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Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

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Red_man2008 said:
There’s a few senior players that really shouldn’t be seeing any afl this season.
Acres
Fogarty
Cotterell
Boyd
McGovern
L.Young
Wilson
Monahan
Duffy

These nine are so close to being delisted. Arguably there’s about 7 wasted list spots in this group.
Click to expand...
I hear what you are saying, but if you want to make the side better, everyone needs to be able to put their best foot forward and Voss needs to follow suit. Not all players can produce 20 odd weeks of consistently good football and must be selected on form, basically, if they play well they stay in the side until someone pushes them out.

If they are selected and are underperforming they go back to the VFL to find form, if they are performing well in the VFL, they get a promotion. This is where I believe we have fallen down in the last few seasons, when name players continually get selected after stinking it up on the field.
 
This is hard, but I'll give it a go...

B: Lachie Cowan - Jacob Weitering - Harry Dean
HB: Nic Newman - Nick Haynes - Ollie Florent

C: Ollie Hollands - George Hewett - Campbell Chesser
Foll: Marc Pittonet - Sam Walsh - Patrick Cripps

HF: Ben Ainsworth - Hudson O'Keeffe - Zac Williams
F: Ashton Moir - Harry McKay - Will Hayward

Int: Adam Cerra - Adam Saad - Jesse Motlop - Jagga Smith - Mitch McGovern

E: Boyd, C.Lord, Cottrell
 
FB: Dean*, Weitering, Newman*
HB: Florent*, Haynes, Cowan

C: Chesser*, Cripps, Hollands,
R: Pittonet*, Cerra*, Walsh

HF: Ainsworth*, Kemp*, Williams
FF: Hayward*, McKay, Evans

INT: Saad, Hewett, Smith*, Moir, O'Keeffe

EMG: Wilson/Carroll, Lord, Motlop

From last game:
IN: Dean, Newman, Florent, Pittonet, Cerra, Smith, Chesser, Kemp, Hayward, Ainsworth
OUT: L.Young, Wilson, Carroll, De Koning, Motlop, Acres, L.Camporeale, F.Young, Durdin, White
 
Out of interest, how do people see Jagga getting his onball minutes next year?

Coming in off the bench and taking on midfield rotations? Or starting at half forward and pushing up into the midfield? Or starting at halfback and pushing into the midfield?
 

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tarczonandjane said:
Out of interest, how do people see Jagga getting his onball minutes next year?

Coming in off the bench and taking on midfield rotations? Or starting at half forward and pushing up into the midfield? Or starting at halfback and pushing into the midfield?
Click to expand...
half fwd and pushing up as extra, as well as starting in the square occasionally as a rotation.

I don't really see starting on-field or coming off the bench as a major difference, given the way rotations work in the modern game.
 
Think Kemp might start in the VFL for a few games before getting eased back into the seniors.

FB: Cowan, Weitering, Saad
HB: Florent, Haynes, Newman

C: Chesser, Cripps, Hollands,
R: Pittonet, Hewett, Walsh

HF: Moir, McKay, Hayward
FF: Williams, O’Keefe, Ainsworth

INT: Lord, Dean, Cerra, Evans, Smith

EMG: Carroll, McGovern, Boyd
 
CJMB said:
FB: Dean*, Weitering, Newman*
HB: Florent*, Haynes, Cowan

C: Chesser*, Cripps, Hollands,
R: Pittonet*, Cerra*, Walsh

HF: Ainsworth*, Kemp*, Williams
FF: Hayward*, McKay, Evans

INT: Saad, Hewett, Smith*, Moir, O'Keeffe

EMG: Wilson/Carroll, Lord, Motlop

From last game:
IN: Dean, Newman, Florent, Pittonet, Cerra, Smith, Chesser, Kemp, Hayward, Ainsworth
OUT: L.Young, Wilson, Carroll, De Koning, Motlop, Acres, L.Camporeale, F.Young, Durdin, White
Click to expand...
I think you’ve nailed it. Only change I’d have is Motlop for Evans. I think Motlop will be a different player with Ainsworth and Hayward in the forward line.
 
I think the selectors will give the more experienced options first crack, plus Kemp will be under done.

