Strategy Best 23 - 2026

[MoreMoore]

you have 2 sidey's in your team lol

Always room for one more

 

[MoreMoore]

you have 2 sidey's in your team lol

5 Nicks would be great

 

[riddick78]

I thought i'd give this a crack, it's damn hard, i tried to find a balance between experience and youth, cause i think 2026 is the year we back some of our kids. Parker showed a lot at the end of the season, R Steele, i love this kids kicking, Allan cause of his running ability. It also depends on how Buller, West and Reef go in the preseason.


B Maynard Frampton Quaynor
HB Houston Moore Parker
C R.Steele Jaicos Mcreery
HF Hill Buller/West Shooter
F Elliott McStay Membrey

R Cameron Naicos Degoey

Int Pendles Crisp Reef Long Allan

Unlucky: HH, Lippa, Steele, Howe

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Maynard Frampton Quaynor
Houston Moore Parker
Steele Perryman Daicos
Schultz McStay McCreery
Elliott Buller DeGoey
Cameron Daicos Long

I/C: Pendles, Hill, Howe, Sidey, Crisp

Unlucky: Reef, Allan, Membrey.

I really wanted to include West though I have no idea who to omit.

DeGoey plays more forward.

 

[domus]

Our best 23 is top four bound as long as injuries don't derail us. Degoey and Hill will be like fresh recruits if they get in a full preseason. Some bloody cliff- what a joke.

 

[FromTheBoundaryLine]

Our best 23 is top four bound as long as injuries don't derail us. Degoey and Hill will be like fresh recruits if they get in a full preseason. Some bloody cliff- what a joke.

There is a big bloody cliff but the only ones falling off it will be the media pundits and other club’s supporters writing us off already.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

We didn't address the biggest issue on our list - mid field.

Thankfully, some of teams we are competing with also didn't address list deficiencies - Crows, Hawks, Dogs. The Cats did nothing this trade period which also helps. GWS and Oliver are an unknown.

Brisbane and GC seem the stand outs though. I see them as a clear 1-2 in 2026. I see us fighting for the 5-8 spot.

 

[UltraEgo]

I thought i'd give this a crack, it's damn hard, i tried to find a balance between experience and youth, cause i think 2026 is the year we back some of our kids. Parker showed a lot at the end of the season, R Steele, i love this kids kicking, Allan cause of his running ability. It also depends on how Buller, West and Reef go in the preseason.


B Maynard Frampton Quaynor
HB Houston Moore Parker
C R.Steele Jaicos Mcreery
HF Hill Buller/West Shooter
F Elliott McStay Membrey

R Cameron Naicos Degoey

Int Pendles Crisp Reef Long Allan

Unlucky: HH, Lippa, Steele, Howe

Perryman is missing from your team

 

[well left]

Here’s my take after trade period. There’s a focus on getting some younger players into the team and the oldies will be managed so those that missed will get opportunities.


Quaynor - Frampton - Howe

Houston - Moore - Maynard

J Daicos - Perryman - Steele

McCreery - McStay - Hill

Buller - West - Elliott

Cameron - DeGoey - N Daicos

Pendlebury - Parker - Sidebottom - Crisp - Schultz



Couldn’t find room for Membrey, Lipinski, Allan , Long, Reef, Harrison.


Perryman and Josh go into the midfield and replaced down back by Houston and Parker.

McCreery plays more mid than forward and Sidey plays more forward than mid.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

We didn't address the biggest issue on our list - mid field.

Thankfully, some of teams we are competing with also didn't address list deficiencies - Crows, Hawks, Dogs. The Cats did nothing this trade period which also helps. GWS and Oliver are an unknown.

Brisbane and GC seem the stand outs though. I see them as a clear 1-2 in 2026. I see us fighting for the 5-8 spot.

Yeah I don't want to sound negative though whoever we added into the midfield this year, it still wouldn't have been as good as Gold Coasts or Brisbane's (on paper).

