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Prediction Best 23 - 2026 edition

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HoneyBadger35

HoneyBadger35

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For reasons that are abundantly clear, it’s nicer to think about what’s to come rather than what’s been.

For this exercise, we’re assuming Allen is gone and no unexpected player movement occurs. Take it to the trade and draft threads.

The Core
The players who should be playing 20+ games.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker - McCarthy
C: - Graham -
HF: Ryan Waterman -
FF: - Shanahan -
R: - Reid Hewett
I: - - - - -

Tempted to put Pick 1/2 here, but let’s wait and see. Ryan is flirting with this group, he gets included due to our other options at the position.

Likely starters
The players who will probably play plenty of footy, to varying reception.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman -
FF: - Shanahan -
R: - Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan -

The prayers
Players who would be an enormous boost if they consistently contributed in the other lists, but don’t bet your house.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman Chesser
FF: Brockman Shanahan AReid
R: - Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan Yeo

The rest
Listed players that could technically be selected, I suppose.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman Chesser
FF: Brockman Shanahan AReid
R: Flynn Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan Yeo

Plausible depth
Def: Cole, Bazzo, Dewar, Allan, Grego
Mid: Gross, Hutch, Davis
Fwd: JWilliams, Champion, Cripps, Long, Owies
R: BWilliams
Picks: R1 (Hawks), 19, R2 (Hawks)

Who do we see moving in/out of the core by end of 2026? With another preseason, is there enough in the core to progress into light at the end of the tunnel territory? Could we enter a season without any rucks just to see what happens? Fire away.
 
If I dont mention a player they are either WAFL or gone.

I think Archer, Shanahan and Waterman are our 3 first choice KPFs next year.

Edwards and Ginbey our 2 locks for KPD spots - yes Ginbey to play as a full time KPD, forget half back or whatever.
Brock and Bazzo/Blight/whoever as our WAFL KPDs.
Maric id like to go back to being a defender, putting on a bit more weight in the off-season, taking the 3rd tall/distributor role. Need that wing spot for a young mid.
Hough full time backman.
Allan to play round 1 next year off half back or wing depending who we draft.

McCarthy to full time midfield - hes a mature body with traits we dont have in the middle otherwise.
Chesser to earn a contract and get a more permanent wing spot.
Yeo to play midfield if fit, but back to his 60% game time he was doing all last year. There is a world where if we trade in a midfielder, and a midfield of Harley, Hewett, McCarthy, Graham and whoever else(Davies?) we add works, freeing up Yeo to play in d50.

Baker to play half forward or half back depending on who we draft/trade in.

Kelly, Cripps, Cole, Owies, etc ideally to be depth/WAFL players.

FB: Hough Edwards Duggan
HB: Maric Ginbey Allan
C: Chesser Yeo --
HF: Hewett Shanahan Baker
FF: Brockman Waterman Ryan
R: Flynn H.Reid McCarthy
Int: A.Reid Graham Hall --
Sub: --

The remaining question marks could be HFF/Wing/HB players, moving Allan and Baker around to fit whoever in(ideally a draftee or new trade in, probably Kelly/Cripps/Owies though lol).

Obviously dont know who we draft or trade in, ive left an on-field spot, a bench spot and a sub spot open anyways to account for that

If we draft Sharp, Duursma, and Farrow(picks 1, 2, 14) and trade in Davies:
FB: Hough Edwards Duggan
HB: Maric Ginbey Baker
C: Chesser Yeo Duursma
HF: Hewett Shanahan Sharp
FF: Brockman Waterman Ryan
R: Flynn H.Reid McCarthy
Int: A.Reid Graham Davies Allan
Sub: Hall/Gross/Farrow
 
Last edited:
Starcevich Edwards Hough
Ginbey Bazzo Yeo
Duursma Hewett Chesser
Graham Shanahan Baker
AhChee Waterman Brockman

Ruck: A.Reid B.Allen H.Reid

Int: Cripps Kelly McCarthy Duggan CDT
 
Last edited:
Agree that based on where he's played this year he should be listed as a defender, but I really want Allan playing midfield, especially at WAFL level. For a player with a similarish profile he visibly plays really different to Ginbey, I don't feel like locking down on someone is the best way to bring him into the game. Also don't think his straight line speed is as good as Ginbey (so worse at defending a lead) but his agility is better, suits the coalface.

