Fixture 2026 season

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Be a huge step forward to be 4-2 after 6 rounds.
4 wins has taken us most of last season to get to and only one other season.
Would be a huge start

The draw is as easy as you could possibly get.

There are no more excuses not to be competitive after Clarkson’s FOURTH preseason to embed any sort of contemporary defensive system.

4-2 is the pass. 3-3 is not acceptable.

2-4 is GTFO.

 

[giantroo]

 

[shinboner magic]

The draw is as easy as you could possibly get.

There are no more excuses not to be competitive after Clarkson’s FOURTH preseason to embed any sort of contemporary defensive system.

4-2 is the pass. 3-3 is not acceptable.

2-4 is GTFO.

Everyone that comes up against us think it’s a win - time we changed that

 

[The Talent Scout]

So, we play the power finally, at Marvel stadium, not in Tassie, not in South Australia, round 1 on a Sunday at 10 past 1. We should put them to the sword early, no doubt Judas will get his fanfare, this is is going to be a real test to see how far we have come and I know there is going to be some who think we have no hope, but I think we can belt them, they are not going to play finals next year and with another year under our belt, 2026 I'm expecting to rise up the ladder and beating them would be a satisfying result!

Colby, Wardlaw, Finn, Harry and Zane, I am expecting a breakout year for him next year on what he has done in the little sample size and the things he has to get better at, there a few people that don't know just how good this boy can be, but next year I've a feeling people are going to find out. Luke Urquhart is another that I'm expecting improvement, once he gets into the middle, probably another one to two years off but he's going to show glimpses next year, I can feel it.

Will Dawson will show glimpses but is another one to two years away, excited about what he is going to become, Taylor Goad is going to be "special", he could be that sort of player we've been looking for and we have him, Brayden George, Josh Goater, Cooper Trenbath are absolutely top end talent in my opinion and I'm confident they will have an impact next year, on the ground.

Josh Goater & Brayden George will totally transform our team, they are very very good young players and throw in Matt Whitlock who is around two years from competing at a solid level then you can see why excitement is rising like never before. Yeah I know, this sort of thing is always said at the start of a new year, BUT THERE'S ONE THING WRONG WITH THAT LITTLE BIT OF WORDING, that is to know what to look for in watching a for a whole season, I've always maintained that "the little things" are very important, probably more so than people realise and I wanted to see them and many other things, while disappointed to not win more games that will be a positive thing for us in the future, why?

Because of three things, 1/ Lessons: the best way to learn, no matter if you win or lose, is to have a red hot go and see what happens, how does the opposition handle it? How did we handle it? 2/ The hurt factor: One might think that this is nothing but fantasy, well you'd be very wrong in taking that stance, its a very real thing in sport that is rarely talked about, but when you have a very young group of talented players that have endured much pain in losing, it rarely stays that way for long, but because if circumstances we haven't had enough experienced older players to guide them, that's changed and even tho some supporters think our players don't care, that couldn't be further from the truth. Supporters hate the next word I'm going to use but its just a fact of life that it is a correct meaning, that word is TIME, we have to give them time, there are no other ways around it, the only thing I can say is that with every thing I've witnessed in the last six years one thing is certain, very soon, we are going to be a very good football team and it will only be the start.

3/ When we start to win on a regular basis supporters are going to be gobsmacked and I won't mince my words, they are still not going to be convinced, "we've done it for three games but I want to see if it was just a fluke". "Wait to we play one of the top contenders before I trust them". It's the draw, "we've been lucky, lets not get carried away". That is some of things that your going to read, trust me, the thing to remember is from the last three years in close games we haven't closed the deal, getting a little better but not there yet.

I've heard what some people are expecting, stay in the bottom four, just move out of the bottom four, might move out of the bottom six and we could win seven or eight games next year with improvement. So why stop there, why can't we go higher, our defence, its improving, get our zone right and our players following what Alastair is telling them and the sky is our limit, in sport, you've got a few things to get right and while very important they can determine what path you choose, confidence, potential, mindset, belief and perseverance.

I am firmly in the belief that we control three of these, one we are still learning and the other we are getting much better, we are getting better even if the results don't show it, I'm not going to sit on the fence because I trust everything I've seen, we are going to go a lot further than a lot of people give us credit for, but it's not going to be a surprise to the players, they know something is cooking, they can feel something extraordinary is going to happen and with all the hard work they are putting in and the extra games into them 2026 might just be a year that supporters will never forget.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

So, we play the power finally, at Marvel stadium, not in Tassie, not in South Australia, round 1 on a Sunday at 10 past 1. We should put them to the sword early, no doubt Judas will get his fanfare, this is is going to be a real test to see how far we have come and I know there is going to be some who think we have no hope, but I think we can belt them, they are not going to play finals next year and with another year under our belt, 2026 I'm expecting to rise up the ladder and beating them would be a satisfying result!

