Adelaide 2026
List:
Adelaide's level of improvement in 2025 was more than expected. This time, last year, we did forecast improvement that would see Adelaide knocking on the door to finals but, to their extra credit, they went from 15th in 2024 to 1st in 2025 before the finals began. And, they did that with the significant losses of Rankine and Rachele during the important part of the season. In fact, the loss of those two, Rachele and Rankine, exposed Adelaide's weakness, which was their lack of midfield power against the TOP teams in finals.
Now, this lack of midfield power should have been the focus of Adelaide's recruiting a month or two ago, but it wasn't. Apart from the aging but reliable Ah Chee, Adelaide chose to invest in their future key positions. Why?
Their premiership window has now begun. A look at their midfielders show - Dawson, Neal-Bullen, Keays, Milera, Ah Chee and Laird - all of these in the twilight zone. This is where Soligo, Taylor, Rachele, Berry, Pedlar, Cook, Nankervis and Peatling need to improve. But, surely the focus should have been in this area! Maybe 2025 was a false dawn? 14 midfielders in total bodes well for Adelaide, so hopefully not.
For Adelaide, hopefully, with full seasons from their core players, including Rachele and Rankine, they can maintain their home and away presence and improve in the finals.
Select 23:
A team in a premiership window should largely go in with an unchanged core, and this will be the case with Adelaide. Their defence, their forwards, and their midfield are very experienced.
The still-developing Pedlar (23yo), with limited games in 2025, still averaged almost a goal and a half per game, and can make a bigger impact in 2026. Rachele and Rankine need to be in the team and fully-fit during the finals. Ah Chee is an excellent and reliable player, but he is moving to a new club and environment, so he'll need half a season to settle in. The other one to watch is young Dowling (21yo), an inside midfielder who has shown talent, given limited opportunity.
Adelaide's level of improvement in 2025 was more than expected. This time, last year, we did forecast improvement that would see Adelaide knocking on the door to finals but, to their extra credit, they went from 15th in 2024 to 1st in 2025 before the finals began. And, they did that with the significant losses of Rankine and Rachele during the important part of the season. In fact, the loss of those two, Rachele and Rankine, exposed Adelaide's weakness, which was their lack of midfield power against the TOP teams in finals.
Now, this lack of midfield power should have been the focus of Adelaide's recruiting a month or two ago, but it wasn't. Apart from the aging but reliable Ah Chee, Adelaide chose to invest in their future key positions. Why?
Their premiership window has now begun. A look at their midfielders show - Dawson, Neal-Bullen, Keays, Milera, Ah Chee and Laird - all of these in the twilight zone. This is where Soligo, Taylor, Rachele, Berry, Pedlar, Cook, Nankervis and Peatling need to improve. But, surely the focus should have been in this area! Maybe 2025 was a false dawn? 14 midfielders in total bodes well for Adelaide, so hopefully not.
For Adelaide, hopefully, with full seasons from their core players, including Rachele and Rankine, they can maintain their home and away presence and improve in the finals.
Select 23:
A team in a premiership window should largely go in with an unchanged core, and this will be the case with Adelaide. Their defence, their forwards, and their midfield are very experienced.
The still-developing Pedlar (23yo), with limited games in 2025, still averaged almost a goal and a half per game, and can make a bigger impact in 2026. Rachele and Rankine need to be in the team and fully-fit during the finals. Ah Chee is an excellent and reliable player, but he is moving to a new club and environment, so he'll need half a season to settle in. The other one to watch is young Dowling (21yo), an inside midfielder who has shown talent, given limited opportunity.
Brisbane 2026
List:
Coming off a back-to-back, not much is going to change at Brisbane. Although, I am starting to see the same pattern in Brisbane's list as I have previously seen at Richmond, Melbourne, and Hawthorn. As a club works to continue its premiership window, a gap opens up between its experienced and often twilight players, and its junior players. Those clubs always justify the gap by inferring that the next wave is coming. Of course, time tells on that.
Draper is set to take over from Fort, if the former can hold up injury-wise. Otherwise, Harry Smith looks a good developing tall forward-ruck of the future.
The "Brissie" midfield's numbers are very strong with 15 possible rotations. This is the key!
Allen has come onto the list for Day, although, Hipwood could do with more rest time. Coleman will continue in his recovery but will be challenged by others. While Doedee will be looking to have some of the glory that he moved from Adelaide for.
Annable was their first pick in the draft so could come in early. The other one to keep an eye on is the 18yo, 191cm, strong Irish stallion, Ben Murphy, whom the Irish were aghast at losing from their system.
Select 23:
As expected from a back-to-back club, it will go in largely unchanged but will look to include its trading targets early. Allen should start as the key target. Draper should be changing with Fort. Payne takes twice as many intercepts as Gardner, so should be preferred as the other tall defender. And Coleman might fill out the 22, if fit.
