Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[Red Bull]

Assuming everyone bar O’Farrell is good to go …

Saad Weitering Dean
Cowan Haynes Newman
Hollands Cripps Chesser
Hayward McKay Ainsworth
Williams O’Keefe Moir

Pittonet Cerra Walsh

Smith Hewett Florent Kemp Motlop

Florent - defensive rotation
Kemp - swingman
Motlop - forward rotation
Smith/Hewett - midfield rotation

* Want Lord in the team and he probably will be as injury strikes …

 

[passmark]

Saad may very well be selected early doors but if his form is like 2025 I hope they move quickly to replace him.

 

[Michael Jezz]

Cowan Weitering newman
Florent Haynes Carrol
Hollands Cripps chesser
Hayward Mckay Ainsworth
Williams Hok Moir

Pittonet Walsh Hewett

Cerra, Saad, Lord, evans, Smith

 

[The Bighouse]

Gone the youth path with H.Dean & Ison getting debuts along with Jagga

Kemp recovered from the achilles

Edit: being a night game, Balta will be on home curfew.

 

[Benaly28]

Hard to say who makes the actual 23 but the following ‘should’ start.

Jagga
Newman
Cottrell
Dean
Hayward
Florent
Chesser
Reidy
Ainsworth

Kemp* (if available)

 

[TENACIOUS]

AFL Team

B Newman Weitering Dean

HB Carroll Cowan Florent

C Chesser Cripps Hollands

R Reidy Walsh Lord

HF Ainsworth McKay Evans

F Hayward HOK Williams

I Hewett Smith Haynes Cerra Moir

VFL Team
Strongest team we’ve had in a long time

B Boyd (VFL Player) Wilson

HB Saad L.Young Charleson

C Acres B.Campo L.Campo

R Pittonet E.Hollands Fogarty

HF Cottrell (VFL Player) Ison

F F.Young McGovern Motlop

I Duffy Monahan (Draftee) (Draftee)

INJ Kemp & HOF

 

[ctwenty1]

AFL Team

B Newman Weitering Dean

HB Carroll Cowan Florent

C Chesser Cripps Hollands

R Reidy Walsh Lord

HF Ainsworth McKay Evans

F Hayward HOK Williams

I Hewett Smith Haynes Cerra Moir

VFL Team
Strongest team we’ve had in a long time

B Boyd (VFL Player) Wilson

HB Saad L.Young Charleson

C Acres B.Campo L.Campo

R Pittonet E.Hollands Fogarty

HF Cottrell Moir Ison

F F.Young McGovern Motlop

I Duffy Monahan (Draftee) (VFL Player)

INJ Kemp & HOF

You have Moir in twice

Would leave him in eth AFL side and have him replaced in VFL side with VFL Player

Lets see how Dean goes - happy not to play him Round 1 so he gets some time to physiccaly get into being an AFL footballer

 

[Gointocarlton]

AFL Team

B Newman Weitering Dean

HB Carroll Cowan Florent

C Chesser Cripps Hollands

R Reidy Walsh Lord

HF Ainsworth McKay Evans

F Hayward HOK Williams

I Hewett Smith Haynes Cerra Moir

Tena that's not a very balanced side, you have 4 of the newbies on the same side of the ground, I would have balanced it out and gone 3 and 3
Ill give myself and uppercut and see myself out now.

 

[DirtyLeeds]

Assuming everyone (bar HOF) is available:

Defenders: Weiters, Haynes, Newy, Cowan, Florent, Carrol, Hollands, Dean

Mids: Reidy , Cripps, Walsh, Hewitt, Cera, Chesser, Lord, Smith

Fwds: McKay, Moir, Kemp/HOK, Hayward, Ainsworth, Evans, Cotterall/Ison


Depends on Kemp's fitness and how Ison's preseason goes (he looks absolutely ready to go)

 

[TENACIOUS]

You have Moir in twice

Would leave him in eth AFL side and have him replaced in VFL side with VFL Player

Lets see how Dean goes - happy not to play him Round 1 so he gets some time to physiccaly get into being an AFL footballer

I checked 3 times and couldn’t see the extra player

After listening to the Dean interview, he’ll pushing for round 1.

Pretty excited to get him, ultra competitive and has white lines fever. Something we desperately lack.

 

[JustOneTime]

Haynes Weitering Z Williams
Saad Gaping hole Florent

Walsh Hewett O Hollands
Pitto Cerra Jagga

Hayward Mckay Ainsworth
Motlop Gaping Hole Cripps

Bench: Newman, Evans, The good version of Acres, any utility around 193, Cowan maybe.

I dont have Young, Moir, Mcgovern, HoK in my best 22 unless im forced to do it. All squad players for mine - im 100% sure they will help plug the gaping holes. I just don't want them there.

Young is just a worse version of Haynes that happens to be tall. Mcgovern doesnt deserve a spot in my team. Cripps...well, no one else is ready for third fwd banana, so get his slowness away from opposition turnover footy, and give our defence a fighting chance.

 

[CJMB]

FB: Dean+ Weitering Newman*
HB: Cowan Haynes Florent+

C: Hollands Cripps Chesser+
R: Reidy+ Cerra* Walsh

HF: Ainsworth+ Kemp* Williams
FF: Hayward+ McKay Evans

INT: Saad Hewett Smith* Moir O’Keeffe

EMG: Lord Cottrell Motlop

+carlton debut
*wasn’t in final team of 2025

Well aware this won’t eventuate. Really hoping that the likes of Chesser and Reidy can force Acres and Pitto out.

Would also consider swapping Saad for Wilson or Carroll, or swinging Chesser back and somehow getting Lord in there (but don’t love the balance of cripps, Hewett and lord together).

