2026 Ladder Predictions

[sante]

Top 4 (no order)

Hawks
Cats
Lions
Suns

5th - Swans
6th - Freo

7-10

Dogs
Crows
Kangas
Saints

11 - Pies
12 - GWS
13 - Blues
14 - Port
15 - Demons
16 - Bombers
17 - Tigers
18 - WCE

 

[timokane]

Still cant write Pies off in 2026.

Same thing happened this time last year and they top 4.

Still beware of the Pies in 2026.

Matter of fitness.

Still dont know why people arent rating them in 2026.

They were only a few kicks from a GF this year.

 

[Borussia Teeth]

Still cant write Pies off in 2026.

Same thing happened this time last year and they top 4.

Still beware of the Pies in 2026.

Matter of fitness.

Still dont know why people arent rating them in 2026.

They were only a few kicks from a GF this year.

Shut up, dickhead.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Geel 72
Syd 72
Bulldogs 72
Haw 68
Frem 68
GWS 68
Bris 64
GC 60
---------
Coll 56
StK 48
---------
Nth 36
Adel 28
Port 24
Mel 20
Carl 16
Rich 12
Ess 8
WCE 4

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

No order

Lions
Swans
Crows
Freo
Suns
Hawks
Cats
Gws
Pies
Dogs

 

[Fadge]

No order

Lions
Swans
Crows
Freo
Suns
Hawks
Cats
Gws
Pies
Dogs

Yep.

The top 10 from 2025 are miles ahead of the rest.

Obviously there could be one or two who have a down season to be challenged in the top 10 by the likes of St. Kilda or Port, but the premier comes from those 10, and I wouldn't fall off my chair if any of them won it.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Yep.

The top 10 from 2025 are miles ahead of the rest.

Obviously there could be one or two who have a down season to be challenged in the top 10 by the likes of St. Kilda or Port, but the premier comes from those 10, and I wouldn't fall off my chair if any of them won it.

Yep I think Port could be the exception but other than that I don't see who else. The saints don't impress me at all. I'm not going on what others think. Their recruits aren't even that good in Silvagni and De Koning. Ryan can play if he's not injured.

 

[JZTIME!]

Yep.

The top 10 from 2025 are miles ahead of the rest.

Obviously there could be one or two who have a down season to be challenged in the top 10 by the likes of St. Kilda or Port, but the premier comes from those 10, and I wouldn't fall off my chair if any of them won it.

History also shows 1 if not more from the bottom 6 will jump into that top ten. Not to win it all but to take the step into relevance. Similar to the crows last couple and Brissy a few years after Fages took over.

 

[Fadge]

History also shows 1 if not more from the bottom 6 will jump into that top ten. Not to win it all but to take the step into relevance. Similar to the crows last couple and Brissy a few years after Fages took over.

Yep, and I expect that will happen.

One or two of last year's top 10 will have an off year, and it will come together (at least for a season) for 1 or 2 of the bottom 8.

 

[Mr.X]

No order

Lions
Swans
Crows
Freo
Suns
Hawks
Cats
Gws
Pies
Dogs

Missing the saints, they’ll be a top 6 team

Pies likely to drop out

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Missing the saints, they’ll be a top 6 team

Pies likely to drop out

Who have the Saints got that are any good? Ryan, SOS, DK aren't much chop. Who else have they recruited? This season they were rubbish.

 

[Mr.X]

Who have the Saints got that are any good? Ryan, SOS, DK aren't much chop. Who else have they recruited? This season they were rubbish.

TRK and JSOS alone are good enough to get any side to take the next step
For saints, this takes them from a middle of the ladder team to top 8

They had a tough ‘25, a better team than the results suggest

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

TRK and JSOS alone are good enough to get any side to take the next step
For saints, this takes them from a middle of the ladder team to top 8

They had a tough ‘25, a better team than the results suggest

Disagree. 2024? Where were they? What did those players do for Carlton? Ryan could slot into their forward line nicely but what's his injuries like these days? Regardless these players aren't that good.

