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The Premiership Favourite 2026

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Lions already into 4.50 after opening at 5 but. Hawks up to 8 from 7 and Geelong dropped a dollar into 8 as well.
 
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I think this Brisbane side has the potential to be the greatest dynasty of the modern era. For a team that has made finals for 6 or more consecutive years, their 19 - 25 year old range players rival anyone's. They could be challenging for the next 5-8 years, and it's going to take a lot to rock up on GF day and beat them, that's for sure.
 

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PowerfulPies2023 said:
They didn't even play and they've shortened. They win even when they're not playing. What a team.
Click to expand...

Gallop just took a contested mark over 8 other players and kicked truly. Lions up by 34 in the fourth.

Can't believe we're about to win our second grand final in a week 😍
 
GOTHELIONS16 said:
Couple of key injuries- you mean like what we dealt with this year? Neale, Payne, McInerney, Starcevic, McCarthy, Lohmann, Answerth, Coleman, Doedee; all missing for big chunks of the year. Hipwood and Berry missing finals also.

Out of form players- we had out of form players, e.g. Charlie

Tactics- we can play well lots of different ways. Master coach Scott couldn’t stop us.

Even race- you mean like the top 8 this year?

We had an answer every time we were challenged. We played the best footy this year. Best top 8 team record, hardest draw.

You can’t get more challenging than what we already endured this year.

Best young talent in the league, 5 in best U22 team. Bring in Draper, bring in Allen, Top 5 Pick.

Lions are strong favourites going into next year, and rightly so.

Dynasty in the making, until proven otherwise.
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No doubt lions will start bookie/crowd favourites - mostly because bookies and punters favour recency - Lions last 3 games were very good and obviously at the right time of year. There is lots more value at the moment in backing aginst the lions next year.

Lions didn't have an answer every time they were challenged - they lost week 1 of the finals - or was that part of the master plan? I think they wanted to win that one but were beaten pretty comprehensively. Before that they won 16 of 23 with a low % of 114 - that is not a dominant season - they hit form at the right time - that is not guarenteed every year.

All the sides in the 8 this year are going to be better + Bulldogs and Sydney + others like saints will be improvers - 2026 shapes as one of the most even for a long time imo
 
G String said:
No doubt lions will start bookie/crowd favourites - mostly because bookies and punters favour recency - Lions last 3 games were very good and obviously at the right time of year. There is lots more value at the moment in backing aginst the lions next year.

Lions didn't have an answer every time they were challenged - they lost week 1 of the finals - or was that part of the master plan? I think they wanted to win that one but were beaten pretty comprehensively. Before that they won 16 of 23 with a low % of 114 - that is not a dominant season - they hit form at the right time - that is not guarenteed every year.

All the sides in the 8 this year are going to be better + Bulldogs and Sydney + others like saints will be improvers - 2026 shapes as one of the most even for a long time imo
Click to expand...
Rubbish. Last season was so even as was this one for the top 9 teams. But really the 9th placed team beat no one. No guarantee the dogs will be good we heard that all season how they could win the flag. Didn't make the 8. Swans aren't guaranteed either to play finals. Who cares about week 1 look what happened after that and they beat the Cats 3 out of 4 times. The best record vs top 8 teams. Lions finished 3rd on the home and away ladder so you can say what you want about dominance the fact of the matter is they've played I'm the last 3 grand finals narrowly losing one and before that played in a prelim, semi losing by a solitary point and played in another prelim and another semi narrowly losing that too may have been a point also.

Lions best is the best by a mile as they proved time and time again. Just lost to the Crows too at Adelaide Oval and kicked themselves out of it vs the Giants in another loss. Inaccuracy at times didn't reflect their true dominance. Too much jealousy over Brisbane but in reality they're head and shoulders above the rest and rightful flag favourites in 2026. They overcame so much adversity and injury in 2025 I for one had them favourites straight after last year's grand final salute and didn't change all season even after they lost in the qualifier.

Their class is evident.
 
Also the Saints have so much love for them ATM and most of it is based on nothing. They're another western Bulldogs 2025 until proven otherwise.
 
Bay53 said:
Do we think that Brisbane have done enough to get on the Adelaide Oval for Gather Round?

Or perhaps they need another year at Norwood or Mt Barker to prove their credentials?
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If the AFL are brave, they'll schedule Hawthorn vs Brisbane as the 'main event' slot at Adelaide Oval on the Sunday night.

Although, I haven't seen us win a game live since 2022, and I'm 0-3 at Gather Round, so a throwaway Saturday twilight against West Coast would be more enjoyable from a personal perspective.
 
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Blackhawk42 said:
If the AFL are brave, they'll schedule Hawthorn vs Brisbane as the 'main event' slot at Adelaide Oval on the Sunday night.

Although, I haven't been us win a game live since 2022, and I'm 0-3 at Gather Round, so a throwaway Saturday twilight against West Coast would be more enjoyable from a personal perspective.
Click to expand...
Be careful what you wish for. West Coast will be a force in 2026.
 
The 4 best teams IMO are:

Brisbane
Hawthorn (if they land Merrett)
Gold Coast
Geelong

If Hawthorn don't land Merrett, then I'll replace them with St Kilda.
 

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Alright, here it is. Carlton to go 27 and 0 in 2026. Perfect season. Undefeated minor premiers, straight sets in finals, and lifting the cup without dropping a single game. Sounds insane? Maybe. But when you look at what’s brewing at Ikon Park, it’s not just possible. It’s set up.

This is how it happens.

First, the list profile. Carlton’s best players are smack in the middle of their prime. Charlie Curnow will be 28. Sam Walsh will be 25. Patrick Cripps will be 30 and still a contested bull. Jacob Weitering will be 27 and coming off another All-Australian calibre year. Adam Cerra is hitting his absolute peak. Harry McKay will finally be free of injury niggles and playing as the second banana, not the main man. The list is hardened, experienced, battle-tested, and still has growth. And it’s deep. Look at the fringe talent coming in the door. These aren’t passengers. They’re 22-quality players.

Second, system. Michael Voss has turned this into a defensively mature, tactically flexible team. In 2024 and 2025, the biggest improvement wasn’t just personnel. It was structure. Carlton presses high, defends transition, and chokes sides out in the contest. When it clicks, it looks like 2018 Richmond, 2021 Melbourne, and 2023 Collingwood all rolled into one. The difference is that Carlton has more forward firepower than any of them.

Third, the best forward line in the comp. Charlie Curnow has kicked over 80 goals in consecutive seasons. He is entering 2026 fitter, more mobile, and more dominant than any key forward since peak Buddy. McKay’s worst is still 40 goals. When he’s confident, it’s game over. Add in the best small forward unit in the league. Ainsworth, Williams, Motlop, Fogarty. It’s relentless pressure and scoreboard damage. And when midfielders like Smith, Walsh, Cerra, or Acres roll through and hit the scoreboard, the forward line becomes impossible to contain.

Fourth, the defence is now elite. Weitering is a rock. Kemp will be healthy and reading the ball like a veteran. Newman is one of the most underrated interceptors in the comp. Saad provides elite rebound. The mix of lockdown and rebound is perfect. And Carlton defends as a unit now. Their team defence in 2025 ranked top three for points against. It tightens even more in 2026.

Fifth, the midfield. This is the scariest part. Walsh, Cripps, Cerra, Hewett, Smith and the small forwards all rotating through. Then you add dynamic weapons like Ainsworth and maybe a breakout from one of our young guns. Cripps no longer needs to carry the load. Walsh is at the pointy end of the Brownlow count every year. Cerra will be back to All-Australian candidate form. They win clearances, they dominate stoppages, and they apply massive forward-half pressure.

Sixth, the fitness and conditioning. Carlton was the fittest side in the back half of 2025. They won almost every final quarter. That is no accident. Their high-performance program under Andrew Russell has finally clicked. Injuries were down. Players were running out games. Come 2026, they will have another preseason with that system. Expect fast starts, strong finishes, and no fade-outs.

Seventh, the hunger. The 2023 near-miss still stings. The 2024 missed opportunity hurt. The 2025 season showed they were right there. This group has been climbing the mountain for three years straight. They know what heartbreak feels like. They know what pressure feels like. They are ready. This is not a club hoping for success anymore. It is a club expecting it.

Now the fixture. Carlton will get blockbuster games. MCG. Marvel. Thursday and Friday nights. They thrive in prime time. Most of their toughest games will be at home. They’ll get to play weaker sides like West Coast, Essendon and North twice. If they come out of the first six rounds at 6 and 0, the belief will snowball. Momentum will take over. Sides will start fearing them before the first bounce.

