AFL Midfield Coach David Mackay has assessed each player's 2026 season. 

See the full video below: 

HARRY MORRISON

"Harry had a really good year. He had some challenges early on. He unfortunately got an untimely injury at the end of pre-season, which meant the start to his year was a bit slow, but then, once he sort of worked his way back into the side, he showed great resilience and came in and was really important for us in the back end of the year, playing on the wing. Harry's one of those guys who makes other people around him better, worked really hard on his game, and was really pleased to see him play some great footy."

JAI NEWCOMBE 

"He's had a tremendous season. He just keeps improving every year. His work around the contest and clearance, he's really raised himself into that um upper echelon of midfielders in the competition. And with still some great opportunities, I reckon, to keep improving. But we've seen his capacity to impact going forward has really increased as well. Jai's been sensational."

NED REEVES 

"Ned had a terrific pre-season and came in, had a really big impact playing in the early part of the year. And unfortunately had a few injuries towards the back end of the year, which sort of interrupted his season. But he's had a great year. He's had really high impact when he's come through the ruck, particularly through the centre bounce. Obviously, to cap it off with the VFL premiership, where he was quite dominant, was great for Ned and great to see."

CONOR NASH 

"Connor was a really important player for us early in the year and was critical to get us up and going early in the season. His work around contest and clearance, he really showed his strengths early on in the year. And unfortunately for him, he obviously had an injury where there was a bit of uncertainty, and he couldn't get back. But his attitude was just completely first-class. He was contributing, almost acting like a coach in the back half of the year. We certainly missed him in the back end of the year, but to get himself back and healthy and ready to go for pre-season, it's going to be pretty exciting for our group."

WILL DAY 

"It's just great to get him back. He was tracking really well through pre-season and then unfortunately had the shoulder, which set him back and made quite an indent in his season. But to get him back, he came back, he had a really strong impact for us, which we knew he would have, albeit off a limited preparation. He showed glimpses of what he's capable of. His work around the contest, his capacity to get from in to out, he's obviously got some really special traits that we love. And the exciting thing is that he's finished the season, he's physically in a great position and really set up to launch going into the next season."

MASSIMO D'AMBROSIO 

"Mass had a very good year. He continues to develop and grow his game. Mass is just one of those guys that you just love coaching. He gives everything all the time, and he's a terrific teammate. So in his role on the wing, he started to hit the scoreboard, he started to have real impact in the air, which is something he's worked hard on in his game. We're really wrapped with his progress."

LLOYD MEEK 

"Lloyd had another really strong year. He obviously shared the ruck role earlier on in the year with Ned, and those two did a really good job together and created a strong partnership in there which was difficult for opposition to come up against. And then in the back half of the year, he shouldered the load a lot and really made significant gains in his game, particularly around his ruck craft and his aerial work. We're really pleased for Lloyd to reach that 100-game milestone. He's battled away for a long period of time, and yeah, just a terrific guy to coach, terrific teammate, and yeah, I'm really pleased with how he finished the year."

JOSH WARD 

"He had another great year in terms of growth and development. He obviously was the most improved player last year. He sort of still flies under the radar a bit. I'm glad he's starting to get a little bit more recognition of what he's able to do. His work obviously through the contest, through the midfield, but also his capacity to get outside the contest and use the ball and and inflict damage on the opposition has gone to a new level and he's starting to believe in himself. We know what he's capable of and his progression. So, yeah, wrapped for him and excited to see where it goes from here."

WILL MCCABE 

"He's developed in a number of different positions over his career. He started as a key defender and then went forward and spent a lot of time on the wing this year and developed really nicely. He plays his role really well, he's got great athletic traits. His best footy in the year was in the VFL finals, high-pressure games, he had a great game in the Grand Final. It was just great to see him get his opportunity at AFL level. He's been working really hard and certainly developing well playing in that wing role."

CAM MACKENZIE 

"Cam had a really strong year again. He had a tough one last year in terms of opportunity through injury. This year, he got himself fit, he played the most games he's played in any season. He's been able to show his strength in the area of the game where he really excels in, which is the contest. That part of the game, he's exceptional. We're really wrapped for Cam, he was able to string a lot of games together and solidify that role in the midfield. He's sort of similar to Wardy, I guess, in the sense that his progression, although it had a few bumps along the way over the last couple of years, he's in a great position to be able to launch and keep developing as a midfielder."

MATT LERAY 

"We're really pleased with Matt's development across the year. He's obviously played a little bit as a defender, but really sort of nailing that wing role in the back half of the year. His VFL final series was really strong. He's got some great traits to be able to play on that wing and use the ball really well, he moves well. He's really good in the air. We're really excited to see where Matt can go."

OLLIE GREEVES 

"Ollie's been terrific since the day he walked into the club in terms of his want to get better and develop his own game. It was great to see him get an opportunity at AFL level, he forced his way in through really good form and then culminated in an excellent final series and, obviously, winning the Norm Goss, well deserved. His development's been really strong in 12 months and to see the impact that he's having in his first year of senior footy is really exciting for what it means for Ollie going forward. He's one of those kids who's lovable, high energy, and yeah, just a pleasure to coach and be around."