of taking the title of second-best player in the AFL off Sydney Swans star Josh Kennedy.

Dangerfield has been a shining light for the Crows in their disappointing season, and he amassed another 23.1 points in his team's loss to Richmond on Saturday.

His overall points tally is now 633, compared to Kennedy's 634.