Colby, Wardlaw, Finn, Harry and Zane, I am expecting a breakout year for him next year on what he has done in the little sample size and the things he has to get better at, there a few people that don't know just how good this boy can be, but next year I've a feeling people are going to find out. Luke Urquhart is another that I'm expecting improvement, once he gets into the middle, probably another one to two years off but he's going to show glimpses next year, I can feel it.

Will Dawson will show glimpses but is another one to two years away, excited about what he is going to become, Taylor Goad is going to be "special", he could be that sort of player we've been looking for and we have him, Brayden George, Josh Goater, Cooper Trenbath are absolutely top end talent in my opinion and I'm confident they will have an impact next year, on the ground.

Josh Goater & Brayden George will totally transform our team, they are very very good young players and throw in Matt Whitlock who is around two years from competing at a solid level then you can see why excitement is rising like never before. Yeah I know, this sort of thing is always said at the start of a new year, BUT THERE'S ONE THING WRONG WITH THAT LITTLE BIT OF WORDING, that is to know what to look for in watching a for a whole season, I've always maintained that "the little things" are very important, probably more so than people realise and I wanted to see them and many other things, while disappointed to not win more games that will be a positive thing for us in the future, why?

Because of three things, 1/ Lessons: the best way to learn, no matter if you win or lose, is to have a red hot go and see what happens, how does the opposition handle it? How did we handle it? 2/ The hurt factor: One might think that this is nothing but fantasy, well you'd be very wrong in taking that stance, its a very real thing in sport that is rarely talked about, but when you have a very young group of talented players that have endured much pain in losing, it rarely stays that way for long, but because if circumstances we haven't had enough experienced older players to guide them, that's changed and even tho some supporters think our players don't care, that couldn't be further from the truth. Supporters hate the next word I'm going to use but its just a fact of life that it is a correct meaning, that word is TIME, we have to give them time, there are no other ways around it, the only thing I can say is that with every thing I've witnessed in the last six years one thing is certain, very soon, we are going to be a very good football team and it will only be the start.

3/ When we start to win on a regular basis supporters are going to be gobsmacked and I won't mince my words, they are still not going to be convinced, "we've done it for three games but I want to see if it was just a fluke". "Wait to we play one of the top contenders before I trust them". It's the draw, "we've been lucky, lets not get carried away". That is some of things that your going to read, trust me, the thing to remember is from the last three years in close games we haven't closed the deal, getting a little better but not there yet.

I've heard what some people are expecting, stay in the bottom four, just move out of the bottom four, might move out of the bottom six and we could win seven or eight games next year with improvement. So why stop there, why can't we go higher, our defence, its improving, get our zone right and our players following what Alastair is telling them and the sky is our limit, in sport, you've got a few things to get right and while very important they can determine what path you choose, confidence, potential, mindset, belief and perseverance.

I am firmly in the belief that we control three of these, one we are still learning and the other we are getting much better, we are getting better even if the results don't show it, I'm not going to sit on the fence because I trust everything I've seen, we are going to go a lot further than a lot of people give us credit for, but it's not going to be a surprise to the players, they know something is cooking, they can feel something extraordinary is going to happen and with all the hard work they are putting in and the extra games into them 2026 might just be a year that supporters will never forget.

 

[Dinkers]

Well I may have wasted 100 bucks, on the Poort board they're thinking top 4 in 26.

And folk may think I'm delusional with my tenth finish prediction.

Cripes

 

[Chip Scab1]

Chip, 10 wins is the floor for relevance and to show real improvement. We have a fair draw (nothing is cushy given our form in recent years), maturing talent and an all-time great coach (not just for the 4 finals wins but also his coaching tree). Anything less will force the club to reappraise whether the young talent is all they think it is and put Clarko’s job on the line. Not everything in life is either/or.

Maybe, but reality is on whatever level you feel would welcome respectability or relevance, we'd still be actually 'irrelevant'.

Life is... black or white, not grey.

Men or Women.

Good or shit.

Win or lose.

It's precisely that in a sporting environment. I did used to throw my participation stickers out, so not the right person to ask probably. I used to throw my 2nd place shit in the bin too. Win or go home with your tail between your legs and work out how to win your next contest.

Well I may have wasted 100 bucks, on the Poort board they're thinking top 4 in 26.

And folk may think I'm delusional with my tenth finish prediction.

Cripes

LOL they are the biggest ****wits in the comp. Essendon supporters are decent human beings (no they're not) compared to the peasants of Adelaide.

