2026 Ladder Predictions

[BangyBangy]

Brisbane had 7, Geelong 6

Meh, our ones are all just role players. The real stars are the kids.....

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Meh, our ones are all just role players. The real stars are the kids.....

Ashcroft x 2, Lohmann, Fletcher, Reville, Gallop, Wilmot, Marshall, Morris

Only Lohmann has celebrated his 22nd birthday

Probably four of those names already A-graders, another 3 heading there

It is a frightening line up

Levi Ashcroft especially will be an interesting watch next year imo

 

[mpal6]

Ashcroft x 2, Lohmann, Fletcher, Reville, Gallop, Wilmot, Marshall, Morris

Only Lohmann has celebrated his 22nd birthday

Probably four of those names already A-graders, another 3 heading there

It is a frightening line up

Levi Ashcroft especially will be an interesting watch next year imo

Reville is 24 though, he kept trying in our VFL system and got drafted at 22. Reward for persistence. Reville is in for 2026 but I'm sure we'll extend him with a multi-year contract. Apart from that - the rest are pretty young, I agree.

We've signed up Ashcroft x 2 and Fletcher to 2030/2031 so far. Wilmot, Gallop, Marshall, Morris and Lohmann are in till 2027 for now. It'll be nice to hang to all of them but in reality we may not be able to - so let's see what can be achieved in the next 2 years.

 

[Fadge]

Ashcroft x 2, Lohmann, Fletcher, Reville, Gallop, Wilmot, Marshall, Morris

Only Lohmann has celebrated his 22nd birthday

Probably four of those names already A-graders, another 3 heading there

In a Carlton supporters alternate universe, all 9 are already A Graders...

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Carlton have a chance to make the 8 if the wild card extends to a top 16.

 

[mpal6]

Carlton have a chance to make the 8 if the wild card extends to a top 16.

AFL should extend this novel idea and make all clubs finals eligible come end of season including wooden spoon winners.

 

[Mr Meow]

Dangerfield
Stanley
Blicavs
Atkins
Cameron

So 5. Plus Martin as the sub - which has now been abolished.

And missing Stewart obviously who walks straight back in.

And who were the 11 in 2022??

Atkins was an honest oversight, I use draftguru but forgot theirs is based on start of season age. It doesn't change much.

We are obviously still very reliant on a few very old players performing well - Dangerfield, Cameron and Stewart. At a push you could throw Blicavs into that mix as its him that allows us to not have a real ruck division.

In 2022, we were still incredibly reliant on Hawkins, Selwood, Stewart, Cam Guthrie, Dangerfield, Smith, Duncan, Tuohy, Blicavs at a minimum. Half of them at or close to All Australian level. Stanley was more important/able and Rohan a lot more crucial than Martin is now.

In 2025 we had just Cameron at or close to All Australian level from veterans. Possibly Stewart later in the season, but even that was 60% of peak Stewart.

So no, the narrative that Geelong is getting even more dominated by veterans or that we are an aging best 22 overall (compared to 2021-2023 era) does not fit at all.

 

[Mr Meow]

Meh, our ones are all just role players. The real stars are the kids.....

The discussion is based around a poster predicting Geelong to slide to 11th as an ageing squad. Not whether or not their youth matches the reigning back to back premiers.

The post GF smashing theory has more weight to it than Geelong suddenly reaching a tipping point with squad age.

 

[hawkman]

Meh, our ones are all just role players. The real stars are the kids.....

Zorko and Neale are hardly role players. Even Lester is the kind of role player that you don't realise how important they are until you need to replace him

 

[blueiris]

Atkins was an honest oversight, I use draftguru but forgot theirs is based on start of season age. It doesn't change much.

We are obviously still very reliant on a few very old players performing well - Dangerfield, Cameron and Stewart. At a push you could throw Blicavs into that mix as its him that allows us to not have a real ruck division.

In 2022, we were still incredibly reliant on Hawkins, Selwood, Stewart, Cam Guthrie, Dangerfield, Smith, Duncan, Tuohy, Blicavs at a minimum. Half of them at or close to All Australian level. Stanley was more important/able and Rohan a lot more crucial than Martin is now.

In 2025 we had just Cameron at or close to All Australian level from veterans. Possibly Stewart later in the season, but even that was 60% of peak Stewart.

So no, the narrative that Geelong is getting even more dominated by veterans or that we are an aging best 22 overall (compared to 2021-2023 era) does not fit at all.

