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Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

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Lachie Cowan - Jacob Weitering - Harry Dean
Nic Newman - Nick Haynes - Ollie Florent

Sam Walsh - Patrick Cripps - Campbell Chesser
Marc Pittonet - Jagga Smith - Adam Cerra

Ben Ainsworth - Harry McKay - Zac Williams
Ashton Moir - Hudson O'Keefe - Will Hayward

George Hewett - Adam Saad - Matthew Cottrell - Ollie Hollands - Jack Ison
 
I provided my side a few weeks ago. I didn’t include Harry Dean, but I am 99% confident he plays opening round.

Anyway, my view is it is now all up to the development coaches. So much young talent on this list. I anticipate someone few of us have expected to step up will make serious gains during the offseason and find themselves on the park at the SCG for opening round. Maybe it is Ison? Or Billy Wilson? Or Charleson? Or Ben Campo? Or Byrne?

I reckon we should strap ourselves in. 2026 might be a really fun year supporting this football club.
 

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tarczonandjane said:
I provided my side a few weeks ago. I didn’t include Harry Dean, but I am 99% confident he plays opening round.

Anyway, my view is it is now all up to the development coaches. So much young talent on this list. I anticipate someone few of us have expected to step up will make serious gains during the offseason and find themselves on the park at the SCG for opening round. Maybe it is Ison? Or Billy Wilson? Or Charleson? Or Ben Campo? Or Byrne?

I reckon we should strap ourselves in. 2026 might be a really fun year supporting this football club.
Click to expand...
Can't wait to Round 1 v Richmond
 
Saad Weitering Dean
Cowan Haynes Chesser
Walsh Cripps Hollands
Hayward Kemp Ainsworth
Williams McKay Moir

Reidy Cerra Smith

Hewett Florent Motlop Lord O’Keefe

O’Keefe ruck/forward rotation
Hewett/Lord midfield rotation
Florent defence/wing rotation
Motlop forward rotation

Pretty much know what we’ve got with Pittonet (when he’s available) which is next to nothing around the ground.
Let’s have a look at the Reidy/O’Keefe combo.
Looking forward to adding O’Farrell, Walker and possibly a quality FA to the team the following year …
 
skadoosh said:
Do we see Chesser as the immediate replacement for Acres?
Click to expand...
All about performance.

Despite ordinary disposal, Acres best is very valuable. I do see Chesser as an uograde, but how quickly depends on individual showings and any game plan tweaks. Yet to see if Chesser has the tank to emulate Acres. I suggest he does, but unproven. Hoping Lucas Campo fixes a few things and becomes an option. The to Ollie’s in the mix, could use a wing to rotate mids as well. I want Lord in the 23, how does that work with Jagga and the “old boys”?
 
Our depth is looking way better. I think we'll have more competition for spots and be much more competitive in the VFL next year. This is what will help our AFL team improve. Both sides look well balanced. These sides contain AFL listed players only.

2026 AFL
FB:26. Haynes23. Weitering24. Newman
HB:2. Cowan35. Dean14. Florent
C:4. Hollands18. Walsh31. Chesser
HF:19. Hayward10. McKay6. Williams
FF:44. Evans43. Moir12. Ainsworth
R:27. Pittonet7. Smith9. Cripps
INT:32. Carroll29. Hewett5. Cerra
46. Cottrell3. Motlop

2026 VFL
FB:37. Boyd22. O'Farrell28. Charleson
HB:15. Wilson33. Young42. Saad
C:13. Acres36. Lord21. Camporeale
HF:8. Fogarty17. Kemp45. Young
FF:11. McGovern40. O'Keefe30. Byrne
R:39. Reidy16. Camporeale25. Ison
INT:41. Duffy34. Monahan
 
Harry Dean - Jacob Weitering - Nic Newman
Matthew Carroll - Nick Haynes - Alex Holt
Sam Walsh - Patrick Cripps - Campbell Chesser
Ashton Moir - Harry McKay - Ben Ainsworth
Zac Williams - Hudson O'Keeffe - Will Hayward

Liam Reidy - Adam Cerra - Jagga Smith

Ollie Hollands - Cooper Lord - Lachie Cowan - Taylor Byrne - George Hewett
 

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Ninja Worrier said:
Harry Dean - Jacob Weitering - Nic Newman
Matthew Carroll - Nick Haynes - Alex Holt
Sam Walsh - Patrick Cripps - Campbell Chesser
Ashton Moir - Harry McKay - Ben Ainsworth
Zac Williams - Hudson O'Keeffe - Will Hayward

Liam Reidy - Adam Cerra - Jagga Smith

Ollie Hollands - Cooper Lord - Lachie Cowan - Taylor Byrne - George Hewett
Click to expand...
I'm sorry did I miss something? Who is Alex Holt??
 
Think a lot of people are going to be upset to see L. Young line up at full forward in round 1 based on these best 22s. Even if I don't want us to do this, I get the feeling we will lean to him over HOK early in the season as that forward and chop out ruck option. Especially for his versatility to be able to go back as well with an injury mid game.

