2026 Ladder Predictions

[timokane]

Pies tho still have the knack of turning it on and when they do no one can get near them.
Becoming a blue chip investment.
Thats why they one more good season in them.
Other teams on the up tho.
Chasing pack.
I liken Pies to Lions be it lions back to back.
Play similar games.
But on same paths.
Pies and lions been the best 2 teams in it last 2-3 year since 2023.
Likes of suns and hawks are arriving.
Crows i think 2025 was one out of the box they arent that good and might need to drop before going again.
Freo like dogs there abouts but making up the numbers.
2027 looks great for stkilda.
Tipping a slight slide for the cats just not the best anymore theres now better teams in the comp now its not 2022 anymore.
The team i just can not make up my mind or what to make of them are the sydney teams but one i really dont know what to make of are the Swans.
Real dont know about the Swans its a real mystery
GWS as well but should be just good enough for finals.
Most baffleing team in the comp in 2026 are the Swans.
Not much change finals 2025 and 2026 just the order.

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

Gold Coast
Brisbane
Hawthorn
Geelong
Fremantle
Gws
Sydney
West Coast
-------------------
Adelaide
Richmond
Collingwood
Essendon
Port
Western
North
Melbourne
Carlton
Saints

There will be some big imrovers next year and some big sliders. West Coast are the one to watch out for. Then I turned off my Xbox.

1. Brisbane - To the Shock of No One
2. Fremantle - Expectations are Sky High
3. Carlton - Hey if Collingwood managed to go from bad to good in a year Carlton can do the same
4. Gold Coast - They shocked me last year and with the finals woe gone I can safely say they get better
5. Hawthorn - They aren't ready for top four yet but I think they are close enough
6. GWS - Same as the last year but a tiny bit worse
7. Geelong - Sure they lost in the Grand Final by Forty Points but they are too good not to finish below the top 8
8. Port Adelaide - A Bounce back year from last year

9. Collingwood - Where they should be
10. Adelaide - Get ready to get back to reality
11. Western Bulldogs - I did this team last and this was the only spot available
12. Melborune - Gonna be mid at best
13. Richmond - I expect a lot from Sam Lalor and the 2025 picks
14. Essendon - It's gonna be a bumpy ride
15. Sydney - I pretty much expect them to be like the 2010 Lions
16. St Kilda - They are Frauds
17. North Melborune - Clarkson get's sacked at the end of Year
18. West Coast - Possible Winless Season

Grand Final: Fremantle Beats Brisbane - Surely the legacy of Failure has to end here

Brownlow: George Hewett - I liked what he did last year, and I only expect him to be better

Coleman Medal: Harry McKay - Without Curnow surely he has to recreate his 2021 form

Rising Star: Jagga Smith - There is literally no other option for this award

More salt needed Saltyboys

 

[blueiris]

More salt needed Saltyboys

Salt actually needs pepper to taste good where’s you’re pepper coming from

 

[Saints43]

Salt actually needs pepper to taste good where’s you’re pepper coming from

Zinger!

 

[Borussia Teeth]

Pies tho still have the knack of turning it on and when they do no one can get near them.
Becoming a blue chip investment.
Thats why they one more good season in them.
Other teams on the up tho.
Chasing pack.
I liken Pies to Lions be it lions back to back.
Play similar games.
But on same paths.
Pies and lions been the best 2 teams in it last 2-3 year since 2023.
Likes of suns and hawks are arriving.
Crows i think 2025 was one out of the box they arent that good and might need to drop before going again.
Freo like dogs there abouts but making up the numbers.
2027 looks great for stkilda.
Tipping a slight slide for the cats just not the best anymore theres now better teams in the comp now its not 2022 anymore.
The team i just can not make up my mind or what to make of them are the sydney teams but one i really dont know what to make of are the Swans.
Real dont know about the Swans its a real mystery
GWS as well but should be just good enough for finals.
Most baffleing team in the comp in 2026 are the Swans.
Not much change finals 2025 and 2026 just the order.

Nobody asked.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

We get to see if Geelong are as good as the 2014 Swans, who backed up a 10 goal GF belting with a top 4 finish in 2015 (this thread doesn't consider finals performances of the follow up season).

31 points in 2020 with the shortened quarters = 40+ points in a standard length game. Thus 5 of the last 8 teams to get belted in a grand final still made finals the next season.

That Swans side also went out in straight sets, so not exactly a glorious rebound, though slightly better than what most manage. Seems that most wind up just in or just outside the 8.

 

[Mr Meow]

That Swans side also went out in straight sets, so not exactly a glorious rebound, though slightly better than what most manage. Seems that most wind up just in or just outside the 8.

This is a ladder prediction thread. Not a predictor of finals success. 5 of the past 8 teams to get thumped in a GF did still make the top 8 the next season.

Like I said, Scott teams tend to back up well after embarrassing finals capitulations - certainly in the context of ladder position. We'll see which trend holds.

