THEY’RE the heartwarming stories of growth and the lifeblood of any team looking to win a flag.

Every year a number of players make the leap, improving mentally and physically to sometimes go from no-name role players to featured star in the space of a few months.

Each club has them and this year there are plenty to choose from. So which players have gone from good to great and who deserves credit from your side?

Here’s the most improved player from every AFL club midway through the 2017 season.

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ADELAIDE CROWS

HE’S one of the stories of the year.

Reborn as a forward, the once luckless Andy Otten has cemented himself as a key part of the Crows’ line-up.

He returned to the AFL following two knee reconstructions and a season spent contemplating in the SANFL and has helped spur on the playing group to flag favouritism.

It’s not just the emotional element either. The former defender has played every game so far this season, booting 16 goals.

BRISBANE LIONS

AFTER a tough 2016 in which his attitude, form and commitment was questioned, Tom Rockliff has bounced back with aplomb this year.

Despite being demoted from captain to vice-captain, Rockliff’s form has been exceptional in 2017.

The midfielder has averaged 30.1 disposals, 15.1 contested possessions, 9.9 clearances and 8.3 tackles per game, while his leadership has been exceptional.

Despite missing games with a shoulder injury, Rockliff has put himself back in the conversation when it comes to the AFL’s best inside midfielders.

CARLTON

AFTER having his fair share of sceptics early on, Lachie Plowman has established himself as a key figure in Carlton’s defence.

The 22-year-old has averaged 14.9 disposals, 5.4 marks, 5.5 intercept possessions and 2.3 tackles per game this season.

Alongside Caleb Marchbank and Tom Williamson, Plowman is set to be an important player for the Blues’ back six going forward.

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COLLINGWOOD

NOT all improvement has to come from a low base — as seen with ruckman Brodie Grundy.

Grundy has turned from a very good player into a great one in 2017, moving from a strong ruckman around the ground with solid tapwork into an all-round star.

He has averaged 18.4 disposals and 4.2 tackles this season but has gone from 26.1 hit-outs per game to 38.9, providing incredible supply to one of the game’s best midfields.

Grundy is firmly in All-Australian contention.

ESSENDON

PLENTY of attention has been on the returning ‘banned Bombers’ this season. But one man making people take note is Irish dasher Conor McKenna.

The 21-year-old played two games in 2015 and another 12 last year. But this season, he’s made a spot off half back his own.

McKenna has averaged 16.9 disposals, 298 metres gained, 4.8 intercept possessions, 3.9 score involvements and 2.8 rebound 50s per game. He should only keep getting better, too.

FREMANTLE

AFTER 15 games in 2016, Connor Blakely has enjoyed a breakout season this year.

The 21-year-old has quickly become a key part of Fremantle’s midfield, averaging 23.6 disposals, 3.8 clearances, 4.3 tackles and 3.7 score involvements per game.

He has played every game this season and looks set to be a permanent — and important — fixture for the Dockers.

GEELONG CATS

THERE’S always going to be plenty of focus on Dangerwood.

But one man who’s gone a fair way to relieving the pressure on Geelong’s star duo is Mitch Duncan.

The midfielder has averaged 28.4 disposals per game this year, well up on his 2016 average of 22.9. He’s also averaged 5.4 tackles, 7.5 marks and seven score involvements per game.

Now that’s improvement — and much needed, in a side oft-criticised for its reliance on its guns.

GOLD COAST SUNS

HE moved from the game’s biggest club to one of its newest — meaning the sudden growth of Jarrod Witts is occurring in relative anonymity.

The ruckman was traded from Collingwood this past off-season for picks 44 and 62, somewhat of a pittance compared to his output so far in 2017.

Champion Data’s comprehensive AFL Player Ratings rank Witts as one of the 20 best players in the league this season.

All of Witts’ in-game career-highs have come this year, with the ruckman averaging 14.2 disposals, 2.6 marks, 3.4 tackles and 37 hit-outs a week.

GWS GIANTS

HE was already a gun — but Josh Kelly has gone to another level since becoming a full-time midfielder. And for him, the timing couldn’t be any better.

The Giant is set for a huge payday on his next contract after showing he can play both inside and outside in the 2017 season. North Melbourne, St Kilda and Carlton have all been linked to moves for the Victorian.

Kelly is averaging 29.3 disposals (up 5.7) and 6.9 tackles (up three) this season, ranking in the top eight in the AFL for total tackles, inside 50s and disposals.