Noticing a lot writing Acres off after 1 bad season. I get it since we have added some outside run and Cottrell back etc. Will be interesting to see if he lines up in round 1 or if he's relegated to the 2s for a bit.

The best 22 has become a lot harder to pick for sure.
 
Last edited:
Blue By Blood said:
Think a lot of people are going to be upset to see L. Young line up at full forward in round 1 based on these best 22s. Even if I don't want us to do this, I get the feeling we will lean to him over HOK early in the season as that forward and chop out ruck option. Especially for his versatility to be able to go back as well with an injury mid game.

Noticing a lot writing Acres off after 1 bad season. I get it since we have added some outside run and Cottrell back etc. Will be interesting to see if he lines up in round 1 or if he's relegated to the 2s for a bit.

The best 22 has become a lot harder to pick for sure.
Click to expand...
And isn’t taht a good thing!
 

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Newman - Weitering - Dean
Hollands - Haynes - Cowan
Florent - Cripps - Chesser
Evans - McGovern - Ainsworth
Hayward - McKay - Moir
Reidy - Cerra - Walsh

Hewett - Saad - Jagga - Williams - L. Young

EMG: Motlop - Lord - HOK

Reserves:
Carroll, Wilson, Charleson, Boyd, Monahan, Duffy
Cottrell, Acres, L. Campo, B Campo
Ison, Byrne, Fogarty, F. Young
Kemp, HOF, Pittonet

----

Evans and Ainsworth to push up the ground and be that link between forward and mid. Motlop and Byrne and maybe even Cottrell in consideration here too.

Hayward and Moir to lead up at the ball carrier and create one on one problems for the opposition. Both capable of a big grab.

Want to see Gov stay forward. Hopefully we learnt that lesson that he's able to use his x-factor more and run and jump at the ball better as a forward. As a defender he's a liability.

Think we lean towards L. Young over HOK at least early in the season. HOK will get plenty of games though.

Half backs are becoming a real squeeze. Florent prefers playing half back over wing but with Newman back from injury there's a logjam of defender options. As it is, this team that I have selected has Carroll, Wilson, Charleson, Boyd all missing out.

Reidy will go past Pittonet in my opinion. Think he offers a little bit more up forward and rotations are important.

Think with the wings we prioritise better ball use so Chesser and Florent get first crack there. But we will have options in game to change this up. Florent can go back and Hollands can move to the wing. I wouldn't even mind seeing Cowan get some wing time. So far in his career he's been largely a lockdown defender but as a junior he showed a good attacking flair.

Jagga will split between half forward and midfield. No need to throw him to the wolves and expect too much too soon. The midfield is still rock solid as it is with Walsh, Cerra, Cripps, Hewett.

If we take Elijah then I have him in ahead of Evans.

Damn hard to select this team now and that's exciting.
 
Last edited:
Blue By Blood said:
The best 22 has become a lot harder to pick for sure.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is hard. I'm not 100% sure though in a good way when Pitto/Young make the side. Or is it HoK. All three are average at best.

I feel Boyd, Cowan and Newman are just AFL standard. Newman because of age/speed.

Replacing Acres is interesting. Was probably 3rd or 4th in line for a wing spot 2/3 seasons ago. We dont have anyone of that calibre on our wings with Hollands and Walsh committed elsewhere.

Ainsworth and Hayward are names worth respecting. Can Hayward get the elite kicking supply and will Ainsworth get the suns overlapping footy to thrive. Carlton are terrible kicks defence/wing/mid forward and are not the greatest tsunami running side either.

I feel our squad is in a holding pattern in 2026 until they work out a more efficient transition game and fill a few holes in key areas - namely an elite kicking HBF and elite kicking winger or mid.
 
JustOneTime said:
Yes, it is hard. I'm not 100% sure though in a good way when Pitto/Young make the side. Or is it HoK. All three are average at best.

I feel Boyd, Cowan and Newman are just AFL standard. Newman because of age/speed.

Replacing Acres is interesting. Was probably 3rd or 4th in line for a wing spot 2/3 seasons ago. We dont have anyone of that calibre on our wings with Hollands and Walsh committed elsewhere.

Ainsworth and Hayward are names worth respecting. Can Hayward get the elite kicking supply and will Ainsworth get the suns overlapping footy to thrive. Carlton are terrible kicks defence/wing/mid forward and are not the greatest tsunami running side either.

I feel our squad is in a holding pattern in 2026 until they work out a more efficient transition game and fill a few holes in key areas - namely an elite kicking HBF and elite kicking winger or mid.
Click to expand...
No to your holding pattern Transition game will be fine with players coming in who can kick and run. They'll make the world of difference.
 
WalshistheGOAT said:
Lachie Cowan - Jacob Weitering - Harry Dean
Nic Newman - Nick Haynes - Ollie Florent

Sam Walsh - Patrick Cripps - Campbell Chesser
Marc Pittonet - Jagga Smith - Adam Cerra

Ben Ainsworth - Harry McKay - Zac Williams
Ashton Moir - Hudson O'Keefe - Will Hayward

George Hewett - Adam Saad - Matthew Cottrell - Ollie Hollands - Jack Ison
Click to expand...
Frankie Evans plays in front of half that fwd line
 

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