Prediction 2026 Crystal Ball

[eth-dog]

Haven't done this in a while, and witha few of these going around, why not dip into our inner psychic and make some predictions for the upcoming season?

How many wins for H&A season? 8

Final ladder position? 14th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 40, Carlton

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 110,Geelong

Surprise/best win of the year? ANZAC Day, 5 points

Best & Fairest Top 3? Zach Merrett, [PLAYERCARD]Jye Caldwell[/PLAYERCARD], Zach Reid

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Peter Wright, 35

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Merrett

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Elijah Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp, 20

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 8 of 18, 12th

VFL BnF top 3? Liam McMahon, Saad El-Hawli, [PLAYERCARD]Jackson Hately[/PLAYERCARD]

VFL leading goal scorer? Liam McMahon, 40

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

Trade/FA: [PLAYERCARD]Matt Guelfi[/PLAYERCARD], Zach Merrett
De-list: [PLAYERCARD]Jade Gresham[/PLAYERCARD], Tom Edwards, Saad El-Hawli, [PLAYERCARD]Will Setterfield[/PLAYERCARD]
Retire: Nik Cox

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Judd McVee

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Ben Ainsworth[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the premiership? GWS

Runners Up? Geelong

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Toby Greene[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the Rising Star? Willem Duursma

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Finn Callagham

Who will win the Coleman Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Jeremy Cameron[/PLAYERCARD]

 

[Vindicater]

How many wins for H&A season? 10

Final ladder position? 11th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 62, Melbourne

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 75,Hawthorn

Surprise/best win of the year? ANZAC Day, 24 points

Best & Fairest Top 3? Sam Durham, Zach Merrett, [PLAYERCARD]Mason Redman[/PLAYERCARD]

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Nate Caddy, 32

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp, 21

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Merrett, Ridley, Gresham, Guelfi, Cox, Day-Wicks and Setterfield

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Worpel

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Silvagni

Who will win the premiership? Brisbane

Runners Up? Gold Coast

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Zac Bailey[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the Rising Star? Dyson Sharp

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Nick Daicos

Who will win the Coleman Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Ben King[/PLAYERCARD]

 

[boncer34]

How many wins for H&A season? 18

Final ladder position? 1st

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 72, Hawthorn

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 13, Brisbane

Surprise/best win of the year? Hawthorn Round 1, 72 points

Best & Fairest Top 3? [PLAYERCARD]Andrew McGrath[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Jye Caldwell[/PLAYERCARD], Elijah Tsatas

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Nate Caddy, 87

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? McGrath, Caddy, Reid, Ridley, Caldwell

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Elijah Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp, 25

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 15 of 18, 1st

VFL BnF top 3? Nobody cares

VFL leading goal scorer? See BnF

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

Trade/FA: Nil
De-list: [PLAYERCARD]Jade Gresham[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Matt Guelfi[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Will Setterfield[/PLAYERCARD], Lachie Blakiston, Nik Cox
Retire: Nil

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Brayden Fiorini[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Zach Merr..... oh wait, Sam Draper

Who will win the premiership? Essendon

Runners Up? Brisbane

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Tom Edwards

Who will win the Rising Star? Dyson Sharp

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Andrew McGrath[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the Coleman Medal? Nate Caddy

 

[fairbump_playon]

Haven't done this in a while, and witha few of these going around, why not dip into our inner psychic and make some predictions for the upcoming season?

How many wins for H&A season? 8

Final ladder position? 14th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 40, Carlton

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 110,Geelong

Surprise/best win of the year? ANZAC Day, 5 points

Best & Fairest Top 3? Zach Merrett, Jye Caldwell, Zach Reid

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Peter Wright, 35

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Merrett

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Elijah Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp, 20

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 8 of 18, 12th

VFL BnF top 3? Liam McMahon, Saad El-Hawli, Jackson Hately

VFL leading goal scorer? Liam McMahon, 40

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

Trade/FA: Matt Guelfi, Zach Merrett
De-list: Jade Gresham, Tom Edwards, Saad El-Hawli, Will Setterfield
Retire: Nik Cox

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Judd McVee

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Ben Ainsworth

Who will win the premiership? GWS

Runners Up? Geelong

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Toby Greene

Who will win the Rising Star? Willem Duursma

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Finn Callagham

Who will win the Coleman Medal? Jeremy Cameron

How many wins for H&A season? 11

Final ladder position? 10th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 60 - Port Adelaide

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 70 - GWS

Surprise/best win of the year? Bulldogs, Round 4

Best & Fairest Top 3? Caldwell, Reid, Parish

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Wright, 50

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Reid

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Kako

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Sharp

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 10

VFL BnF top 3? Saad El-Hawli, Gerryn, Farrow

VFL leading goal scorer? McMahon

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?
Gresham, McMahon, Merrett, Day-Wicks, Cox

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Clayton Oliver

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Liam Ryan

Who will win the premiership? Gold Coast Suns

Runners Up? GWS

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Christian Petracca

Who will win the Rising Star? Willem Duursma

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Wanganeen-Milera

Who will win the Coleman Medal? Ben King

 

[Duckworth]

I'll have to find last year's one to see how badly I did.

