Opinion 2026 Predictions and Prognostications - Rise or Fall?

[MrBarry]

Injuries for starters. A tougher draw. Mental scarring from our finals capitulation. Wins like against Brisbane where they kick 0.8 or against Collingwood conceding 71 inside 50s, don’t happen this year. Improvement from other teams.

Any of these or a combination can easily see us slide, there’s slides every year, sometimes from the grand finalists. It happens.

Our draw wasn't significantly easier than most of the top 6 this year. The injuries thing yeah I get, but then we cooled 3 major players out for the end of the season so really - we got hit injuries this year at points.

 

[BrissyCrow]

The only way we are going to contend next year is to have a new injection into our midfield. We have some good players in the midfield like Dawson along Soligo we also have Berry. These two have to be able to step up into elite players. I am not sure they will achieve that by next year. The real misfield change could come from Curtin and the intro duction of Draper. Draper could be that "new injection" but he didnt really set the house on fire this year. Then there is Rankin. He can be anything but he lacks sustainability. Its not often that he plays for four quarters and we will need his brilliance every game. So at the moment I see some potential improvement but Iam not 100% confident that the potential will become reality.

The role of Ah Chee could be the injection. He comes as a half forward but could he muscle up our midfield. Could he become our next Thompson?

So for me until we get that midfield hole plugged up (and I dont believe it will be this year) I think we will struggle to make the top four. I take into consideration how we played poorly against the eagles and north and not to mention how we just didnt turn up for the finals It really is difficult to see us beating the Lions, Geelong, and the improving Suns, Saints and Sydney. I reckon we will finish 5th - 8th.

I didnt mention the coaching staff but so new ideas would have been nice. Not sure which coach should be moved along but I do hope that the club holds back giving Nicks an extension until late next year.

 

[cleanhands]

Im a bit of a leper about our midfield, yes another good mid would be nice, but I think there is already quality there, bring in a new mid coach or senior coach

 

[PeterSalt]

Im a bit of a leper about our midfield, yes another good mid would be nice, but I think there is already quality there, bring in a new mid coach or senior coach

Still think getting someone like Zac Bailey would be a massive inclusion while a few of the younger players are developing

 

[cleanhands]

Still think getting someone like Zac Bailey would be a massive inclusion while a few of the younger players are developing

Certainly take one if you can get one

 

[Golumless]

The only way we are going to contend next year is to have a new injection into our midfield. We have some good players in the midfield like Dawson along Soligo we also have Berry. These two have to be able to step up into elite players. I am not sure they will achieve that by next year. The real misfield change could come from Curtin and the intro duction of Draper. Draper could be that "new injection" but he didnt really set the house on fire this year. Then there is Rankin. He can be anything but he lacks sustainability. Its not often that he plays for four quarters and we will need his brilliance every game. So at the moment I see some potential improvement but Iam not 100% confident that the potential will become reality.

The role of Ah Chee could be the injection. He comes as a half forward but could he muscle up our midfield. Could he become our next Thompson?

So for me until we get that midfield hole plugged up (and I dont believe it will be this year) I think we will struggle to make the top four. I take into consideration how we played poorly against the eagles and north and not to mention how we just didnt turn up for the finals It really is difficult to see us beating the Lions, Geelong, and the improving Suns, Saints and Sydney. I reckon we will finish 5th - 8th.

I didnt mention the coaching staff but so new ideas would have been nice. Not sure which coach should be moved along but I do hope that the club holds back giving Nicks an extension until late next year.

Van Berlo, however the chances of us making coaching changes this year are/were low. Without the person in question getting a promotion. It's the one area that hasn't quite clicked.

 

[steve9798]

Any objective view would probably have us as premiership favourites, but so many factors come into such a compromised competition. We certainly have the best list currently, with the biggest scope for improvement, and we don’t really have any weakness (assuming that ROB’s finals weren’t indicative of his real potential). Coaching however could well hold us back, as though we have very solid coaching across the board, we also have too strong a reliance on process, and a stubbornness involved with this that is a bit reminiscent of Neil Craig. Hopefully we see over the summer some retrospection resulting in more flexibility with players positions and a better blend of attack versus defense.

