2026 Ladder Predictions

[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.

 

[Saints4ever]

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

lions
suns
dogs
swans

they are a cut above everyone in 2026.

I wouldn’t discount Flagmantle

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

End of Season Ladder (probable finals ending)

1. Gold Coast (prelim)
2. Adelaide (prelim)
3. Brisbane (premiers/runner-up)
4. St. Kilda (premiers/runner-up)
5. GWS (elim)
6. Sydney (semis)
7. Western Bulldogs (elim)
8. Hawthorn (semis)
——————
9. Fremantle
10. Collingwood
11. Geelong
12. Essendon
13. Port Adelaide
14. Kangaroos
15. Carlton
16. Melbourne
17. Richmond
18. West Coast

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

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

Wow, extreme optimism there.

 

[Bulldog Joe]

There are some teams showing themselves.

Freo are right in the mix.

I feel there is a real bottom 6 that can only win against each other.

North
West Coast
Carlton
Port
Richmond
Essendon

GWS struggling with injury
St Kilda Collingwood and Melbourne probably middling sides that will beat the bottom 6 and struggle against the top 8.

Top 8 in no particular order (actually current ladder order)
Suns
Dogs
Freo
Sydney
Hawks
Brisbane
Geelong
Adelaide

 

[timokane]

Got Pies in there 9 or 10 so make the wildcards.
Spoons all essendons.
Carlton now bottom 4.
Both north even eagles on a slight rise.
Still have the battling tigers still bottom 4.
To drop off a tad are hawks and gws.
Home games mean cats around the mark again.
Top 4 or 5:

Suns
Freo
Lions
Swans
Dogs

Flag will be out of these 5.

Kind of drops off after that.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

The more I watch, the more it feels like we are just slowly heading to another Brisbane 3peat.

I feel like Sydney and Dogs are offensive powerhouses that will run into a hurdle in a key final when their run is stopped.

GC and Freo are GC and Freo until proven otherwise.

Geelong a touch too reliant on Cameron and Adelaide and Hawks just dont quite have the midfield cattle.

Brisbane will get through the year sitting in 3rd and 4th gear, get to the finals and do it all again.

 

[Jirik13]

The more I watch, the more it feels like we are just slowly heading to another Brisbane 3peat.

I feel like Sydney and Dogs are offensive powerhouses that will run into a hurdle in a key final when their run is stopped.

GC and Freo are GC and Freo until proven otherwise.

Geelong a touch too reliant on Cameron and Adelaide and Hawks just dont quite have the midfield cattle.

Brisbane will get through the year sitting in 3rd and 4th gear, get to the finals and do it all again.

It's way too early but I have to agree, Brisbane look unbeatable when they are on with insane depth.

 

[Angus Young]

Dogs
Freo
Brisbane
Sydney
Hawks
Adelaide
Gws
Geelong
Gold Coast
Melbourne

 

[BigVic]

		W	L	D	%
1.	Geelong	20	3	0	141.7%
2.	Hawthorn	18	5	0	122.0%
3.	Sydney	15	8	0	115.6%
4.	Collingwood	15	8	0	108.4%
5.	Fremantle	15	8	0	107.2%
6.	Brisbane Lions	14	9	0	111.1%
7.	Gold Coast	14	9	0	109.2%
8.	Western Bulldogs	13	10	0	107.1%
9.	Adelaide	11	12	0	106.0%
10.	St Kilda	11	12	0	95.2%
11.	Port Adelaide	10	13	0	100.9%
12.	Melbourne	10	13	0	96.9%
13.	North Melbourne	9	14	0	92.5%
14.	Richmond	8	15	0	87.2%
15.	GWS	7	16	0	85.9%
16.	West Coast	7	16	0	74.5%
17.	Carlton	6	17	0	84.8%
18.	Essendon	4	19	0	76.0%

WC1: GOLD COAST v St Kilda
WC2: WESTERN BULLDOGS v Adelaide

QF1: GEELONG v Collingwood
QF2: Hawthorn v SYDNEY
EF1: FREMANTLE v Western Bulldogs
EF2: BRISBANE LIONS v Gold Coast

SF1: COLLINGWOOD v Fremantle
SF2: Hawthorn v BRISBANE LIONS

PF1: GEELONG v Brisbane Lions
PF2: SYDNEY v Collingwood

GF: GEELONG v Sydney

 

[timokane]

Look anything can happen still early days.
If the Pies get on a roll April May and June.
Then this can set them up for top 4.
Remember Pies won 2023 premiership.
Must say 2023 feels like the most sort after time to win the flag.
2023 was peak AFL.

 

[Wolfgang West]

Look anything can happen still early days.
If the Pies get on a roll April May and June.
Then this can set them up for top 4.
Remember Pies won 2023 premiership.
Must say 2023 feels like the most sort after time to win the flag.
2023 was peak AFL.

What is peak AFL ?

