2026 fixture wishlist/discussion

[Viceregal]

Pretty sure Geelong had four more players on the ground last year and we still won, bring it on.

Only in the first half...

 

[Nathan Barley]

When I started watching 12 teams 4 in the finals.Now 18 teams and ten in the finals.Talk about rewarding mediocrity

The draw has become much more uneven since the 12 team days.

I like extra finals to even the playing field more

 

[lions2010]

Geelong better have 4. Make up for multiple years of rubbish fixtures.

Also looks like it will be released on Thursday ? No leaks straight into it ??

Cats will be looked after.

 

[Section 5]

League makes big change to weighted rule ahead of fixture reveal

Teams can play up to four other teams in their ladder range, previously three, from next season

www.afl.com.au

Two teams that finished in the top rungs of the ladder will be hit with the four-club double-up under the amended rules in 2026.
.......................................
Typical AFL why not just make it the 2 grand final teams play the 4 double up games the following year.
That's simple as everyone would know the rules.

Or mention in the press release, no team will get 2 seasons in a row that type of double up draw.

 

[mpal6]

I suspect a part of this may also be planning for a 19/20 team league. When Tassie come into he league it would be top 8 and bottom 11. That's pretty brutal.

WA or SA could have a third team being footy states.

But most likely AFL will place one in Canberra to generate new market interest.

 

[mpal6]

League makes big change to weighted rule ahead of fixture reveal

Teams can play up to four other teams in their ladder range, previously three, from next season

www.afl.com.au

Two teams that finished in the top rungs of the ladder will be hit with the four-club double-up under the amended rules in 2026.
.......................................
Typical AFL why not just make it the 2 grand final teams play the 4 double up games the following year.
That's simple as everyone would know the rules.

Or mention in the press release, no team will get 2 seasons in a row that type of double up draw.

We're getting one. nothing surer.

 

[Section 5]

We're getting one. nothing surer.

Probably, the AFL would not like us to get a 3 peat.

Be successful yes, a 3 peat i just don't think they would prefer that to happen

 

[Section 5]

How AFL’s wildcard shock could play out... as impossible NRL reality emerges

How AFL’s wildcard shock could play out... as impossible NRL reality emerges

www.foxsports.com.au

We won’t bore you with the history of the NRL, but in 1998 after the fallout from the Super League War, the new top-level rugby league competition included a whopping 20 teams.

That saw a 10-team finals system used, for the first and only time. But it’s not the same system the AFL is using where only 7th through 10th play in week one.

Instead, the NRL effectively used the old-fashioned McIntyre Final Five system - which the AFL used through the 70s and 80s - and doubled it.

The top two teams had a bye, but everyone else played in week one for either seeding or elimination purposes - 3rd vs 6th, 4th vs 5th, 7th vs 10th and 8th vs 9th.

Then in week two, the eight remaining teams either fought for a bye, for seeding, or to avoid elimination.

We’ll put the details below, but perhaps most importantly, it meant compared to the top eight finals system there were an additional four finals - not two, as the AFL is introducing with the wildcard round.

And in the NRL’s case, the expanded top 10 finals system showed that anyone can contend for the premiership... because that year’s Grand Final saw 1st playing 9th!

 

[Elixuh]

Who ended up top 6 after this season? Peg two interstate clubs for the 4x matchup.

This current afl admin can’t even devise a fixture without changing the rules.

The fixture is so compromised that to maintain the compromise they have to do this.

 

[FeastOrFamine]

Can't wait to watch carlton finish in the 8 and then lose to 10th.

The AFL are as inept as the day is long. You know you're doing a bad job when people are begging for Gil to come back.

 

[LionsOrDieTrion]

Watch us battle all day and potentially lose this game.

 

[BuntonRules]

On the Wild card round - coaches - including Fages, regularly call the regular season just qualifying. To have finals as a bigger part of thhe season is inevitable, and beneficial. More teams have a chance at the big dance, the more clubs try.

On the weighting of the draw, luckily creates it more block busters. And mayhap it is fair to the competition that if you want a 3peat, you just gotta go an extra mile.

