Prediction Round 1, 2026 - Best 23

[hugecannon]

My round 1 team:-

B:- Michaelanney. Butts. Worrell
HB:- Cumming. Murray. Cook
C:- Milera. Dawson. Dowling
1R:- O’Brien. Peatling. Rachele
HF:- Keays. Fogarty. Neal-Bullen
FF:- Pedlar. Thillthorpe. Ah Chee

Int:- Laird. Edwards. Hinge. Walker. Soligo

Emg:- Nankervis. McAndrew. Berry. Ryan.

 

[1970crow]

I’m still looking at pushing Hinge to a wing because I like what he offers there more than Jones given Chayce’s history of not doing much. Plus I really like Bond in the side with his toughness and ability to release Max; sounds like Bond’s composure and kicking has continued to improve over the summer.

I prefer Taylor over Berry but have named Berry given we’ll be missing midfield options in round 1 (Rankine, Curtin & Dowling).

Trial matches needed to split Cook and Nankervis (Cook seems ahead at the moment).

R1 2026 XXIII
Keays Thilthorpe Pedlar
Ah Chee Fogarty ANB
Hinge Dawson Cumming
- O’Brien Rachele Soligo
Milera Murray Michalanney
Worrell Butts Bond
| Walker Laird Peatling Berry
1: Cook/Nankervis (W/HB)

E: Cook/Nankervis Marsh McAndrew

Reckon Chayce gets marked pretty hard around here. Which of the below is Chayce pre-injury and which is absolute wing lock, Isaac Cumming? I agree we should want more, but let’s not delude ourselves into believing he’s much different to anyone bar what Curtin showed us he could do.

 

[skam85]

Reckon Chayce gets marked pretty hard around here. Which of the below is Chayce pre-injury and which is absolute wing lock, Isaac Cumming? I agree we should want more, but let’s not delude ourselves into believing he’s much different to anyone bar what Curtin showed us he could do.

You're the anti- Samcro24 when it comes to Cumming

 

[conVINCEd]

Reckon Chayce gets marked pretty hard around here. Which of the below is Chayce pre-injury and which is absolute wing lock, Isaac Cumming? I agree we should want more, but let’s not delude ourselves into believing he’s much different to anyone bar what Curtin showed us he could do.

View attachment 2523790

Great point - sadly, Chayce hasn’t been the same at AFL level since his injury.

Now has a different body shape too.

 

[conVINCEd]

My round 1 team:-

B:- Michaelanney. Butts. Worrell
HB:- Cumming. Murray. Cook
C:- Milera. Dawson. Dowling
1R:- O’Brien. Peatling. Rachele
HF:- Keays. Fogarty. Neal-Bullen
FF:- Pedlar. Thillthorpe. Ah Chee

Int:- Laird. Edwards. Hinge. Walker. Berry

Emg:- Nankervis. McAndrew. Marsh. Ryan.

You thinking Soligo will miss with injury?

 

[hugecannon]

You thinking Soligo will miss with injury?

Oh good call, completely forgot about him.

Although the training reports from Bigman aren’t really selling me on him improving this season and really taking ownership of the midfield.

 

[ams4crows]

How are people so sure that Darcy Moore

30

Darcy Moore

Age

30

Ht

203cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.1

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

169.1

3star

D

13.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

0.7

1star

MG

182.0

3star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

87.4

2star

won't be playing? Was it not just a standard calf injury? He may miss opening round but I doubt he also misses round one

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I’m still looking at pushing Hinge to a wing because I like what he offers there more than Jones given Chayce’s history of not doing much.

Ultimately one of the defenders will have to. Our defence is brimming with mediums/smalls and Curtin's wing has opened up.

Previously it's felt like the player pushed up to the wing has been the one we feel we can most afford to lose from the backline. So Nank or whoever. Eighth choice defender goes wing.

Is that the wrong way to look at things?

Should it instead be whoever the No 1 defender is? Get them around the footy more, increase their forward half influence. Max? Milera?

 

[GreyCrow]

Should it instead be whoever the No 1 defender is? Get them around the footy more, increase their forward half influence. Max? Milera?

Dont mind Max there. At least the first 4 weeks and I dont mind the chatter about using Max more offensively - can he do this from the wing - I think so

Milera - I think he prefers the ball coming at him now. Did a great job last year off the flank

I think Laird is the one we need to look at through the year . He will start R1 on the flank again and will pick up decent enough numbers - but its a transition period for him and the club

It might pay to start thinking Max for Dan then Max for Laird when Dan comes back.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Round 1, missing Curtin, Rankine & Keane

B: Michaelanny, Butts, Murray
HB: Cook, Worrell, Milera
C: Cumming, Dawson, Ah Chee
HF: ANB, Fogarty, Keays
F: Pedlar, Thilthorpe, Walker
R: McAndrew, Peatling, Rachele
I: Laird, Soligo, Hinge, Nankervis, Taylor
E: O’Brien, Dowling, Edwards

 

[crows dude]

Round 1, missing Curtin, Rankine & Keane

B: Michaelanny, Butts, Murray
HB: Cook, Worrell, Milera
C: Cumming, Dawson, Ah Chee
HF: ANB, Fogarty, Keays
F: Pedlar, Thilthorpe, Walker
R: McAndrew, Peatling, Rachele
I: Laird, Soligo, Hinge, Nankervis, Taylor
E: O’Brien, Dowling, Edwards