Would love to see one of him or Gross at any given point be stepping up and actually getting proper minutes in the middle next year, these two taking the next step up would be massive for us.
 

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2026
*Expected to sign
#Projected to draft (not who I would draft)
_Prediction on who we trade for
Bolded- Confident they are AFL quality for 2026 season. Not saying the others ain’t going to be but just still have question marks.

AFL
Ginbey - HEdwards - Hough
Baker - Blight - Duursma#
Chesser* - Yeo - Maric
Hewett - AReid - Graham
Brockman - Waterman - Shanahan
Reidy - Harley - McCarthy
In- Erasmus - Cripps* - Kelly - Duggan - B Will

Beagles
Cole* - Brock - Dewar
Grego - Bazzo - Allan
Davis - Hutchinson - C Banfield#
Long - CDT# - Schubert#
Owies - J Will - Champion*
Flynn - Gross - Hall
Int- Newton - HJ - Evans#, Williams#, Walley#,

GONE
Ryan (trade)
Oscar (FA)
Hunt
Barnett
Sheed (retired)
Gov (retired)
Petch
Rawlinson
Livingston
Jamieson

Added
Pick 1-
Pick 2-
Pick 9- (Bundle)
Reidy - Trade or some other ruck
Erasmus -(Davies/Tsatas/Hobbs/Steele)
Blight- DFA or someone similar

Take two of our NGAs/FS if bidded on (if we rate them) and take the other 2 as Cat B with extra list spots. If all 4 are bidded on and don’t have the spots, take 2 extra train on players for SSP spots.
 
B: Hough - HEdwards - Ginbey (VC)
HB: McCarthy - Brock - Baker(C)
C: Chesser - HReid - Dewar
HF: Hewett - Shanahan - Kelly
F: Newton - Waterman (VC) - Brockman
R: BWilliams - Yeo - Allan

I/C: AReid (second ruck), Maric, P1, P2


On the cusp: Gross, Grego, Duggan, Hutchinson.
 
Last edited:
It's not perfect, not even sure I like it, but practically speaking at the end of the pre-season I think this is how it should start for round 1 based on who is contracted for next year and who we most need to grow over the preseason.

B: Hough, Edwards, Ginbey
HB: McCarthy, Brock, Maric
C: Dewar, Kelly, Chesser
HF: Duggan, Shannahan, Baker
F: Brockman, Waterman, Ryan

Fol: B Williams, Reid, Yeo

Int: Sharp, Allan, Hewett, Graham, A Reid.

Anticipating ruck changes that will put more emphasis on Williams leap over Flynn's around the ground smarts.

Has to be a permanent place in the side for Allan, its non negotiable and agree he should play mid rotation.

Has to be a role change for Duggan if he's to stay in the 23. Not at all needed in defence. Not good enough to play mid. Not fast enough or skilled enough to play wing. Could make a great defensive combo with Baker as our pressure forwards. 2 x hard nut pressure forwards, 2 x silk goal kicking forwards, Please. Make the forward 6 the backbone of our system, no 40 year olds no spuds. Hardness, leadership, tenacity, pressure. And for the love of god some system. Waterman, Baker, Duggan I trust to get shit done and execute the game plan like the senior experienced players they are.

If Chesser has an injury free pre-season I have seen enough in the past 3 weeks that he gets a spot over a hell of a lot of fringe players.

Dewar and Brockman I see the talent there they need responsibility and better coaching. Rip the bandaid off and put them in the side and trust them in their role, 4th/5th year players now.

