Discussion 2026 General AFL Discussion

[Diehard Saint]

We’re three weeks into 2026 -
time for a new thread…

Looking forward to a really successful year for the Saints, their fans
(and the fanatics, like us )

Go the Mighty Saints

️️

 

[aussierulesrules]

Imagine a world where Naicos takes a monster offer from Tasmania. Won't happen, but would feed generations.

Would be diabolical for the Pies!

Imagine their forward line in a couple of years, if Bobby Hill happens to retire, or seek a trade west, and they don’t manage to land a Ben King type, in the meantime.

It looks very average as it is, but take out Hill, Elliott, McStay and Membrey (on top of Mihocek, who’s already gone) and it would be atrocious!

Ages this year:

38- Pendlebury
36- Howe
35- Sidebottom
34- Elliott
33- Crisp
32- Membrey
31- Cameron, McStay
30- Moore, De Goey, Maynard

 

[sammm]

Young Crow avoids ACL injury, set for delayed start to season

Dan Curtin has been carried from the field after suffering a possible knee injury during a pre-season session

www.afl.com.au

dislocated kneecap

 

[pebblesofsand]

Great article about my old man on the Carlton website

Been a big year for him - led the Anzac Day procession at the MCG, 100th birthday in December, multiple parties, letters from the King and Albo and then getting a signed jumper from the Blues.

True Blue Trevor turns 100 - and a grateful football club says thank you

World War 2 veteran and Carlton supporter Trevor Scott celebrated his recent 100th birthday in Navy Blue style.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[bergholt]

Great article about my old man on the Carlton website

Been a big year for him - led the Anzac Day procession at the MCG, 100th birthday in December, multiple parties, letters from the King and Albo and then getting a signed jumper from the Blues.

True Blue Trevor turns 100 - and a grateful football club says thank you

World War 2 veteran and Carlton supporter Trevor Scott celebrated his recent 100th birthday in Navy Blue style.

www.carltonfc.com.au

The old boy looks in good nick for 100! Could pass as 80 in those photos.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Great article about my old man on the Carlton website

Been a big year for him - led the Anzac Day procession at the MCG, 100th birthday in December, multiple parties, letters from the King and Albo and then getting a signed jumper from the Blues.

True Blue Trevor turns 100 - and a grateful football club says thank you

World War 2 veteran and Carlton supporter Trevor Scott celebrated his recent 100th birthday in Navy Blue style.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Multiple parties! I hope I'm that social at 100.

Fingers crossed for a flag or two also.

 

[gringo2011]

Great article about my old man on the Carlton website

Been a big year for him - led the Anzac Day procession at the MCG, 100th birthday in December, multiple parties, letters from the King and Albo and then getting a signed jumper from the Blues.

True Blue Trevor turns 100 - and a grateful football club says thank you

World War 2 veteran and Carlton supporter Trevor Scott celebrated his recent 100th birthday in Navy Blue style.

www.carltonfc.com.au

I've got relatives from Inverloch. We might be long lost cousins.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Great article about my old man on the Carlton website

Been a big year for him - led the Anzac Day procession at the MCG, 100th birthday in December, multiple parties, letters from the King and Albo and then getting a signed jumper from the Blues.

True Blue Trevor turns 100 - and a grateful football club says thank you

World War 2 veteran and Carlton supporter Trevor Scott celebrated his recent 100th birthday in Navy Blue style.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Got to be a story around this - how come you’re a Saints fan?

 

[pebblesofsand]

The old boy looks in good nick for 100! Could pass as 80 in those photos.

Multiple parties! I hope I'm that social at 100.

Fingers crossed for a flag or two also.

Got to be a story around this - how come you’re a Saints fan?

Yep he's in great shape. Still lives completely independently, still drives, still organises lots of things for local community groups, still drinks shed loads of alcohol.

Didn't want a 100th party (he thought it might jinx him) ended up having 3 separate ones over the weekend of his birthday. I was looking for a rest by the end of it all, he was still looking for a last port.

As to why the Saints, I think my fav Uncle who was a keen Saints supporter and it seems I started showed my contrarian traits from a very early stage in life.

