2026 Ladder Predictions

[mpal6]

I would not be surprised if the lions go undefeated this season. They had a lot injuries last season and look healthy pre season. Sure, they lost a couple but players returning form injury and what they have added more than cover what they have lost.

Brisbane
Suns
Hawks
Dockers
Dogs
Cats
Crows
Saints

Blues
GWS
Pies
Swans
Port
Nth
Dees
Tigers
Bombers'
WCE

Undefeated would be a stretch. 2024 win was special due to 4 ACLs and loss of form along the way. 2025 also had various injuries and one of the toughest ever run of games in the back half of the year.

When compared to those 2, we are due for an easier home n away stretch hopefully in 2026. I hope we don't go on a top of the ladder / undefeated streak etc to be honest. Every club who start the season on these undefeated runs get worked out and fall short in the end lately.

 

[Mr Meow]

I would not be surprised if the lions go undefeated this season. They had a lot injuries last season and look healthy pre season. Sure, they lost a couple but players returning form injury and what they have added more than cover what they have lost.

Brisbane
Suns
Hawks
Dockers
Dogs
Cats
Crows
Saints

Blues
GWS
Pies
Swans
Port
Nth
Dees
Tigers
Bombers'
WCE

Injuries were a factor but it's also a motivation thing with Brisbane, as they still torched several top teams in H&A + finals when they had injury issues.

Whenever top 4 seemed in jeopardy or they had a poor loss, they cranked it up several gears the next week(s). Then the same again after losing the QF.

Maybe this season will be different but they know they can coast to a degree and wipe everyone out when it matters.

 

[1972championsofaust]

Wins/losses in approx form. Pies and Hawks to draw in their early season Thursday night game.

Fremantle 18-5
GWS 17-6
Brisbane 16-7
Carlton 16-7
North Melbourne 15-8
Geelong 15-8

St Kilda 14-9
Collingwood 13-9-1
Sydney 12-11
Gold Coast 12-11

Hawthorn 11-11-1
Adelaide 11-12
Bulldogs 10-13
Essendon 9-14
Port Adelaide 8-15
West Coast 5-18
Melbourne 4-19
Richmond 4-19

I’m expecting a bit of “feedback” but when was the last time one season copied the previous one?

Swap Carlton and Adelaide…!

 

[The Tip Jar]

This is what my new model likes! Unfortunately for my mighty Eagles.

• Geelong: 22-1
• Brisbane Lions: 19-4
• St Kilda: 18-5
• Hawthorn: 16-7
• Essendon: 16-7
• Sydney: 14-9
• GWS: 14-9
• Western Bulldogs: 14-9
• Adelaide: 13-10
• North Melbourne: 11-12
• Fremantle: 10-13
• Carlton: 10-13
• Collingwood: 10-13
• Gold Coast: 7-16
• Port Adelaide: 6-17
• Melbourne: 5-18
• Richmond: 1-22
• West Coast: 1-22

 

[beside the seaside]

This is what my new model likes! Unfortunately for my mighty Eagles.

• Geelong: 22-1
• Brisbane Lions: 19-4
• St Kilda: 18-5
• Hawthorn: 16-7
• Essendon: 16-7
• Sydney: 14-9
• GWS: 14-9
• Western Bulldogs: 14-9
• Adelaide: 13-10
• North Melbourne: 11-12
• Fremantle: 10-13
• Carlton: 10-13
• Collingwood: 10-13
• Gold Coast: 7-16
• Port Adelaide: 6-17
• Melbourne: 5-18
• Richmond: 1-22
• West Coast: 1-22

Solid model. Very, very good model.

 

[PortVic]

Brisbane
Fremantle
Geelong
GC
Hawks
WB
Adel
Port

Syd
St K
GWS
Coll
Ess
Carl
Rich
Melb
Nth
WC

 

[timokane]

What about this one:

1. suns
2. gws
3. lions
4. freo
5. crows
6. hawks
7. cats
8. pies
9. saints
10. swans
11. port
12. dogs
13. dees
14. north
15. blues
16. tigers
17. bombers
18. eagles

 

[MJC23]

1. Brisbane
2. Gold Coast
3. Fremantle
4. Bulldogs
5. Geelong
6. Adelaide
7. Hawthorn
8. Sydney

9. St Kilda
10. GWS
11. Collingwood
12. Carlton
13. North Melbourne
14. Port Adelaide
15. Essendon
16. Melbourne
17. Richmond
18. West Coast

 

[timokane]

Heres my updated on for 2026 only feb 26 tho:

1. suns
2. crows
3. lions
4. gws
5. swans
6. freo
7. pies
8. hawks
9. cats
10. dogs
11. saints
12. north
13. blues
14. port
15. dees
16. richmond
17. essendon
18. west coast

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Heres my updated on for 2026 only feb 26 tho:

1. suns
2. crows
3. lions
4. gws
5. swans
6. freo
7. pies
8. hawks
9. cats
10. dogs
11. saints
12. north
13. blues
14. port
15. dees
16. richmond
17. essendon
18. west coast

Can’t wait for your 14th attempt.

 

[Mr Meow]

Can’t wait for your 14th attempt.

I have my eye on attempt 40. It's going to be a cracker.