We have several very brilliant players in our side who are currently not being as productive as they potentially could be, simply because of where they are playing. These include Michalaney, Tillthorpe, Curtin, Rankine and Rachelle, who can all have greater impact with less conservative selection, resulting in getting them around the ball more often.

I’m always an optimist, and actually backed us to be top 4 this last season, so I think we will win the flag next year. We certainly should be finishing top 2 in the minor round again at least.

Did you actually watch the finals.

 

[cleanhands]

Any objective view would probably have us as premiership favourites, but so many factors come into such a compromised competition. We certainly have the best list currently, with the biggest scope for improvement, and we don’t really have any weakness (assuming that ROB’s finals weren’t indicative of his real potential). Coaching however could well hold us back, as though we have very solid coaching across the board, we also have too strong a reliance on process, and a stubbornness involved with this that is a bit reminiscent of Neil Craig. Hopefully we see over the summer some retrospection resulting in more flexibility with players positions and a better blend of attack versus defense.

We have several very brilliant players in our side who are currently not being as productive as they potentially could be, simply because of where they are playing. These include Michalaney, Tillthorpe, Curtin, Rankine and Rachelle, who can all have greater impact with less conservative selection, resulting in getting them around the ball more often.

I’m always an optimist, and actually backed us to be top 4 this last season, so I think we will win the flag next year. We certainly should be finishing top 2 in the minor round again at least.

 

[Syd Crow]

We definitely need more organic growth like this to ensure we make the finals!

 

[JPetro83]

I have no doubt that we will take a few steps back and struggle to make the 8.
I have us finishing between 7th-11th. harder fixture, wont be as lucky with injuries and mentally we will struggle after the straight sets saga.
I look back at those 2 minor round games we fluked/jagged against the Lions and Pies at home. we should never have won those games and looking back i wish we didnt. that would have put us on 16 wins with a 5th or 6th finish. For our development would have been nice in 2025 if we had played a home elim final and won then gone to the MCG and play a semi to gain further experience if you get where i am going.

 

[feenix67]

In my opinion we got worked out in the last third of the season and our transition method unraveled and scoring dried up. Unless Nicks modifies his thinking quite a bit, this will see us leak games early. If we get to around 2-6, I can see the club pulling the trigger on Nicks, because we have the squad to be a top 4 side.

More likely though is that the squad will be good enough to offset the poor gameplan and we will limp home to about 7th.

 

[Billy Cart]

In my opinion we got worked out in the last third of the season and our transition method unraveled and scoring dried up. Unless Nicks modifies his thinking quite a bit, this will see us leak games early. If we get to around 2-6, I can see the club pulling the trigger on Nicks, because we have the squad to be a top 4 side.

More likely though is that the squad will be good enough to offset the poor gameplan and we will limp home to about 7th.

We became the hunted instead of being the hunter as in the first half of the season.

If still finish 5th or so I'd be happy,

 

[Scorpus]

Most of the new AFL rule changes will negatively affect our gameplan

Watch examples of the seven rule changes that will impact 2026

Ruck contests, the stand rule, and the 'last disposal' out of bounds rule are among a host of changes ahead of 2026

www.afl.com.au

Last disposal - we love to hug the boundaries and generate wing stoppages which will be harder with last disposal
Rucks can't cross the line at center bounce - favors jumping ruckman which O'Brien is not
Stand rule tweak - we love to peel off for 'outside 5' to guard space but now we will be forced to stand on the mark

 

[Cyclonus]

Yeah I like how ROB is one of the rucks chosen for the article picture.

 

[footy4ever]

18 H&A wins is a hard act to follow. So is going out in straight sets - lessons learnt - can't see us doing that again for a while.

Top three.

Stop shitting your panties all you soft-ons.

 

[George CantStandYa]

18 H&A wins is a hard act to follow. So is going out in straight sets - lessons learnt - can't see us doing that again for a while.

Top three.