 

[eth-dog]

I'll have to find last year's one to see how badly I did.

2023 was the last one...

 

[thepokey]

How many wins for H&A season? 7

Final ladder position? 14th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 45, Port

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 106, Geelong

Surprise/best win of the year? Adelaide

Best & Fairest Top 3? Merrett, Durham, Sharp

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Caddy, 36

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Merrett

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Sharp/Caddy

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Sharp

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Merrett, Setterfield, Tsatas, Perkins, Gresham

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Petracca

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Draper

Who will win the premiership? Gold Coast

Runners Up? Geelong

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Rowell

Who will win the Rising Star? Sharp

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Serong

Who will win the Coleman Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Ben King[/PLAYERCARD]

 

[jdstorm]

How many wins for H&A season? 12

Final ladder position? 10

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? Carlton 60 points

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? Geelong….

Surprise/best win of the year? Wildcard game

Best & Fairest Top 3? Caldwell, Merrett, Kako

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Peter Wright 54

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Kako

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Kako, Johnson, Clarke, Farrow, sharp

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Sharp

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Too Early to tell

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Oscar Allen[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Worpell

Who will win the premiership? Brisbane

Runners Up? Giants

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Ashcroft

Who will win the Rising Star? Uwland

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? NAS

Who will win the Coleman Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Oscar Allen[/PLAYERCARD]

Every few years Essendon take the brakes off the offence and turn into a not awful transition team.

Think that will be this year. Won’t beat anyone good/physical but should put away some bad teams and get some easy goals

 

[naraku]

How many wins for H&A season? 10

Final ladder position? 12th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 55pts Melbourne

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 93pts Geelong (of course!)

Surprise/best win of the year? ANZAC Day 7 points

Best & Fairest Top 3? Zach Merrett, Sam Durham, [PLAYERCARD]Jye Caldwell[/PLAYERCARD]

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Nate Caddy 37

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Merrett

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Zak Johnson

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp, 18

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 6 of 18 14th

VFL BnF top 3? Archer May, Jayden Nguyen, Jackson Farrow

VFL leading goal scorer? Archer May, 40

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

[PLAYERCARD]Matt Guelfi[/PLAYERCARD], Zach Merrett, Archie Perkins,[PLAYERCARD]Jade Gresham[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Kyle Langford[/PLAYERCARD] [PLAYERCARD]Will Setterfield[/PLAYERCARD].
Retire: Nik Cox

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Callum Ah-Chee

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Clayton Oliver[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the premiership? Brisbane

Runners Up? Geelong

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Max Holmes (yep will win it in a losing GF side)

Who will win the Rising Star? Willem Duursma

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Bont

Who will win the Coleman Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Jeremy Cameron[/PLAYERCARD]

 

[thebigboy]

How many wins for H&A season? 7

Final ladder position? 15th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 37 vs Richmond (Dreamtime)

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 99 vs Brisbane at the Gabba

Surprise/best win of the year? Freo at the 'G (Kick after the siren for style points)

Best & Fairest Top 3? Sam Durham, [PLAYERCARD]Jye Caldwell[/PLAYERCARD], Zach Merrett

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Nate Caddy - 39

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None

Which U/22 player will have a breakout season (if any)? Isaac Kako

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 5 & 16th

VFL BnF top 3? Lewis Hayes, Saad El-Hawli, Liam McMahon

VFL leading goal scorer? Liam McMahon, 38

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

Trade/FA: Zach Merrett, Kayle Gerryn (Will get lured back to WA)
De-list: [PLAYERCARD]Jade Gresham[/PLAYERCARD], Tom Edwards, [PLAYERCARD]Will Setterfield[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Matt Guelfi[/PLAYERCARD], Lachie Blakiston, Liam McMahon
Retire: None

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Will Haywood (Will be an AA)

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Jack Silvagni[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the premiership? Gold Coast

Runners Up? Brisbane

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Noah Anderson[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the Rising Star? Dyson Sharp

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Marcus Bontempelli[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the Coleman Medal? Sam Darcy

 

[King Patty]

How many wins for H&A season? 12

Final ladder position? 10th (+ elimination final)

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 43, West Coast

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 69, Adelaide

Surprise/best win of the year? Sydney

Best & Fairest Top 3? Zach Reid, Zac Merrett, Zak Johnson

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Nate Caddy, 43

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Zach REID
Which Essendon players make the AA squad (if any)? Zach Reid + Zach Merrett

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Zak Johnson

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp, 24 games

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 11.5 of 18, 6th

VFL BNF top 3? Lewis Hayes, Vigo Vissentini, Xavier O'Neill

VFL leading goal scorer? Liam McMahon, 43

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

Trade/FA: [PLAYERCARD]Matt Guelfi[/PLAYERCARD], Zach Merrett, Elijah Tsatas
De-list: [PLAYERCARD]Jade Gresham[/PLAYERCARD], Tom Edwards, Harrison Jones, Liam McMahon, Archer Day-Wicks, Jackson Prior
Retire: Nil

