Pickett rises as Australian Football League rankings change once
Australian Football League rankings shifted by just one spot on Wednesday, and Kysaiah Pickett was the main mover after a fast start to 2026. ’s monthly The 25 list again put Nick Daicos at No. 1, with only one change from the previous version.
Pickett climbs in The 25
Pickett rose to No. 5 in the latest list after a stellar start to the season, pushing further into elite company behind Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli, Isaac Heeney and Zak Butters. That top five gives the latest snapshot of form at the sharp end of the competition, with the same four names ahead of him and Chad Warner holding the final spot at No. 25.
Luke Treacy and Luke Jackson also stormed up the rankings after strong starts to 2026, joining Pickett as the clearest risers in the monthly update. Jason Horne-Francis was described as back to his best, another sign that the list is tracking early-season output as much as long-term reputation.
Jai Newcombe misses out
The cut at No. 25 left Jai Newcombe just outside the latest edition, a narrow miss that underlines how little room there is in the list. Will Ashcroft was also flagged as a name to watch, while Shai Bolton and Murphy Reid are a strong chance to force their way in next month.
Greg Swann spoke to the media after round seven, adding a separate voice to a rankings update that is already showing early-season movement. The 25 is built as a monthly snapshot of the best players in the AFL, based on form to start the season and a body of work across previous years, so the latest version gives readers a clean read on who is climbing and who is closest to breaking in.
What the monthly list shows
The latest panel vote leaves a simple picture: one change at the top level, a fresh No. 5 in Pickett, and a cluster of players pressing hard for entry. For readers tracking form, the useful takeaway is not just the ranking itself but the gap it reveals — Newcombe is close, Bolton and Reid are next in line, and the list is still open enough for another shuffle when the next monthly update lands.