 

[Borussia Teeth]

Look anything can happen still early days.
If the Pies get on a roll April May and June.
Then this can set them up for top 4.
Remember Pies won 2023 premiership.
Must say 2023 feels like the most sort after time to win the flag.
2023 was peak AFL.

Shut the **** up.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

What is peak AFL ?

Collingwood winning the flag.

 

[Wolfgang West]

Collingwood winning the flag.

 

[BigVic]

Collingwood winning the flag.

Best year of the 2020s

 

[mpal6]

The more I watch, the more it feels like we are just slowly heading to another Brisbane 3peat.

I feel like Sydney and Dogs are offensive powerhouses that will run into a hurdle in a key final when their run is stopped.

GC and Freo are GC and Freo until proven otherwise.

Geelong a touch too reliant on Cameron and Adelaide and Hawks just dont quite have the midfield cattle.

Brisbane will get through the year sitting in 3rd and 4th gear, get to the finals and do it all again.

We have dropped the first 2 games when we came up against the top end of ladder teams like Dogs and Swans. Dogs was close and against Swans we were missing the backline but regardless, they both showed a method and ability to execute to beat us.

Last year we looked genuinely frightening whenever the team clicked into gear and went on a burst. We knew our best is good enough against anyone. I think this year a few other teams can keep up with us on that front so it'll be an interesting season. Could be a three-peat or could be like a Richmond 2018 season where they finished 2 games clear on top but still got rolled over in prelim. Considering Lions injuries and personnel changes, hard to get a read at the moment.

I really like Dogs actually. They've got the mid-tier players like Kennedy Baker and Bramble in form and playing really well alongside the top liners. It brings a very good balance to the playing 22 and there is less holes to cover across lines. Defense seems to be working well with Lobb/Khamis/O'Donnell alongside Jacques, MSD pick Sellwood and Budarick. Their young n upcoming players like Croft are pretty aggressive in their playing style - very similar to Gallop in our list. I think they'll go far this year and can genuinely challenge come finals. It appears they can handle a few different game styles and modes - look more mature compared to previous seasons.

I also like Fremantle based on the games watched so far. 3 tall forward line looks very exciting, it appears Erasmus and Johnson have stepped up well to bridge Young's absence so far. Johnson is someone I've always liked through the middle, he's Dal Santo like in my opinion - always seems to have more time than others in traffic. My only query is the ability of midfield and small forward to consistently hit scoreboard. There's just a lot of reliance on talls and if there is a bigger spread over the season, Fremantle also looks promising for a deep finals run.

 

[JZTIME!]

We have dropped the first 2 games when we came up against the top end of ladder teams like Dogs and Swans. Dogs was close and against Swans we were missing the backline but regardless, they both showed a method and ability to execute to beat us.

Last year we looked genuinely frightening whenever the team clicked into gear and went on a burst. We knew our best is good enough against anyone. I think this year a few other teams can keep up with us on that front so it'll be an interesting season. Could be a three-peat or could be like a Richmond 2018 season where they finished 2 games clear on top but still got rolled over in prelim. Considering Lions injuries and personnel changes, hard to get a read at the moment.

I really like Dogs actually. They've got the mid-tier players like Kennedy Baker and Bramble in form and playing really well alongside the top liners. It brings a very good balance to the playing 22 and there is less holes to cover across lines. Defense seems to be working well with Lobb/Khamis/O'Donnell alongside Jacques, MSD pick Sellwood and Budarick. Their young n upcoming players like Croft are pretty aggressive in their playing style - very similar to Gallop in our list. I think they'll go far this year and can genuinely challenge come finals. It appears they can handle a few different game styles and modes - look more mature compared to previous seasons.

I also like Fremantle based on the games watched so far. 3 tall forward line looks very exciting, it appears Erasmus and Johnson have stepped up well to bridge Young's absence so far. Johnson is someone I've always liked through the middle, he's Dal Santo like in my opinion - always seems to have more time than others in traffic. My only query is the ability of midfield and small forward to consistently hit scoreboard. There's just a lot of reliance on talls and if there is a bigger spread over the season, Fremantle also looks promising for a deep finals run.

Freo will win a lot of games at home, have shown they aren't scared to take the fight to the oppo away from home either. I like them as legitimate contender. Lions footy against the pies was insane. Straight kicking they win by 90. Pies without ND and Pendles shows without 2 superstars they aren't any better than the middle tier sides. They lack scoring power.
Doggies and Suns with full availability are scary, English and Richards out could hurt big time. Their depth is much better than Collingwoods though so can still tick the wins over in their absence. Flag race seems to be between:

Lions (scary squad depth)
Dogs and Suns (good run with injury lookout)
Swans (Gulden getting back is crucial)
Hawks (exciting to watch, forward half especially)
Dockers (young side only improving on last year)
Cats (Only just getting going lost no admirers yesterday)

 

[CURVE]