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Charlie Curnow[/PLAYERCARD] (followed closely by [PLAYERCARD]Christian petracca[/PLAYERCARD])

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Campbell Chesser

Who will win the premiership? Sydney

Runners Up? Gold Coast

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Jamarra Ugle-hagan

Who will win the Rising Star? Zak Johnson,
then Sam Grilj (runner up), Sam Cumming (3rd) Taj Hotton (4th)


Who will win the Brownlow Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Josh Daicos[/PLAYERCARD],
then [PLAYERCARD]Noah Anderson[/PLAYERCARD] runner up

Who will win the Coleman Medal? Riley Thilthorpe

Which Essendon players make the 22 under 22 squad?
Nate Caddy, Archie Roberts, Isaac kako, Zak Johnson

Who coaches the AA side? Damien Hardwick

 

[sup3rfish]

How many wins for H&A season? 11

Final ladder position? 9th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 65, Richmond

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 80, GWS

Surprise/best win of the year? Brisbane away

Best & Fairest Top 3? Merrett, Durham, Roberts

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Caddy, 40

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Caddy, Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Sharp

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Cox, Gresham, Tsatas

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Curnow

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Jamarra or Oliver

Who will win the premiership? Geelong

Runners Up? GWS

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Holmes

Who will win the Rising Star? Willem Duursma

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Brayshaw or Daicos

Who will win the Coleman Medal? Jezza Cameron or Hogan

 

[Skipper_]

How many wins for H&A season? 9

Final ladder position? 13th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 38, Melbourne

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 86, Hawthorn

Surprise/best win of the year? Sydney, 5 points

Best & Fairest Top 3? Zach Reid, Zach Merrett, [PLAYERCARD]Jye Caldwell[/PLAYERCARD]

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Peter Wright, 34

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Elijah Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp, 22

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

Trade/FA: Zach Merrett, Archie Perkins
De-list: [PLAYERCARD]Matt Guelfi[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Jade Gresham[/PLAYERCARD], Tom Edwards, [PLAYERCARD]Will Setterfield[/PLAYERCARD], Archer Day-Wicks

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Charlie Curnow[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? [PLAYERCARD]Jack Silvagni[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the premiership? Sydney

Runners Up? Fremantle

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Chad Warner[/PLAYERCARD]

Who will win the Rising Star? Dyson Sharp

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Errol Gulden

Who will win the Coleman Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Ben King[/PLAYERCARD]

 

[straightuplazy]

How many wins for H&A season? 6

Final ladder position? 15

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 32, Melbourne

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 100, Bulldogs

Surprise/best win of the year? Lions , 9 points

Best & Fairest Top 3? Zach Merrett, Peter Wright, Zach Reid

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Peter Wright, 40

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Merrett

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Elijah Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Dyson Sharp

How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 10 wins, 7-8 spot

VFL BnF top 3? Zak Johnson, Saad El-Hawli, Vigo

VFL leading goal scorer? Liam McMahon, 40

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year?

Trade/FA: Matt Guelfi, Zach Merrett, Ridley, Perkins
De-list: Jade Gresham, Tom Edwards, Will Setterfield, ADW, Liam McMahon
Retire: Nik Cox

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Petracca

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Ben Ainsworth

Who will win the premiership? Crows

Runners Up? Gold Coast

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Jordan Dawson

Who will win the Rising Star? Uwland

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Nasiah Wanganeen

Who will win the Coleman Medal? Curnow

 

[bombre-boy]

How many wins for H&A season? 8

Final ladder position? 13th

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 36, Melbourne

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 94, Gold Coast

Surprise/best win of the year? Collingwood

Best & Fairest Top 3? Merrett, Mcgrath, Kako

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Wright, 32

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)?

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Kako, Sharp

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Sharp

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Setterfield, Tsatas, Perkins, Gresham, Edwards,

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Petracca

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Silvagni

Who will win the premiership? Adelaide

Runners Up? GWS

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Dawson

Who will win the Rising Star? Sharp

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Nick Daicos

Who will win the Coleman Medal? [PLAYERCARD]Jeremy Cameron[/PLAYERCARD]

 

[Bombers36]

How many wins for H&A season? 11

Final ladder position? 10th (play a final!)

Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 68 Port

Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 72 Brisbane

Surprise/best win of the year? one of the Hawks games

Best & Fairest Top 3? Durham, Redman, McGrath

Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? 2MP- 52

Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? McGrath

Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Caddy & Tsatas

Who, of our first-year drafted players will play the most senior games? Sharp

Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Cox, Gresham, Perkins, Jones, Prior

Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Petracca

Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Oliver

Who will win the premiership? Brisbane

Runners Up? Sydney

Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Draper

Who will win the Rising Star? Willem Duursma

Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Daicos

Who will win the Coleman Medal? King