Who are the risers and sliders at your club this season?
AFL.com.au and Champion Data have investigated the Official AFL Player Ratings to identify one player from each side who has taken a big leap, and another who has fallen down the standings.
Furthermore, the best individual performance from each club in 2019 has also been uncovered, again based on the Player Ratings.
The Player Ratings use a variety of stats to assess an individual's ranking within the competition based on their past 40 games over a rolling two-year period.
The riser
Cam Ellis-Yolmen
Pre-season ranking: 391
Current ranking: 195
The big-bodied Crow gets it done at the coalface. He's ranked No.1 at the club for groundball gets, which are contested possessions won at ground level minus free kicks, and is second for contested possessions.
The slider
Bryce Gibbs
Pre-season ranking: 69
Current ranking: 137
It's been stunning to see the former Blue's decline. His disposal, contested possession and score involvement averages are the lowest they have been since his debut campaign in 2007.
The standout performance
It was a fine start to the season for Rory Sloane, who racked up 36 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 11 clearances and a goal (25.2 Player Ratings points) in Adelaide's round one loss to Hawthorn.
The riser
Mitch Robinson
Pre-season ranking: 194
Current ranking: 84
Moving to a wing has worked a treat. No player in his position has more tackles (78) or inside 50s (79) this year.
The slider
Luke Hodge
Pre-season ranking: 162
Current ranking: 224
At 35, it makes sense the four-time Hawthorn premiership hero has slipped. His average contested possessions (4.1) and score involvements (1.6) are career lows.
The standout performance
An outstanding Dayne Zorko performance led Brisbane to a round 15 win over Melbourne. He finished with 31 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 607m gained and three goals (27.3 Player Ratings points).
The riser
Patrick Cripps
Pre-season ranking: 19
Current ranking: 6
Has climbed on the back of an outstanding season. The Carlton co-captain is No.1 in the competition for average effective clearances (6.4) and No.3 for contested possessions (16.3).
The slider
Matthew Kreuzer
Pre-season ranking: 99
Current ranking: 181
Going at two marks per match, which equals a career low, while his 2.4 tackles per game is his lowest tally since his first year in 2008 (excluding 2014, when the ruckman took to the field once).
The standout performance
Who else but Patrick Cripps? The skipper led Carlton to victory from 37 points down against Brisbane in round 12, David Teague's first game as caretaker coach, collecting 38 disposals and four goals (30.6 Player Ratings points) in a staggering display.
The riser
Jordan De Goey
Pre-season ranking: 90
Current ranking: 70
No one at the Pies has booted more goals than the superstar's 33 or had more score assists than his 20. Has also broken 10 tackles, which is second at Collingwood.
The slider
Steele Sidebottom
Pre-season ranking: 28
Current ranking: 49
After a brilliant 2018 campaign that saw him share the best and fairest with Brodie Grundy, the dual-sided midfielder hasn't maintained that level. Compared to last year, he's averaging fewer disposals, inside 50s, clearances and score involvements.
The standout performance
Perhaps surprisingly, it's not one of Collingwood's glittering midfield unit, but instead unfashionable forward Brody Mihocek, who bagged four goals, eight score involvements and took five contested marks (26.3 Player Ratings points) as the Magpies produced a brave fightback on the road against West Coast in round 17.
The riser
Zach Merrett
Pre-season ranking: 41
Current ranking: 19
Gets it done with and without the footy. The left-footer is ranked No.4 in the AFL for total pressure acts, No.8 for disposals and No.9 for inside-50s.
The slider
Michael Hurley
Pre-season ranking: 167
Current ranking: 261
Down in several areas, before left shoulder surgery put the key backman's season in doubt. His average of 5.1 contested possessions per game are his lowest tally since 2010, while his intercept possessions (6.8) and tackles (0.4) are down to levels he hasn't recorded since 2013.
The standout performance
Arguably the most electric outing of the year came from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (28.2 Player Ratings points)in a narrow round 17 victory over North Melbourne, which included an outrageous match-winning goal, along with three others, to help bury the Roos.
The riser
David Mundy
Pre-season ranking: 43
Current ranking: 23
Turned 34 last week but still going strong. The evergreen Docker is first at the club for total centre bounce clearances and looseball gets.
The slider
Nathan Wilson
Pre-season ranking: 188
Current ranking: 247
Dipped in several key areas. The speedster's average uncontested possession, mark and pressure point numbers are at their lowest levels since 2015, when he was still at Greater Western Sydney.
The standout performance
Shock horror, Nat Fyfe features here. He racked up 33 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 606m gained and three goals (32.2 Player Ratings points) in Freo's round eight loss to Richmond.
