2026 Ladder Predictions

[Dewyyyyy]

This looks pretty spot on .

No doubt there will be surprises though.

Yeah that 11 in particular could swap and change pretty sporadically, there’s rarely a simple day of footy, applies the same with the ladder and season.

 

[beerbandit]

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

 

[Madas]

1 - Brisbane
2 - Gold Coast
3 - Fremantle
4 - Bulldogs
5 - Sydney
6 - Hawthorn
7 - Geelong
8 - GWS
9 - Adelaide
10 - Collingwood

11 - St Kilda
12 - Port Adelaide
13 - Carlton
14 - Melbourne

15 - Essendon
16 - North Melb
17 - West Coast
18 - Richmond

Top 11 or so will be very very tight.

I reckon this one is about bang on where I would have the ladder with the caveat that I haven’t watched everyone play yet because of stupid Round 0

 

[SC_Power]

Instead of a top ten, I’ll start with a bottom 7… in no particular order
Carlton
Essendon
West Coast
Melbourne
Port Adelaide
North Melbourne
Richmond

None of those teams are reaching 12 wins and making finals.

So the other 11 are fighting for 10 spots. Yawn.

 

[JHF1870]

Essendon

 

[BigVic]

After Round 1

 

[JHF1870]

I've seen enough Port are bottom 4

 

[Hobbes]

A bit late to this party, and I know there’s some silly top 10 thing now, but I think in the top 8: Collingwood and GWS out, Bulldogs and Sydney in. I can’t see any other teams make a big leap from outside the finals.

 

[timokane]

Whos the make or break teams i have these 4:

1. hawks win flag or its bust rebuild incoming
2. swans same deal
3. crows see the above
4. maybe dogs as well

hawthorn is the most make or break team in it

make or its bust

 

[Bulldog Joe]

Whos the make or break teams i have these 4:

1. hawks win flag or its bust rebuild incoming
2. swans same deal
3. crows see the above
4. maybe dogs as well

hawthorn is the most make or break team in it

make or its bust

Make it or bust are very strong sentiments.
Teams are continuously evolving.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Whos the make or break teams i have these 4:

1. hawks win flag or its bust rebuild incoming
2. swans same deal
3. crows see the above
4. maybe dogs as well

hawthorn is the most make or break team in it

make or its bust

Lock it in, is that you final answer?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Whos the make or break teams i have these 4:

1. hawks win flag or its bust rebuild incoming
2. swans same deal
3. crows see the above
4. maybe dogs as well

hawthorn is the most make or break team in it

make or its bust

Are you trying to win the prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd worst takes in the same thread?

 

[Cool Kangas]

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

You genuinely think that a) Collingwood finishes top 4 and b) they finish above GC, Sydney and Hawthorn?

 

[beerbandit]

You genuinely think that a) Collingwood finishes top 4 and b) they finish above GC, Sydney and Hawthorn?

Who knows? Sorry I’ve offended you so much.

 

[crows dude]

Whos the make or break teams i have these 4:

1. hawks win flag or its bust rebuild incoming
2. swans same deal
3. crows see the above
4. maybe dogs as well

hawthorn is the most make or break team in it

make or its bust

We just finished a re-build. We are not starting a new one after this one took 6 years to get back into finals.

 

[slider95]

The beauty about supporting an underachiever the last couple of seasons is still maintaining interest as a neutral supporter because of how even the league is... This year is no exception. I've narrowed my list down to 10 contenders...

Adelaide were the best H&A team last year but fell in a hole. The jury is out as to whether they can back up their brilliance from last season... They did nothing wrong in beating Collingwood but I have doubts about the Pies so I'm still uncertain about the Crows this year.

Brisbane have been the most dominant team over the past several years... They just simply get it done... Going for their second three peat 23 years apart... Big chance.

Collingwood were the best team for the majority of 2025 until they fell in a hole late... I'm not convinced with them... Not writing them off completely but currently I'd have them as a wildcard team, mainly due to their ageing list.

Fremantle could be ready to take the next step... They don't have a weakness but they'd need to finish top four to be any chance and I'd need to be convinced they can consistently win on the road.

Geelong are always a chance but I'd rather watch the 1995 grand final than spend time talking about their chances...

Gold Coast's list is stacked... No weakness and so many star players with a proven coach... They trajectory is going the right way and if their improvement continues on the same trend as it has over the past two years then I can see them there on the last day in September... One of the big chances.

Giants don't have a weakness either... Not sure where they fit... Just as capable as being a wildcard team as they are a prelim final team.