 

[Philth]

1. Brisbane
2. Gold Coast
3. Fremantle
4. Bulldogs
5. Geelong
6. Adelaide
7. Hawthorn
8. Sydney

9. St Kilda
10. GWS
11. Collingwood
12. Carlton
13. North Melbourne
14. Port Adelaide
15. Essendon
16. Melbourne
17. Richmond
18. West Coast

Looks good to me.

Bottom 6 will be very close this year I reckon. Just can't think of a team that could replace WCE on the bottom. Mine, if we have a terrible run with injuries possibly.

 

[juss]

I would not be surprised if the lions go undefeated this season. They had a lot injuries last season and look healthy pre season. Sure, they lost a couple but players returning form injury and what they have added more than cover what they have lost.

Brisbane
Suns
Hawks
Dockers
Dogs
Cats
Crows
Saints

Blues
GWS
Pies
Swans
Port
Nth
Dees
Tigers
Bombers'
WCE

No one goes undefeated. As good as any team in a season is, they're always going to have dips in form, player injuries, motivation, etc. The Lions won't be building their campaign for an undefeated season, they'll be building it for a flag. They'll know that means they can't physically or mentally maintain their best for 25+ straight games, they'll have a few down ones that reset them like any other great team.

 

[THE_GUN]

1. Brisbane
2. Gold Coast
3. Fremantle
4. Bulldogs
5. Hawthorn
6. Adelaide
7. Sydney
8. StKilda

9. Geelong
10. GWS
11. Collingwood
12. Carlton
13. North Melbourne
14. Essendon
15. Port Adelaide
16. Melbourne
17. Richmond
18. West Coast

 

[Philth]

1. Brisbane
2. Gold Coast
3. Fremantle
4. Bulldogs
5. Hawthorn
6. Adelaide
7. Sydney
8. StKilda

9. Geelong
10. GWS
11. Collingwood
12. Carlton
13. North Melbourne
14. Essendon
15. Port Adelaide
16. Melbourne
17. Richmond
18. West Coast

Cats to win the flag from ninth?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I have my eye on attempt 40. It's going to be a cracker.

Hawks for the spoon lol.

 

[Skipper_]

1. Sydney
2. Brisbane
3. Gold Coast
4. Western Bulldogs
5. Fremantle
6. Geelong
7. Carlton
8. Melbourne
9. St Kilda
10. Collingwood
11. Hawthorn
12. Adelaide
13. GWS
14. Essendon
15. North Melbourne
16. Port Adelaide
17. Richmond
18. West Coast

 

[My Tilly]

1. Brisbane ---> If Allen remains healthy, game over
2. Gold Coast ---> AFL have created a monster
3. Western Bulldogs ---> Bont's time to cap off a brilliant career with another premiership this year (or next)
4. Fremantle
5. Adelaide
6. St Kilda ---> AFL's most improved
7. Geelong
8. Hawthorn
9. Sydney
10. GWS ---> Most likely team to go deep into September from a lowly position much to appeasement of the AFL hierarchy
11. Collingwood
12. Essendon ---> The most difficult team to gauge
13. North Melbourne
14. Port Adelaide
15. Carlton
16. Melbourne ---> Have a knack of becoming irrelevant for decades after a brief period of success
17. West Coast
18. Richmond

 

[Mr Meow]

1. Brisbane ---> If Allen remains healthy, game over
2. Gold Coast ---> AFL have created a monster
3. Western Bulldogs ---> Bont's time to cap off a brilliant career with another premiership this year (or next)
4. Fremantle
5. Adelaide
6. St Kilda ---> AFL's most improved
7. Geelong
8. Hawthorn
9. Sydney
10. GWS ---> Most likely team to go deep into September from a lowly position much to appeasement of the AFL hierarchy
11. Collingwood
12. Essendon ---> The most difficult team to gauge
13. North Melbourne
14. Port Adelaide
15. Carlton
16. Melbourne ---> Have a knack of becoming irrelevant for decades after a brief period of success
17. West Coast
18. Richmond

You're always quite bullish on GWS, even backing them for a deep run from 10th here.

They've lost their last 4 finals and have made 1 prelim 2020-2025.

 

[Swans007]

Brisbane
Adelaide
Gold Coast
Swans
Geelong
Hawthorn
Bulldogs
Collingwood

Saints
Fremantle

GWS
Carlton
Port
Melbourne
North
Essendon
Richmond
Eagles

 

[augie]

Sydney
Gold Coast
Adelaide
St Kilda
Brisbane
Fremantle

Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Collingwood
Hawthorn

GWS
Port Adelaide
North Melbourne
Essendon
Carlton
Melbourne
Richmond
West Coast

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I really don't pay much attention to pre-season. The only thing I might change from this guess (linked) is that the worries over St Kilda not gelling early might have been misplaced.
Oh, and those in 9th and 10th would no longer be as unlucky as it seemed in October.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

With an average winning margin of approx 25 points, and only two wins over 50 points (57 max) in 2025, the Lions are yet to have a dominant year. I have a feeling this could be it.

 

[Schauermann]

No one goes undefeated.

Even less likely this season again.

There have been past season when this call was made and it looked more likely with some dominant teams going into the season. But never happenend. Looks more like a close season again.

 

[txbyhull]

I cannot tell whether I am surprised or not that from a glance there is more people placing us in the spoon now than at the start of this thread.

To be fair… no one gives a shit about our pre season except for us.