Survey results: The breakout player of 2026 will be?

The breakout player of 2026 will be... ?

We asked and you answered.

We love a player who steps right up and breaks out, taking their game to a new level across the course of a season.

Who will that player be in 2026?

Of the 17 players we put forward, 16% of the vote went to Brisbane's Levi Ashcroft who had a pretty strong debut campaign in 2025.

Yet-to-debut Carlton draftee Jagga Smith is liked by 12.4% of the voters while Richmond's No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor is seen by 12.1% as a breakout candidate.

See the results below:

16% - Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
12.4% - Jagga Smith (CAR)
12.1% - Sam Lalor (RIC)
9.9% - Aaron Cadman (GWS)
9% - Harvey Langford (MEL)
6.7% - Nate Caddy (ESS)
6.7% - George Wardlaw (NM)
5.1% - Calsher Dear (HAW)
3.6% - Darcy Wilson (STK)
3.4% - Connor O'Sullivan (GEE)
3.3% - Finn O'Sullivan (NM)
3.1% - Zach Reid (ESS)
2.5% - Mattaes Phillipou (STK)
2.4% - Alix Tauru (STK)
2.2% - Elijah Hewett (WCE)
0.8% - Matt Johnson (FRE)
0.7% - Ethan Read (GCS)