 

[Viceregal]

On the Wild card round - coaches - including Fages, regularly call the regular season just qualifying. To have finals as a bigger part of thhe season is inevitable, and beneficial. More teams have a chance at the big dance, the more clubs try.

On the weighting of the draw, luckily creates it more block busters. And mayhap it is fair to the competition that if you want a 3peat, you just gotta go an extra mile.

What was Collingwood's draw like after they won their second ... oh yeah that's right some evil bastards got in the way didn't they

 

[BuntonRules]

What was Collingwood's draw like after they won their second ... oh yeah that's right some evil bastards got in the way didn't they

Yer right there. I have accepted that that is what they will do to us. Bring it on, greatness is earn't. I will be pissed if the next team chasing a threepeat does not get the same obstacle.

 

[Perrip]

On the Wild card round - coaches - including Fages, regularly call the regular season just qualifying. To have finals as a bigger part of thhe season is inevitable, and beneficial. More teams have a chance at the big dance, the more clubs try.

The AFL would be hoping it doesn't pan out like the VFL where the closest 6 wildcard winners have got to a premiership is a Semi Final, which happened once. Every other winner lost the EF

 

[____]

I actually don't mind having a harder draw. It holds us in good stead come September. Would rather us finish 3rd or 4th and see us match hardened come September than get an easy draw, finish 1st and get found out in finals like the Crows did this year.

 

[WheildonTheAxe]

I heard one of the discarded ideas considered by the AFL was 'Wildfire round"; where teams play round the clock against all five opponents in their third of ladder for triple points.

 

[BuntonRules]

The AFL would be hoping it doesn't pan out like the VFL where the closest 6 wildcard winners have got to a premiership is a Semi Final, which happened once. Every other winner lost the EF

As it should be, but the hope is there.

 

[BuntonRules]

I actually don't mind having a harder draw. It holds us in good stead come September. Would rather us finish 3rd or 4th and see us match hardened come September than get an easy draw, finish 1st and get found out in finals like the Crows did this year.

And the Cats

 

[Perrip]

As it should be, but the hope is there.

Is the hope there though? I didn't pay that much attention to the VFL wildcard games this year because I realised that the winners would have very little chance of challenging deep into finals because of playing the wildcard games. If fans come to the same conclusion and view the wildcard round as a sign they're not winning the flag, why would they bother watching?

 

[Viceregal]

If fans come to the same conclusion and view the wildcard round as a sign they're not winning the flag, why would they bother watching?

'Cause they are the only games on?

 

[braddsey]

Is the hope there though? I didn't pay that much attention to the VFL wildcard games this year because I realised that the winners would have very little chance of challenging deep into finals because of playing the wildcard games. If fans come to the same conclusion and view the wildcard round as a sign they're not winning the flag, why would they bother watching?

Picture this: Lions finish 7th. Are you going to tune in?

 

[braddsey]

I don’t think the change to the draw matters. Typically a couple of clubs will fall out of the top-6. If we match up against 4x top-6, we’re getting Suns, Cats, and pick 2 of Pies, Crows and Hawks. Not looking worse than last season… but will be a shock for Geelong, Crows and the Suns!

 

[mpal6]

I actually don't mind having a harder draw. It holds us in good stead come September. Would rather us finish 3rd or 4th and see us match hardened come September than get an easy draw, finish 1st and get found out in finals like the Crows did this year.

Fair point - but considering the mess we went through with multiple ACLs and tough run in 2024 followed by one of the toughest draws in terms of difficulty in 2025 - I was hoping for some respite and easier run in 2026 to a little degree. Should've always known the answer on this one.

 

[braddsey]

Fair point - but considering the mess we went through with multiple ACLs and tough run in 2024 followed by one of the toughest draws in terms of difficulty in 2025 - I was hoping for some respite and easier run in 2026 to a little degree. Should've always known the answer on this one.

I don’t think B2B premiers get respite… and you won’t hear much sympathy from other clubs/supporters particularly when we’re able to keep the bulk of our list together, while adding top-10 youngsters and experienced FA’s!