 

[Mr.X]

Disagree. 2024? Where were they? What did those players do for Carlton? Ryan could slot into their forward line nicely but what's his injuries like these days? Regardless these players aren't that good.

JSOS was injured, when fit is considered one of the competitions best swing men

TDK is a genuine match winner, he’ll be super motivated this year in new surroundings

 

[Rich01]

Who have the Saints got that are any good? Ryan, SOS, DK aren't much chop. Who else have they recruited? This season they were rubbish.

From their last match….

Flanders for Steele. A marginal win.
Ryan for Hall. Short term win.
JSOS for Sharman. Short term win.
TDK for Keeler. Big win.

That’s enough to get them into the top 10.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

From their last match….

Flanders for Steele. A marginal win.
Ryan for Hall. Short term win.
JSOS for Sharman. Short term win.
TDK for Keeler. Big win.

That’s enough to get them into the top 10.

The latter 3 fair enough. But I just can't see how a cartoon character from the Simpson's is going to help their cause.

 

[Saints4ever]

From their last match….

Flanders for Steele. A marginal win.
Ryan for Hall. Short term win.
JSOS for Sharman. Short term win.
TDK for Keeler. Big win.

That’s enough to get them into the top 10.

You are seriously underestimating Hall and Sharman.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

You are seriously underestimating Hall and Sharman.

Barry Hall and Richard Sharman?

 

[timokane]

Good to crystal ball glaze i guess i dont mind it but what happens in reality is another thing.

Most predictions dont go to plan tho.

Anything can happen over the course of the season.

teams go up and down

Way to early is my prediction.

Alot are assumptions only.

Plus bias.

Lets see what happens first

 

[Borussia Teeth]

Good to crystal ball glaze i guess i dont mind it but what happens in reality is another thing.

Most predictions dont go to plan tho.

Anything can happen over the course of the season.

teams go up and down

Way to early is my prediction.

Alot are assumptions only.

Plus bias.

Lets see what happens first

Shut up, dickhead.

 

[BigVic]

		W	L	D	%
1.	Sydney	18	5	0	138.4%
2.	Hawthorn	18	5	0	123.5%
3.	Geelong	17	6	0	122.5%
4.	Fremantle	14	9	0	103.7%
5.	Port Adelaide	13	10	0	102.2%
6.	Adelaide	13	10	0	100.3%
7.	Melbourne	12	11	0	103.2%
8.	Essendon	12	11	0	101.2%
9.	St Kilda	12	11	0	99.5%
10.	Gold Coast	11	12	0	101.0%
11.	GWS	10	13	0	94.0%
12.	Western Bulldogs	10	13	0	93.7%
13.	Collingwood	10	13	0	92.6%
14.	Brisbane Lions	9	14	0	95.1%
15.	Richmond	9	14	0	92.0%
16.	Carlton	8	15	0	96.9%
17.	North Melbourne	8	15	0	93.4%
18.	West Coast	3	20	0	66.5%

WC1: MELBOURNE v Gold Coast
WC2: ESSENDON v St Kilda

QF1: SYDNEY v Fremantle
QF2: HAWTHORN v Geelong
EF1: PORT ADELAIDE v Essendon
EF2: Adelaide v MELBOURNE

SF1: Fremantle v PORT ADELAIDE
SF2: Geelong v MELBOURNE

PF1: SYDNEY v Melbourne
PF2: HAWTHORN v Port Adelaide

GF: Sydney v HAWTHORN




This is what will happen I think. Check back in August to see if I am right or wrong