Has to be a spot for pick 1 or 2, I'm saying it'll be Sharp and he must play 22 games if available.

Might lose Ryan, would look to turn Hutch into a forward again if so.

Might land a decent mid like P Cripps or Neale maybe in which case I find it hard to justify Graham frankly. Would be nice but I have my doubts we can get anything substantial done in this space and don't care if we don't. Don't think Graham can be part of a successful centre square set up so that makes it hard for me to justify his place as anything other than insurance for inevitable Tim Kelly form slumps. We can't afford to commit matches to too many of these guys who seem like obvious best 23 but who you can't really say improve any actual line where there is a player with a higher ceiling who could theoretically be an upgrade. We have upgrades on Graham on every line talent wise. But, you never go at 100% so he's first spiritually beagle picked in my mind because we have him for 4 years.

One more pre-season of Maric working with Hurn on his defensive craft, build on what he learned this season it should get easier with better team defence.

Would need a pretty big improvement from Hewett for him to stay in the best 23, I don't think his 2025 output cuts it in an improved side in 2026 but I do expect him to get better and hopefully join forces with Harley as an actual weapon. Could also see Allan or Sharp go past him if he continues to just not really put it together for 4 quarters and doesn't step up from his almost moments.

Lastly, if we don't get some drastically improved system and coaching around rucks and mids and forwards we'd be kidding ourselves.

Aim should be playing finals. Seriously. That will be Norths aim, that will be the Saints aim, and both could get there. It has to be our aim too we have been rebuilding for 4 years and have no excuse for performing like the Essendon's and Richmonds of this world. We must be trading places out of the bottom 4 and into the mid table challengers space. And I think we will, cannot have another season without our 2024 best forward and best mid. Can cover Gov but not another loss of Waterman and Yeo.

If Jamie Cripps starts in round 1 I will delete my account.
 
Last edited:
Kegs15 said:
Agree that based on where he's played this year he should be listed as a defender, but I really want Allan playing midfield, especially at WAFL level. For a player with a similarish profile he visibly plays really different to Ginbey, I don't feel like locking down on someone is the best way to bring him into the game. Also don't think his straight line speed is as good as Ginbey (so worse at defending a lead) but his agility is better, suits the coalface.

Would love to see one of him or Gross at any given point be stepping up and actually getting proper minutes in the middle next year, these two taking the next step up would be massive for us.
Click to expand...
I agree, could build a midfield around H.Reid, B.Allen and Hewett
 
sharps24 said:
It's not perfect, not even sure I like it, but practically speaking at the end of the pre-season I think this is how it should start for round 1 based on who is contracted for next year and who we most need to grow over the preseason.

B: Hough, Edwards, Ginbey
HB: McCarthy, Brock, Maric
C: Dewar, Kelly, Chesser
HF: Duggan, Shannahan, Baker
F: Brockman, Waterman, Ryan

Fol: B Williams, Reid, Yeo

Int: Sharp, Allan, Hewett, Graham, A Reid.

Anticipating ruck changes that will put more emphasis on Williams leap over Flynn's around the ground smarts.

Has to be a permanent place in the side for Allan, its non negotiable and agree he should play mid rotation.

Has to be a role change for Duggan if he's to stay in the 23. Not at all needed in defence. Not good enough to play mid. Not fast enough or skilled enough to play wing. Could make a great defensive combo with Baker as our pressure forwards. 2 x hard nut pressure forwards, 2 x silk goal kicking forwards, Please. Make the forward 6 the backbone of our system, no 40 year olds no spuds. Hardness, leadership, tenacity, pressure. And for the love of god some system. Waterman, Baker, Duggan I trust to get shit done and execute the game plan like the senior experienced players they are.

If Chesser has an injury free pre-season I have seen enough in the past 3 weeks that he gets a spot over a hell of a lot of fringe players.

