Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[Zlatan]

That’s not a bottoms 6 side like most people are saying.

I’ve got no idea what to expect this year. Many new faces, youngsters hopefully starting in the 23 like Carroll/Moir/Smith/HOK with another year under their belt, the culture “shift”, assistant shuffle (for whatever it’s worth)… I could believe we squeeze in at 8 or fall away at 14

 

[Sin City]

Haynes Weitering Cowan
Carroll Young Saad
Walsh Cripps Florent
Hayward McKay Ainsworth
Williams HOK Moir
Pittonet Hewett Lord
Cerra O Hollands Smith Motlop Chesser

Maybe E Hollands if he stays. Maybe Cottrell if he’s injury free.
Reidy if he can bash and crash like Xerri will probably overtake Pitto but it won’t be by round one.
Really hope both Camporeale boys have a big pre-season and make the jump.
Give Dean time to develop, keep him away from AFL key forwards and packs for the first year.

 

[JuddgementDay]

Haynes Weitering Cowan
Carroll Young Saad
Walsh Cripps Florent
Hayward McKay Ainsworth
Williams HOK Moir
Pittonet Hewett Lord
Cerra O Hollands Smith Motlop Chesser

Maybe E Hollands if he stays. Maybe Cottrell if he’s injury free.
Reidy if he can bash and crash like Xerri will probably overtake Pitto but it won’t be by round one.
Really hope both Camporeale boys have a big pre-season and make the jump.
Give Dean time to develop, keep him away from AFL key forwards and packs for the first year.

I haven't done my best 23, but I like this team - what I've noticed is that it is so different to the 2025 team

 

[ctwenty1]

Haynes Weitering Cowan
Carroll Young Saad
Walsh Cripps Florent
Hayward McKay Ainsworth
Williams HOK Moir
Pittonet Hewett Lord
Cerra O Hollands Smith Motlop Chesser

Maybe E Hollands if he stays. Maybe Cottrell if he’s injury free.
Reidy if he can bash and crash like Xerri will probably overtake Pitto but it won’t be by round one.
Really hope both Camporeale boys have a big pre-season and make the jump.
Give Dean time to develop, keep him away from AFL key forwards and packs for the first year.

I think Nic Newman and Saad are interchangable - would like to give more time to Carroll to develop so he stays in

 

[Jimmae]

FB: Haynes Dean Carroll
HB: Cowan Weitering Saad
C: Florent Cerra Chesser
HF: Walsh Kemp Ainsworth
FF: Hayward McKay Williams

R: O'Keeffe Cripps Hewett

Int: O.Hollands, Smith, McGovern, Moir, Acres

EMG: Newman, Lord, Cottrell, Evans, Pittonet

 

[bluebagger93]

Newman Weitering Haynes
Cowan Dean Florent
Hollands Cripps Chesser
Ainsworth Kemp Hayward
Motlop McKay Moir
Pittonet Walsh Smith

Cerra Carroll Hewett O'Keefe Williams

 

[Sweet Seventeen]

Newman Weitering Haynes
Cowan Dean Florent
Hollands Cripps Chesser
Ainsworth Kemp Hayward
Motlop McKay Moir
Pittonet Walsh Smith

Cerra Carroll Hewett O'Keefe Williams

Like the team, just got to bear in mind that Kemp will not be fit until mid-year. Other options would be HOK, Young or Reidy perhaps.

 

[Blue1980]

Like the team, just got to bear in mind that Kemp will not be fit until mid-year. Other options would be HOK, Young or Reidy perhaps.

Mid year? He got injured R5, how long is an achilles injury like him usually keeping someone out for?

 

[bluebagger93]

Like the team, just got to bear in mind that Kemp will not be fit until mid-year. Other options would be HOK, Young or Reidy perhaps.

I think Moir has the size to play that position too, so could throw Williams in there off the bench and bring in Young for a bit of size and versatility off the bench

 

[ctwenty1]

Mid year? He got injured R5, how long is an achilles injury like him usually keeping someone out for?

A long time

Mid year is about right to be fully firing and confident

 

[Sweet Seventeen]

Mid year? He got injured R5, how long is an achilles injury like him usually keeping someone out for?

From what I have learned, it is a very nasty injury to recover from. Then even when deemed fit to play, regaining confidence enough to aggressively go hard at the contest. Does take some time.

 

[ctwenty1]

I think Moir has the size to play that position too, so could throw Williams in there off the bench and bring in Young for a bit of size and versatility off the bench

Moir is a bit charlieesque in the sense of taking marks that he has no right to

an extra preseason adding size and fitness will do him wonders for 2026

 

[The Great Ian]

B. Newman Weitering Haynes
HB. Cowan Dean Saad
C. Walsh Cripps Cottrell
HF. Hayward Moir EHollands
F. Ainsworth McKay O'Keefe

R. Pittonet Hewett Cerra

I. Smith Florent Kemp Evans Williams

 

[Robertio]

B. Haynes / Weitering / Carroll
HB. Cowan / Young / Saad/Newman
C. Florent / Walsh / O Hollands
HF. Moir / McKay / Williams
F. Hayward / O'Keefe / Ainsworth
R. Pittonet / Cripps / Cerra
Int. Smith Hewett Lord Motlop Chesser

 

[Blugazi]