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

		W	L	D	%
1.	Hawthorn	19	4	0	126.7%
2.	Sydney	17	6	0	132.6%
3.	Geelong	17	6	0	122.5%
4.	Adelaide	16	7	0	107.4%
5.	Melbourne	15	8	0	110.8%
6.	Port Adelaide	13	10	0	102.2%
7.	Essendon	12	11	0	101.0%
8.	Fremantle	11	12	0	98.3%
9.	St Kilda	11	12	0	97.5%
10.	Gold Coast	10	13	0	99.1%
11.	GWS	10	13	0	94.0%
12.	Collingwood	10	13	0	92.6%
13.	Brisbane Lions	9	14	0	95.1%
14.	Richmond	9	14	0	92.0%
15.	Western Bulldogs	9	14	0	91.2%
16.	Carlton	8	15	0	96.9%
17.	North Melbourne	8	15	0	93.4%
18.	West Coast	3	20	0	66.5%

WC1: ESSENDON v Gold Coast
WC2: FREMANTLE v St Kilda

QF1: HAWTHORN v Adelaide
QF2: SYDNEY v Geelong
EF1: MELBOURNE v Fremantle
EF2: PORT ADELAIDE v Essendon

SF1: Adelaide v MELBOURNE
SF2: Geelong v PORT ADELAIDE

PF1: HAWTHORN v Port Adelaide
PF2: SYDNEY v Melbourne

GF: HAWTHORN v Sydney

This is what will happen I think. Check back in August to see if I am right or wrong

Looks a certainty.

 

[LeBronco]

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

 

[BillytheLid]

Pure guesswork this time of the year and a clubs fortunes can turn on the back of a couple of injuries or suspensions. But for the sake of having a crack here is my 2026 H&A finishing order. Where they ultimately finish will depend on form and fitness going into September but believe Brisbane will win the flag. My opinion only and none of us have a crystal ball.

1. Brisbane. On talent alone easily the best side in it. Have only got stronger and look good things for a 3 peat.
2. Sydney. Add Curnow to an already imposing list and they will surely challenge again. Perhaps over reliant on key players remaining healthy but at full strength are an imposing unit.
3. GCS. AFL nepo babies gifted so many high picks and a favourable draw. With the addition of Petracca and JUH should take another step.
4. Adelaide. A very good side who simply lost form (and key players) at the wrong time of the year.
5. Western Bulldogs. Simply too good not to make finals. If Bevo can’t at least win a final with this list then his time is surely up.
6. Geelong. Think they will carry some scars from the GF but near on impossible to beat at home which should see them bank enough wins to play finals. They just find a way to compete season after season. Respect.
7. St Kilda. In addition to some notable recruits, they have some genuine talent returning from injury and some exciting youngsters with another pre-season under their belt. A positive end to 2025 but a move up the ladder is reliant on some of last years finalists falling away. A think a few drop out and they are the best placed to jump in.
8. GWS. Stacked with talent, well coached and a rock-solid defence. Oliver will either be total bust or a revelation – nothing in between.
9. Hawthorn. Probably a surprise to many but I think they have peaked. Jai Newcombe is a star who is criminally underrated but plenty of mid-tier types and I think the other clubs have started to work them out.
10. Fremantle. I just don’t get the hype around them. A handful of guns but mid table for mine.
11. Collingwood. I could very easily be eating my words here but have added nobody and the list looks old and jaded. They are an N. Daicos or Cameron injury away for a very sharp cliff.
12. Carlton. Despite losing Curnow I think they had a decent trading period but just don’t see where the improvement will come from. A season of consolidation.
13. Port Adelaide. The most vanilla list in the comp. A couple of superstars but elsewhere there are holes on every line.
14. Essendon. Really hard to tell. Showed a bit last season before getting slaughtered with injuries. Could finish anywhere from 9th to 15th.
15. North Melbourne. In this age of (albeit compromised) equalisation I just can’t work out how any club can be so bad for so long.
16. Richmond. A scorched earth rebuild is probably ahead of schedule. Some good youngsters but still years off it.
17. Melbourne. Will be a long way back for the Dees. At least they have a fairly recent flag to console themselves while they spend several years in the wilderness.
18. West Coast Eagles. Winning 3-4 games should be the goal.

 

[Jirik13]

GCS. AFL nepo babies gifted so many high picks and a favourable draw. With the addition of Petracca and JUH should take another step.

Nepo babies Suns have the 2nd hardest draw.