The riser
Tom Hawkins
Pre-season ranking: 56
Current ranking: 30
Slowed down a touch in recent weeks but the hulking goalkicker is No.1 in the AFL for score assists and forward-50 groundball gets, and sits fourth in the Coleman Medal.
The slider
Luke Dahlhaus
Pre-season ranking: 126
Current ranking: 177
Doing a lot right in his first season since crossing over from the Western Bulldogs but his average disposals (19.5) and marks (2.9) are the lowest they have been since 2013.
The standout performance
St Kilda is the only team Patrick Dangerfield hasn't polled a Brownlow vote against but he looks to have completed the set after 32 disposals, 23 contested possessions, nine clearances and a goal (29.9 Player Ratings points) in what would be Alan Richardson's last game as Saints coach, in round 17.
The riser
Jarrod Harbrow
Pre-season ranking: 266
Current ranking: 218
Goes a little under the radar at the struggling Suns but the rebounding backman is posting career-high numbers for intercept marks and spoils.
The slider
Jack Martin
Pre-season ranking: 180
Current ranking: 251
Viewed as an unfulfilled talent and out of contract at season's end with his year possibly over after finger surgery, the skilled Sun is averaging his lowest amount of uncontested possessions since 2015, and his fewest average score involvements since 2014.
The standout performance
A huge night in the clinches for David Swallow in Gold Coast's round 10 loss to Geelong, when he picked up 29 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 13 clearances and a goal (24.8 Player Ratings points).
The riser
Stephen Coniglio
Pre-season ranking: 70
Current ranking: 31
Was in stellar form before his left knee operation. The restricted free agent has posted career-high averages for kicks and inside-50s, even though he was hurt in the opening minutes of the Giants' round 17 loss to Richmond and didn't have a disposal in that time.
The slider
Heath Shaw
Pre-season ranking: 159
Current ranking: 215
At 33 and on the brink of his 300th game, the gun defender is showing signs of slowing down. His average contested possessions are at 4.5, the lowest they have been since his first year in 2005. Intercept possessions have only been recorded since 2011 but the former Pie has never posted such low numbers in that category.
The standout performance
Coniglio showed why he is so sought after with 36 disposals, 564m gained and three goals (28.8 Player Ratings points) in Greater Western Sydney's round 11 win over Gold Coast.
The riser
James Sicily
Pre-season ranking: 136
Current ranking: 69
An undoubted jet, the fiery defender is averaging career-high numbers for marks (7.9) and rebound-50s (6.6), which sees him ranked No.3 and No.4 in the AFL for those categories respectively.
The slider
Isaac Smith
Pre-season ranking: 104
Current ranking: 156
A dashing wingman who is so damaging when on song, the left-footer hasn't lived up to his usual high standards this year. Is posting career-low average score involvement (4.8) and tackle (2.1) numbers.
The standout performance
Uncharacteristically, Jack Gunston has been down this season, but he was excellent in Hawthorn's round 10 victory over Port Adelaide when he slotted six straight goals, and also collected 21 disposals (29.7 Player Ratings points).
The riser
James Harmes
Pre-season ranking: 113
Current ranking: 52
Despite the struggles of his teammates, the rugged onballer has never averaged more contested possessions (11.1), score involvements (5.6), clearances (4.6), inside-50s (4.4) and marks (3.9).
The slider
Tom McDonald
Pre-season ranking: 36
Current ranking: 104
It's been a tough campaign for the mobile forward, who had his season prematurely ended by a left knee operation. His disposal and tackle averages were at career lows, while his 4.3 marks per game were his lowest since 2013.
The standout performance
Up against the game's other standout ruckman, Brodie Grundy (who was admittedly carrying a neck issue), Max Gawn was dominant on Queen's Birthday and produced eye-popping numbers for a big man: 34 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 10 clearances and 33 hitouts (25.9 Player Ratings points) in a Dees defeat.
The riser
Todd Goldstein
Pre-season ranking: 24
Current ranking: 8
Many have questioned St Kilda's decision to pursue the mobile big man but the 31-year-old is ranked No.3 for average disposals among ruckmen, and No.5 for hitout-to-advantage percentage.
The slider
Ben Brown
Pre-season ranking: 84
Current ranking: 121
Renowned for his deadly finishing, Brown is converting at a career-low rate of 55.4 per cent. Furthermore, his average contested marks of 1.6 per game are down to their lowest ebb since 2015.
