The Premiership Favourite 2026

[lalorGOAT]

Gotta be the suns.

Prime Rowell, Anderson and now Petracca who has plenty of elite footy left in him.

Not to mention a few of the academy lads will really come on.

If by some miracle they got juh right, they will win it in a canter.

 

[Viceregal]

I would move hawks from Possible to Outside Chance, and Swans Wedged between Possible and Outside Chance. Without injury and luck factoring in, Gold Coast V Lions will be the Grand Final easily.

I had been nervous about meeting the Suns in a final as I expected a repeat of the QClash 1 umpiring debacle but the final we played against them wasn't too bad in that fashion ... would be interesting to see how well the Suns players handle the GF pressure if they make it.

Also that week will be fun to see who Naicos comes second too (and wouldn't it be delicious if it was to WAshcroft!!!!!)

 

[Vindicater]

Lions, Suns, Geelong and Freo for top four

Hawthorn, GWS, Bulldogs and Adelaide for the top 8.

Sydney, St Kilda and Collingwood just outside.

Port, Essendon, North and Carlton in the bad space.

West Coast, Richmond and Melbourne down the bottom.

 

[Xtreme]

Brisbane
Hawthorn

Daylight
Gold Coast
Fremantle

Noon
Adelaide
Collingwood
GWS
Sydney

Late Evening
Port Adelaide (JHF can't do it alone!!)
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
St Kilda
Carlton
Essendon

Complete Darkness/Midnight blues
Richmond
Geelong
North Melbourne
West Coast

Take it to the bank

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Brisbane
Hawthorn

Daylight
Gold Coast
Fremantle

Noon
Adelaide
Collingwood
GWS
Sydney

Late Evening
Port Adelaide (JHF can't do it alone!!)
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
St Kilda
Carlton
Essendon

Complete Darkness/Midnight blues
Richmond
Geelong
North Melbourne
West Coast

Take it to the bank

Eagles will do well with their draft picks. Sneaky chance for the 4. One always does it from outside the 8. Watch them do it.

 

[Erakor]

5-1 for Brisbane looks good.

Clear favorites and add in their off season trades plus a top 5 draft pick kid.

Should be 2.50

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

5-1 for Brisbane looks good.

Clear favorites and add in their off season trades plus a top 5 draft pick kid.

Should be 2.50

Put a million bucks on it. When they get out to a 4 goal lead you'll think about covering some cash on their opponents but don't. They'll blow it out to 10 goals and win by around 7.

4 million profit. Buy a fig farm/fake wig factory and call it Fig's Wig's.

You'll make 20 times that easy. Figs and wigs sell well these days.

 

[Borussia Teeth]

Borussia Teeth is this on the money?

Looks like something written by a ret-ard in crayon.

 

[lalorGOAT]

Brisbane
Hawthorn

Daylight
Gold Coast
Fremantle

Noon
Adelaide
Collingwood
GWS
Sydney

Late Evening
Port Adelaide (JHF can't do it alone!!)
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
St Kilda
Carlton
Essendon

Complete Darkness/Midnight blues
Richmond
Geelong
North Melbourne
West Coast

Take it to the bank

I'm too traumatised to ever write off Geelong.

Honestly though, Collingwood should be in a black hole. They are in trouble very soon.

 

[Xtreme]

I'm too traumatised to ever write off Geelong.

Honestly though, Collingwood should be in a black hole. They are in trouble very soon.

I'm sure I'll be updating the list throughout 2026

 

[Fadge]

Honestly though, Collingwood should be in a black hole. They are in trouble very soon.

In the same way they were after 2021?

 

[mpal6]

I think this Brisbane side has the potential to be the greatest dynasty of the modern era. For a team that has made finals for 6 or more consecutive years, their 19 - 25 year old range players rival anyone's. They could be challenging for the next 5-8 years, and it's going to take a lot to rock up on GF day and beat them, that's for sure.

Nah, recency bias will usually set narratives like that. We were threading the needle in terms of injuries this year. Gardiner covering for Payne, Fort doing an admirable job taking over first ruck from Oscar etc. Our midfield depth looks great but doesn't take much to topple that kind of setup - especially if you start having issues in the key position areas.

After Doedee's experience for last 2 years, I'm cautious about what to expect from Allen and Draper.

 

[lalorGOAT]

In the same way they were after 2021?

Fwiw, in 21 I predicted that Collingwood would contend in 22 (true story).

Four years on and its looking very different. Good effort by your mob to win a flag in 23.

 

[Obeanie1]

In the same way they were after 2021?

Nah.

Pendlebery, Howe, Sidebottom and De Goey are all 5 years older.

That's the difference.

 

[LionsOrDieTrion]

In the same way they were after 2021?

No, much worse.

 

[Andrewgtv05]

I will just say Fremantle because I simply want them to win the cup for once.

 

[ReturningHawk]

The premiership favourite for 2026… yeah I actually think the 2027 favourite discussion is a little more interesting. Anyone who doesn’t have Brisbane by a mile is an idiot

 

[Mr Meow]

The premiership favourite for 2026… yeah I actually think the 2027 favourite discussion is a little more interesting. Anyone who doesn’t have Brisbane by a mile is an idiot

How does an even more predictable favourite make it more interesting?

 

[Viceregal]

The premiership favourite for 2026… yeah I actually think the 2027 favourite discussion is a little more interesting. Anyone who doesn’t have Brisbane by a mile is an idiot

How does an even more predictable favourite make it more interesting?

How is 2027 more of a lock than 2026???

 

[Mr Meow]

How is 2027 more of a lock than 2026???

My question was more based on the hypothetical of "season x will be more interesting than season y because it will be even more predictable". Not that I necessarily think 2027 will be more predictable myself.

 

[raskolnikov]

All it takes is a couple of key injuries, some players losing form, maybe some different tactics from other teams and things can change very quickly.

Of course. That's stating the obvious. The question is who the premiership favourite is now. Right now, that's Brisbane.

 

[MCG-Unit]

Geelong

Saints

 

[Mr.X]

Brisbane deservedly go in as favourites, they are the benchmark

Freo could jump, and saints a Smokey if they make top 4

 

[SleepingGiant]

It's funny how in the middle of the year nobody would say this. Everyone was Collingwood, Adelaide, Geelong, maybe Brisbane.

I would say Brisbane are favourites now but things can change, and a new bolter will emerge. Don't underestimate Adelaide if Rankine is fit and they have no injuries.

1. Gold Coast/Brisbane
2. Adelaide
3. Fremantle
4. Geelong

Geelong always are there, I can't see them drop off out of the top 4. Can't see them winning either.

 

[SaintSteele9]

Lions $5 and GC $9 looks a solid two-bet season ticket