Really happy just to see what we've got in 2026 and if this means resetting at seasons end then so be it.

 

[Jen2310]

COLLINGWOOD

B: I.Quaynor, D.Moore (c), B.Maynard

HB: H.Perryman, J.Howe, D.Houston


C: J.Daicos, J.De Goey, J.Crisp

HF: B.McCreery, T.Membrey, J.Elliott

F: B.Hill, D.McStay, L.Schultz

FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Pendlebury, N.Daicos

I/C: N.Long, S.Sidebottom, P.Lipinski, B.Frampton, W.Parker

EMG: E.Allan, R.Steele, J.Buller


Key ins: Jack Buller

Key outs: Brody Mihocek

28

Brody Mihocek

Age

33

Ht

192cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.2

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.6

5star

D

8.4

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

2.1

2star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.9

3star

G

1.7

5star

D

10.2

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

, Will Hoskin-Elliott

32

Will Hoskin-elliott

Age

32

Ht

186cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.0

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

4.7

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

11.1

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

3.6

2star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.6

4star

D

12.4

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.8

4star

WE SAY: It’s largely the same Collingwood side after a quiet trade period. Jack Buller is the only addition to replace Brody Mihocek

28

Brody Mihocek

Age

33

Ht

192cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.2

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.6

5star

D

8.4

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

2.1

2star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.9

3star

G

1.7

5star

D

10.2

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

. Though Buller could easily feature early next season, we don’t quite have him in the best 23 for now. Pies fans will be keen to see Bobby Hill back fit and firing in 2026 and expect Beau McCreery to get more midfield exposure. While this is effectively Craig McRae

Craig Mcrae

Age

52

Ht

176cm

Wt

73kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.9

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.2

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.4

5star

’s optimal line-up, don’t be surprised if there’s more of a sprinkling of youth. That could well come at the expense of some veterans who mightn’t be locks in the senior team anymore. Two of the above listed emergencies, Ed Allan and Roan Steele, should get more opportunities along with the likes of Reef McInnes, who will be returning from an ACL injury, Charlie West, Harvey Harrison and Harry DeMattia. Tom Mitchell and Mason Cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

35

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

still remain without deals for 2026.

What Curnow trade means for Swans... and new-look Blues: Every AFL club’s best 23 for 2026

What Curnow trade means for Swans... and new-look Blues: Every AFL club’s best 23 for 2026

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[WanderingDude]

COLLINGWOOD

B: I.Quaynor, D.Moore (c), B.Maynard

HB: H.Perryman, J.Howe, D.Houston


C: J.Daicos, J.De Goey, J.Crisp

HF: B.McCreery, T.Membrey, J.Elliott

F: B.Hill, D.McStay, L.Schultz

FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Pendlebury, N.Daicos

I/C: N.Long, S.Sidebottom, P.Lipinski, B.Frampton, W.Parker

EMG: E.Allan, R.Steele, J.Buller


Key ins: Jack Buller

Key outs: Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott

WE SAY: It’s largely the same Collingwood side after a quiet trade period. Jack Buller is the only addition to replace Brody Mihocek. Though Buller could easily feature early next season, we don’t quite have him in the best 23 for now. Pies fans will be keen to see Bobby Hill back fit and firing in 2026 and expect Beau McCreery to get more midfield exposure. While this is effectively Craig McRae’s optimal line-up, don’t be surprised if there’s more of a sprinkling of youth. That could well come at the expense of some veterans who mightn’t be locks in the senior team anymore. Two of the above listed emergencies, Ed Allan and Roan Steele, should get more opportunities along with the likes of Reef McInnes, who will be returning from an ACL injury, Charlie West, Harvey Harrison and Harry DeMattia. Tom Mitchell and Mason Cox still remain without deals for 2026.