As we all know, three-in-a-row is a hard get. For Brisbane, Lachie Neale might be the key. When he was injured, they looked ordinary against the TOP teams; when he was fitter, they lifted a notch. It's a big ask, but the club looks well-managed and stable. By mid-season, we'll know if they've crashed, or not.
Coming off a back-to-back, not much is going to change at Brisbane. Although, I am starting to see the same pattern in Brisbane's list as I have previously seen at Richmond, Melbourne, and Hawthorn. As a club works to continue its premiership window, a gap opens up between its experienced and often twilight players, and its junior players. Those clubs always justify the gap by inferring that the next wave is coming. Of course, time tells on that.
Draper is set to take over from Fort, if the former can hold up injury-wise. Otherwise, Harry Smith looks a good developing tall forward-ruck of the future.
The "Brissie" midfield's numbers are very strong with 15 possible rotations. This is the key!
Allen has come onto the list for Day, although, Hipwood could do with more rest time. Coleman will continue in his recovery but will be challenged by others. While Doedee will be looking to have some of the glory that he moved from Adelaide for.
Annable was their first pick in the draft so could come in early. The other one to keep an eye on is the 18yo, 191cm, strong Irish stallion, Ben Murphy, whom the Irish were aghast at losing from their system.
Select 23:
As expected from a back-to-back club, it will go in largely unchanged but will look to include its trading targets early. Allen should start as the key target. Draper should be changing with Fort. Payne takes twice as many intercepts as Gardner, so should be preferred as the other tall defender. And Coleman might fill out the 22, if fit.
As we all know, three-in-a-row is a hard get. For Brisbane, Lachie Neale might be the key. When he was injured, they looked ordinary against the TOP teams; when he was fitter, they lifted a notch. It's a big ask, but the club looks well-managed and stable. By mid-season, we'll know if they've crashed, or not.
Carlton 2026
List:
It all emerged that our pre-season misgivings regarding the Carlton list were correct. They were too old and too slow, but not where most of the on-season focus was on. Whereas everyone was focusing on their lack of performing key forwards, the hard evidence indicated that with the loss of Newman through injury, and Docherty playing up-field on a wing, all the pressure went onto Saad to provide the backline rebounds. Of course, the other clubs realised this quickly and Saad got crunched, weekly. Consequently, the ball came out of the backline slowly, and the forwards would all be covered consistently.
Last season, Carlton fell out of the finals. This year, a quarter of the list, 11 players have been changed over. so time - usually 6 months - is needed for these players to settle in. Ainsworth, Florent, Hayward and Reidy are good players. Personally, Reidy might even be the Darcy Fort or Jordan Sweet of 2026. Another ruckman without opportunity at his original club, making a big breakthrough at his new club.
Sure, they haven't drafted that many juniors, but they have previously. The quality of those juniors is largely yet to be seen, although Ollie Hollands, O'Farrell, and Cowan have shown patches. Unfortunately, we didn't see very much of the brilliant Jagga Smith at all. My guess is that, without injury, Jagga would have been named first rover in the Carlton team by now. At this point though, for Jagga, the 2026 season will be a recovery season.
The problem is that Carlton need young running defenders now, but these take 50 games to develop - a Catch-22. If you want success now, you don't have time to spend developing juniors. And, vice-versa, if you want to develop juniors, you must forego short term success.
Who knows! Carlton may end up shocking us all with a Richmond-like premiership from nowhere, al a 2016 to 2017, or maybe not.
Select 23:
Firstly, I've noted the long-term injury to O'Farrell (LTI), guessing he'll still be out for quite a while. When fit, O'Farrell should return to CHB, where he had an excellent debut last season, before injury.
Secondly, Jagga Smith, until he plays his first game after injury, will be an unknown.
Therefore, the core players fall into their regular positions. The new mature and developing traded-in players will immediately fill in many of the gaps. Although, I'm worried that their 1st ruckman, Pittonet, played only 7 games last year, their first rover, Walsh, only played 14 games, and their, now, only key forward, McKay, played 12 games.
However, I do hope, for their sake only, that they go with only one key forward, McKay, at high half forward (the old CHF), and mass small and medium mosquitoes around him, like Richmond did around Riewoldt in 2017.
The rest will be based on how much drive their midfield and rebounding back half can give.
One guesses that the not-so-mighty Blue-baggers may need all their luck in a big hit this season.
It all emerged that our pre-season misgivings regarding the Carlton list were correct. They were too old and too slow, but not where most of the on-season focus was on. Whereas everyone was focusing on their lack of performing key forwards, the hard evidence indicated that with the loss of Newman through injury, and Docherty playing up-field on a wing, all the pressure went onto Saad to provide the backline rebounds. Of course, the other clubs realised this quickly and Saad got crunched, weekly. Consequently, the ball came out of the backline slowly, and the forwards would all be covered consistently.