FB. Cowan Weitering Saad

HB. Florent Haynes Newman

C. Acres Cripps O. Hollands

R. Pitto Hewett Walsh

HF. Ainsworth Mackay Evans

F. Hayward HOK Williams

INT. Cerra Smith Moir Gov E. Hollands(wins the final list spot)

EMG. Motlop Lord Cotts
 
Last edited:
2026 Post Trade + Draft Best 23 (assuming everyone is healthy outside of HOF)

FB: Newman Weitering Dean
HB: Cowan Haynes Florent
C: Chesser Cripps O.Hollands
HF: Ainsworth McKay Williams
FF: Moir Kemp Hayward
FOL: Pittonet Walsh Cerra
INT: Saad Hewett Cottrell Smith Motlop

The decision that caused me the most issues was Cottrell over Lord. I really like Lord but playing him in this team doesn't leave us with much midfield depth behind and probably makes us a touch too inside-heavy. I also haven't taken SSP into consideration and so if Elijah is retained I think this becomes his spot in my team.
 
Don’t get the Cottrell or Acres disrespect - especially to level I’m seeing on here. Both were key cogs in our side during our run in 2023. And our best footy has lined up with them both being fit and firing. Both have their weaknesses, but provide more than enough to warrant a spot in our best side, even despite Acres having a shocking year in ‘25
 

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JJBagger said:
Don’t get the Cottrell or Acres disrespect - especially to level I’m seeing on here. Both were key cogs in our side during our run in 2023. And our best footy has lined up with them both being fit and firing. Both have their weaknesses, but provide more than enough to warrant a spot in our best side, even despite Acres having a shocking year in ‘25
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Yeh if Acres can get back to near that 2023/2024 form I am very comfortable having him in the team. Provides that aerial ability on the wing which is helpful in both arcs. But his 2025 season was so far from that. Hope he gets back because he can still be an important player for us. And agree on Cottrell - he's in my side but with his injury issues there are always going to be question marks. We now also have some depth at HF so it will be a bit of a tight squeeze. Especially if Elijah is retained.
 
Last edited:
B: Lachie Cowan - Jacob Weitering - Harry Dean
HB: Nic Newman - Nick Haynes - Ollie Florent

C: Ollie Hollands - Patrick Cripps - Campbell Chesser
Foll: Marc Pittonet - Sam Walsh - Zac Williams (lots of rotations)

HF: Ben Ainsworth - Hudson O'Keeffe (Kemp if fit) - Elijah Hollands (if gets a spot)
F: Ashton Moir - Harry McKay - Will Hayward

Int: Adam Cerra - Adam Saad - Jesse Motlop - Jagga Smith - Mitch McGovern

EMG - Hewitt, Cotters (if fit), Lord
 
The_BigFella said:
B: Lachie Cowan - Jacob Weitering - Harry Dean
HB: Nic Newman - Nick Haynes - Ollie Florent

C: Ollie Hollands - Patrick Cripps - Campbell Chesser
Foll: Marc Pittonet - Sam Walsh - Zac Williams (lots of rotations)

HF: Ben Ainsworth - Hudson O'Keeffe (Kemp if fit) - Elijah Hollands (if gets a spot)
F: Ashton Moir - Harry McKay - Will Hayward

Int: Adam Cerra - Adam Saad - Jesse Motlop - Jagga Smith - Mitch McGovern

EMG - Hewitt, Cotters (if fit), Lord
Click to expand...
Too many ifs……
And no chance Zac Williams starts in the midfield ahead of Hewett and very little chance that our reigning B&F winner is an emergency!!
 
JJBagger said:
Don’t get the Cottrell or Acres disrespect - especially to level I’m seeing on here. Both were key cogs in our side during our run in 2023. And our best footy has lined up with them both being fit and firing. Both have their weaknesses, but provide more than enough to warrant a spot in our best side, even despite Acres having a shocking year in ‘25
Click to expand...
Acres was a liability last season, though there’s leeway with the back surgery. His biggest issue is the being one of the worst ball users in the comp - that’s on the outer for team selection IMO & hopefully from the coaches corner.
Depending on how his shoulders are, not against BA as a roaming pseudo CHF if we need a role filled.

Cotters is still in cotton wool but he has had the most competition for spots arrive in his position or up an coming contenders.

Changing of the guard perhaps..both in contention.
Club wanted to increase depth, which appears to have been achieved.
 