Dewar and Brockman I see the talent there they need responsibility and better coaching. Rip the bandaid off and put them in the side and trust them in their role, 4th/5th year players now.

Has to be a spot for pick 1 or 2, I'm saying it'll be Sharp and he must play 22 games if available.

Might lose Ryan, would look to turn Hutch into a forward again if so.

Might land a decent mid like P Cripps or Neale maybe in which case I find it hard to justify Graham frankly. Would be nice but I have my doubts we can get anything substantial done in this space and don't care if we don't. Don't think Graham can be part of a successful centre square set up so that makes it hard for me to justify his place as anything other than insurance for inevitable Tim Kelly form slumps. We can't afford to commit matches to too many of these guys who seem like obvious best 23 but who you can't really say improve any actual line where there is a player with a higher ceiling who could theoretically be an upgrade. We have upgrades on Graham on every line talent wise. But, you never go at 100% so he's first spiritually beagle picked in my mind because we have him for 4 years.

One more pre-season of Maric working with Hurn on his defensive craft, build on what he learned this season it should get easier with better team defence.

Would need a pretty big improvement from Hewett for him to stay in the best 23, I don't think his 2025 output cuts it in an improved side in 2026 but I do expect him to get better and hopefully join forces with Harley as an actual weapon. Could also see Allan or Sharp go past him if he continues to just not really put it together for 4 quarters and doesn't step up from his almost moments.

Lastly, if we don't get some drastically improved system and coaching around rucks and mids and forwards we'd be kidding ourselves.

Aim should be playing finals. Seriously. That will be Norths aim, that will be the Saints aim, and both could get there. It has to be our aim too we have been rebuilding for 4 years and have no excuse for performing like the Essendon's and Richmonds of this world. We must be trading places out of the bottom 4 and into the mid table challengers space. And I think we will, cannot have another season without our 2024 best forward and best mid. Can cover Gov but not another loss of Waterman and Yeo.

If Jamie Cripps starts in round 1 I will delete my account.
Click to expand...
A 15-win team is going to miss finals this year
 
Barrybran said:
A 15-win team is going to miss finals this year
Click to expand...

Oh right, good point. I guess we should adjust our expectations to something more realistic like 14th or something.

The reason 15 wins was needed this year was because the shit teams at the bottom were way more shit than they should have been. Carlton and Essendon seasons ruined by injury, us with the worst season in AFL history [probably due to injury] North failing to come on. Meant a heap of extra wins for the top teams. Expect more competitive efforts from bottom teams next year and for Collingwood and Geelong to fall back to the pack. In most recent seasons 12 or 13 has been enough for 8th, 11 was enough in 2021 and we finished 9th with 10 wins that season.

No reason to think that this season is the new norm when it is clearly an absolute exception. If 10 or 11 wins is too much of an improvement for you then I suggest lightening up. WCE 2010 4 wins wooden spoon, 2011 17 wins 4th. A 13 win improvement. Every season is its own thing, if you aren't going in with ambitions to finish at least middle of the pack [which is either 8th or 9th] you might as well fold the club.
 
sharps24 said:
Oh right, good point. I guess we should adjust our expectations to something more realistic like 14th or something.

The reason 15 wins was needed this year was because the shit teams at the bottom were way more shit than they should have been. Carlton and Essendon seasons ruined by injury, us with the worst season in AFL history [probably due to injury] North failing to come on. Meant a heap of extra wins for the top teams. Expect more competitive efforts from bottom teams next year and for Collingwood and Geelong to fall back to the pack. In most recent seasons 12 or 13 has been enough for 8th, 11 was enough in 2021 and we finished 9th with 10 wins that season.

No reason to think that this season is the new norm when it is clearly an absolute exception. If 10 or 11 wins is too much of an improvement for you then I suggest lightening up. WCE 2010 4 wins wooden spoon, 2011 17 wins 4th. A 13 win improvement. Every season is its own thing, if you aren't going in with ambitions to finish at least middle of the pack [which is either 8th or 9th] you might as well fold the club.
Click to expand...
Who are we beating to achieve 10 or 11 wins?
 