B: Harry Dean, [PLAYERCARD]Jacob Weitering[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Nic Newman[/PLAYERCARD]
HB: [PLAYERCARD]Adam Saad[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Nick Haynes[/PLAYERCARD], Lachie Cowan
C: Campbell Chesser, [PLAYERCARD]Patrick Cripps[/PLAYERCARD], Ollie Hollands
HF: [PLAYERCARD]Ben Ainsworth[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Harry McKay[/PLAYERCARD], Francis Evans
F: [PLAYERCARD]Will Hayward[/PLAYERCARD], Hudson O'Keeffe, Zac Williams
Foll: [PLAYERCARD]Marc Pittonet[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Sam Walsh[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]George Hewett[/PLAYERCARD]
I/C: Jagga Smith, Adam Cerra, Matt Carroll, Ashton Moir, Ollie Florent

Stiff to miss:
Cooper Lord
Matt Cottrell
Jesse Motlop
[PLAYERCARD]Blake Acres[/PLAYERCARD]
Jack Ison (judging from last pre-season intra-club performance, i think he'll come on quickly).

Unavailable:
Kemp (inj)
Elijah (delisted)

Areas of need across draft/DFA/SSP period, which could change the Rd 1 23:
Stop-gap KPD: post-No Buku/O'Farrell injury hopefully we're having a look at some 1-2 year contract offers - Phillips, Grainger-Barrass, Frost etc.

Either stop-gap or talented young KPF: O'Keeffe doesn't fill me with confidence, and what happens when McKay goes down. McGovern probably plays this role, still think we need a body who can contest in the goal square ala Mihocek - doesn't need to be a world beater.

Dynamic onballer: Jagga helps, Cody will help next year, Ison also a chance to fit here - would still be nice to have a crack at someone through the draft - even Landy late.

Small forward: Would still love to grab a specialist crumbing forward - Dovaston, Latrelle Pickett type.

 

[Bundy Bear Bogan]

From what I have learned, it is a very nasty injury to recover from. Then even when deemed fit to play, regaining confidence enough to aggressively go hard at the contest. Does take some time.

Yep, regaining confidence is the issue with long term injuries

 

[ctwenty1]

I’ve got no idea what to expect this year. Many new faces, youngsters hopefully starting in the 23 like Carroll/Moir/Smith/HOK with another year under their belt, the culture “shift”, assistant shuffle (for whatever it’s worth)… I could believe we squeeze in at 8 or fall away at 14

This year was also not a bottom 10 side

Clearly attitude within the club (players/coaches) was what took us to where we were

If the attitudes have been fixed, and given what we have brought in, I expect a much better year

 

[CJMB]

Want to see Hollands (x2), Chesser, Cottrell, Walsh, Hayward, Florent, Wilson, Ainsworth, Carroll and Smith in the same team as much as possible. Maybe then that manic pressure game we played in the back end of 23 will be sustainable.

Fog, Evans and Motlop will battle it out for that last forward spot and I reckon Fog will surprise with Hayward and Ainsworth around him - all high IQ players.

I don't have Fog anywhere near the team.

 

[JuddgementDay]

Is Dean likely to be ready for Round 1?

Footy smarts, size & fitness wise?

 

[ctwenty1]

Is Dean likely to be ready for Round 1?

Footy smarts, size & fitness wise?

Tbh, i woudl only feel comfortable Dean playing round 1 would be because its Richmond, who are relatively young themselves

Otherwise woudl prefer him to develop in the twos and come in later in the season when he is more self assured and opposition seniors are less likely to be fully fit

 

[Blue1980]

Tbh, i woudl only feel comfortable Dean playing round 1 would be because its Richmond, who are relatively young themselves

Otherwise woudl prefer him to develop in the twos and come in later in the season when he is more self assured and opposition seniors are less likely to be fully fit

See how everyone is tracking pre-season, lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then. If everyone is available we may keep him out unless he has banged the door down pre-season.

 

[ctwenty1]

See how everyone is tracking pre-season, lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then. If everyone is available we may keep him out unless he has banged the door down pre-season.

im always concnered with the physicality - first year's just dont have the physical size. I mean - look at HoF and Jagga...

 

[The Smoking Gun]

dean watchers, is dean any chance of being a ready made chb at afl level?

Is Dean likely to be ready for Round 1?

Footy smarts, size & fitness wise?

Doubt he plays as KPD in his first year. 3rd Tall Intercept will be his go initially I would've thought.

 

[Jimmae]

Doubt he plays as KPD in his first year. 3rd Tall Intercept will be his go initially I would've thought.

This is also my thinking, where he'd essentially be a stopper on the quickest tall or medium forward for the opposition, unless he's set to get ragdolled.

I've picked a line up where Cowan, Saad, Haynes, and McGovern can all assist, with the option of Newman coming in for Carroll to do similar.

 

[gandaal]

B Saad, Weitering, Cowan
HB Newman, McGovern, Florent
C Cerra, Walsh, Haynes
HF Motlop, Moir, Evans
F Hayward, McKay, Ainsworth
R Pitto, Cripps, Hewitt
Int Ollie, Smith, Reidy, Williams, Lord

In paper its a lot weaker than I expected. Big holes at CHB and CHF. Although hopefully the forward line becomes more versatile. But unless Dean is a walk up start that CHB gap is glaring.

I think it would've been reasonable to target [PLAYERCARD]Steven May[/PLAYERCARD] as a stop gap until Harry and Dean are ready.