Both sides are finals contenders most years and are expected to be in the mix for finals again this year I know Sydney finished 10th last year but they added Curnow who should make their forward line far stronger, yes they lost Hayward who is a good player but Sydney have an abundance of small/medium types who can kick goals while their biggest list hole since Franklin retired has been the lack of a quality key forward and the arrival of Curnow fills that hole. Add in a few tweaks from Dean Cox and it's hard to see Sydney not bouncing back especially with a normal injury run unlike 2025 where their list was decimated. Collingwood don't have a great list on paper especially the forward line but McRae is a quality coach he implements a system that gets the absolute best out of the cattle he has at his disposal, a good example is his premiership key forwards from 2023 in Cox and Frampton they weren't exactly superstars but McRae made it work. It'll be interesting to see who is better out of Collingwood and Sydney in 2026 and I'll be surprised if both sides don't qualify for the top 10 this year.
Who will be better in 2026? Collingwood or Sydney.
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I personally think (unsurprisingly given who I support) Sydney will be better as we have Gulden back, we traded for Curnow so our forward line will be much stronger and we don't have an aging problem at the moment. Collingwood though really fell apart near the end of 2025, and their age is a significant problem. They are certainly not going to be better in 2026 than they were in 2025.
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Mix Collingwood's veterans + coach with Sydney's under 30s and you possibly have a grand final team.
As it stands I think both will be in the 5th-10th sort of range assuming an average sort of injury list. It still wouldn't surprise to see either be top 4 though.
As it stands I think both will be in the 5th-10th sort of range assuming an average sort of injury list. It still wouldn't surprise to see either be top 4 though.
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Both sides should be thereabouts. One thing's for sure though, if we only play once a year....the game'll be in Sydney!
Always.
Always.
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Sydney. But I'm not confident with either of them.
Hey, Sydney can be very reliable in terms of making the top 4, just fall on our face in Grand Finals
Ok.
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Swans last year had the Pies 2024 year with injuries. The season was a write off and they will bounce back, Swans and pies will battle it out for a top 4 spot, i am pretty confident on that.
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I imagine most neutrals would rate the Swans list over Collingwood's this year.
I see the Swans as a top 4 side this year (all things being equal on the injury front). Gulden is a huge plus if he stays on the park and the Swans midfield is bordering on elite (if not already there given it includes Heeney, Gulden, Warner, Grundy, Rowbottom as a run with, have I missed anyone?).
Pies are well coached and obviously have NDaicos leading the charge. I just don't see the depth and they are relying on McStay and Membrey to kick goals (other than Elliot). I see them falling out of the 8 and likely out of the 10.
In fact, if they make the GF (I was going to say Prelim) I will stencil in a Magpie into my chest and walk backwards to the G for the game. They simply don't have the list this year.
I should add that the Swans need a KPB to step up. They have McCartin and that's it without looking at their list. They need others to support him if they are to compete for a top 4 spot.
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No chance Fadgy.
Pro's:
Well coached
Nick Daicos
Con's:
Questionable forward and defensive lines
No depth with your mids
Age of list
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I'll vote Collingwood.
Not 100% convinced yet about Cox as a coach, while with McRae you've got a proven quantity.
Not 100% convinced yet about Cox as a coach, while with McRae you've got a proven quantity.
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Agree...defence wins premierships.
Your 3 standouts for mine (and happy to be corrected) are Maynard, Quaynor and Moore. Houston could quite easily make it a quartet but not on last years form. I imagine JDaicos will play on ball or wing...where did he play most of his footy last year?
I heard Pendlebury has been training down back but then again, he ended the year with soft tissue injuries last year didn't he? Not sure I would be banking on him but then again, he has shown resilience over the years. Maybe it was a one off.
And we've seen Moore struggle when he doesn't have the right level of support from another key back playing alongside him. If Moore has to take the first key forward of the opposition, it will severely impact your backline.
Time will tell.
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