Last season, Carlton fell out of the finals. This year, a quarter of the list, 11 players have been changed over. so time - usually 6 months - is needed for these players to settle in. Ainsworth, Florent, Hayward and Reidy are good players. Personally, Reidy might even be the Darcy Fort or Jordan Sweet of 2026. Another ruckman without opportunity at his original club, making a big breakthrough at his new club.
Sure, they haven't drafted that many juniors, but they have previously. The quality of those juniors is largely yet to be seen, although Ollie Hollands, O'Farrell, and Cowan have shown patches. Unfortunately, we didn't see very much of the brilliant Jagga Smith at all. My guess is that, without injury, Jagga would have been named first rover in the Carlton team by now. At this point though, for Jagga, the 2026 season will be a recovery season.
The problem is that Carlton need young running defenders now, but these take 50 games to develop - a Catch-22. If you want success now, you don't have time to spend developing juniors. And, vice-versa, if you want to develop juniors, you must forego short term success.
Who knows! Carlton may end up shocking us all with a Richmond-like premiership from nowhere, al a 2016 to 2017, or maybe not.
Select 23:
Firstly, I've noted the long-term injury to O'Farrell (LTI), guessing he'll still be out for quite a while. When fit, O'Farrell should return to CHB, where he had an excellent debut last season, before injury.
Secondly, Jagga Smith, until he plays his first game after injury, will be an unknown.
Therefore, the core players fall into their regular positions. The new mature and developing traded-in players will immediately fill in many of the gaps. Although, I'm worried that their 1st ruckman, Pittonet, played only 7 games last year, their first rover, Walsh, only played 14 games, and their, now, only key forward, McKay, played 12 games.
However, I do hope, for their sake only, that they go with only one key forward, McKay, at high half forward (the old CHF), and mass small and medium mosquitoes around him, like Richmond did around Riewoldt in 2017.
The rest will be based on how much drive their midfield and rebounding back half can give.
One guesses that the not-so-mighty Blue-baggers may need all their luck in a big hit this season.
Collingwood 2026
List:
2026 will be 3 years since the last Carringbush premiership, yet they are still going in with the same bunch. Even the slightly younger mature bunch that they traded in a year or two ago - Schultz, Houston, Perryman and Sullivan - are now turning into twilighters.
15 players on their list now are twilighters, and all but 2 were core players last season.
The other interesting factor is, looking at the developing (22-24yo) and junior (18-21yo) groups, take out Nick Daicos, Beau McCreery, and Ned Long, they have put very few games and little development into their juniors.
Quite clearly, they have start puuting games into their younger players. It starts in the defence! CHB to be precise. Charlie Dean was delisted due to injuries, albeit excellent intercept statistics, but who takes his place? Cochran, who has 0 games, suddenly becomes your next junior option, beside the twilighter, Frampton. Outside of the aging McStay, Buller with 10 games as their only other key forward option.
The signs are there. Collingwood now struggle to run out 4 quarters.
Select 23:
On 2025 stats, I've picked nearly an unchanged team from last year, but I don't believe in it. Too many twilighters!
I've tried to relegate as many twilighters to the bench as I could, and kept only those that can't be replaced. Josh Daicos needs to play full-time on the ball, as the squad has too many back flankers. In fact, the whole list lacks for genuine midfielders, supported by part-time midfielders.
I expect that my mid-season team will look significantly different to the pre-season team because it will take half a season for the truth to hit home to those sitting in Carringbush's ivory tower.
2026 will be 3 years since the last Carringbush premiership, yet they are still going in with the same bunch. Even the slightly younger mature bunch that they traded in a year or two ago - Schultz, Houston, Perryman and Sullivan - are now turning into twilighters.
15 players on their list now are twilighters, and all but 2 were core players last season.
The other interesting factor is, looking at the developing (22-24yo) and junior (18-21yo) groups, take out Nick Daicos, Beau McCreery, and Ned Long, they have put very few games and little development into their juniors.
Quite clearly, they have start puuting games into their younger players. It starts in the defence! CHB to be precise. Charlie Dean was delisted due to injuries, albeit excellent intercept statistics, but who takes his place? Cochran, who has 0 games, suddenly becomes your next junior option, beside the twilighter, Frampton. Outside of the aging McStay, Buller with 10 games as their only other key forward option.
The signs are there. Collingwood now struggle to run out 4 quarters.
Select 23:
On 2025 stats, I've picked nearly an unchanged team from last year, but I don't believe in it. Too many twilighters!
I've tried to relegate as many twilighters to the bench as I could, and kept only those that can't be replaced. Josh Daicos needs to play full-time on the ball, as the squad has too many back flankers. In fact, the whole list lacks for genuine midfielders, supported by part-time midfielders.
