rdhopkins2
G’day cobber!
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Posts
- 22,057
- Reaction score
- 14,957
- Location
- Melbourne
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Other Teams
- Box Hill Hawks
Ask AI something AFL related. Post it here.
Review the success of teams to date in the 2026 afl season
The 2026 AFL season feels like one of the strangest in years: a couple of genuine heavyweights, a giant mushy middle, and several traditional powers already hearing the draft countdown music by Round 9.
The Clear Success Stories
Fremantle Dockers
— “Wharfie Time” has become real
Fremantle have gone from “interesting improvers” to genuine premiership threat. They’ve built the league’s nastiest pressure game, defend transition brilliantly and keep winning tight contests. Luke Jackson’s rise into elite territory has transformed them from a solid finals side into a complete team.
The scary thing for the rest of the league: they don’t rely on one superstar getting 40 touches. Their system travels, which matters in September.
Season grade: A+
Expectation vs reality: massively exceeded expectations.
Sydney Swans
— the benchmark
Sydney look terrifyingly balanced. Elite percentage, elite ball movement, elite defensive structure. Isaac Heeney and Nick Blakey are starring, but the bigger story is how many contributors they get weekly.
They’ve got the feel of a team that knows exactly who it is. No chaos, no identity crisis, no “we’ll figure it out later.”
Season grade: A+
Flag chance: probably the safest bet right now.
Hawthorn Hawks
— no longer rebuilding
Even with the recent loss to Fremantle, Hawthorn have officially arrived ahead of schedule. Their attack is explosive, the midfield competes with anyone, and they’ve stopped being “cute young upstarts” and started becoming physically difficult to play against.
The knock? They still fade late in huge games. “Wharfie Time” against Freo exposed that.
Still, if you’d told Hawks fans in 2024 they’d be top-four calibre in 2026, they’d have started building Sam Mitchell statues out the front of Glenferrie.
Season grade: A
The Strong-but-Not-Trusted Group
Melbourne Demons
Melbourne are quietly having a very competent season. Their defence still suffocates teams, Max Gawn remains ridiculous, and they’ve beaten enough quality opposition to be taken seriously.
But they still feel… slightly joyless? Like a team permanently winning 83-67 in cold conditions.
They’re good enough to contend, but not yet convincing enough to terrify rivals.
Season grade: B+
Gold Coast Suns
Gold Coast have finally started behaving like a stable AFL club instead of a science experiment. Their Darwin dominance continues, Ben King is converting, and the ball movement is dangerous.
The next step is consistency away from home and proving they can survive pressure football in August.
Season grade: B+
Geelong Cats
Of course Geelong are good again. Everyone spends six months declaring the cliff has arrived, then Patrick Dangerfield emerges from a cave somewhere and they win by 40.
The Cats have quietly rebuilt without bottoming out, and their experienced core still controls big moments beautifully.
Season grade: B+
The “What Is Happening Here?” Tier
Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood are the AFL equivalent of a phone on 7% battery somehow still operating. The defence and structure keep them alive, but the forward line lacks punch and the midfield balance looks shaky.
There’s still enough talent to make finals, but they don’t look remotely dominant.
The terrifying thought for rivals: Craig McRae probably still has them lurking for September nonsense.
Season grade: B-
Adelaide Crows
Adelaide are the kings of “wait, are they good again?” followed immediately by “absolutely not.”
One quarter they look like contenders. The next they resemble a team trying to assemble IKEA furniture without instructions. Analysts have repeatedly criticised their slow ball movement and inconsistency.
Season grade: C+
Greater Western Sydney Giants
Injuries have smashed the Giants, and their season has become difficult to judge fairly. Their talent level still screams finals contender, but structurally they’ve looked vulnerable defensively.
They’re one of the few teams who could still dramatically rise in the second half of the year.
Season grade: C
The Distress Hotline Clubs
Carlton Blues
Carlton are operating like a club held together with duct tape and SEN callers.
The list still contains elite talent, but the consistency, pressure and confidence have disappeared. Michael Voss speculation is everywhere, and every loss now feels like a board meeting with extra steps.
Carlton fans entering a match:
“Surely this is the week.”
Carlton fans by quarter time:
“Ah. Right.”
Season grade: D
Essendon Bombers
Another year, another existential crisis.
Essendon compete hard in patches but still lack polish, composure and identity against stronger teams. Their fans deserve frequent flyer points for travelling through emotional turbulence every weekend.
Season grade: D
Richmond Tigers
Richmond at least look like they understand they’re rebuilding. There are young players showing promise, effort is mostly solid, and expectations are realistic.
That already makes them emotionally healthier than several clubs above them.
Season grade: C- relative to expectations
Biggest Winners So Far
Luke Jackson — becoming a genuine superstar
Genuine flag threats
“If we just get a run at it…
Review the success of teams to date in the 2026 afl season
The 2026 AFL season feels like one of the strangest in years: a couple of genuine heavyweights, a giant mushy middle, and several traditional powers already hearing the draft countdown music by Round 9.
