Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[Bundy Bear Bogan]

Newman Weitering Saad
Florent McGovern Haynes
Chesser Cripps Walsh
Hayward Kemp Ainsworth
Evans McKay Williams

Pitto Hewitt Jagga

Int Hollands Lord
Cowan Carroll Moir Cerra


But I need 6 on the bench

 

[Juddernaut08]

Newman Weitering Cowan
Hollands McGovern Haynes
Chesser Cripps Florent
Hayward Kemp Ainsworth
Evans McKay Williams

Pitto Walsh Hewett

Int Cerra Jagga HoK Moir Lord

Emg: Saad Carroll Acres

CHB is our biggest hole now. HOF injury and JSOS departure hurts. Dean will fill it but not in 2026.

 

[mikeroo_123]

Newman Weitering Cowan

Haynes Dean Florent



Cottrell Hewett Walsh



Hayward Kemp Ainsworth

Evans McKay Williams



Pittonet Cripps Cerra



Lord Smith Moir Carroll Saad

 

[luke livingston seagull]

This trade period has seriously transformed us.

I’ve got…

B - Saad Weitering Haynes
HB - Newman Dean Florent
C - Chesser Cripps O. Hollands
HF - Ainsworth McKay Hayward
F - Williams HOK Kemp
R - Pittonet Hewett Walsh
I/C - Cowan Cerra Moir Evans Smith

Depth includes: Lord, Cottrell, Carroll, Motlop, Young, Gov, Reidy, Campos, Fog, Acres, White, Draft picks

Bonus: E. Hollands

 

[Bundy Bear Bogan]

This trade period has seriously transformed us.

I’ve got…

B - Saad Weitering Haynes
HB - Newman Dean Florent
C - Chesser Cripps O. Hollands
HF - Ainsworth McKay Hayward
F - Williams HOK Kemp
R - Pittonet Hewett Walsh
I/C - Cowan Cerra Moir Evans Smith

Depth includes: Lord, Cottrell, Carroll, Motlop, Young, Gov, Reidy, Campos, Fog, Acres, White, Draft picks

Bonus: E. Hollands

Selection night could drag on for a while. Will be hard

 

[AndyNicka]

B: Saad, Weitering, Newman
HB: Florent, Haynes, McGovern
C: Acres, Cripps, Walsh
HF: Ainsworth, O'Keefe, Hayward
F: Motlop, McKay, Williams
R: Pittonet, Cerra, Hewett
I: Evans, Cowan, Moir, O.Hollands, Smith
E: Carroll, Lord, Cottrell, Chesser

A few extra points on the above:

• Kemp to make his way back later on in the season
• HOF potentially the last few rounds.
• E.Hollands the big unknown.
• Guys like Acres, Gov maybe even Newman and Saad to be replaced by younger players as the season goes on.

 

[Gokz]

FB - Cowan Weitering Haynes

HB- Florent Dean Newman

C - Walsh Cripps Hollands

HF - Evans Hayward Ainsworth

FF - Motlop McKay Kemp

RR- Pitto Cerra Hewett

I/C - Saad, Williams, Chesser, Smith, Lord/O’Keefe/Moir (Pick one)

Depth - Reidy, McGovern, Ison, Fogarty, Acres, Cottrell, Carroll, Young, F. Young, White, Boyd, Wilson, B. Campo, L. Campo, Charleson, Binns, Monaghan, Duffy.

Injury - O’Farrell

Thats 44 listed players

Doesnt include what happens with Elijah, draft picks and anymore delistings

 

[No1Suspect]

Newman Weitering Dean
Florent Haynes Cowan

Walsh Cripps Chesser

E.Hollands McKay Ainsworth
Williams HOK Hayward

Reidy Hewett Smith

Int: Moir Lord O.Hollands Cerra McGovern

Emg Evans Cottrel Carroll Motlop

Inj. Kemp still not quite up to scratch.

 

[RAPPA]

There’s now a squeeze in the forward line but I fully expect Motlop to make a spot in there his own.

Absolute shame if Gov has to get gifted games.

 

[Juddernaut08]

dean watchers, is dean any chance of being a ready made chb at afl level?