What Curnow trade means for Swans... and new-look Blues: Every AFL club’s best 23 for 2026

What Curnow trade means for Swans... and new-look Blues: Every AFL club’s best 23 for 2026

www.foxsports.com.au

Just a wee bit boring. Too much the same. I guess the final list changes and preseason can always produce a bolter or 2.

 

[Jen2310]

Just a wee bit boring. Too much the same. I guess the final list changes and preseason can always produce a bolter or 2.

preseason will say a lot, so we'll wait and see.

 

[Daicosian silk]

We didn't address the biggest issue on our list - mid field.

Thankfully, some of teams we are competing with also didn't address list deficiencies - Crows, Hawks, Dogs. The Cats did nothing this trade period which also helps. GWS and Oliver are an unknown.

Brisbane and GC seem the stand outs though. I see them as a clear 1-2 in 2026. I see us fighting for the 5-8 spot.

Hopefully we’ll add a ready made mature age mid recruit in the draft like Tom Blamires to strengthen our midfield depth

 

[ThanksRossy]

I thought i'd give this a crack, it's damn hard, i tried to find a balance between experience and youth, cause i think 2026 is the year we back some of our kids. Parker showed a lot at the end of the season, R Steele, i love this kids kicking, Allan cause of his running ability. It also depends on how Buller, West and Reef go in the preseason.


B Maynard Frampton Quaynor
HB Houston Moore Parker
C R.Steele Jaicos Mcreery
HF Hill Buller/West Shooter
F Elliott McStay Membrey

R Cameron Naicos Degoey

Int Pendles Crisp Reef Long Allan

Unlucky: HH, Lippa, Steele, Howe

I love the idea of Josh establishing himself as a dynamic centreman.

 

[WanderingDude]

Hopefully we’ll add a ready made mature age mid recruit in the draft like Tom Blamires to strengthen our midfield depth

I have shifted my thinking. A trade was not possible to fix the hole. So a DFA such as Stone from GWS might fill the hole while others develop. Blamires another. Our depth at VFL just don’t have the senior games to be a good high impact hit. Maybe look at replacing Mitchell rather than Pendles in 2026.

 

[12kilos]

In my opinion we need to push games on the 3rd & 4th year players.
Allan, Parker, Reef, Di matea, Harrison, Hayes Steene, especially
The young full forward that played a few games.
McGeery in the middle, I am sure Long improves
In a perfect world Lipinski, Membrey should be in the reserves maybe even Howe

 

[UltraEgo]

COLLINGWOOD

B: I.Quaynor, D.Moore (c), B.Maynard

HB: H.Perryman, J.Howe, D.Houston


C: J.Daicos, J.De Goey, J.Crisp

HF: B.McCreery, T.Membrey, J.Elliott

F: B.Hill, D.McStay, L.Schultz

FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Pendlebury, N.Daicos

I/C: N.Long, S.Sidebottom, P.Lipinski, B.Frampton, W.Parker

EMG: E.Allan, R.Steele, J.Buller


Key ins: Jack Buller

Key outs: Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott

WE SAY: It’s largely the same Collingwood side after a quiet trade period. Jack Buller is the only addition to replace Brody Mihocek. Though Buller could easily feature early next season, we don’t quite have him in the best 23 for now. Pies fans will be keen to see Bobby Hill back fit and firing in 2026 and expect Beau McCreery to get more midfield exposure. While this is effectively Craig McRae’s optimal line-up, don’t be surprised if there’s more of a sprinkling of youth. That could well come at the expense of some veterans who mightn’t be locks in the senior team anymore. Two of the above listed emergencies, Ed Allan and Roan Steele, should get more opportunities along with the likes of Reef McInnes, who will be returning from an ACL injury, Charlie West, Harvey Harrison and Harry DeMattia. Tom Mitchell and Mason Cox still remain without deals for 2026.