The standout performance
North Melbourne was defeated by Brisbane in round two but Ben Cunnington couldn't be blamed after recording 36 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 10 clearances and a goal (26.3 Player Ratings points).
The riser
Travis Boak
Pre-season ranking: 80
Current ranking: 35
After his career looked like it was winding down, the former skipper is somehow posting career-high stats for average disposals (31.9), contested possessions (15.5) and clearances (7.3).
The slider
Paddy Ryder
Pre-season ranking: 14
Current ranking: 42
Has spent time in the SANFL and is going at career-low averages for disposals (9.3) and marks (2.8) since his first year in 2006. His 22.5 hitouts per game haven't been this low since 2012.
The standout performance
Ruckman Scott Lycett (33.7 Player Ratings points) put together not only the best performance by a Port player in 2019, but the best performance by anyone this year, after winning 23 disposals, 16 contested possessions, one goal and 33 hitouts in the Power's round two victory over Carlton.
The riser
Dion Prestia
Pre-season ranking: 102
Current ranking: 40
No one in the competition has more loose-ball gets than the former Sun, while he is No.9 in the AFL for pressure acts. He's been integral to keeping the Tigers afloat while injuries have plagued them.
The slider
Dustin Martin
Pre-season ranking: 1
Current ranking: 11
He sets an incredibly high standard for himself, but the Tigers superstar is averaging his fewest number of contested possessions (9.9), clearances (4.4) and score involvements (6.6) since 2015.
The standout performance
A Tiger in a rich vein of form features here. Dion Prestia (29.8 Player Ratings points) filled the stats sheet with 32 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 10 inside 50s, eight clearances and 561m gained when Richmond defeated Sydney in round five.
The riser
Jade Gresham
Pre-season ranking: 103
Current ranking: 55
Ranks No.1 at the Saints for total inside 50s, score assists, loose-ball gets, centre bounce clearances and contested possessions. It's not hard to see why the club is so bullish on him.
The slider
Jack Newnes
Pre-season ranking: 206
Current ranking: 266
After a down 2018, Newnes started really well, going at 22 disposals and six score involvements across the first two months of this year. In his following eight games though, the wingman has averaged 14 disposals and four score involvements.
The standout performance
Bagging six goals, along with 17 disposals, 15 contested possessions and seven contested marks was a pretty impressive display from Josh Bruce (29.1 Player Ratings points) in St Kilda's round 16 loss to North Melbourne.
The riser
George Hewett
Pre-season ranking: 144
Current ranking: 101
Sydney has some big names in its midfield but this onballer is ranked No.1 at the Swans for total handballs and loose-ball gets, and is No.2 for centre bounce clearances, contested possessions and pressure acts.
The slider
Isaac Heeney
Pre-season ranking: 37
Current ranking: 57
Compared to 2018, Heeney's averages are down in several categories: contested possessions, metres gained, intercept possessions, clearances, score assists and tackles.
The standout performance
Collingwood might have beaten Sydney in round 10 but Sam Reid (29.8 Player Ratings points) was exceptional, snagging six goals, and picking up 15 disposals and six contested marks.
The riser
Elliot Yeo
Pre-season ranking: 33
Current ranking: 17
After back-to-back best and fairests, this excellent Eagle is producing once again. He's No.1 in the AFL for total tackles, second for pressure acts and sixth for inside 50s.
The slider
Josh Kennedy
Pre-season ranking: 91
Current ranking: 180
The decline seems to have started for the brave forward. Going at 4.1 marks per game, a tally that hasn't been seen since he crossed over from Carlton at the end of 2007. Furthermore, his average disposals (8.5), forward 50 groundball gets (1.1) and goals (2.1) are at their lowest point since 2012.
The standout performance
In the round four derby win over a brave Fremantle, captain Shannon Hurn (26.1 Player Ratings points) stood up with 32 disposals, 10 contested possessions, three contested marks and six rebound 50s.
The riser
Josh Dunkley
Pre-season ranking: 308
Current ranking: 66
Sticking Dunkley in the guts has worked a treat. He's second in the AFL for total loose-ball gets, sixth for tackles, eighth for contested possessions and ninth for score involvements.
The slider
Toby McLean
Pre-season ranking: 67
Current ranking: 116
Dropped earlier in the season before suffering a hamstring injury, the premiership Bulldog is posting his lowest average disposal (16.6), contested possession (5.9) and score involvement (5) numbers since his debut year in 2015.
The standout performance
A classic Marcus Bontempelli (29.3 Player Ratings points) game in the Dogs' round seven upset over Richmond, notching up 27 disposals, 14 contested possessions, three goals and 496m gained.