 

[Zondor]

So, we play the power finally, at Marvel stadium, not in Tassie, not in South Australia, round 1 on a Sunday at 10 past 1. We should put them to the sword early, no doubt Judas will get his fanfare, this is is going to be a real test to see how far we have come and I know there is going to be some who think we have no hope, but I think we can belt them, they are not going to play finals next year and with another year under our belt, 2026 I'm expecting to rise up the ladder and beating them would be a satisfying result!

Colby, Wardlaw, Finn, Harry and Zane, I am expecting a breakout year for him next year on what he has done in the little sample size and the things he has to get better at, there a few people that don't know just how good this boy can be, but next year I've a feeling people are going to find out. Luke Urquhart is another that I'm expecting improvement, once he gets into the middle, probably another one to two years off but he's going to show glimpses next year, I can feel it.

Will Dawson will show glimpses but is another one to two years away, excited about what he is going to become, Taylor Goad is going to be "special", he could be that sort of player we've been looking for and we have him, Brayden George, Josh Goater, Cooper Trenbath are absolutely top end talent in my opinion and I'm confident they will have an impact next year, on the ground.

Josh Goater & Brayden George will totally transform our team, they are very very good young players and throw in Matt Whitlock who is around two years from competing at a solid level then you can see why excitement is rising like never before. Yeah I know, this sort of thing is always said at the start of a new year, BUT THERE'S ONE THING WRONG WITH THAT LITTLE BIT OF WORDING, that is to know what to look for in watching a for a whole season, I've always maintained that "the little things" are very important, probably more so than people realise and I wanted to see them and many other things, while disappointed to not win more games that will be a positive thing for us in the future, why?

Because of three things, 1/ Lessons: the best way to learn, no matter if you win or lose, is to have a red hot go and see what happens, how does the opposition handle it? How did we handle it? 2/ The hurt factor: One might think that this is nothing but fantasy, well you'd be very wrong in taking that stance, its a very real thing in sport that is rarely talked about, but when you have a very young group of talented players that have endured much pain in losing, it rarely stays that way for long, but because if circumstances we haven't had enough experienced older players to guide them, that's changed and even tho some supporters think our players don't care, that couldn't be further from the truth. Supporters hate the next word I'm going to use but its just a fact of life that it is a correct meaning, that word is TIME, we have to give them time, there are no other ways around it, the only thing I can say is that with every thing I've witnessed in the last six years one thing is certain, very soon, we are going to be a very good football team and it will only be the start.

3/ When we start to win on a regular basis supporters are going to be gobsmacked and I won't mince my words, they are still not going to be convinced, "we've done it for three games but I want to see if it was just a fluke". "Wait to we play one of the top contenders before I trust them". It's the draw, "we've been lucky, lets not get carried away". That is some of things that your going to read, trust me, the thing to remember is from the last three years in close games we haven't closed the deal, getting a little better but not there yet.

I've heard what some people are expecting, stay in the bottom four, just move out of the bottom four, might move out of the bottom six and we could win seven or eight games next year with improvement. So why stop there, why can't we go higher, our defence, its improving, get our zone right and our players following what Alastair is telling them and the sky is our limit, in sport, you've got a few things to get right and while very important they can determine what path you choose, confidence, potential, mindset, belief and perseverance.

I am firmly in the belief that we control three of these, one we are still learning and the other we are getting much better, we are getting better even if the results don't show it, I'm not going to sit on the fence because I trust everything I've seen, we are going to go a lot further than a lot of people give us credit for, but it's not going to be a surprise to the players, they know something is cooking, they can feel something extraordinary is going to happen and with all the hard work they are putting in and the extra games into them 2026 might just be a year that supporters will never forget.

I have 69 Turds that need to be polished. What is your address so I can deliver them to you? :stern look

 

[Zondor]

If anybody wants to get a clue where will most likely finish then follow the money. The bookies are good at their job. :stern look

 

[The Talent Scout]

I have 69 Turds that need to be polished. What is your address so I can deliver them to you? :stern look

Oh Zondor, you don't have any faith do you? After the last six years I can certainly understand your optimism is at a very very low base, your not the only one, yes, I can see you want to see the wins next year before you get on the train and there is nothing wrong with that, your tune will change and when it does football & life will become a little bit better. Sometimes, people no matter what you say will stick to there opinion like a tick to a animal, I hope that when it turns and it will, you'll not only enjoy our team on the field, but in a sense, your optimism will be a lot higher than what it is now.

 

[DuckYeah]

Oh Zondor, you don't have any faith do you? After the last six years I can certainly understand your optimism is at a very very low base, your not the only one, yes, I can see you want to see the wins next year before you get on the train and there is nothing wrong with that, your tune will change and when it does football & life will become a little bit better. Sometimes, people no matter what you say will stick to there opinion like a tick to a animal, I hope that when it turns and it will, you'll not only enjoy our team on the field, but in a sense, your optimism will be a lot higher than what it is now.

