Remove this Banner Ad

The Premiership Favourite 2026

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

The one team that relied on system more than personnel had their system beaten in the Prelim.

Collingwood.

There's no doubt that the Pies have beaten teams with better lists with system, now the top teams are able to out Collingwood Collingwood.

So where to now for the pies? Well definitely not in the flag race next year, unless everything falls their way, rare.

More than certain they will attempt to bolster their list and rejig the 'system' to stay competitive with a view to the medium to long term future.

If they go all chips in again, then they'll be in a world of pain for many years to come.

It is Bris that is the team to beat, littered with talent - the best list certainly.

So who can possibly challenge them? Well if the wheels don't fall off, I don't see many if any.

  • Adelaide, if they can bolster their mid group and continue to play the pressure game they'll be around about. Better experienced for the finals run.
  • Hawthorn, same and keeping Will Day on the park.
  • Sydney, they had an off year, looks like they're clearing Rowbottom out, even if they do that, they still have a contending list and can cover him. Just need Cox and the group to be consistently on the same page.
  • GC, they're up and coming and will be better for the finals experience.
  • Geelong? Had a bad day at the office, can they match Bris? Not certain, in fact doubtful.
  • Freo? Smokey, very young team, have all the pieces, can they reach potential? Remains to be seen.
  • Dogs? Seem like flat track bullies, not convinced.
 
The Lions will take some beating in 2026- Possible ins from the GF side this year >

Jarrod Berry, Keidean Coleman, Linc McCarthy, Oscar Allen, Sam Draper, Noah Answerth, Jack Payne, Eric Hipwood, Daniel Annabel.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

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...

kreuze.missile:......keep dreamin'

Keep dreaming 1.gif
 
Lions then daylight.

They have added two quality tall FAs at no cost.

Traded out their own FA.

And gett8ng access to the best inside mid in the draft who could have played in the GF.

They just keep getting stronger.

Who will catch them in 2026?
 
Obeanie1 said:
Lions then daylight.

They have added two quality tall FAs at no cost.

Traded out their own FA.

And gett8ng access to the best inside mid in the draft who could have played in the GF.

They just keep getting stronger.

Who will catch them in 2026?
Click to expand...
You guys.
 
Really like likes of Suns Freo along with Stkilda and hawks in 2026.
In way forming the chasing pack in 2026.
Watch this space for saints they have something brewing there at moorabbin.
Suns Freo hawks should make top 4 along with the lions.
Pies smoky this time around as well.
Not much after that.
cats on the slide finally but still make it knocked out week 1
falls aways after that
 

Remove this Banner Ad

timokane said:
Really like likes of Suns Freo along with Stkilda and hawks in 2026.
In way forming the chasing pack in 2026.
Watch this space for saints they have something brewing there at moorabbin.
Suns Freo hawks should make top 4 along with the lions.
Pies smoky this time around as well.
Not much after that.
cats on the slide finally but still make it knocked out week 1
falls aways after that
Click to expand...
What
 
timokane said:
Really like likes of Suns Freo along with Stkilda and hawks in 2026.
In way forming the chasing pack in 2026.
Watch this space for saints they have something brewing there at moorabbin.
Suns Freo hawks should make top 4 along with the lions.
Pies smoky this time around as well.
Not much after that.
cats on the slide finally but still make it knocked out week 1
falls aways after that
Click to expand...
And you don't mention Brisbane and you have the Saints in there?


What what what
 
Timokane
Propane
Mary Jane
Paris Lane
No pain
No gain
Charles rain
Is not insane
A bloke named Kane
He tried in vain
Acted like Michael Cane
But he didn't get Lois Lane
Main?
No a lesser of the acting chain
 
Obeanie1 said:
Lions then daylight.

They have added two quality tall FAs at no cost.

Traded out their own FA.

And gett8ng access to the best inside mid in the draft who could have played in the GF.

They just keep getting stronger.

Who will catch them in 2026?
Click to expand...
They're going to have to play a poor final like the QF but in the knockout format.

Rumours abound that they had the flu for that game, but I think that's what we are relying on.
 
Lions
Hawks Cats
Suns freo
GWS Crows

Forget the rest. How are the Giants young talent?
 
Last edited:
timokane said:
Really like likes of Suns Freo along with Stkilda and hawks in 2026.
In way forming the chasing pack in 2026.
Watch this space for saints they have something brewing there at moorabbin.
Suns Freo hawks should make top 4 along with the lions.
Pies smoky this time around as well.
Not much after that.
cats on the slide finally but still make it knocked out week 1
falls aways after that
Click to expand...
Will be interested to see how the brewing at Morrabin goes compared to say the once advertised cooking at Carlton ... not sure about the assembled ingredients and not sure whether Ross has it in him to make a potable beverage ...
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Viceregal said:
Will be interested to see how the brewing at Morrabin goes compared to say the once advertised cooking at Carlton ... not sure about the assembled ingredients and not sure whether Ross has it in him to make a potable beverage ...
Click to expand...
Ross the Boss he hails from kings Cross he played Michael Voss the Brisbane Lions don't give a toss in 2026 they'll show them who's boss.
 
Last edited:
Suns odds have shortened a bit in the last couple of hours I reckon
 
PowerfulPies2023 said:
Timokane
Propane
Mary Jane
Paris Lane
No pain
No gain
Charles rain
Is not insane
A bloke named Kane
He tried in vain
Acted like Michael Cane
But he didn't get Lois Lane
Main?
No a lesser of the acting chain
Click to expand...
Confused Eyes GIF by MOODMAN
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Similar threads

PerthBoy86
    • Wow
    • Like
    • Haha
I realised the reason I don't care that much about the 2026 premiership season
2 3 4
Replies
98
Views
3K
Kavliaris69
Kavliaris69
Gavin Excell
  • Poll Poll
The Premiership favourite- 2025
136 137 138 139 140
Replies
3K
Views
144K
RCAB
RCAB
W
Sydney premiership aspirations
Replies
2
Views
99
Ronnie Baby
Ronnie Baby
W
    • Haha
    • Like
Geelong premiership aspirations
2 3
Replies
54
Views
1K
Mr Meow
M
PerthBoy86
How would you place each team in the 'premiership' cycle?
Replies
0
Views
135
PerthBoy86
PerthBoy86
PerthBoy86
Are the Bulldogs the real deal in 2026?
Replies
24
Views
767
Stan_Darsh72
Stan_Darsh72
BigVic
    • Haha
    • Love
    • Like
Opinion Is 2026 the worst AFL season ever
2 3
Replies
50
Views
1K
Crankyhawk
Crankyhawk

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom