Strategy Best 23 - 2026

[Run n Spread]

New rules will impact the ruck. Probably only need 1 now.
Although this last disposal rule is a hot mess. Just have it outright or dont

 

[Soups]

New rules will impact the ruck. Probably only need 1 now.
Although this last disposal rule is a hot mess. Just have it outright or dont

I would have thought the stand on the mark rule was the biggest mess out of all of them.

 

[Mollythedolly]

I would have thought the stand on the mark rule was the biggest mess out of all of them.

Teams are going to get completely opened up on transition if the opposition suddenly has a couple of players running free forward of the footy.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Teams are going to get completely opened up on transition if the opposition suddenly has a couple of players running free forward of the footy.

Yes and slower teams are going to be in real trouble.

Having a player effectively run past the man on the mark before the moron umpire calls play on is where the rule is a complete joke.

Rule should change that as soon as the player deviates from a straight line between himself and the man on the mark, it is automatically play on.

 

[Finnishpie]

I would have thought the stand on the mark rule was the biggest mess out of all of them.

Holding the ball takes the cake I'm afraid.

 

[Finnishpie]

Yes and slower teams are going to be in real trouble.

Having a player effectively run past the man on the mark before the moron umpire calls play on is where the rule is a complete joke.

Rule should change that as soon as the player deviates from a straight line between himself and the man on the mark, it is automatically play on.

It's impossible to really say how this will play out, isn't it?

I mean, free agency was meant to be for those players on the fringes to get a trade somewhere they will play. Ten seconds later Buddy Franklin showed how it would really work. It's for poaching A-graders (which actually was predictable so I just contradicted myself.)

 

[FromTheBoundaryLine]

Holding the ball takes the cake I'm afraid.

Nah. The rule that the AFL must change the rules of the game each year is the rule that gets me.

 

[UltraEgo]

What does everyone think/hope our best 23 will look like by the end of the 2026 season?

 

[sr36]

I would have thought the stand on the mark rule was the biggest mess out of all of them.

I think that will work. It's the shrug that will be a nightmare. No one will know whether they're going to pay a high free or a shrug against free. And a lot of the time you won't be sure what they should have paid - even on replay.

 

[Dtennent94]

What does everyone think/hope our best 23 will look like by the end of the 2026 season?

I hope our best 23 looks like the best 23

 

[Mick F]

What does everyone think/hope our best 23 will look like by the end of the 2026 season?

Maybe check your settings. My iPhone lets me scroll up and down.

 

[Finnishpie]

Maybe check your settings. My iPhone lets me scroll up and down.

What, you have to actually read other people's posts?! Outrageous!Q!!!

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

I think that will work. It's the shrug that will be a nightmare. No one will know whether they're going to pay a high free or a shrug against free. And a lot of the time you won't be sure what they should have paid - even on replay.

Even the two examples they show in the video. 50% of the time they paid those as high even when the tackle started legally. All this rule does is throw up another interpretation. These tackles will now be a lottery between:

• High tackle free
• Holding the ball free
• Stoppage / ball up

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

What does everyone think/hope our best 23 will look like by the end of the 2026 season?

I hope the best 23 doesn't include Pendles, Sidey and Howe. It would be a real concern if we need to keep these guys going into 2027 because haven't progressed in their development.

 

[Harry O]

Reckon we will need to give at least 4-5 youngsters 10 plus games next season

By virtue of who has left in off season and because a number of the vets will be managed through the season

Who will be the 4 or 5 prioritised ??

Will Parker an obvious one
R Steele another
Ed Allan probably
Reef McInnes maybe ?
Oscar Steene maybe?

Will be interesting who steps up in pre season to take thr opportunity available

 

[Dtennent94]

Reckon we will need to give at least 4-5 youngsters 10 plus games next season

By virtue of who has left in off season and because a number of the vets will be managed through the season

Who will be the 4 or 5 prioritised ??

Will Parker an obvious one
R Steele another
Ed Allan probably
Reef McInnes maybe ?
Oscar Steene maybe?

Will be interesting who steps up in pre season to take thr opportunity available

Harvey, if he counts. West fairly obvious candidate, too. Buller will play a lot as a young guy with few games to his name.

Hopefully another surprise out of the rest of players already on the list that steps forward or maybe someone we are about to draft. Then hopefully Condon soon enough.

 

[doppleganger]

Reckon we will need to give at least 4-5 youngsters 10 plus games next season

By virtue of who has left in off season and because a number of the vets will be managed through the season

Who will be the 4 or 5 prioritised ??

Will Parker an obvious one
R Steele another
Ed Allan probably
Reef McInnes maybe ?
Oscar Steene maybe?

Will be interesting who steps up in pre season to take thr opportunity available

Parker, Steele and Reef are inexperienced, but are all older than Naicos and Long.

Hoping HH comes back strong from his knee
Jiath can blossom across HB
C.West up forward to get some more games under his belt

 

[Harry O]

Parker, Steele and Reef are inexperienced, but are all older than Naicos and Long.

Hoping HH comes back strong from his knee
Jiath can blossom across HB
C.West up forward to get some more games under his belt

Harvey Harrison is definitely one I would like to stake a claim. Just a query on players in their first year back from ACL. Fingers crossed
Charlie West - think he has a few areas to improve before being afl ready. Might get a few games but can’t see him playing 10+

 

[riddick78]

Reckon we will need to give at least 4-5 youngsters 10 plus games next season

By virtue of who has left in off season and because a number of the vets will be managed through the season

Who will be the 4 or 5 prioritised ??

Will Parker an obvious one
R Steele another
Ed Allan probably
Reef McInnes maybe ?
Oscar Steene maybe?

Will be interesting who steps up in pre season to take thr opportunity available

Parker and Allan need to play regular footy, none of this in and out crap, i'd probably put Reef in this category as well, he needs to force his way into our backline and make it his.

I can see R. Steele playing regular footy and would love to see HH have a massive preseason and play regular games.

Then we need players like Demattia, Steene and West to play a couple of games, just to get a taste.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Harvey Harrison is definitely one I would like to stake a claim. Just a query on players in their first year back from ACL. Fingers crossed
Charlie West - think he has a few areas to improve before being afl ready. Might get a few games but can’t see him playing 10+

The only question marks on West imho are around his tank. Does that improve dramatically this off-season? Contested, marking and ground ball aspects are all good at VFL level so hopefully translate to senior footy next year. I think the battle between he and Membrey for that 3rd tall spot will be an interesting watch in 2026.

 

[domus]

New rules will impact the ruck. Probably only need 1 now.
Although this last disposal rule is a hot mess. Just have it outright or dont

Cameron can't jump. He loved the wrestle and pushing opponents under the ball.

 

[jmac70]

Cameron can't jump. He loved the wrestle and pushing opponents under the ball.

Let me guess, we should have kept Cox?

 

[IlovethePies]

Parker and Allan need to play regular footy, none of this in and out crap, i'd probably put Reef in this category as well, he needs to force his way into our backline and make it his.

I can see R. Steele playing regular footy and would love to see HH have a massive preseason and play regular games.

Then we need players like Demattia, Steene and West to play a couple of games, just to get a taste.

TBH, we need West and Steene to play more than a couple of games.
We have ensured this to be the case by allowing Checkers and Cox to leave.
We're basing our hopes on both Charlie and Oscar to improve to AFL standard in 2026, not the following year.
This is where I thought we have been a little reckless.
Maybe not so much with Checkers, as we have recruited Buller.
But our ruck depth does not inspire confidence unless Steene can actually bridge the gap next year.

 

[IlovethePies]

Let me guess, we should have kept Cox?

On the balance of probabilities, yes.

 

[jmac70]

On the balance of probabilities, yes.

What does this even mean?