Finals? It will not matter. Once Carlton locks in a home qualifying final, it is lights out. No team matches up on them over four quarters. Brisbane cannot contain Curnow and McKay. Geelong are our bunnies. Collingwood cannot beat them in a clearance war. Hokball is a thing of the past. The Grand Final becomes a formality.

A perfect season in modern footy is nearly impossible. But nearly is not never. If any side is built to do it, it is this one. Carlton going 27 and 0 in 2026 is not just a dream. It is the natural endpoint of three years of growth, pain, pressure, and elite list management.

And when they do it, people won’t say how did this happen. They’ll say we should have seen it coming.

Bookmark it.
 
kreuze_missile said:
Alright, here it is. Carlton to go 27 and 0 in 2026. Perfect season. Undefeated minor premiers, straight sets in finals, and lifting the cup without dropping a single game. Sounds insane? Maybe. But when you look at what’s brewing at Ikon Park, it’s not just possible. It’s set up.

This is how it happens.

First, the list profile. Carlton’s best players are smack in the middle of their prime. Charlie Curnow will be 28. Sam Walsh will be 25. Patrick Cripps will be 30 and still a contested bull. Jacob Weitering will be 27 and coming off another All-Australian calibre year. Adam Cerra is hitting his absolute peak. Harry McKay will finally be free of injury niggles and playing as the second banana, not the main man. The list is hardened, experienced, battle-tested, and still has growth. And it’s deep. Look at the fringe talent coming in the door. These aren’t passengers. They’re 22-quality players.

Second, system. Michael Voss has turned this into a defensively mature, tactically flexible team. In 2024 and 2025, the biggest improvement wasn’t just personnel. It was structure. Carlton presses high, defends transition, and chokes sides out in the contest. When it clicks, it looks like 2018 Richmond, 2021 Melbourne, and 2023 Collingwood all rolled into one. The difference is that Carlton has more forward firepower than any of them.

Third, the best forward line in the comp. Charlie Curnow has kicked over 80 goals in consecutive seasons. He is entering 2026 fitter, more mobile, and more dominant than any key forward since peak Buddy. McKay’s worst is still 40 goals. When he’s confident, it’s game over. Add in the best small forward unit in the league. Ainsworth, Williams, Motlop, Fogarty. It’s relentless pressure and scoreboard damage. And when midfielders like Smith, Walsh, Cerra, or Acres roll through and hit the scoreboard, the forward line becomes impossible to contain.

Fourth, the defence is now elite. Weitering is a rock. Kemp will be healthy and reading the ball like a veteran. Newman is one of the most underrated interceptors in the comp. Saad provides elite rebound. The mix of lockdown and rebound is perfect. And Carlton defends as a unit now. Their team defence in 2025 ranked top three for points against. It tightens even more in 2026.

Fifth, the midfield. This is the scariest part. Walsh, Cripps, Cerra, Hewett, Smith and the small forwards all rotating through. Then you add dynamic weapons like Ainsworth and maybe a breakout from one of our young guns. Cripps no longer needs to carry the load. Walsh is at the pointy end of the Brownlow count every year. Cerra will be back to All-Australian candidate form. They win clearances, they dominate stoppages, and they apply massive forward-half pressure.

Sixth, the fitness and conditioning. Carlton was the fittest side in the back half of 2025. They won almost every final quarter. That is no accident. Their high-performance program under Andrew Russell has finally clicked. Injuries were down. Players were running out games. Come 2026, they will have another preseason with that system. Expect fast starts, strong finishes, and no fade-outs.

Seventh, the hunger. The 2023 near-miss still stings. The 2024 missed opportunity hurt. The 2025 season showed they were right there. This group has been climbing the mountain for three years straight. They know what heartbreak feels like. They know what pressure feels like. They are ready. This is not a club hoping for success anymore. It is a club expecting it.

Now the fixture. Carlton will get blockbuster games. MCG. Marvel. Thursday and Friday nights. They thrive in prime time. Most of their toughest games will be at home. They’ll get to play weaker sides like West Coast, Essendon and North twice. If they come out of the first six rounds at 6 and 0, the belief will snowball. Momentum will take over. Sides will start fearing them before the first bounce.

