Prediction 2026 Goalkickers

[Blue and Silver]

Simple idea. Guess the top 5 Goalkickers and how many they kick

For reference 2025:

Curnow - 32
Williams - 22
McKay - 22
Motlop - 17
Cripps - 14
Durdin - 14

My guess

Mckay - 43
Hayward - 38
Kemp - 30
Ainsworth - 25
O'Keefe - 23

 

[beowulf]

Simple idea. Guess the top 5 Goalkickers and how many they kick

For reference 2025:

Curnow - 32
Williams - 22
McKay - 22
Motlop - 17
Cripps - 14
Durdin - 14

My guess

Mckay - 43
Hayward - 38
Kemp - 30
Ainsworth - 25
O'Keefe - 23

Interesting. Certainly, in 2025 we didn't have a lot of options. Granted that McKay and Curnow were down, but they had been our primary goal scorers. Having a top scorer getting only 32 ... that's just not good enough.
But to have nobody else get more than 1 goal per game, that was the clincher.

I'm not willing to make a prediction as to actual numbers, but this season I expect at least five players to kick more than 1 goal per game (which is what you've done). I hope it is even more.

 

[Blue and Silver]

Interesting. Certainly, in 2025 we didn't have a lot of options. Granted that McKay and Curnow were down, but they had been our primary goal scorers. Having a top scorer getting only 32 ... that's just not good enough.
But to have nobody else get more than 1 goal per game, that was the clincher.

I'm not willing to make a prediction as to actual numbers, but this season I expect at least five players to kick more than 1 goal per game (which is what you've done). I hope it is even more.

It's notable that of our top 5 last year (6 technically with the tie) 3 won't make any appearance in 2026, 1 is expected to play more in the backline and 1 is primarily a mid.

Goal scoring power this year may be driven more by our inclusions and developing players

 

[kreuze_missile]

45+ | McKay
30+ | Hayward, Cripps
15+ | Williams, Frank, Ainsworth, Kemp

Cottrell, Byrne, Moir, O'Keefe, Elijah all outside chances to feature.

If Cripps plays permanent forward he could easily kick 40.

 

[kreuze_missile]

45+ | McKay
30+ | Hayward, Cripps
15+ | Williams, Frank, Ainsworth, Kemp

Cottrell, Byrne, Moir, O'Keefe, Elijah all outside chances to feature.

If Cripps plays permanent forward he could easily kick 40.

 

[Benaly28]

Harry-50
Hayward-35
Ainsworth-30
Kemp-30

Not sure on the others as it’s too early to work out where they’re playing and the totals are based on all players being fit and available.

 

[Benaly28]

Harry-50
Hayward-35
Ainsworth-30
Kemp-30

Not sure on the others as it’s too early to work out where they’re playing and the totals are based on all players being fit and available.

 

[SurreyBlue]

McKay 69
Kemp 46
Hayward 46
Ainsworth 23
O’Keefe 20

 

[juzza316]

McKay 69
Kemp 46
Hayward 46
Ainsworth 23
O’Keefe 20

We will be Top 4 if your list happens IRL.

McKay 47
Hayward 35
Kemp 20
Ainsworth 18
Cripps 15

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

McKay 55
Kemp 35
Hayward 35
Ainsworth 25
Evans 25
Elijah 20*
O’Keefe 20
Williams 20*
Jagger 15
McGovern 15*
Moir 15
Byrne 5+

Cripps Walsh Cerra Hollands Chesser Florent Lord Carroll Hewett Cottrell???

 

[DirtyLeeds]

65 Harry
45 Hayward
35 Lij
34 Ainsworth
32 The Tank
32 Kemp (may spend time back)

Honourable mentions to Crippa, HOK, Walsh, Jagga and Moir goals in the 20's

 

[ferrisb]

McKay 69
Kemp 46
Hayward 46
Ainsworth 23

Okeefe 11.5?
Frankie 5.75?

 

[Revenant1995]

McKay 57
Kemp 34
Hayward 33
O'Keeffe 32
Ainsworth 27

 

[Coona Blues]

McKay 57
Kemp 34
Hayward 33
O'Keeffe 32
Ainsworth 27

Thinking this more likely than most.

I don’t particularly want to do it, but

McKay could easily have a career best tally, notionally the addition of options potentially reduces it a bit, however key forward totals have increased marginally since 6/6/6. Settled on 55-60.

Kemp is undersold by many here, if he stays fit will/could very easily be a two goal a game player. 45 is realistic.

Hayward’s last four years have a range 25-41, realistically it will be similar, so 33 is my nomination dropping a final or two to appease the doomsayers.

O’Keeffe is going to be pivotal, demanding a decent tall defender. Won’t be surprised if he gets off the chain a couple of times to add to a goal a game realistic target, so 30 ish is easily doable. (I do not discount more, as he has the scope for a decent break out, particularly if oppo are Harrycentric.

Ainsworth won’t be prolific as has been earmarked as a link player higher up the ground. With more goal sense than Fogarty types, a goal a game is a conservative target. 23 it is.

Frankie kicked multiples late last season and is not beyond similar output. Likely plays fairly high so thinking a goal a game is a fair estimate, 23, but could be considerably more.

With Cripps spending a little extra time forward, a goal a game is realistic, another 23 ish.

If young Talor Byrne gets games in the front half he is capable of 1-2 a game.

If Moir gets regular games, he can be a two goal a game type, but does he fit in with H, Kemp, Skull and Hayward?

There are others who could impact forward of centre, but they are probably the likely regulars if Zac Williams is redeployed in defence. If played as a forward first, Zac is capable of up to two goals a game.

The bottom line is, we have sufficient scoring power. There maybe some teething issues as we try to change up the game plan a little and incorporate new players and roles, but I actually expect a more efficient attack without the stifling influence of “star power” Charlie. Elliot and sometimes Hill aside, the ‘Pies have had little star power forward of centre, but have regularly got the job done forward of centre off weight of numbers, similarly Melbourne won a flag with similar short comings. The key to our success will be more about how we transition our contest driven, but somewhat pedestrian midfield in to an effective “modern” game with improved connection and two way work ethic.