The Clear Success Stories
Fremantle Dockers
— “Wharfie Time” has become real
Fremantle have gone from “interesting improvers” to genuine premiership threat. They’ve built the league’s nastiest pressure game, defend transition brilliantly and keep winning tight contests. Luke Jackson’s rise into elite territory has transformed them from a solid finals side into a complete team.
The scary thing for the rest of the league: they don’t rely on one superstar getting 40 touches. Their system travels, which matters in September.
Season grade: A+
Expectation vs reality: massively exceeded expectations.
Sydney Swans
— the benchmark
Sydney look terrifyingly balanced. Elite percentage, elite ball movement, elite defensive structure. Isaac Heeney and Nick Blakey are starring, but the bigger story is how many contributors they get weekly.
They’ve got the feel of a team that knows exactly who it is. No chaos, no identity crisis, no “we’ll figure it out later.”
Season grade: A+
Flag chance: probably the safest bet right now.
Hawthorn Hawks
— no longer rebuilding
Even with the recent loss to Fremantle, Hawthorn have officially arrived ahead of schedule. Their attack is explosive, the midfield competes with anyone, and they’ve stopped being “cute young upstarts” and started becoming physically difficult to play against.
The knock? They still fade late in huge games. “Wharfie Time” against Freo exposed that.
Still, if you’d told Hawks fans in 2024 they’d be top-four calibre in 2026, they’d have started building Sam Mitchell statues out the front of Glenferrie.
Season grade: A
The Strong-but-Not-Trusted Group
Melbourne Demons
Melbourne are quietly having a very competent season. Their defence still suffocates teams, Max Gawn remains ridiculous, and they’ve beaten enough quality opposition to be taken seriously.
But they still feel… slightly joyless? Like a team permanently winning 83-67 in cold conditions.
They’re good enough to contend, but not yet convincing enough to terrify rivals.
Season grade: B+
Gold Coast Suns
Gold Coast have finally started behaving like a stable AFL club instead of a science experiment. Their Darwin dominance continues, Ben King is converting, and the ball movement is dangerous.
The next step is consistency away from home and proving they can survive pressure football in August.
Season grade: B+
Geelong Cats
Of course Geelong are good again. Everyone spends six months declaring the cliff has arrived, then Patrick Dangerfield emerges from a cave somewhere and they win by 40.
The Cats have quietly rebuilt without bottoming out, and their experienced core still controls big moments beautifully.
Season grade: B+
The “What Is Happening Here?” Tier
Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood are the AFL equivalent of a phone on 7% battery somehow still operating. The defence and structure keep them alive, but the forward line lacks punch and the midfield balance looks shaky.
There’s still enough talent to make finals, but they don’t look remotely dominant.
The terrifying thought for rivals: Craig McRae probably still has them lurking for September nonsense.
Season grade: B-
Adelaide Crows
Adelaide are the kings of “wait, are they good again?” followed immediately by “absolutely not.”
One quarter they look like contenders. The next they resemble a team trying to assemble IKEA furniture without instructions. Analysts have repeatedly criticised their slow ball movement and inconsistency.
Season grade: C+
Greater Western Sydney Giants
Injuries have smashed the Giants, and their season has become difficult to judge fairly. Their talent level still screams finals contender, but structurally they’ve looked vulnerable defensively.
They’re one of the few teams who could still dramatically rise in the second half of the year.
Season grade: C
The Distress Hotline Clubs
Carlton Blues
Carlton are operating like a club held together with duct tape and SEN callers.
The list still contains elite talent, but the consistency, pressure and confidence have disappeared. Michael Voss speculation is everywhere, and every loss now feels like a board meeting with extra steps.
Carlton fans entering a match:
“Surely this is the week.”
Carlton fans by quarter time:
“Ah. Right.”
Season grade: D
Essendon Bombers
Another year, another existential crisis.
Essendon compete hard in patches but still lack polish, composure and identity against stronger teams. Their fans deserve frequent flyer points for travelling through emotional turbulence every weekend.
Season grade: D
Richmond Tigers
Richmond at least look like they understand they’re rebuilding. There are young players showing promise, effort is mostly solid, and expectations are realistic.
That already makes them emotionally healthier than several clubs above them.
Season grade: C- relative to expectations
Biggest Winners So Far
Luke Jackson — becoming a genuine superstar
- Isaac Heeney — unstoppable bursts
- Nick Blakey — reborn as chaos incarnate
- Izak Rankine — finally getting midfield responsibility
- Jai Newcombe — now a serious A-grade midfielder
Genuine flag threats
- Sydney Swans
- Fremantle Dockers
- Hawthorn Hawks
- Melbourne Demons
- Geelong Cats
- Collingwood Magpies
- Gold Coast Suns
- Carlton Blues
- Essendon Bombers
“If we just get a run at it…