Finals? It will not matter. Once Carlton locks in a home qualifying final, it is lights out. No team matches up on them over four quarters. Brisbane cannot contain Curnow and McKay. Geelong are our bunnies. Collingwood cannot beat them in a clearance war. Hokball is a thing of the past. The Grand Final becomes a formality.

A perfect season in modern footy is nearly impossible. But nearly is not never. If any side is built to do it, it is this one. Carlton going 27 and 0 in 2026 is not just a dream. It is the natural endpoint of three years of growth, pain, pressure, and elite list management.

And when they do it, people won’t say how did this happen. They’ll say we should have seen it coming.

Bookmark it.
Click to expand...
How can they play 27 games if they go undefeated all season? And also.




What.
 
kreuze_missile said:
Alright, here it is. Carlton to go 27 and 0 in 2026. Perfect season. Undefeated minor premiers, straight sets in finals, and lifting the cup without dropping a single game. Sounds insane? Maybe. But when you look at what’s brewing at Ikon Park, it’s not just possible. It’s set up.

This is how it happens.

First, the list profile. Carlton’s best players are smack in the middle of their prime. Charlie Curnow will be 28. Sam Walsh will be 25. Patrick Cripps will be 30 and still a contested bull. Jacob Weitering will be 27 and coming off another All-Australian calibre year. Adam Cerra is hitting his absolute peak. Harry McKay will finally be free of injury niggles and playing as the second banana, not the main man. The list is hardened, experienced, battle-tested, and still has growth. And it’s deep. Look at the fringe talent coming in the door. These aren’t passengers. They’re 22-quality players.

Second, system. Michael Voss has turned this into a defensively mature, tactically flexible team. In 2024 and 2025, the biggest improvement wasn’t just personnel. It was structure. Carlton presses high, defends transition, and chokes sides out in the contest. When it clicks, it looks like 2018 Richmond, 2021 Melbourne, and 2023 Collingwood all rolled into one. The difference is that Carlton has more forward firepower than any of them.

Third, the best forward line in the comp. Charlie Curnow has kicked over 80 goals in consecutive seasons. He is entering 2026 fitter, more mobile, and more dominant than any key forward since peak Buddy. McKay’s worst is still 40 goals. When he’s confident, it’s game over. Add in the best small forward unit in the league. Ainsworth, Williams, Motlop, Fogarty. It’s relentless pressure and scoreboard damage. And when midfielders like Smith, Walsh, Cerra, or Acres roll through and hit the scoreboard, the forward line becomes impossible to contain.

Fourth, the defence is now elite. Weitering is a rock. Kemp will be healthy and reading the ball like a veteran. Newman is one of the most underrated interceptors in the comp. Saad provides elite rebound. The mix of lockdown and rebound is perfect. And Carlton defends as a unit now. Their team defence in 2025 ranked top three for points against. It tightens even more in 2026.

Fifth, the midfield. This is the scariest part. Walsh, Cripps, Cerra, Hewett, Smith and the small forwards all rotating through. Then you add dynamic weapons like Ainsworth and maybe a breakout from one of our young guns. Cripps no longer needs to carry the load. Walsh is at the pointy end of the Brownlow count every year. Cerra will be back to All-Australian candidate form. They win clearances, they dominate stoppages, and they apply massive forward-half pressure.

Sixth, the fitness and conditioning. Carlton was the fittest side in the back half of 2025. They won almost every final quarter. That is no accident. Their high-performance program under Andrew Russell has finally clicked. Injuries were down. Players were running out games. Come 2026, they will have another preseason with that system. Expect fast starts, strong finishes, and no fade-outs.

Seventh, the hunger. The 2023 near-miss still stings. The 2024 missed opportunity hurt. The 2025 season showed they were right there. This group has been climbing the mountain for three years straight. They know what heartbreak feels like. They know what pressure feels like. They are ready. This is not a club hoping for success anymore. It is a club expecting it.

Now the fixture. Carlton will get blockbuster games. MCG. Marvel. Thursday and Friday nights. They thrive in prime time. Most of their toughest games will be at home. They’ll get to play weaker sides like West Coast, Essendon and North twice. If they come out of the first six rounds at 6 and 0, the belief will snowball. Momentum will take over. Sides will start fearing them before the first bounce.

Finals? It will not matter. Once Carlton locks in a home qualifying final, it is lights out. No team matches up on them over four quarters. Brisbane cannot contain Curnow and McKay. Geelong are our bunnies. Collingwood cannot beat them in a clearance war. Hokball is a thing of the past. The Grand Final becomes a formality.

