Prediction Round 1, 2026 - Best 23

[crows dude]

Have we nominated Stevens as father son. Did I miss something

 

[Coopers]

Everyone here seems pretty confident re Trac?

If not Trac, then who? It needs to be someone.

We lost finals cos our midfield is balls.

Can't expect Draper to turn into a midfield god at 19 years of age. Rankine in there helps, but it's not enough. This is the big challenge.

 

[Golumless]

If not Trac, then who? It needs to be someone.

We lost finals cos our midfield is balls.

Can't expect Draper to turn into a midfield god at 19 years of age. Rankine in there helps, but it's not enough. This is the big challenge.

Problem was it didn't help. Rankine struggled when he was in the midfield compared to being used as a primary forward, because he ended up becoming our go-to stoppage clearance player instead of someone using their weapons to break lines.

This team needs one or two guys who you can bank on 5-8 clearances a game. Coming into 2026, the only hopes on our list are Curtin with another preseason or Soligo finally clicks and becomes that top line mid he's threatened to be at times in his career. Once you get that in place, Rankine will be an absolute weapon in the midfield.

 

[Coopers]

Problem was it didn't help. Rankine struggled when he was in the midfield compared to being used as a primary forward, because he ended up becoming our go-to stoppage clearance player instead of someone using their weapons to break lines.

This team needs one or two guys who you can bank on 5-8 clearances a game. Coming into 2026, the only hopes on our list are Curtin with another preseason or Soligo finally clicks and becomes that top line mid he's threatened to be at times in his career. Once you get that in place, Rankine will be an absolute weapon in the midfield.

Even that's too speculative. We need to trade someone in.

 

[Golumless]

Even that's too speculative. We need to trade someone in.

Yup, that would be the best bet. Then if you get the spike from any of them, happy days.

 

[1970crow]

Rob looks like such a weak link in the lineups now. Unless we can get angry ROB back, I think we are in trouble. He might come good in a couple of years when he is about to come out of contract.

You get what you deserve. If we were unaware of the variance between contract year and not, then that’s on us.

 

[TRP1996]

Have we nominated Stevens as father son. Did I miss something

I think they're referring to the Stevens currently at Geelong?

 

[crows dude]

I think they're referring to the Stevens currently at Geelong?

???
First I heard of him requesting a trade

 

[crows dude]

If we didn’t get Petracca or Oliver then I think he’s a massive chance of slotting straight in

Is George Stevens really any better than a Sam Berry?

 

[Danger in Texas]

Is George Stevens really any better than a Sam Berry?

Berry can't really do the job that it sounds like Stevens could eventually be able to do (give 6+ clearances a week). I guess that's the punt we'd be taking

 

[George CantStandYa]

Berry can't really do the job that it sounds like Stevens could eventually be able to do (give 6+ clearances a week). I guess that's the punt we'd be taking

And win the ball

 

[crows dude]

Second thoughts. Let’s throw around the magnets. Rankine N/A

F. T.Murray Fogarty. Neale Bullen
Hf Keays. Worrell Ah Chee
C. Curtin Dawson Cumming
Hb Milera Keane Michalanney
B. N Murray Butts Laird
R Thilthorpe Draper Rachele
I. Soligo Peatling NankervisDowling Bond

 

[1990crow]

Second thoughts. Let’s throw around the magnets. Rankine N/A

F. T.Murray Fogarty. Neale Bullen
Hf Keays. Worrell Ah Chee
C. Curtin Dawson Cumming
Hb Milera Keane Michalanney
B. N Murray Butts Laird
R Thilthorpe Draper Rachele
I. Soligo Peatling NankervisDowling Bond

Just because ROB is a giant potato isn't a good enough reason to move your elite key forward prospect.

 

[Golumless]

Just because ROB is a giant potato isn't a good enough reason to move your elite key forward prospect.

Correct. You do not waste your best key forward (and one of the best in the league) as a 1st ruck.

 

[dogs105]

Rachele Thilthorpe ANB
Keays Fogarty Cook
Curtin Soligo Ah Chee
Worrell Murray Michalanney
Laird Keane Milera

R Lipa Dawson Draper

I Taylor, Cumming, Edwards, Pedlar, Peatling

E Hinge, ROB, Nankervis, Walker, Butts,

 

[crows dude]

Rachele Thilthorpe ANB
Keays Fogarty Cook
Curtin Soligo Ah Chee
Worrell Murray Michalanney
Laird Keane Milera

R Lipa Dawson Draper

I Taylor, Cumming, Edwards, Pedlar, Peatling

E Hinge, ROB, Nankervis, Walker, Butts,

Who is Lipa

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Early days...

B: Michaelanny, Murray, Keane
HB: Milera, Worrell, Laird
C: Edwards, Dawson, Curtin
HF: Ah Chee, Fogarty, Keays
F: Rachele, Thilthorpe, Rankine
R: O'Brien, Steele, Soligo
I: Hinge, Peatling, Cumming, ANB, Draper
E: Butts, Nankervis, Taylor

 

[Syd Crow]

Rachele Thilthorpe ANB
Keays Fogarty Cook
Curtin Soligo Ah Chee
Worrell Murray Michalanney
Laird Keane Milera

R Lipa Dawson Draper

I Taylor, Cumming, Edwards, Pedlar, Peatling

E Hinge, ROB, Nankervis, Walker, Butts,

Lip would be more effective around the ground than ROB!

 

[GreyCrow]

F. Fogarty Thilthorpe Neale Bullen
Hf Keays. Walker Ah Chee
C. Curtin Dawson Cumming
Hb Milera Keane Laird
B. Worrell Butts Max
R O'Brien Peatling Rachele
I. Soligo Berry Cook Hinge Pedlar

In : Ah Chee Continuity
Out: Kids

 

[dogs105]

Who is Lipa

New ruckman. Don't know much about them, but CrowinNT has assured me they're better than ROB.

 

[GreyCrow]

New ruckman. Don't know much about them, but CrowinNT has assured me they're better than ROB.

Italian? por_please_ya might know them

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Italian? por_please_ya might know them.

Albanian.

Following in Yze's footsteps.

 

[conVINCEd]

Early days...

B: Michaelanny, Murray, Keane
HB: Milera, Worrell, Laird
C: Edwards, Dawson, Curtin
HF: Ah Chee, Fogarty, Keays
F: Rachele, Thilthorpe, Rankine
R: O'Brien, Steele, Soligo
I: Hinge, Peatling, Cumming, ANB, Draper
E: Butts, Nankervis, Taylor

Sadly, Izak won’t be playing Round 1.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Sadly, Izak won’t be playing Round 1.

I'm ignoring that as about my 2026 team

One of the Taylors can come in for round 1.

 

[1970crow]

There’s going to be very little change. Ignoring Rankine suspension

In - Rankine, Draper and Ah Chee
Out - Smith, Pedlar & Taylor

Berry would be most at risk in the 23. Everyone else is locked in all year unless injured or in Tex’s case, having one of his 4-5 rests.