What Curnow trade means for Swans... and new-look Blues: Every AFL club’s best 23 for 2026

What Curnow trade means for Swans... and new-look Blues: Every AFL club’s best 23 for 2026

www.foxsports.com.au

lol Membrey isn't a CHF's arseh*le

 

[Peters_Nuts]

lol Membrey isn't a CHF's arseh*le

Yeah there was minimal thought put into this. It'll be a combination of McStay/Buller/West at CHF and FF

 

[Smackdos]

Okay based on a full list to choose from this would be my Rd1 team

B: W.Parker, B.Frampton, B.Maynard
HB: H.Perryman, D Moore, D.Houston
C: J.Daicos, J.De Goey, I.Quaynor
HF: B.McCreery, J.Buller, L.Schultz
F: B.Hill, D.McStay, J.Elliot
FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Pendlebury, N.Daicos (c)

I/C: J.Crisp, E.Allan, S.Sidebottom, J.Howe, T.Membrey

EMG: N.Long, R.Steele, P.Lipinski

Key notes.

Utilise Houston as a ball distributor from the back half, the rest of the back 5 keep to the system as normal, If not working replace with Jaicos/Pendlebury as first choice ball deliverer and move Houston to wing to utilise forward half entries and scoring options.

IQ trial as wing option, if doesnst work use use Allan/R.Steele instead and move him back to defence when Perryman has midfield stints

Membrey to replace Buller when he chops out in the ruck around the ground.

Sidey and Mcreery used as centre bounce/half forward options.

Crisp and Perryman used as centre bounce/ half back options

Interchange to consist of 1 back 1 forward and 3 mids ideally.

West to get plenty of opportunity when either of Mcstay/Buller/Membrey miss out which is bound to happen.

I think we balance up quite nicely with good depth across the board.
Pace will be our issue in the middle but with Houston and Jaicos elite skills it may help us in some games to cut through the middle and open some teams up. Trust the boys to qualify for finals, after that anything can happen.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

We should move Naicos to HB again to take the kick in. He did in 2023 what Zorko did for Brisbane this year. Kick in and run to create to get the next possession and all of a sudden the ball is forward of centre. Both teams won premierships.

We moved Naicos into the middle when he was elite off the HB line.

Move Houston and Perryman into the middle.

 

[gouki88]

We should move Naicos to HB again to take the kick in. He did in 2023 what Zorko did for Brisbane this year. Kick in and run to create to get the next possession and all of a sudden the ball is forward of centre. Both teams won premierships.

We moved Naicos into the middle when he was elite off the HB line.

Move Houston and Perryman into the middle.

I think we should keep our best midfielder in the midfield

 

[jmac70]

I think we should keep our best midfielder in the midfield

 

[stormskye]

I think we should keep our best midfielder in the midfield

Seems pickle has been pickled and deleted his post .

Why wouldn’t we play a generational mid at hb incase he needs to kick the ball in…

 

[domus]

I just watched the qualifying final. It's funny how you can forget how good your team was at times throughout the final series. We looked brilliant and grand final bound in that third term against the Crows. There were some awesome passages of play and so much to be excited about when you look at Houston who I would expect to be a far better player in 2026, Degoey if he gets a full preseason in and the addition of a fit and focused Bobby Hill. These players alone will make us an infinitely better team. I think Buller's extra height at CHF is going to be a welcome addition to a forward line which has lacked a decent sized key for years.

Harvey Harrison, Reef and Ed Allan should be pumped to the eyeballs and determined to make 2026 their year in becoming permanent fixtures in the best 23. Ned Long, Beau, Pendles, Josh and Nick with an occasional Sidey/Degoey in the middle should make for a more than decent midfield. The defense looks settled and hopefully Howe gets one last good run at it. Blight would be a welcome depth addition. Maynard, Perryman, Quaynor, Parker, Houston and Moore make for a bloody good backline and in no way an old one.

I reckon Cornes and company will be made to look stupid yet again.

I love being written off and rubbished. It's more fun than being rated as a big chance.