		W	L	D	%
1.	Geelong	20	3	0	141.7%
2.	Hawthorn	18	5	0	122.0%
3.	Sydney	15	8	0	115.6%
4.	Collingwood	15	8	0	108.4%
5.	Fremantle	15	8	0	107.2%
6.	Brisbane Lions	14	9	0	111.1%
7.	Gold Coast	14	9	0	109.2%
8.	Western Bulldogs	13	10	0	107.1%
9.	Adelaide	11	12	0	106.0%
10.	St Kilda	11	12	0	95.2%
11.	Port Adelaide	10	13	0	100.9%
12.	Melbourne	10	13	0	96.9%
13.	North Melbourne	9	14	0	92.5%
14.	Richmond	8	15	0	87.2%
15.	GWS	7	16	0	85.9%
16.	West Coast	7	16	0	74.5%
17.	Carlton	6	17	0	84.8%
18.	Essendon	4	19	0	76.0%

WC1: GOLD COAST v St Kilda
WC2: WESTERN BULLDOGS v Adelaide

QF1: GEELONG v Collingwood
QF2: Hawthorn v SYDNEY
EF1: FREMANTLE v Western Bulldogs
EF2: BRISBANE LIONS v Gold Coast

SF1: COLLINGWOOD v Fremantle
SF2: Hawthorn v BRISBANE LIONS

PF1: GEELONG v Brisbane Lions
PF2: SYDNEY v Collingwood

GF: GEELONG v Sydney

According to you Geelong will go 18-1, the Dogs 9-10, Richmond 8-11 and Essendon will win a game over the remainder of the season. That's a really bizarre ladder prediction considering how the first four rounds have gone.

 

[timokane]

Tipping a GF from left field in 2026:

Dogs v Freo GF in 2026.

What do we think.

Something different.

 

[beerbandit]

Wow, extreme optimism there.

More hopeful.

4 games down, 19 to go. Long, long way to go.

 

[Purple Suit]

The more I watch, the more it feels like we are just slowly heading to another Brisbane 3peat.

I feel like Sydney and Dogs are offensive powerhouses that will run into a hurdle in a key final when their run is stopped.

GC and Freo are GC and Freo until proven otherwise.

Geelong a touch too reliant on Cameron and Adelaide and Hawks just dont quite have the midfield cattle.

Brisbane will get through the year sitting in 3rd and 4th gear, get to the finals and do it all again.

Yep,
Like all sides, they do have a few key stars that they would find hard to replace at short notice. They looked a lot more vulnerable with Bailey & Andrews out, although the Pies had no Tall forwards to really capitalise on Andrews.

Zorko, Morris also super important but they have so much depth in the mids they would need to have 3-4 major injuries to come back to the pack.

 

[RonnieRaven]

We have dropped the first 2 games when we came up against the top end of ladder teams like Dogs and Swans. Dogs was close and against Swans we were missing the backline but regardless, they both showed a method and ability to execute to beat us.

Last year we looked genuinely frightening whenever the team clicked into gear and went on a burst. We knew our best is good enough against anyone. I think this year a few other teams can keep up with us on that front so it'll be an interesting season. Could be a three-peat or could be like a Richmond 2018 season where they finished 2 games clear on top but still got rolled over in prelim. Considering Lions injuries and personnel changes, hard to get a read at the moment.

I really like Dogs actually. They've got the mid-tier players like Kennedy Baker and Bramble in form and playing really well alongside the top liners. It brings a very good balance to the playing 22 and there is less holes to cover across lines. Defense seems to be working well with Lobb/Khamis/O'Donnell alongside Jacques, MSD pick Sellwood and Budarick. Their young n upcoming players like Croft are pretty aggressive in their playing style - very similar to Gallop in our list. I think they'll go far this year and can genuinely challenge come finals. It appears they can handle a few different game styles and modes - look more mature compared to previous seasons.

I also like Fremantle based on the games watched so far. 3 tall forward line looks very exciting, it appears Erasmus and Johnson have stepped up well to bridge Young's absence so far. Johnson is someone I've always liked through the middle, he's Dal Santo like in my opinion - always seems to have more time than others in traffic. My only query is the ability of midfield and small forward to consistently hit scoreboard. There's just a lot of reliance on talls and if there is a bigger spread over the season, Fremantle also looks promising for a deep finals run.

Dudley has kicked double the goals of Voss
Bolton kicked more goals than Voss
Serong has kicked the same amount of goals as Voss.
We are missing Freddy who kicked 50 goal/goal assists last year.
Reid and Bolton spending more time in mid because young is out.
There is enough ability in Reid Bolton Dudley Serong Brayshaw and Jackson to support our three talls.
It will get better with young and Freddy back.

 

[RCAB]

According to you Geelong will go 18-1, the Dogs 9-10, Richmond 8-11 and Essendon will win a game over the remainder of the season. That's a really bizarre ladder prediction considering how the first four rounds have gone.

He's been posting these ridiculous ladder predictions for years, sometimes 5 a week, kind like someone buying multiple lottery tickets hoping they hit the jackpot one day.

 

[RCAB]

The GF preview might be this week.