It’s funny how Dermott thinks you guys chocked interesting how many believe Cats are still the better team

 

[BangyBangy]

Zorko and Neale are hardly role players. Even Lester is the kind of role player that you don't realise how important they are until you need to replace him

pffftt, Neale is clearly a role player. Superstar sub, is still a role.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Dermott thinks

oxymoron right there.

 

[Mr Meow]

It’s funny how Dermott thinks you guys chocked interesting how many believe Cats are still the better team

Think about the wider football public, which is very anti-Geelong. Is it more fun to say the Cats choked, or that their opponents were outstanding? This will solve most of your future confusion regarding Geelong narratives, especially around finals.

 

[BomberDee]

1. Gold Coast Suns
2. Brisbane Lions
3. Geelong
4. Hawthorn
5. Fremantle
6. Sydney Swans
7. Collingwood
8. St Kilda
----------------------------------
9. Adelaide
10. Essendon
-----------------------------------
11. Carlton
12. GWS Giants
13. Western Bulldogs
14. Melbourne
15. North Melbourne
16. West Coast Eagles
17. Port Adelaide
18. Richmond

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

1. Gold Coast Suns
2. Brisbane Lions
3. Geelong
4. Hawthorn
5. Fremantle
6. Sydney Swans
7. Collingwood
8. St Kilda
----------------------------------
9. Adelaide
10. Essendon
-----------------------------------
11. Carlton
12. GWS Giants
13. Western Bulldogs
14. Melbourne
15. North Melbourne
16. West Coast Eagles
17. Port Adelaide
18. Richmond

Bombers will go all the way. They'll win their final 15 games of the season.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

We'll get even younger in 2027 without Zorks & Froggy messing up the stats. We're the AFL's Benjamin Button.

Yes, it's great when you can finish top 4 and make grand finals, while still receiving F/S and academy picks rated at the very top end of the draft who can immediately join your best 22 every year.

It's like... the competition is engineered so the northern states get a leg up. But why? Why would the AFL do that?

 

[blueiris]

Yes, it's great when you can finish top 4 and make grand finals, while still receiving F/S and academy picks rated at the very top end of the draft who can immediately join your best 22 every year.

It's like... the competition is engineered so the northern states get a leg up. But why? Why would the AFL do that?

We aren’t breaking any rules

 

[Biggy_Boy]

We aren’t breaking any rules

Never said you are. You are making use of the gifts given to you, much like Sydney have done and Gold Coast are beginning to.
I don't really see the point in bragging about your young talent, though, when you're aware you're able to get high-end young talent which has typically only been reserved for teams that are struggling. You are able to be the best while getting the best young talent. I don't see how anyone could argue that's fair.

 

[blueiris]

Never said you are. You are making use of the gifts given to you, much like Sydney have done and Gold Coast are beginning to.
I don't really see the point in bragging about your young talent, though, when you're aware you're able to get high-end young talent which has typically only been reserved for teams that are struggling. You are able to be the best while getting the best young talent. I don't see how anyone could argue that's fair.

We have to pay for those players they don’t come free also it’s not the only young talent we have

 

[Warwick]

Never said you are. You are making use of the gifts given to you, much like Sydney have done and Gold Coast are beginning to.
I don't really see the point in bragging about your young talent, though, when you're aware you're able to get high-end young talent which has typically only been reserved for teams that are struggling. You are able to be the best while getting the best young talent. I don't see how anyone could argue that's fair.

Have Geelong ever had any decent father sons?

 

[CasuallyDressed]

I can't be bothered picking the whole ladder...

But I predict the 4 teams playing in the wildcard thing will be Western Bulldogs, GWS, Collingwood and St Kilda

Carlton and Essendon both bottom 4 btw.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

The Josh Wooden

Josh Wooden

Age

47

Ht

183cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

4.9

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.0

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.6

4star

Spoon

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Have Geelong ever had any decent father sons?

Yep. Long time ago. Also have never had access to academies. All clubs besides GC and GWS have access to F/S picks. Only the rugby state clubs get their academies consistently pumping out guns they get for free regardless of ladder position.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

We have to pay for those players they don’t come free also it’s not the only young talent we have

You pay a suite of nothing picks - picks that would usually get you speculative talent and/or project players - for recruits who are essentially guaranteed starters.

That's the system, and you're using it. Just don't come piss all over threads bragging about how great your youth is. Your great youth consists of father-sons and academy kids. Not great drafting, not great development.

 

[Shack18]

We have to pay for those players they don’t come free also it’s not the only young talent we have

Rubbish, pay my arse, whole comp is a compromised pile of crap