We’ll be able to tell in the first pre season game vs real opposition. If the game plan and skill dont improve it’ll be an easy position to take

 

[Ruckle]

We’ll be able to tell in the first pre season game vs real opposition. If the game plan and skill dont improve it’ll be an easy position to take

This is deadset true. Last year I left Arden St after the Melbourne practice game where we were absolutely pantsed by their 2nds and was as sad about this club as any other time in the last few years as the reality of another bottom 2 or 3 finish loomed. Of course I came home to big footy and found out we were apparently just foxing after the 5 minute mark of the 1st quarter and all would be well.

It turns out my eyeballs were right.

Genuinely sh!t scared about 26, we will NEVER get a draw like this again. If we dont lift in wins, thats actual wins, not nearly, would of could of bollocks that lives in parts of BF then I am not sure where we go.

 

[Zondor]

Oh Zondor, you don't have any faith do you? After the last six years I can certainly understand your optimism is at a very very low base, your not the only one, yes, I can see you want to see the wins next year before you get on the train and there is nothing wrong with that, your tune will change and when it does football & life will become a little bit better. Sometimes, people no matter what you say will stick to there opinion like a tick to a animal, I hope that when it turns and it will, you'll not only enjoy our team on the field, but in a sense, your optimism will be a lot higher than what it is now.

I’m a realist. Look at the odds. Look at the last 6 years. Look at our list. Shit look at our performances against teams around us last season. Barely scraping through beating West Coast. Just holding on against Richmond at the G. How many convincing wins did we have last season? Melbourne the first time around. Richmond the second time around. Truly judge our list against others. I admire your optimism. But that optimism is simply based on wishful thinking. What’s your address again? :stern look

 

[The Talent Scout]

We’ll be able to tell in the first pre season game vs real opposition. If the game plan and skill dont improve it’ll be an easy position to take

Hey DuckYeah, sort of, like in a horse trial a few weeks out from their race, jockeys don't go all out to win the trial which gives them nothing compared to an actual race which carries prizemoney, but your on the money in the sense that in the two/three pre-season games we play I'm expecting to be very competitive, win or lose in a pre-season game is not important, the game plan and our structure will be where the real positives come from, but our first real game in round 1 against Port will be the watch and next year there will be no more excuses.

 

[Supreme_Chancellor]

We're making the Wildcard and winning it all from 10th!

 

[Zondor]

This is deadset true. Last year I left Arden St after the Melbourne practice game where we were absolutely pantsed by their 2nds and was as sad about this club as any other time in the last few years as the reality of another bottom 2 or 3 finish loomed. Of course I came home to big footy and found out we were apparently just foxing after the 5 minute mark of the 1st quarter and all would be well.

It turns out my eyeballs were right.

Genuinely sh!t scared about 26, we will NEVER get a draw like this again. If we dont lift in wins, thats actual wins, not nearly, would have could have bollocks that lives in parts of BF then I am not sure where we go.

Yep. The first 6 weeks is the best opportunity we have had in a long time to start well. Shit if we don’t then those in a position of power at the club will be getting very nervous. :stern look

 

[spicerFanClub]

View attachment 2477247
If anybody wants to get a clue where will most likely finish then follow the money. The bookies are good at their job. :stern look

Doubt we've been above $1.01 for 5 years. Things must be looking up.

 

[Chip Scab1]

View attachment 2477247
If anybody wants to get a clue where will most likely finish then follow the money. The bookies are good at their job. :stern look

Weight of hope-money from Carlton fans would skew that market a bit, Carlton and Poort are decent value.

 

[kool kangas]

Everyone that comes up against us think it’s a win - time we changed that

Send in the Womens team...

 

[kool kangas]

Well I may have wasted 100 bucks, on the Poort board they're thinking top 4 in 26.

And folk may think I'm delusional with my tenth finish prediction.

Cripes

 

[zoomba23]

Just me or do Port at 8-1 present some solid ****ing value

 

[DuckYeah]

 

[DuckYeah]

Champion Data has us at 8.8 wins at barebones minimum.

 

[Gasometer]

Nothing has worked out as predicted these past 5 years at this time of the year

By February this Board will have wound itself into such a frenzy that we’ll be all believing we have six AA and a streak about to unfold based on the Pre Season Thread hyperbole

You can see it unfolding right before your eyes in there atm

Be great to win more games next year but when you have 20 odd players in the 18-22 bracket a stern reality check is in order

Consistency in 2026 is what we need across every quarter in every game. Not go missing for 20 minutes and give up 5 goals. The W/L is just as irrelevant as last year until more games are put into this core group. For that to eventuate we are looking at what is going on in 2028-2030

 

[Gasometer]

Post script to my post above, read Page 80 -81 of the Sunday HUN for an equally sobering review of where are are at. My post wasn’t too far off the mark for someone not in the know