Hawks another team whose improvement and trajectory could see them being there on the last day of September... I'll need a few more weeks to truly assess their chances, although I can see a scenario where they stay in third gear for the first two thirds of the season, leaving us neutral fooled, only for them to fire on all cylinders late and hit form when it truly matters.

Sydney were the best team until the final match in September in 2024... horrible luck last year saw them miss finals... I'm big on them with the addition of Curnow. With a better run with injury and having their best team available as September approaches, I see them being a huge contender to get thumped again in another grand final.

Bulldogs are the most interesting team... they had the best defensive profile in 2024 and the best offensive profile in 2025... their kryptonite has been not finding the right balance between offence and defence... Early signs look good and they seem to be playing a game style unlike anyone else... Maybe they've been working on this for two years and it's finally starting to come together... However, we've been fooled before so I'm not yet convinced.

 

[BigVic]

The beauty about supporting an underachiever the last couple of seasons is still maintaining interest as a neutral supporter because of how even the league is... This year is no exception. I've narrowed my list down to 10 contenders...

Adelaide were the best H&A team last year but fell in a hole. The jury is out as to whether they can back up their brilliance from last season... They did nothing wrong in beating Collingwood but I have doubts about the Pies so I'm still uncertain about the Crows this year.

Brisbane have been the most dominant team over the past several years... They just simply get it done... Going for their second three peat 23 years apart... Big chance.

Collingwood were the best team for the majority of 2025 until they fell in a hole late... I'm not convinced with them... Not writing them off completely but currently I'd have them as a wildcard team, mainly due to their ageing list.

Fremantle could be ready to take the next step... They don't have a weakness but they'd need to finish top four to be any chance and I'd need to be convinced they can consistently win on the road.

Geelong are always a chance but I'd rather watch the 1995 grand final than spend time talking about their chances...

Gold Coast's list is stacked... No weakness and so many star players with a proven coach... They trajectory is going the right way and if their improvement continues on the same trend as it has over the past two years then I can see them there on the last day in September... One of the big chances.

Giants don't have a weakness either... Not sure where they fit... Just as capable as being a wildcard team as they are a prelim final team.

Hawks another team whose improvement and trajectory could see them being there on the last day of September... I'll need a few more weeks to truly assess their chances, although I can see a scenario where they stay in third gear for the first two thirds of the season, leaving us neutral fooled, only for them to fire on all cylinders late and hit form when it truly matters.

Sydney were the best team until the final match in September in 2024... horrible luck last year saw them miss finals... I'm big on them with the addition of Curnow. With a better run with injury and having their best team available as September approaches, I see them being a huge contender to get thumped again in another grand final.

Bulldogs are the most interesting team... they had the best defensive profile in 2024 and the best offensive profile in 2025... their kryptonite has been not finding the right balance between offence and defence... Early signs look good and they seem to be playing a game style unlike anyone else... Maybe they've been working on this for two years and it's finally starting to come together... However, we've been fooled before so I'm not yet convinced.

Sydney about to be get thumped in another Grand Final by Hawthorn. Curnow missing

 

[Crow till I die]

After last night, dogs will be top 2 and i think the crows will be challenging for top 4. Dogs team defence will crush many sides this year it was very complete for the first 3 quarters from where i sat

 

[CarnTheScray]

After last night, dogs will be top 2 and i think the crows will be challenging for top 4. Dogs team defence will crush many sides this year it was very complete for the first 3 quarters from where i sat

I’m not going to go the early crow on our ladder position as I’ve seen this story before, but I was really impressed with our defence against you guys.

If I was asked which team lineup we’d struggle to stop scoring, it would be Adelaide.

I think a lot of your fans will probably blame Nicks for the first 3 quarters but even I was surprised by how well we stopped your transition. It was like your only real option to get a score was to take contested marks, which you eventually did because you’ve get three giants in that forward line and it kept you in touch the whole game.

Adelaide should belt some sides at home this year.

 

[Angus Young]

Like Dogs and Freo

 

[Mr.X]

Bottom 4 looks like it may already be clear

In no particular order:

Blues
Tigers
Bombers
Eagles

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Missing the 10

Essendon, Richmond, WCE, North, Carlton, Collingwood, Port, Melbourne

 

[Cmarsh]

Brisbane are specials to win the flag again in 2026 IMO. So much depth and talent across the park.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Bulldogs
Brisbane
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Gold Coast
Sydney
Geelong
Adelaide

 

[timokane]

Only these 4 can win the flag in 2026 in no order:

lions
suns
dogs
swans

they are a cut above everyone in 2026.