 

[thebluenewdeal]

Cowan Weitering Saad
Florent Dean Newman

Hollands Cripps Carroll

Ainsworth Mckay Williams
Motlop O'Keefe Hayward

Pittonet Hewett Walsh

Cerra Acres Cottrell Lord Smith

Emergency
Haynes Reidy Evans

 

[thebluenewdeal]

dean watchers, is dean any chance of being a ready made chb at afl level?

give him first dibs and if he needs to work on some stuff after a few rounds then send him to the magoos and replace him with Haynes

 

[Sucker for Trade Period]

B Cowan Weitering Newman

HB Florent Haynes Saad

C Chesser Cripps Hollands

HF Ainsworth McKay Evans

F Hayward Kemp Williams

R Pittonet Walsh Cerra

I Hewett Smith Cottrell Lord O'Keeffe

E Motlop Acres Moir

 

[BIuebagger]

FB: Dean, Weitering, Newman
HB: Florent, Haynes, Cowan
C: O. Hollands, Cripps, Walsh
HF: Hayward, McKay, Ainsworth
FF: Evans, Kemp, Williams
Foll: Pittonet, Cerra, Hewett

I/C: Lord, O’Keeffe, Moir, Saad, Smith

E: Motlop, Chesser, Carroll, Reidy

Reserve: Fogarty, McGovern, Acres, B. Camporeale, E. Hollands, L. Camporeale, O’Farrell (LTI), Binns, Charleson, L. Young, Monahan, Wilson, Boyd, White, Duffy, F. Young, Cottrell, Ison

I think these won’t be on our list by last list lodgement: E. Hollands, White, F. Young

Chesser to break into the team pretty much asap. Newman, Haynes, Saad potentially all in their last season. Youth such as Wilson and Carroll get their chances again. This was harder than it seemed, and that’s a good sign.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Saad Weitering Haynes
Cowan McGovern Newman
Acres Hewett Florent
Ainsworth Moir Cottrell
Williams McKay Hayward

Pittonet Cripps Walsh

Smith Cerra Hollands Evans Young

I went Young over Lord because he can fill in as a ruck, KD or tall forward as I’ve gone very small. Pretty much just backed in runners.

 

[Tommy Alvin]

Cowan Weitering Saad
Florent Dean Newman
Hollands Cripps Chesser
Ainsworth Kemp Williams
Evans McKay Hayward

Reidy Hewett Walsh

Cerra Acres Young Lord Smith

Surprise players: Campo boys. Could challenge.

TA

 

[Sweet Seventeen]

Kemp is not expected to be available till mid season. Very nasty injury as well, don't think we can expect to see him at his best for quiet some

time. Elijah is an interesting one. Seems he may get one more chance, he is very lucky that he has so much natural talent.

FB Newman Weiterbot Saady

HB Cowan Haynes Ollie H

C Chesser Cripps Florent

HF Ainsworth Harry Hayward

FF Motts Frank the tank Williams

R Pitto Walsh Hewett

Inter Cerra Jagga Lord Moir Carroll

Emerg McGov Acres Elijah

Unfortunately some players will go down during pre-season. Just like every other year. Lets hope that they are more minor, than major.

 

[Soapy V]

Won't happen but what I want to see as it means they have stepped up and had a great pre season

B: Cowan Weitering Carroll
HB: Ollie Haynes Florent
C: Walsh Cripps Acres
HF: Ainsworth McKay Williams
F: Hayward HOK Motlop
Foll: Pittonet Hewett Cerra
Int: Jagga Chesser Moir Evans Young
Emerg: Lord Reidy Saad Wilson


I want to see more run and flexibility. Names like Moir Ainsworth Williams Motlop running through the middle and Cripps up forward. I would play Jagga off HB in his first year

More run from defence

 

[Catfish blue]

Dean and HOK holding down keys is a concern, apart from that its a balanced team.

2026 round 1 assuming no more injuries

FB: Cow Weits Saad
HB: Newman Dean Haynes
CE: Acres Cripps OHollo
HF: Ainsworth McKay Moir
FF: Hayward HOK Williams

Foll: Pitto Cez Walsh
B: Hewy Florent Jagga Frankie Carroll

Defence depth: Gov*, Young, O Farrell, Wilson, Boyd, Charleson
Ruck depth: Reidy, Young
Midfield depth: LCampo, BCampo, Cottrell, Lord, Chesser, Ison
Fwd depth: Motlop, Fog, Kemp*, White*, F.Young*, E.Hollo**
*Injured
**Potential delist + Monaghan, Duffy

 

[Blue__Balls]

A new day dawns, and I tell you what, I'm more optimistic about our prospects for next year than I was two weeks ago.