HAWTHORN

IT has been a tough first half of the year for Hawthorn, but the shining light of 2017 has undoubtedly been Ryan Burton.

The South Australian played four games in his debut season after overcoming a serious leg injury. This year, he hit the ground running, slotting beautifully into Hawthorn’s back six.

Burton has averaged 21.1 disposals, 6.5 marks, 6.1 intercept possessions, four rebound-50s and 370.7 metres gained in 2017.

MELBOURNE

HE already had some of the most impressive speed in the league — but now defender Jayden Hunt is putting it all together.

He has been one of the five best ‘general defenders’ in the league this season, according to Champion Data’s AFL Player Ratings, earning a spot in Fox Footy’s midyear All-Australian squad of 40.

In just his second season Hunt is averaging 18.4 disposals, 4.4 marks and 2.5 rebound 50s a game, while his excellent pace can be seen in his 18 bounces for the season (the sixth-most in the AFL).

NORTH MELBOURNE

LAST season, Ben Brown was North Melbourne’s leading goalkicker. But he had plenty of help.

The key forward also had Lindsay Thomas, Brent Harvey, Jarrad Waite and Drew Petrie kicking 27 goals or more, with his total of 41 being the best of the bunch.

But with those four missing footy either due to suspension, injury, form or retirement, it has been up to the big Tasmanian to carry this year’s edition of the Kangaroos.

He is doing so with aplomb, bagging 28 goals through 11 games. His total is double the next-best Roo (Kayne Turner, 14).

And in one for the fun fact brigade, Brown has also kicked the first goal of the game more often this season than anyone else in the AFL.

PORT ADELAIDE

IN 2016, Charlie Dixon was meant to be the answer up forward for Port Adelaide.

One year on, the big man is finally delivering for the Power.

After a lacklustre first year at Alberton — where he was hampered by ankle injuries — Dixon has hit his straps.

The 26-year-old averaged 2.4 goals, 6.5 marks, three marks inside-50, 7.5 score involvements and 3.9 tackles per game in his opening half of the season.

Most importantly, he’s got the Power back on track.

RICHMOND

SMALL forward Dan Butler has transformed from a player who spent all of 2016 in the VFL to a crucial part of Richmond’s 2017 resurgence.

The 21-year-old’s relentless pressure and attack on the footy has quickly seen him become a fan favourite, with Butler, Daniel Rioli and Jason Castagna forming a lethal ‘mosquito fleet’ inside the forward-50.

Butler has averaged 13.4 disposals, 5.4 score involvements, 1.2 goals and 3.1 tackles per game this season since making his debut in Round 1.

He earned the Round 11 Rising Star nomination off the back of a two-goal performance against North Melbourne.

ST KILDA

HE was already highly regarded by Saints fans but Dylan Roberton has stepped up his game again in 2017.

The key defender has been let off the leash by the addition of Jake Carlisle and Nathan Brown and has taken full advantage of his new-found freedom.

Roberton has averaged 25.4 disposals, 7.2 marks, 5.8 rebound-50s, 483.6 metres gained and 6.3 intercept possessions per game.

Casual fans may be surprised, but he’s in All-Australian contention.

SYDNEY SWANS

AFTER injury interrupted his 2016 season, Zak Jones finished the year a member of the losing grand final side.

This year, the young gun has kicked on in style, establishing himself as a crucial part of the Swans’ defensive and midfield mix, with his pace, gutrunning and lethal kick particularly eye-catching. Jones has averaged 20.6 disposals, 368.0 metres-gained and 3.7 tackles per outing.

Rookie Nic Newman has also made his mark since debuting this season.

WEST COAST EAGLES

IF there was one player who embodied West Coast’s inconsistency in 2016, it was Elliot Yeo.

But while the Eagles remain unpredictable, Yeo has stepped up in a big way.

The 23-year-old is arguably in All-Australian contention, such has been his form this year.

Yeo has averaged 8.5 intercept possessions, 25.1 disposals and 486.8 metres gained per game coming into Round 13, forming a lethal defensive trio with Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

GIVEN how many Bulldogs put together their best seasons last year, not many have been even better. Marcus Adams is one of them.

The West Australian has been the 13th-best key defender in the league, according to Champion Data’s AFL Player Ratings, often playing on the opposition’s best key forward.

It makes his recent foot injury even more disappointing with Adams set to miss 10 to 12 weeks. He also missed much of the 2016 season with a foot injury.

On the positive side, he is locked in at the Kennel, having signed a three-year deal in recent weeks.