A perfect season in modern footy is nearly impossible. But nearly is not never. If any side is built to do it, it is this one. Carlton going 27 and 0 in 2026 is not just a dream. It is the natural endpoint of three years of growth, pain, pressure, and elite list management.

And when they do it, people won’t say how did this happen. They’ll say we should have seen it coming.

Bookmark it.
Click to expand...

82eab101-4e54-4528-90fc-a07f3b429bac_text.gif
 
G String said:
No doubt lions will start bookie/crowd favourites - mostly because bookies and punters favour recency - Lions last 3 games were very good and obviously at the right time of year. There is lots more value at the moment in backing aginst the lions next year.

Lions didn't have an answer every time they were challenged - they lost week 1 of the finals - or was that part of the master plan? I think they wanted to win that one but were beaten pretty comprehensively. Before that they won 16 of 23 with a low % of 114 - that is not a dominant season - they hit form at the right time - that is not guarenteed every year.

All the sides in the 8 this year are going to be better + Bulldogs and Sydney + others like saints will be improvers - 2026 shapes as one of the most even for a long time imo
Click to expand...
What I mean by ‘answered to every challenge’, every time we had a bad loss or our premiership credentials were questioned we responded with a dominant win the next week. We won when we needed to. We didn’t need to win the qualifying final.

Of course our % was lower, we had the toughest draw. Percentage doesn’t mean much. Look at Western Bulldogs- 140%

2026 will be even, but good luck beating our young, yet most finals experienced lineup. Don’t mind adding at least some of Payne, Allen, Draper, McCarthy, Answerth, Hipwood, Coleman and Doedee to the mix.
 

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Jim Plunkett
Justin Plapp
Brad Oborne
Tyson Lane

Watch out for them they're all signing for West Coast. They'll be a force next season.
 
PowerfulPies2023 said:
They lost to Adelaide by under a kick and drew with the roos. It goes both ways. As if the odds would be even with dogs or swans who couldn't even make finals.

16 and 7 record is still good. Lions had to overcome various injuries and got to the granny without neale who only played a half in it. He's one of the best in the comp hands down.
Click to expand...
Not to mention the 12 scoring shots in the last qtr against Adelaide for a total 0 goals 10 behind. Still gives me damn nightmares
 
G String said:
No doubt lions will start bookie/crowd favourites - mostly because bookies and punters favour recency - Lions last 3 games were very good and obviously at the right time of year. There is lots more value at the moment in backing aginst the lions next year.

Lions didn't have an answer every time they were challenged - they lost week 1 of the finals - or was that part of the master plan? I think they wanted to win that one but were beaten pretty comprehensively. Before that they won 16 of 23 with a low % of 114 - that is not a dominant season - they hit form at the right time - that is not guarenteed every year.

All the sides in the 8 this year are going to be better + Bulldogs and Sydney + others like saints will be improvers - 2026 shapes as one of the most even for a long time imo
Click to expand...
Word is we were crook week 1 of finals. May be true.

Care to explain how Geelong and Collingwood "get better" next season.

No denying we seem to play well when it matters though. Which is all that matters really.
 
Miluxx said:
Not to mention the 12 scoring shots in the last qtr against Adelaide for a total 0 goals 10 behind. Still gives me damn nightmares
Click to expand...
12 scoring shots for 10 behinds? Only the premiers could do that.
 
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PhatBoy said:
It’s a fair point. Obviously Brisbane went berserk in the last quarter but the game was effectively won when they broke free in the third and we were barely hanging on. Charlie Cameron kicked a few plus another 45 seconds into the last.

A week earlier a freak incident with Mabior Chol that was nobody’s fault rules out Tom Stewart. Maybe if that doesn’t happen Cameron has no impact whatsoever (I realise Stewart doesn’t play on Cameron I’m just referencing the backline set-up). And yes I’m aware that the Lions themselves had heaps of injury concerns through the season including Berry missing the game altogether as well.

It’s a fine line between what can make a difference when you have a group of sides contending. Brisbane at the moment are better than us and everyone else and I’ve got no problem saying they should be clear favourites to win but I’m looking forward to seeing how we and others go about trying to beat them. The hawks in particular should improve again and I think we can be better.
Click to expand...
And so can the Lions. Who keep getting better.
 

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