Just Kreuzing said:
Too many ifs……
And no chance Zac Williams starts in the midfield ahead of Hewett and very little chance that our reigning B&F winner is an emergency!!
Click to expand...
Yep, figured I’d cop some stick for that and totally understand why, but we only need one extractor. If we go into the season with a super slow midfield, we’ll be in big trouble. You could easily swap Hewitt for Cerra, I don’t really mind which one is in. We have to make tough calls. And yes, there are plenty of “ifs,” but we’re miles out from the start of the season, so that’s to be expected.
 

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BluStreak said:
Is there any chance that Saad could be use more forward that HBF?
For him to be more of a link further up the chain rather than the start of the chain from HB.
Click to expand...

Good question. Personally, I feel he's been a defensive liability. If he can get back to being an outlet weapon from the back half, without compromising our defensive output, then I'm all for having him in the side. Lost count of the amount of times opposition worked through his man (or section of our zone) to threaten the goals last year. Can't be in the team if that keeps happening in 2026 - and IMO, he won't be, given the depth we have amassed in the back half.

Given that, I'd love to try him forward of the ball - we will be less exposed because of his low IQ errors, and he has great attributes like speed and creativity with the ball that could make him a real point of difference.

Worth a shot IMO.
 
reubsblues said:
I honestly can't believe the amount of people picking Pittonet as there ruck 🤦‍♂️
This new ruck rules takes his only advantage away and his useless around the ground
he is last in my ruck choice
Click to expand...
For now, there’s really no genuine alternative. Reidy looked pretty poor against the Cats in the only full game I’ve watched him, so it wouldn’t be right at this stage to pick him ahead of Pitto. I’d love for him to knock the door down in the warm-up games and go past him, but he’s not there yet for me. And Skull isn’t really seen as a full-time ruck atm, he’ll just provide the chop-out, you’d think.
 
JJBagger said:
Don’t get the Cottrell or Acres disrespect - especially to level I’m seeing on here. Both were key cogs in our side during our run in 2023. And our best footy has lined up with them both being fit and firing. Both have their weaknesses, but provide more than enough to warrant a spot in our best side, even despite Acres having a shocking year in ‘25
Click to expand...
No disrespect from me JJ but based on 2024 and 2025 outputs, a few of our players haven’t lived up to their 2023 form for various reasons. Hoping they can regain some of their 2023 form, some will some won’t.

But my optimism is coming from the 6 or so new players we’ve brought in like Ainsworth, Hayward, Florent, Chesser, Jagga, Dean, the return of Newman and Kemp, and the continued development / improvement in HOK, Moir and Evans.

If Acres or Cottrell can get back to their best that will be a bonus.
 
The_BigFella said:
B: Lachie Cowan - Jacob Weitering - Harry Dean
HB: Nic Newman - Nick Haynes - Ollie Florent

C: Ollie Hollands - Patrick Cripps - Campbell Chesser
Foll: Marc Pittonet - Sam Walsh - Zac Williams (lots of rotations)

HF: Ben Ainsworth - Hudson O'Keeffe (Kemp if fit) - Elijah Hollands (if gets a spot)
F: Ashton Moir - Harry McKay - Will Hayward

Int: Adam Cerra - Adam Saad - Jesse Motlop - Jagga Smith - Mitch McGovern

EMG - Hewitt, Cotters (if fit), Lord
Click to expand...
HewEtt just won our BnF and he can’t make your team with 5 on the bench.
 
Red_man2008 said:
HewEtt just won our BnF and he can’t make your team with 5 on the bench.
Click to expand...
Yep, as I mentioned above, I honestly don’t care whether it’s him or Cerra. We just need a more dynamic midfield. The game has moved past playing multiple slow inside mids at the same time. We either evolve with the game or get left behind. It's about winning and having the best system possible. If that means leaving out a BnF winner, I genuinely don’t care.
 
FB: Newman Weitering Cowan
HB: Florent McGovern Haynes
C: OHollands Cripps Jagga
HF: Hayward Kemp Ainsworth
FF: Evans McKay Williams
Foll: Pitto Walsh Hewett
Int: Cerra Moir Carroll Saad Chesser

Emg: Dean Lord Acres Ison EHollands Campos HoK

  • Think 3 tall backs are enough, no need for one on the bench
  • Bench has lots of mids and pace
  • I hope we use Saad differently next year
 

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