FB: Dean, Weitering, Newman
HB: Chesser, Haynes, Cowan
C: Florent, Cripps, O Hollands
R: Pittonet, Walsh, Jagga
HF: Hayward, McKay, Ainsworth
FF: Moir, O'Keeffe, Williams
INT: Saad, Cerra, Hewett, Evans, Cottrell

Missing my team, but right on the edge if someone from the above is injured or at all out of form during the praccy games:
Motlop, McGovern, Acres, Kemp, Carroll, Wilson, Lord

Just depth unless a big preseason demands more:
L Young, Fogarty, Binns, Boyd, White, F Young, Reidy

Expecting a development year, selection not off the table but subject to form and senior team balance:
B Campo, El Campo, Charleson, Monahan, Duffy, Ison

Injured: O'Farrell
In limbo: E Hollands

I think Dean will slot straight into the seniors and learn the caper as the second KPD alongside Weiters (and with direction and support from Haynes and Newy). Not expecting him to win every contest, but he'll be across our system, will benefit from direct support and on-field coaching from the other talls, and the game is shifting away from gorilla key forwards so I think there will be reasonable match-ups most weeks.

I've got Chesser starting at half back, but I think between him, Florent, Saad and even Hollands (after a year learning the defensive caper) we'll mix things up a bit. I'd like to see Saad start on the bench and be used a little more strategically with the extended bench - bring him on for bursts rather than asking him to play quite so many minutes as previously.

Hollands predominantly back to a wing, with Florent on the other side. Hollands to take the skinny side and provide an outlet from the contest, Florent to hold width on the fat side and use his pace to break into space when we win the ball, or get back and help defend if we don't.

Pitto starts for me cause I just haven't seen enough of Reidy to give him any credit yet. Can reassess through preseason and see if one or the other seems to benefit more from the ruck rule changes.

Hayward, McKay and Ainsworth as a half forward line could be transformative. All mobile, reasonably quick, strong in the air and capable on the deck, all can kick it from outside 50 and don't mind a tackle as well. Losing Curnow hurts, but the new forward mix gives me a looooot of confidence.

Moir needs to keep getting games, simply too classy not to. I've got O'Keeffe penciled in to FF for now, but open to Reidy if his form warrants it. Williams starts ahead of Motlop and Evans for the forward pocket, but I think he'll need to work his arse off to hold that spot.

Cerra and Hewett off the bench, though realistically either of them could and maaaaybe should start ahead of Jagga at the opening bounce. We'll see. Evans and (forgotten man) Cottrell round out the bench for versatility and reliability (when it comes to being given a role).

On Kemp - I've got him coming back through the ressies, but think once he's got confidence back in his body he'd take Cottrell's bench spot and play as an old-school swingman.

I think we're going to be rolling out a side that will move the ball a hell of a lot quicker from back to front, and has 6 genuine avenues to goal rather than the 3-4 we've fielded previously. From there it's going to come down to how quickly the coaches and players can connect and bed down a suitable methodology.

 

[windows1]

dean watchers, is dean any chance of being a ready made chb at afl level?

Straight in for mine. Strong body and very good pace. Tough.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

Cowan, Weitering, Newman
Florent, Haynes, Saad
Chessar, Cerra, Hollands
AInsworth, McKay, Hayward
Evans, HOK, Motlop

Pittonet, Walsh, Cripps

Hewett, Williams, Moir, Lord, Smith

Young, Acres, Kemp, Cottrell, Carrol,

 

[gbatman]

Carroll Weitering Haynes
Saad Young Cowan
Florent Cripps Chesser
Hayward Kemp Ainsworth
O'Keefe McKay Motlop
Pittonet Walsh Cerra
Newman Hewett O Hollands Williams Smith

It's a much better list than we have had the last few seasons. It's a better team in many ways. There's likely to be a high profile draftee added if we get to use early picks on a aplayer of our choice instead of Dean. Walker to come in next season plus I get the feeling we will be pushing for some top talent as well.

Possible Reserves
E Hollands ? Boyd
Charleson McGovern Wilson
Acres Camporeale Camporeale
Evans Moir Cottrell
Hogg Ready Fogarty
? Lord Ison
Binns Monahan Duffy White Young Gresham?

I am hopeful we give Hogg an opportunity, think there is a lot to work with there. Then there is Gresham as well who has some talent.

 

[no. 4]

I am selecting this team on the assumption that Gov is retained.

Cowan Weitering Newman
Saad McGovern Haynes
Hollands Cripps Florent
Ainsworth Kemp Hayward
Moir McKay Williams
Pittonet Walsh Cerra

Hewett Chesser Smith Dean O'Keeffe

 

[Schoonerman]

Dean has come out and said he wants to play Rd 1
I love that -Get him in, 3 great guys to learn off on the run
Go get em kid