In all likelihood we get something like this

Young Weitering Newman
Cowan Haynes Saad

Acres Cripps Florent
Pittonet Hewett Walsh

Ainsworth McGovern Williams
Hayward McKay Motlop

Hollands Cerra Smith Cottrell Fogarty

 

[tarczonandjane]

I don’t often have a go at these sides, and you are probably about to see why. But here goes:

B: Haynes Pickup Newman

HB: Florent Weitering Hollands

C: Chesser Cripps Cottrell

HF: Jagga McKay Ainsworth

F: Hayward Moir Williams

Foll: Pittonet Walsh Hewett

Inter: Cowan Cerra Carroll O’Keefe Evans


Notes:

I think we take someone like Phillips and they immediately come into the side as a key position defender

I desperately wanted to fit in Lord. His end of 2025 was magnificent. But I still get caught up on how we manage to fit he and Cripps and Hewett in the same side. He’s an unlucky omission.

Cottrell probably doesn’t make lists of many other posters. But he’s an immensely hard worker and his forward line delivery is about the best we’ve got. I have him on a wing.

I have O’Keefe on the bench. He shows plenty of promise, but I think we’ll try and manufacture a smaller and more mobile forward line. Moir is a player I could see being asked to play as a second tall.

The lack of pace in midfield with Hewett and Cripps remains a concern. I’ve put Ainsworth and Jagga on the half forward flanks pushing hard into the midfield to offer support.

Carroll gets a gig on the bench as a handy backup for Newman and Florent. Evans offers the small forward support ahead of Motlop. Cerra likely to support the midfield.

The one I’ve left out is Harry Dean. I’m certain he plays round one. But I’m not quite sure how to fit him in. I think the key senior defender we collect is likely to play. With Haynes in the side as well, I just can’t work out how Dean plays. But I remain confident that he will be in the side.

Give us the cup now!

 

[passmark]

We traded for Florent.

Unless injured I reckon he plays round 1

 

[CJMB]

We traded for Florent.

Unless injured I reckon he plays round 1

100%

 

[Powerules]

Surprised most of you are leaving Lord out of your best 23. He's already shown he's more than capable and this is an important year for his development. Would at least have him on the bench, or even consider pushing Walsh to a wing and rotating Cripps, Hewett, Cerra and Lord through the middle. Walsh could still get 20-30% mid time

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

Surprised most of you are leaving Lord out of your best 23. He's already shown he's more than capable and this is an important year for his development. Would at least have him on the bench, or even consider pushing Walsh to a wing and rotating Cripps, Hewett, Cerra and Lord through the middle. Walsh could still get 20-30% mid time

Yes. Growing by the game and doesn't shy from the big moments.

He's in my team.

 

[pressurepoint]

FB: Newman Weitering Cowan
HB: Florent McGovern Haynes
C: Hollands Cripps Jagga
HF: Hayward Kemp Ainsworth
FF: Evans McKay Williams
Foll: Pitto Walsh Hewett
Int: Cerra HoK Moir Carroll (Dovaston)
Emg: Lord Saad Acres Chesser Cottrell L Camporeale B Camporeale Dean OFarell

 

[Milshouse]

Surprised most of you are leaving Lord out of your best 23. He's already shown he's more than capable and this is an important year for his development. Would at least have him on the bench, or even consider pushing Walsh to a wing and rotating Cripps, Hewett, Cerra and Lord through the middle. Walsh could still get 20-30% mid time

One thing I think is a knock on effect and not mentioned is it allows Hewett to be a balanced mid, no tagging, and Lord gets to learn off the best mids

 

[Revenant1995]

Just to acknowledge trades / drafts...

B: Dean Weitering Newman
HB: Florent Haynes Hollands
C: Chesser Cripps Ison
HF: Jagga McKay Ainsworth
F: Hayward Moir Byrne
Foll: Reidy Walsh Cerra
Inter: O’Keefe Williams Cowan Lord McGovern

 

[marcmurphy3]

Post trade and draft period.

B: Haynes Weitering Cowan
HB: Newman Dean Saad
C: Florent Cripps Chesser
HF: Ainsworth O'Keeffe Hayward
F: Williams McKay Moir
OB: Pittonet Walsh Cerra
IC: Hollands Hewett Lord Jagga Evans

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Saad Weitering Haynes
Cowan Dean Florent
Hollands Walsh Chesser
Williams O’Keefe Ainsworth
Hayward McKay Motlop

Pittonet Cripps Cerra

Hewett Jagger Moir Newman Evans

Boyd (O’Farrell)* Carroll
Charleson Young Wilson
Acres Lord L.Campo
Byrne McGovern Cottrell
Ison Kemp* Fogarty

Reidy B.Campo Young

Monahan Duffy ????? ?????

Elijah? White? KPF? KPD? SMOKEY?

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Saad Weitering Doull
Cowan Jezza Hunter
Glascott Walsh Crane
Bosustow Maclure Johnston
Hayward H McKay D McKay

Fitzpatrick Cripps Cerra

Harmes Jagger Moir Crosswell

 

[Soapy V]

Not Round One but I hope see in second half of the year following great development

B: Florent Weitering Dean
HB: Cowan HOF Carroll
C: Walsh Cripps Chesser
HF: Ainsworth McKay Williams
F: Moir O'Keefe Motlop
Foll: Reidy Cerra Jagga
Int: Evans Lord Hayward Ollie Byrne Ison BenC Wilson

That's exciting

 

[jezzatigerbrent]

Saad Weitering Doull
Cowan Jezza Hunter
Glascott Walsh Crane
Bosustow Maclure Johnston
Hayward H McKay D McKay

Fitzpatrick Cripps Cerra

Harmes Jagger Moir Crosswell

Kouta,, Ashman object....the old version of an attacking distributor with brilliant left foot kicking > Ang Christou