Stop shitting your panties all you soft-ons.

Didn’t realise giving an opinion that doesn’t have us near the top as shitting our panties and soft.

And are you suggesting women are soft by making that analogy?

 

[footy4ever]

Didn’t realise giving an opinion that doesn’t have us near the top as shitting our panties and soft.

And are you suggesting women are soft by making that analogy?

Ok if you're so offended, change it to stop shitting your jocks. Feel better?

 

[1970crow]

I have no doubt that we will take a few steps back and struggle to make the 8.
I have us finishing between 7th-11th. harder fixture, wont be as lucky with injuries and mentally we will struggle after the straight sets saga.
I look back at those 2 minor round games we fluked/jagged against the Lions and Pies at home. we should never have won those games and looking back i wish we didnt. that would have put us on 16 wins with a 5th or 6th finish. For our development would have been nice in 2025 if we had played a home elim final and won then gone to the MCG and play a semi to gain further experience if you get where i am going.

First showdown was similar to Lions and Pies wins. We win by 5 points kicking 3.3 to 2.6 in the final quarter. Had the Roos and Eagles away double ups been just about any other sides, we’d have probably gone close to losing those.

That said, reckon we’ll be around the 5-10 mark following finals. This year’s top 8 plus Dogs and Swans. Think the rest are too far back to challenge for the 8. Although Saints sneaking in would be a surprise but not a total shock.

Edit - forgot about Port, they could challenge among the top 10.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Ok if you're so offended, change it to stop shitting your jocks. Feel better?

No, now you’re picking on men.

Anyway, it’s a stupid opinion that if you don’t expect to finish high up you’re shitting yourself and a sook

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Most of the new AFL rule changes will negatively affect our gameplan

Watch examples of the seven rule changes that will impact 2026

Ruck contests, the stand rule, and the 'last disposal' out of bounds rule are among a host of changes ahead of 2026

www.afl.com.au

Last disposal - we love to hug the boundaries and generate wing stoppages which will be harder with last disposal
Rucks can't cross the line at center bounce - favors jumping ruckman which O'Brien is not
Stand rule tweak - we love to peel off for 'outside 5' to guard space but now we will be forced to stand on the mark

I'm only concerned about the ruck rule.

Making the rules less grey helps us imo.

 

[Rotayjay]

I can't read this stuff, it's depressing. For what it's worth, I think we'll finish fourth.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

I don't expect us to do well next year because we aren't doing anything to get better. I'm not seeing anything in terms of personnel changes that look like an upgrade. The club is stagnant because they think they're good enough already.

 

[Doctor B]

In my opinion we got worked out in the last third of the season and our transition method unraveled and scoring dried up. Unless Nicks modifies his thinking quite a bit, this will see us leak games early. If we get to around 2-6, I can see the club pulling the trigger on Nicks, because we have the squad to be a top 4 side.

More likely though is that the squad will be good enough to offset the poor gameplan and we will limp home to about 7th.

Nicks is only 35 games away from becoming our longest serving coach.

If we make it into the eight he will get extended.

 

[adelaidecrows]

In my opinion we got worked out in the last third of the season and our transition method unraveled and scoring dried up. Unless Nicks modifies his thinking quite a bit, this will see us leak games early. If we get to around 2-6, I can see the club pulling the trigger on Nicks, because we have the squad to be a top 4 side.

More likely though is that the squad will be good enough to offset the poor gameplan and we will limp home to about 7th.

The question is did we get found out or did Nicks panic when teams kicked high scores against us and he wanted to get back to a team defense first focus

I think the Hawks and Eagles games scared Nicks and our scoring noticeably dried up against the magpies and then I think while Nicks wanted some more attacking footy the Kangaroos only reinforced to him how bad our defense strategies were and he went into the finals with the worst game plan imaginable.

 

[StonesThrow]

I reckon 6-8. Think we've got a finals core side now, but a normal run with injuries will probably see us around the mark we should have been this year. Can't see us getting better than Brisbane, Geelong, Collingwood, Hawks and then you've got GC and GWS to contend with.