Opinion 2026 Predictions and Prognostications - Rise or Fall?

[Kane McGoodwin]

I can't see where we ever lose a game again

We won't lose another game this year!

 

[Redline]

We'll find out if 2025 was a fluke or if we are for real.

Could be anywhere from 3rd to 12th next year. It all depends.

I agree I think we could easily slide. We lost some close games but Brisbane at home, Collingwood at home and the first showdown very easily could of gone the other way.

Its easy to make a case for us to make it but I think we will just miss top 8. The Swans and Bulldogs come in and us and Collingwood / GWS drop out.

Port and the Kangaroos will be the other teams to improve but miss.

 

[pjcrows]

5th to 8th.

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Brisbane are a powerhouse who just got stronger, we did not improve our midfield, no way objectively we should we be considered premiership favourite.

Finally something that we can both agree about.

Last season I thought we would finish 5th/6th with 14/15 wins. Strangely 14 wins was only good enough for 9th.
Sportsbet currently have us equal 5th/6th with Sydney which sounds about right to me (prior to seeing the 2026 fixture).

Our fixture wasn’t “soft” with double up games against Collingwood (3rd), Hawthorn (4th), Gold Coast (6th), Pear (13th), Kangas (16th) and Eagles (18th).

Our record against the bottom 10 teams was excellent (6/6 home, 7/7 away)

Our record against other top Eight teams was solid (5/6 home, 0/4 away).

The next step is to win away matches against top Eight teams.

The final step is performing in finals.

 

[cleanhands]

I can't see where we ever lose a game again

Internal trail away will be tough

 

[Jcpdragonx]

7th-10th I’m guessing. Best case we miss 8 and Nicks sacked. Overreliant on Riley Rankine Dawson Worrell.

With a competent coach 3rd-6th

 

[adelaidecrows]

7th-10th I’m guessing. Best case we miss 8 and Nicks sacked. Overreliant on Riley Rankine Dawson Worrell.

With a competent coach 3rd-6th

If we have an injury free year we have a top 5 list. But not a finals winning strategy, game plan or coach. With injuries which are usually par for the course, we will almost certainly be within your ranking of 7th to 10th. Its about right. Going into the season with Walker is a worrying sign as to how the coach views the squad.

 

[FullyBigKPro]

As outlined in other thread - predict we miss the 8, finish 9-13th range.

Didn't address the midfield issue, Didn't make a hard call on Tex, and likely to get a much tougher draw along with the probability of having a tougher un with injuries.

Throw in most of the top teams around acquiring players and will get better.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

As outlined in other thread - predict we miss the 8, finish 9-13th range.

Didn't address the midfield issue, Didn't make a hard call on Tex, and likely to get a much tougher draw along with the probability of having a tougher un with injuries.

Throw in most of the top teams around acquiring players and will get better.

If at any stage we look like missing finals, Nicks must be sacked.

With our squad, we should be comfortably playing finals.

 

[Apsaalooke]

If at any stage we look like missing finals, Nicks must be sacked.

With our squad, we should be comfortably playing finals.

You're right. Post-2017 we've had a low bar of winning at least 1 Showdown a year, but now's the time to get serious.

 

[GreyCrow]

Unfortunately the one thing we dont do inside the squad nor inside the walls is have selection integrity

There is no demanding you perform to an elite standard - just perform and keep your head above water

Nothing surer that Nicks already has a contract extension in front of him

 

[WeeBlake]

Injuries are the big unknown. We had a pretty good run this year. We finished first but never really felt like a truly dominant side.

On the plus side there is organic growth. We still have a lot of young players who will get better, and they more than offset the couple we have at the other end of their careers.

On the downside - we haven’t much improved the list, even assuming Ah Chee lands. Other clubs have.

Also, we finished the year really badly. Finals performances were embarrassing and we barely beat WC and North. I wonder if that will dent morale and belief.

I still don’t believe in Nicks, or in whoever is supposed to be developing and coaching our midfield.

Anyway, my best guess is about the same as this year: we’ll make finals but won’t win one.

 

[rocket18]

....
People forget that Blight had lost 3 grand finals before the perfect preparations of 2017 and 2018 - without the great home and away seasons. This can only happen with experience.

Unlike many on here, I've enjoyed the rebuild, and I'm realistic to know that progress is rarely linear; for me, my expectations are still for a full tilt at the premiership 2027.

No wonder you guys think the club can do no wrong, you live in a world where we won our flags less than 10 years ago - not nearly 30 years ago.

