The Champion Data numbers behind Fremantle Dockers superstar Andrew Brayshaw’s remarkable mid-season revival

After a slow start to the season by his own lofty standards, Andrew Brayshaw has rediscovered his very best form in recent weeks.

And fresh numbers from the AFL’s official statistics provider Champion Data have illustrated the marked contrast between the Fremantle superstar’s season of two halves.

Across the competition’s first 10 rounds, Brayshaw was ranked as its 140th player. In the 10 since, he has shot all the way up to No.12.

Up until round 10, Brayshaw was averaging 22.8 disposals per game and had recorded more than 25 only twice. Since round 11, he has dropped beneath that mark on just two occasions.

And the consistent midfielder is also having more impact when he finds the football. His per-game averages in metres gained (from 357 to 446), score assists (from 0.7 to 1.7) and score involvements (from 6.4 to 7.3) have all had sharp upticks in the last 10 weeks.

Former AFL and WAFL coach Scott Watters told The West Australian he had been left hugely impressed by Brayshaw’s recent performances.

“I think he’s had his best season, maybe not statistically, but certainly from an impact point of view,” Watters said.

“It’s not just about your stats, it’s about when you’re having an impact on the game, and when they’ve needed him to stand up, he’s been the one that’s really led.

“When they need a midfielder to really step up and do the dirty work, the hard work, the grinding work, he is the player that gets the job done.

“His intensity to chase, to tackle, to pressure and to do the things that aren’t the flashy things are incredibly important and are going to be even more important come finals time.”

Once the No.1 man in Fremantle’s midfield — as shown by him winning the AFL Players Association’s most valuable award and a Doig Medal to go with All Australian selection in 2022 — the vice-captain is now fulfilling a more team-first role.

Experts including Channel Seven’s Ben Cousins and The Sunday Times columnist Paul Hasleby have compared the sacrifices he has made to those of Brownlow medallist Trent Cotchin in Richmond’s 2017, 2019 and 2020 premiership-winning sides.

Watters said Brayshaw’ had played an “incredibly valuable” part in allowing Shai Bolton and Murphy Reid to take their games to new heights in 2026.

“A midfield is a sum of its parts. He has a very integral and important role to play,” Watters said.

“He’s a different to a Murphy Reid, who’s such a creative player, or a Shai Bolton, who’s a burst game-breaker.

“You don’t win premierships with individual performance. This year, all of their leaders have sacrificed parts of their individual game to be part of something bigger, and that’s what’s making Fremantle incredibly hard to beat.”