Who will be better in 2026? Fremantle or St Kilda.

[LeBronco]

It'll be interesting to see which side is better in 2026 as both have been evenly matched against each other in recent years and have a 1-2 record in finals over the 2020s ironically both sides had their finals win come against the Bulldogs in an elimination final. St Kilda recruited big in the off season and did well to retain Marshall who is a quality ruckman, him and De Koning should work well together similar to Darcy and Jackson at Fremantle and Fremantle are one of the sides St Kilda will be hoping to go past this year in their quest to return to finals.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Dockers

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Everyone raving about the Saints. They recruited bit part players. It's not going to fix their jig saw.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Everyone raving about the Saints. They recruited bit part players. It's not going to fix their jig saw.

I think they are on the right track, and obviously have NWM who has the potential to be the best player in the competition. I really like Owens, Whindhager, Phillipou, Tauru as well. They should get most of their natural improvement from these young guys, and they have reinforced their spine and added some experience with TDK and Silvagni.

Objectively, I'd still expect Freo to finish higher. Just coming into the window and anything less than top 4 will probably be a fail. So basically it's Prelim or bust for JL.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

I think they are on the right track, and obviously have NWM who has the potential to be the best player in the competition. I really like Owens, Whindhager, Phillipou, Tauru as well. They should get most of their natural improvement from these young guys, and they have reinforced their spine and added some experience with TDK and Silvagni.

Objectively, I'd still expect Freo to finish higher. Just coming into the window and anything less than top 4 will probably be a fail. So basically it's Prelim or bust for JL.

Disagree. A semi final appearance will be acceptable imo. At least he won't get sacked if they make it.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

Everyone raving about the Saints. They recruited bit part players. It's not going to fix their jig saw.

How are tdk and Flanders bit part players?

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

How are tdk and Flanders bit part players?

1. TDK isn't as good as his brother
2. The other is a Simpson's character

 

[Tasmanian saint]

1. TDK isn't as good as his brother
2. The other is a Simpson character

You must not watch to much football tdk is a lot better player than his brother his had one bad season before that was absolutely tracking to be a top 5 ruckman , Flanders with a good injury run will be a very good player, the other two sos and Ryan I agree will be handy at best

 

[Arcassius]

Dockers. then daylight.

 

[Jirik13]

For me Freo. That list does not have many weaknesses, is young and got some finals experience already. Top 4 is my prediction. My main question is about the coach. Not overly impressed.

As for Saints, looking forward to see what Flanders can do provided his back is 100%. TDK for sure is a talent and new ruck rules will help him a lot. I still did not see him to have a consistent season, 1/3-1/2 the season yes, whole season no. Sorry to see Max struggling with injuries.

 

[Freomaniac]

I am not fully convinced on certain things. I can throw the dockers and saints in the middle of the ladder with 8 or 10 other sides.

I am not Pot shotting saints. But their form is extreme on both ends.

They can beat Geelong or a Collingwood on a good day. Then lose to a bottom 6 side narrowly the next week.

Bulldogs have a similar vibe too

 

[Jezzitizle]

Saints one of the most interesting teams this year, could go really well or bottom 4.

TDKs form last year was really average, hard to know what his true level is.

Flanders couldn’t break into the very strong GC rotation, it is a watch to see if that was because he isn’t good enough to be a top liner or if it was just the particular circumstances there.

I am expecting top four for Freo, Saints I couldn’t say with any confidence.

 

[projectv]

I am not fully convinced on certain things. I can throw the dockers and saints in the middle of the ladder with 8 or 10 other sides.

I am not Pot shotting saints. But their form is extreme on both ends.

They can beat Geelong or a Collingwood on a good day. Then lose to a bottom 6 side narrowly the next week.

Bulldogs have a similar vibe too

The gap between our best football and our worst football is probably the biggest in the comp. I'd expect us to improve this year but we have added a lot of new faces so it might take some time.

Freo are far more consistent.

 

[Sumwun]

Freo are far more consistent

You obviously don't watch us very often......

 

[Sumwun]

You obviously don't watch the Saints very often...

I flew over to watch the Saints murder us in May. That was enough.

 

[THE_GUN]

For me Freo. That list does not have many weaknesses, is young and got some finals experience already. Top 4 is my prediction. My main question is about the coach. Not overly impressed.

As for Saints, looking forward to see what Flanders can do provided his back is 100%. TDK for sure is a talent and new ruck rules will help him a lot. I still did not see him to have a consistent season, 1/3-1/2 the season yes, whole season no. Sorry to see Max struggling with injuries.

I rate fremantles list highly and they are in for a long stay at the top of the ladder

They just have to get a decent coach and that guy is a spud

 

[Atomboy]

Freo would be expecting top 4 this year, especially with a fit Hayden Young.

Saints will be 6-12.

 

[Toump Ass]

Angry at myself for even opening this thread

 

[Gethelred]

It really depends on two things:

• do St Kilda add up to more than the sum of their parts?
• do Fremantle stay fit?

St Kilda need for the new players in not just to add to their list but complement it. They need them to improve them synergistically, so that the team doesn't function better but their performances compound. Less attention on NWM due to Flanders. More goals to Butler and Higgins courtesy of Ryan. More flexibility in selection due to Silvagni. If it works, they could be very hard to beat next year, but it would require a few players doing more than they already have, Marshall/TDK, Wood and Caminiti among them.

For Fremantle, they have a habit of losing key pillars of their side and losing to the bottom sides due to being worn down. Full team in and fit, they can compete with top 4 sides away; the way the grind hits them, they can slip games to WC at home. They've got an awesome core group of young mids, but the KPP posts behind the ball - Ryan and Pearce - are both necessary and getting a bit long in the tooth, so they'd want Draper to come on a bit this year. Their front half is to die for, with Darcy and Amiss being due for a breakout even larger than last year was; and Freo have never had an issue with development of small flankers and forwards ahead of the ball.

It's an interesting juxtaposition, even without both side's history with St Kilda's coach. One side built very much through trading for known quantities on the outer with their clubs, the other built almost entirely through the draft and development.

 

[westie]

Dockers

You really can't help yourself. Sink the boots in at any opportunity.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

You really can't help yourself. Sink the boots in at any opportunity.

No. The saints aren't a proven team. Fremantle are. The Dockers showed in 2025 they can mix it with the big boys. Away wins over 3 top 8 sides and beat Hawks and Crows. Beat 5 of the 7 finalists.

Beat Dogs home and away and the latter was an elimination game.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Freo 4th to 7th.
St Kilda 8th - 11th.

 

[Mr Meow]

Freo 4th to 7th.
St Kilda 8th - 11th.

5th to 8th and 7th-10th for me.

 

[The Feeder Club]

I'm not really liking what I am reading about St Kilda's injury list already, and the effect that will have on their preseason.

Arguably the hardest part of their fixture is the first six weeks when they play four of last years top 8, and it sounds like they'll enter that first part of the year with multiple key players either unavailable or underdone.

Their season could take an early hit from which it will be hard to recover

 

[Piggy Smalls]

You really can't help yourself. Sink the boots in at any opportunity.

By having the same opinion as most other people?