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

Salt actually needs pepper to taste good where’s you’re pepper coming from

Maybe add a little sweet FS gifts like the Ashcroft boys & Fletcher

 

[bungalow_bill]

Maybe add a little sweet FS gifts like the Ashcroft boys & Fletcher

Sure Lions got lucky with the FS rule as did the Pies and Dogs. Not gifts though as every team has access to father sons. Strange thing to be upset about.

 

[Orange crush]

Lions
Suns
Giants
Swans

….

The other teams can battle for the dregs

 

[Philth]

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

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

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

Sure Lions got lucky with the FS rule as did the Pies and Dogs. Not gifts though as every team has access to father sons. Strange thing to be upset about.

The luck in these cases was seeded in the 80s when clubs bought premierships.

 

[Viceregal]

The luck in these cases was seeded in the 80s when clubs bought premierships.

Pretty sure our three were seeded in the 2000's not the 1980's ...

 

[Purple Suit]

Everyone is going to have to revise their lists. Hawks have far too many shruggers to not be impacted by the new rules.

 

[WillHayward]

Suns
Lions
Freo
Crows
Hawks
Saints
Giants
Dogs
Cats
Swans
Pies
Port
Bombers
Demons
Eagles
Tigers
North
Blues

 

[blueiris]

Suns seem to the flavour of the month

 

[Philth]

Suns seem to the flavour of the month

They’ve got the right mix I reckon.

 

[Andrewgtv05]

More salt needed Saltyboys

I suppose you would crying out that Salt when TDK get's injured before the season starts or performs terribly

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

1- Brisbane, hard to see them not being better
2- Hawks, worried that they didnt add to their list in the trade peiod, which would traditionally mean they head backwards but I think they underperformed this year and expect natural improvement from many of the younger players.
3- Crows, Too good not to be challenging again
4- Suns, Would not surprise to see them be a runaway dominant side as Dimma works his magic.
5 -Swans, Curnow helps and another year under Cox will have them back up there.
6- Saints, Will the money bags pay dividends.
7 - Dogs, defence is still a massive concern but another 12 months of Sam Darcy development should have them winning enough games to play finals
8- Freo, Should be good enough to play finals again but not convinced they will be good enough to challenge
9 - GWS, Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

started to look old this year and starting to feel like they have missed their chance.
10 - Geelong, have anticipated their demise for many years, praying it finally catches up with the Cats, expect Dangerfield to retire mid-season after another hamstring strain.
11- Carlton, hopeful we improve rather than confident.
12- Pies, age finally catching up, Daicos cant do it all.
13 - Melbourne, will be a reset year under Stephen King, lost too many good players
14- Port, Josh Carr will be in no mans land, especially when Zac Butters makes it clear he is returning home to Melb
15- North - Clarkson will come under increasing pressure as the win/loss record is questioned.
16- Richmond - Yze in one of the most comfortable jobs, allowed to let his young brigade of stars develop out of the spotlight.
17- West Coast - Cant be worse, but can they do enough to avoid the spoon and hopefully win 4-5 games.
18 - Essendon - The list lacks talent and Brad Scott will be found out as a bung average coach, expect him to be first coach sacked in 2026.

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

I suppose you would crying out that Salt when TDK get's injured before the season starts or performs terribly

Oh I'd be salty on that for sure lol

My original comment was only with respect to human bias & putting saints last & 2nd last for 2026 which would be very unlikely given where the list is at now. But injuries can definitely hurt as with King last year.

 

[SaintSteele9]

Lions
Suns
Crows
Cats
Giants
Pies
Dogs
Saints

———————

Freo
Hawks
Swans
Port
Carlton
Dees
Norf
Ess
Rich
WCE

Top four and bottom four pretty solid I think. Making and missing finals will be bloody tight for probably six teams

 

[Viceregal]

Considering the Lions have not won a minor premiership since (checks ...) 1913 (10 teams) not sure I am all the sanguine about the likelihood of doing it in 2026.

Personally, I would rather come third or fifth and win a GF than do an Adelaide and go out in straight sets.

Of course if we did happen to do both the Minor Premiership and the GF I would be ok with that

 

[Brighton_Diggins]

24/25 blues over estimated . 26 I reckon a bit underestimated. Crows coming from absolutely nowhere shows what’s possible . Once again , all about injuries. Saints dark horse in 26 if clean bill of health. Bloody Brisbane gotta hand it to em. Prob go 3 peat. Swans might rebound with a revived and refreshed curnow hate to say it .

 

[timokane]

My top 8 i dont do the whole ladder:

1. suns
2. lions
3. hawks
4. pies
5. freo
6. gws
7. cats
8. stkilda

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

24/25 blues over estimated . 26 I reckon a bit underestimated. Crows coming from absolutely nowhere shows what’s possible . Once again , all about injuries. Saints dark horse in 26 if clean bill of health. Bloody Brisbane gotta hand it to em. Prob go 3 peat. Swans might rebound with a revived and refreshed curnow hate to say it .

Did the Crows really come from nowhere though? 2024 was bad, but they were near finals in 2023.
Not many had them top few, so top of the H&A ladder counts as a surprise, but many did think finals at least.