Get your premium midfielders right and you’ve got a foundation that delivers week after week. Here’s my predictions for the best options for the coming season. Some are proven commodities. Others are new top end candidates. All of them have the credentials to be elite. Let me walk you through each one.
Embed from Getty ImagesErrol Gulden
Gulden had a serious ankle injury in the 2025 preseason that required surgery. As a result, he played just 10 games last season. But in those limited appearances, he proved he could still be one of the most complete AFL Fantasy scorers in the competition.
He wins plenty of the ball through the centre square and stoppages, but he’s at his most potent when scoring in transition. That ability to rack up possessions on the move is what separates good fantasy midfielders from great ones.
Despite the interrupted season, he still scored four tons in 2025, with three above 120. With a full preseason back under his belt, and coach Dean Cox with another year of experience, I’m forecasting that Errol could be the number one scoring midfielder next year in AFL Fantasy.
Embed from Getty ImagesJordan Dawson
Jordan finished the 2025 AFL Fantasy season with the fourth best total points and the sixth best average. That’s elite company, and he did it while carrying a lot of the load for Adelaide.
He scored fifteen tons last year and converted nine of them into scores over 120. He fell under 80 just once, a 78. That consistency is what you’re paying for when you pick a premium midfielder.
Adelaide undoubtedly needs more support through the midfield, but I don’t believe that support comes at the cost of Dawson’s scoring regressing. If anything, having more quality around him should make his job easier.
He’s got a rounded strength to his scoring. Contested & uncontested ball winning, marks, goals and tackles. He does it all. Additionally, he’s got the licence from the coach to position himself wherever required on the ground. That freedom is rare and incredibly valuable for fantasy scoring.
He doesn’t present the salary cap value from 12 months ago, but he’s still an unquestioned star for fantasy football.
Bailey Smith
Bailey Smith had a phenomenal first season as a Cat. He ended the season with the highest AFL Fantasy average at 116.3, and despite playing 20 of 23 possible games, he still sat 13th highest for total points.
16 tons and just one game where his scoring dipped below 80 is an outstanding result, especially coming off the back of an ACL injury. I’ll be honest, his game is built for fantasy. High work rate. Plenty of uncontested possessions and marks. He accumulates without needing to win every contested ball, which means his scoring is sustainable over a long season.
The emergence of Max Holmes as the more likely target for opposition taggers gives me confidence in another year of strong output for Bailey. If taggers are focusing on Holmes, Smith is free to rack up possessions at will. That’s a dream scenario for fantasy coaches. I think we might see some regression, but not enough that he’s not a topline premium midfielder.
Embed from Getty ImagesNick Daicos
Another outstanding season from Nick. He ranked sixth for total points in AFL Fantasy and had the fourth highest average for all midfielders. His year featured 13 tons, and 10 of those converted into 120 or higher. That ability to post massive scores is what makes him a genuine captaincy option week after week.
He continues to be the person Collingwood looks to for winning the football and creating game winning momentum. That role isn’t changing anytime soon. He’s the heartbeat of their team. He’s still working on his ability to break through a tag, and with another preseason of work, I’m extremely confident he’ll again be one of the top scoring midfielders of 2026.
Zak Butters
On the surface some may believe I’m reaching, but I’m very content with this selection. Zak missed a chunk of the season due to a knee injury in February. A drop in average to 98 after back to back seasons of 100 plus doesn’t look great on the surface, but the reality is the season in totality isn’t as overarchingly poor as it appears.
Geelong’s tagger Oisin Mullin got hold of him twice, limiting his scoring to a 46 and 34 in those two matchups. Remove those games and the injury disrupted start, and you see a different picture. In the other 18 games, he averaged 106.5. For reference, only five other midfielders averaged higher in 2025. That’s elite scoring when he’s right. Doing the old ‘remove the game magic trick’ isn’t an always helpful tool, but given it was the same opponent it doesn’t feel as fraudulent.
I believe Port Adelaide will continue to build their midfield around Butters. He’s got the contested ball winning ability, the outside run, and the decision making to be a complete midfielder. If he stays healthy and avoids the Mullin tag, he’s a genuine 110 plus averaging midfielder.
Embed from Getty ImagesMarcus Bontempelli
2025 was the second time in Bontempelli’s career that he averaged over 110 in AFL Fantasy. He played just 18 games last season due to a preseason injury, but when he was on the park, he was dominant.
The Western Bulldogs are one of the highest scoring fantasy sides in the competition, and the success or failure of the team to qualify again for finals in 2026 still rests heavily on his shoulders. Four of his last five seasons, he’s averaged 107 or above. At 30, he’s still in his prime and he’s too smart, too skillful, and too important to his team to see his scoring fall away so far that he’s top a topline midfielder again in 2026.
Jye Caldwell
While injuries again stalled Caldwell’s 2025, from the games he did play we saw a continuation of his breakout scoring from the season prior. He averaged 103.6 from 11 games. But the data underneath that is even better. In the eight games he attended 60% of centre bounces or more, he averaged 116.5. That’s not just elite midfielder territory, that’s rivaling the best scorers in AFL Fantasy.
His scoring avenues are well rounded, and even if he’s not winning the ball, he has a tackle baseline that ensures he barely offers a poor score when not injured. That floor is crucial for you to build a case as a reliable and genuine premium midfielder. Tags will also always go to Zach Merrett if anyone at Essendon, so Caldwell is free to rack up the AFL Fantasy points. If he can stay healthy, I’m backing him in to be a top 8 midfielder for 2026.
Embed from Getty ImagesAndrew Brayshaw
Not going to lie, the last few years the trajectory of Brayshaw’s average isn’t the way you want it to go. In 2022 he averaged 112, and every year since he’s regressed until last year where he averaged 101. That’s not the trend you want from a premium midfielder you’re investing heavily in.
Despite the decreasing average, his consistency of scoring and availability remains elite. He hasn’t missed a game in four years. He ranked 14th, 14th, 7th and 1st for total points across those four seasons.
Even though the average is sliding, his market share in Fremantle’s midfield increased in 2025. It’s this sign, alongside his durability, that gives me the confidence to forecast that he’ll again be one of the best midfield premiums.
Fremantle is building towards premiership contention. If they keep taking the next step as a team, Brayshaw will be at the centre of it. His role isn’t changing. His workrate isn’t changing. I’m confident the average shouldn’t just stabilise but improve as the team around him gets even better.