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sharps24 said:
My apologies. Based on a 1 win season, there are no teams in the AFL that we could beat next year. If you can't win 1 game you can't win 10 games. I miscalculated so sorry.
Click to expand...
No, no. You're saying we should aim for finals. Tell me who we are beating next year to win 10 or 11 games.
 
Barrybran said:
No, no. You're saying we should aim for finals. Tell me who we are beating next year to win 10 or 11 games.
Click to expand...

Hit me back when the trade and draft period is over and the fixture is released I'll do a ladder predictor. I'l find you at least 10 games, maybe even 15 that I think Mini might be able to convince the boys they are a chance in. Until then I'll let you enjoy your pity party.
 
sharps24 said:
Hit me back when the trade and draft period is over and the fixture is released I'll do a ladder predictor. I'l find you at least 10 games, maybe even 15 that I think Mini might be able to convince the boys they are a chance in. Until then I'll let you enjoy your pity party.
Click to expand...
I had a feeling I wasn't getting an answer to this one 🤣
 
Barrybran said:
I had a feeling I wasn't getting an answer to this one 🤣
Click to expand...

Oh you had a feeling I couldn't tell you which games we'll win next year before we have a squad or a fixture. Good on you champ. We can win any game on any day as can every side in the comp depending on circumstances. And with some natural improvement, access to our best players instead of half of them sitting the year out, and the fact that not every club in the comp improves each year and some get significantly worse, we can expect to be competitive enough to go into most home games confident of a result and enough away games against bottom sides as well. The same basic parameters we went into this season with, having won 5 games last year. Who knows how it will turn out in practice. Now go **** yourself you clown.
 

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Would like to see something like this. I've assumed Ryan is gone & haven't factored in the trade, FA or draft period.

Yeo back takes Halls spot.

Hutchinson plays forward but also chops out on the wings. We miss pressure players in the forward half and he's always shown he's a good tackler same with Newton so I like the forward mix.

Reid & Williams share ruck duties. Both have looked good in that role

Brock Edwards Baker
Duggan Ginbey Hough
Maric Kelly Chesser
Brockman Shanahan Newton
Hutchinson Waterman Hewett

A.Reid, H.Reid, McCarthy

Graham, Grego, Yeo, J.Williams, Allen
 
HoneyBadger35 said:
For reasons that are abundantly clear, it’s nicer to think about what’s to come rather than what’s been.

For this exercise, we’re assuming Allen is gone and no unexpected player movement occurs. Take it to the trade and draft threads.

The Core
The players who should be playing 20+ games.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker - McCarthy
C: - Graham -
HF: Ryan Waterman -
FF: - Shanahan -
R: - Reid Hewett
I: - - - - -

Tempted to put Pick 1/2 here, but let’s wait and see. Ryan is flirting with this group, he gets included due to our other options at the position.

Likely starters
The players who will probably play plenty of footy, to varying reception.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman -
FF: - Shanahan -
R: - Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan -

The prayers
Players who would be an enormous boost if they consistently contributed in the other lists, but don’t bet your house.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman Chesser
FF: Brockman Shanahan AReid
R: - Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan Yeo

The rest
Listed players that could technically be selected, I suppose.

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman Chesser
FF: Brockman Shanahan AReid
R: Flynn Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan Yeo

Plausible depth
Def: Cole, Bazzo, Dewar, Allan, Grego
Mid: Gross, Hutch, Davis
Fwd: JWilliams, Champion, Cripps, Long, Owies
R: BWilliams
Picks: R1 (Hawks), 19, R2 (Hawks)

Who do we see moving in/out of the core by end of 2026? With another preseason, is there enough in the core to progress into light at the end of the tunnel territory? Could we enter a season without any rucks just to see what happens? Fire away.
Click to expand...
Loving this breakdown, great work Badge!
 

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