I expect that my mid-season team will look significantly different to the pre-season team because it will take half a season for the truth to hit home to those sitting in Carringbush's ivory tower.
Essendon 2026
List:
Essendon, like Carlton, are the two under-achievers of the last half-decade. Personally, it's more than just the list. The AFL administration successfully destroyed the careers of a generation of footballers there. No doubt! Then, you have the allegedly misguided efforts of their board over the last decade. Even as 2026 is set to unfold, they have no executive leader, i.e., CEO. But, that's all off-field.
On-field, the fact that only 14 of the current list were core players in 2025 says a lot about the instability at the club. What's more, there are only 3 players 190cms or more on the list, who were core players in 2025. A list manager must decide: 1. Who are my regularly injured players? 2. What types are they - talls, mediums, smalls? How many can I afford to maintain on my list?
The 200+ cm column of players on the list numbers eight. You only need three. Some correctly argue that some of these are KPPs (key position players). My argument, then, is, how many players 200+ can a team afford to have on a field at the one time?
Anyway, let's get on with who's new. Sharp walks into the inside midfield. He's right up there and could be a once in a generation player. It's one of the vagaries of the national draft that he wasn't #1. Fiorini adds to the outside midfield. Robey is a much-touted junior forward. While Kondgiannis was the 3rd tall defender in my U18 national team of the year of 2025, but he will need to stack up about 50 games asap to be a top defender.
Select 23:
As said, only 14 core players from 2025 on the list, of which I've chosen 12. Prior was unlucky, but injuries to others gave opportunity.
Defence - has been decimated by injuries to KPPs. On stats, their best defenders are McKay, Reid, Redman, Roberts, Blakiston, Ridley, McGrath and Prior. Ridley gets in before Blakiston on experience. Though Blakiston can argue, how do I get experience if I'm not getting picked. And prior is unlucky. Kondgiannis is talented but, probably, needs a season in the "magoos" (twos).
Midfield - again, too many injuries. Sharp walks into the inside midfield, and can kick regular goals. Merrett, Durham and Duursma are regulars. Bryan (ruck), Caldwell and Parish need injury-free seasons. Tsatas will improve. While, Fiorini will add depth - outside and inside. Gresham, in maturity, needs to show more. A string of non-core midfielders sit on the interchange bench to provide rotations.
Forward - Wright & Caddy are the key forwards surrounded by Lanford, Perkins, Kako, and the "newy" Robey on a flank.
Essendon needs stability from above, an injury-free season, and fingers crossed.
Essendon, like Carlton, are the two under-achievers of the last half-decade. Personally, it's more than just the list. The AFL administration successfully destroyed the careers of a generation of footballers there. No doubt! Then, you have the allegedly misguided efforts of their board over the last decade. Even as 2026 is set to unfold, they have no executive leader, i.e., CEO. But, that's all off-field.
On-field, the fact that only 14 of the current list were core players in 2025 says a lot about the instability at the club. What's more, there are only 3 players 190cms or more on the list, who were core players in 2025. A list manager must decide: 1. Who are my regularly injured players? 2. What types are they - talls, mediums, smalls? How many can I afford to maintain on my list?
The 200+ cm column of players on the list numbers eight. You only need three. Some correctly argue that some of these are KPPs (key position players). My argument, then, is, how many players 200+ can a team afford to have on a field at the one time?
Anyway, let's get on with who's new. Sharp walks into the inside midfield. He's right up there and could be a once in a generation player. It's one of the vagaries of the national draft that he wasn't #1. Fiorini adds to the outside midfield. Robey is a much-touted junior forward. While Kondgiannis was the 3rd tall defender in my U18 national team of the year of 2025, but he will need to stack up about 50 games asap to be a top defender.
Select 23:
As said, only 14 core players from 2025 on the list, of which I've chosen 12. Prior was unlucky, but injuries to others gave opportunity.
Defence - has been decimated by injuries to KPPs. On stats, their best defenders are McKay, Reid, Redman, Roberts, Blakiston, Ridley, McGrath and Prior. Ridley gets in before Blakiston on experience. Though Blakiston can argue, how do I get experience if I'm not getting picked. And prior is unlucky. Kondgiannis is talented but, probably, needs a season in the "magoos" (twos).
Midfield - again, too many injuries. Sharp walks into the inside midfield, and can kick regular goals. Merrett, Durham and Duursma are regulars. Bryan (ruck), Caldwell and Parish need injury-free seasons. Tsatas will improve. While, Fiorini will add depth - outside and inside. Gresham, in maturity, needs to show more. A string of non-core midfielders sit on the interchange bench to provide rotations.
Forward - Wright & Caddy are the key forwards surrounded by Lanford, Perkins, Kako, and the "newy" Robey on a flank.
Essendon needs stability from above, an injury-free season, and fingers crossed.