 

[LoBu]

Now wonder you guys think the club can do no wrong, you live in a world where we won our flags less than 10 years ago - not nearly 30 years ago.

Hey even 2017 seems a lifetime ago to me!

 

[crows dude]

This years double ups
Port - 13th
Gold Coast - 7th
North 16th
Collingwood - 4th
Hawthorn - 8th

So three finalists and Port will always be twice. So wasnt that much of an easy draw.

Next year replace North with a side like bulldogs.

 

[Crow_Magnon]

Reckon we end up 5th or 6th with our current list. We should've moved on NVB at a minimum to get a different look into the midfield. Ah Chee will help, freeing up Rankine / Rachele a little, and hope we pick up someone like George Stevens who's just been delisted, along with development of of Sid and Curtin with more midfield time. Not sure what our draft hand is like, but usually our recruits take an eternity to get to AFL standard. Keeping Tex on was also a backward step IMHO...hope we try Maley out - and give him a red-hot go.

One A grade mid and a decent midfield coach away from a top 4 spot, and some finals wins!

 

[CrowinNT]

I am going to do yet another prediction
I think we will finish minor premiers again
This time we will win the big prize !!

 

[GreyCrow]

I am going to do yet another prediction
I think we will finish minor premiers again
This time we will win the big prize !!

 

[kirky]

When does the fixture come out?

Fixture is expected to be released Thursday 13th November.

When is the 2026 AFL fixture released? | Sporting News Australia

We have only just got through the AFL Trade Period, but now attention is turning to the 2026 AFL fixture.

www.sportingnews.com

 

[kirky]

As outlined in other thread - predict we miss the 8, finish 9-13th range.

Didn't address the midfield issue, Didn't make a hard call on Tex, and likely to get a much tougher draw along with the probability of having a tougher un with injuries.

Throw in most of the top teams around acquiring players and will get better.

What players did Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood acquire?

Brisbane did but they also lost players on the way.

We acquire Ah Chee and we have done well as opposed to our competitors.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

What players did Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood acquire?

Brisbane did but they also lost players on the way.

We acquire Ah Chee and we have done well as opposed to our competitors.

Hawks have lost the most depth. Can Gunston keep kicking bags of goals? Reckon they are suspect if they need to cover too many injuries... but same can be said of most sides... just more suspect now.

Pies look thin for key position players, particularly key forward. Mihocek & Cox gone, replaced by Buller.

Lions strengthened key positions, particularly with Allen (Draper still injured)... but lost 2 handy players in Ah Chee & Starcevich... but also get to add academy talent. So their squad still strongest as they coverered plenty of injuries this year.

Cats added Worpel, but were really wanting to add a ruckman. They will still be around the mark with plenty of games at the Cattery.

Gold Coast also traded out some depth, but added Petracca as well as having access to academy talent. Arguably have 2nd best squad behind the Lions.

Freo have added another best 23 player & don't really have any weaknesses.

 

[whattagun07]

A fall in minor round position but a rise in finals wins but a fall in overall finish

 

[MrBarry]

The talent in the team is deep, I don't really see how we slide much unless there is a massive drop off in output. Given most of the players are still under 25, I don't see that happening.

My concern is still whether Nicks has the capability in finals to net us wins and perform.

I've got us finishing 4th end of minor round. Some of the predictions in this thread of us sliding out of the 8 seem incredibly hyperbolic.

 

[daniel_4tw]

Collingwood drop (too old)
Geelong drop (GF curse, too old, probably still top 4 though)
Hawks drop (Gunston had his 2023 Tex swan song, won’t kick 70 next year)

Brisbane improve (Allan)
Gold Coast improve (Petracca)
Sydney improve (Curnow, adjust to Cox’s game plan)

St Kilda improve but think they will miss the 8.

Fremantle/GWS/WB stay the same.

I think we improve or worse stay the same.

I think we finish 3rd.

 

[George CantStandYa]

The talent in the team is deep, I don't really see how we slide much unless there is a massive drop off in output. Given most of the players are still under 25, I don't see that happening.

My concern is still whether Nicks has the capability in finals to net us wins and perform.

I've got us finishing 4th end of minor round. Some of the predictions in this thread of us sliding out of the 8 seem incredibly hyperbolic.

Injuries for starters. A tougher draw. Mental scarring from our finals capitulation. Wins like against Brisbane where they kick 0.8 or against Collingwood conceding 71 inside 50s, don’t happen this year. Improvement from other teams.

Any of these or a combination can easily see us slide, there’s slides every year, sometimes from the grand finalists. It happens.