I think it may be similar to our finals side

Four changes

In Butts AhChee McAndrew Bond
Out Keane Curtin O'Brien Smith

B: WORRELL KEANE LAIRD (FINALS)
B: WORELL BUTTS LAIRD (ROUND ONE)
HB: MILERA MURRAY MAXY (FINALS)
HB: MILERA MURRAY MAXY(ROUND ONE)
C: CUMMING DAWSON CURTIN (FINALS)
C: CUMMING DAWSON AHCHEE (ROUND ONE)
HF: KEAYS THILTHORPE NEAL-BULLEN (FINALS)
HF: KEAYS THILTHORPE NEAL-BULLEN (ROUND ONE)
F: PEDLAR WALKER FOGARTY (FINALS)
F: PEDLAR WALKER FOGARTY (ROUND ONE)
R: OBRIEN BERRY SOLIGO (FINALS)
R: MCANDREW BERRY SOLIGO (ROUND ONE)
I : TAYLOR PEATLING HINGE RACHELE SMITH (FINALS)
I: TAYLOR PEATLING HINGE RACHELE BOND(ROUND ONE)

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I think it may be similar to our finals side

B: WORRELL KEANE LAIRD (FINALS)
B: WORELL BUTTS LAID (ROUND ONE)
HB: MILERA MURRAY MAXY (FINALS)
HB: MILERA MURRAY MAXY(ROUND ONE)
C: CUMMING DAWSON CURTIN (FINALS)
C: CUMMING DAWSON AHCHEE (ROUND ONE)
HF: KEAYS THILTHROPE NEAL-BULLEN (FINALS)
HF: KEAYS THILTHROPE NEAL-BULLEN (ROUND ONE)
F: PEDLAR WALKER FOGARTY (FINALS)
F: PEDLAR WALKER FOGARTY (ROUND ONE)
I : TAYLOR PEATLING HINGE RACHELE SMITH (FINALS)
I: TAYKOR PEATLING HINGE RACHELE BOND(ROUN ONE)

No Rucks?

 

[Daniel6]

I think it may be similar to our finals side

B: WORRELL KEANE LAIRD (FINALS)
B: WORELL BUTTS LAID (ROUND ONE)
HB: MILERA MURRAY MAXY (FINALS)
HB: MILERA MURRAY MAXY(ROUND ONE)
C: CUMMING DAWSON CURTIN (FINALS)
C: CUMMING DAWSON AHCHEE (ROUND ONE)
HF: KEAYS THILTHROPE NEAL-BULLEN (FINALS)
HF: KEAYS THILTHROPE NEAL-BULLEN (ROUND ONE)
F: PEDLAR WALKER FOGARTY (FINALS)
F: PEDLAR WALKER FOGARTY (ROUND ONE)
I : TAYLOR PEATLING HINGE RACHELE SMITH (FINALS)
I: TAYKOR PEATLING HINGE RACHELE BOND(ROUN ONE)

I think I just had a brain aneurism. I’m seeing things in triple.

 

[crows dude]

No Rucks?

Fixed

 

[Tex Danger]

How are people so sure that Darcy Moore won't be playing? Was it not just a standard calf injury? He may miss opening round but I doubt he also misses round one

Don’t think anyone said he was guaranteed to miss

I just included him in a list who has had interrupted preseasons and who was written as being in doubt for OR

I think youre a good chance of being right that he could be touch and go for OR but more likely back for us

Still a limited prep though and they’re not flying into the season as a group (still better than our situation though)

 

[Crow_Magnon]

Are we too top heavy down back with Murray and Butts...not sure the Pies have many tallish forwards - esp with Mihocek gone? Wouldn't mind Muzz on the interchange though...can throw him into the ruck if McAndrew struggles against Darcy Cameron

14

Darcy Cameron

Age

30

Ht

204cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.0

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.7

2star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

3.5

5star

D

6.0

2star

K

3.3

2star

HB

2.7

3star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

.

 

[jimvic]

My round 1 team:-

B:- Michaelanney. Butts. Worrell
HB:- Cumming. Murray. Cook
C:- Milera. Dawson. Dowling
1R:- O’Brien. Peatling. Rachele
HF:- Keays. Fogarty. Neal-Bullen
FF:- Pedlar. Thillthorpe. Ah Chee

Int:- Laird. Edwards. Hinge. Walker. Soligo

Emg:- Nankervis. McAndrew. Berry. Ryan.

this works for me, although I would have Bond on the bench rather than Laird

 

[ams4crows]

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Up steps Billy Frampton.

We should be able to stretch them with 3 tall forwards.

 

[hugecannon]

this works for me, although I would have Bond on the bench rather than Laird

Don’t disagree, but I wanted to go slightly realistic, unless injured laird will
Be there.

Could see Bond getting picked over Cook, but I’d go the more attacking HB.

 

[conVINCEd]

Club seems incredibly optimistic suggesting Draper will play at least one of the trial games, given a week ago he pulled out of training with a clearly sore groin.

Hope it’s true though.

 

[Tex Danger]

Club seems incredibly optimistic suggesting Draper will play at least one of the trial games, given a week ago he pulled out of training with a clearly sore groin.

Hope it’s true though.

Yeah I was surprised but hopeful reading that

Honestly I think it’s a sign we don’t have a clear timeline or it being predictable how he will respond to ongoing ramping up and since they don’t know they just put out quietly that hope and realistically time will tell

 

[1970crow]

Club seems incredibly optimistic suggesting Draper will play at least one of the trial games, given a week ago he pulled out of training with a clearly sore groin.

Hope it’s true though.

Sounds about right.

 

[BRL121]

Sounds about right.

Burns is either incredibly stupid, or is playing us for fools.
His response would have been expected before the latest injury, but is unbelievable after it.

 

[Cromulant]

Well Ah Chee would have to be in some doubt now.