Looking back at the records I think we'd just started to win a few games after years and years of finishing bottom 2 or 3.

 

[sammm]

Sad about Geoff Ablett. MND is a horrible disease

https://www.ntnews.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=NTWEB_MRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ntnews.com.au%2Fsport%2Fafl%2Fhawthorn-great-geoff-ablett-reveals-mnd-diagnosis-and-praises-neale-danihers-fight%2Fnews-story%2F0842d6ca7827c30d815d116c6fd9081c&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium

 

[sammm]

Ryan recognised in Australia Day Honours

Melbourne Storm shareholder and board member, Gerry Ryan has been awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) as part of 2026’s Australia Day Honours List.

www.melbournestorm.com.au

 

[aussierulesrules]

Looks like Geelong are on the Hawthorn bandwagon!

295K views · 2.7K reactions | Geelong's worst nightmare 🟤🟡 #afl #aussierules #GeelongCats #hawthornfc #footy | Gear Up Footy

Geelong's worst nightmare 🟤🟡 #afl #aussierules #GeelongCats #hawthornfc #footy

www.facebook.com

 

[sammm]

Looks like Geelong are on the Hawthorn bandwagon!

295K views · 2.7K reactions | Geelong's worst nightmare 🟤🟡 #afl #aussierules #GeelongCats #hawthornfc #footy | Gear Up Footy

Geelong's worst nightmare 🟤🟡 #afl #aussierules #GeelongCats #hawthornfc #footy

www.facebook.com

I have sent this to my partner who loves hawthorn

 

[Sully111]

Gosh

 

[Sully111]

Oh dear

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Gosh

View attachment 2526458

Oh dear


View attachment 2526477

 

[Sully111]

ummm....

 

[The Jack]

 

[CursingFijian]

'Messed up' Origin call that could swing huge player trade

'It is an absolute advantage'

www.nine.com.au

"One hundred per cent they have (given these coaches an advantage)," the ex Power coach told SEN.

"It is an absolute advantage to those coaches and these clubs. Connection is the word we all look for.

"If you get a four or five day opportunity to create a connection with a potential new player (that's an advantage).

"There's enough discrepancies in the game, this is another one the AFL didn't need to add to it. This was a simple AFL decision they have not thought about in any way shape or form about the advantages.

"The AFL have not given any thought to what should have happened here."

 

[Sully111]

'Messed up' Origin call that could swing huge player trade

'It is an absolute advantage'

www.nine.com.au

"One hundred per cent they have (given these coaches an advantage)," the ex Power coach told SEN.

"It is an absolute advantage to those coaches and these clubs. Connection is the word we all look for.

"If you get a four or five day opportunity to create a connection with a potential new player (that's an advantage).

"There's enough discrepancies in the game, this is another one the AFL didn't need to add to it. This was a simple AFL decision they have not thought about in any way shape or form about the advantages.

"The AFL have not given any thought to what should have happened here."

He makes some valid points

 

[CursingFijian]

He makes some valid points

Interesting that the NRL engages coaches outside of clubland.

If the AFL abided by the same logic I wonder who would be in contention to coach?

WAFL and VFL coaches? Or Ex-AFL coaches? Or celebrity coaches?

Pretty sure Dard Ball Get mate Basil Zemplis would back himself in for the WA job.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

Interesting that the NRL engages coaches outside of clubland.

If the AFL abided by the same logic I wonder who would be in contention to coach?

WAFL and VFL coaches? Or Ex-AFL coaches? Or celebrity coaches?

Pretty sure Dard Ball Get mate Basil Zemplis would back himself in for the WA job.

Clint Jones gets my vote

 

[gringo2011]

Funny enough it was Nas bonding with Liam Ryan

31

Liam Ryan

Age

29

Ht

181cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.3

5star

D

9.9

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.6

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

during the All Stars match that got him to the Saints by the sound of it.

 

[Sully111]

Vic side looks stacked

 

[Marlo]

Hard to support a side with Battle and Bailey Smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star