The first of 25 home-and-away rounds in 2026 is done and dusted, and there were three clubs who have already managed to register a perfect grade. Plus, two teams went dangerously close to the worst possible mark.
Every team’s performance analysed and graded in Foxfooty.com.au’s Opening Round edition of Report Card!
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ADELAIDE CROWS
The Crows did not play in Opening Round.
BRISBANE LIONS
The Lions were brave but beaten on their home deck in a night that would end in carnage for the reigning premiers. Not only did they fail to collect the four points on offer, but three of their stars are now facing bans while Hugh McCluggage couldn’t get through the first quarter due to his calf issue. Brisbane coach Chris Fagan was pleased with his side’s fight – but ultimately, they didn’t have the run to stop a never-say-die Bulldogs outfit who refused to wilt in the humid conditions. The Lions won every major stat in the loss to the Bulldogs, but inaccuracy proved costly as they finished 15.16 to the Dogs’ 16.15.
In the votes
Lachie Neale put aside his off-field drama to claim a game-high 39 disposals, eight marks, eight clearances and seven inside 50s. Dayne Zorko was the player of the first half before finishing with 31 touches – including almost 600m gained, eight score involvements, four tackles and a goal. Charlie Cameron picked up where his grand final form left off with a three-goal first half. He would finish with four for the night, and still made five tackles to help put the pressure on the Dogs defence. While not able to get a goal on the scoreboard, Ty Gallop threw himself into contests and came away with his team’s most tackles (six).
Room for improvement
The Lions forwards struggled in the slippery, humid conditions. While Logan Morris finished with three goals from his five shots, Ty Gallop went goalless while Oscar Allen’s only major of the night came in bizarre circumstances. When Dogs defender Rory Lobb got a hand to Kai Lohmann’s snap, he ended up keeping the ball in play and a waiting Allen simply had to get a boot to it on the goal line for the simplest of snags. But Allen would finish with 1.3 in his start to life as a Lion. Charlie Cameron looked the most dangerous in attack, while Lohmann caught fire in the third term, but struggled outside of his 10-minute burst. Their trio of suspensions too hurts their grade!
Grade
B-
Fagan: “We werent as efficient! | 05:05
CARLTON
What do the Blues stand for in 2026? That’s a question coach Michael Voss will need to answer as the side’s achilles heel – second half fade outs – from 2025 returned with a vengeance. The Blues were the better side in the first half against the Swans, but could only manage a 10-point buffer. And when Sydney ran hot in the third term, Carlton just couldn’t go with them. Fox Footy’s David King said there was “enormous problems” with Carlton’s stoppage game: “They’ve got real alarm bells going off there”. The Blues ended up coughing up 53 points from their defensive half while their 38 tackles for the match was their sixth lowest in a decade. They finished a whopping -29 tackles to the Swans in worrying signs for their intensity.
In the votes
Marc Pittonet was damaging in the first half. Off the back of the exits of Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning, Pittonet stood tall when his team needed him. His second goal was the major to give Carlton their game-high 22-point buffer almost four minutes into the third term. But from there is was all Sydney. Pittonet finished with 18 disposals, eight clearances and three goals. Jagga Smith showed promise on debut to nab 27 touches and three clearances. Sam Walsh was in good form early to collect 32 disposals, almost 700m gained, six clearances and eight score involvements. Ollie Florent was handy against his former side to snare a team-high 11 intercept possessions.
Room for improvement
The Blues forward line didn’t function. It was Marc Pittonet who did the damage with his first two goals – but Carlton didn’t cash in on their first half clearance dominance and paid a very steep price. Harry McKay was largely unsighted in a forward line that no longer has Charlie Curnow while Brodie Kemp couldn’t make it count when he had first half momentum. Adam Saad managed just 11 touches while back up ruck Liam Reddy finished with just five touches and 0.1.
Grade
D-
Voss unsure what to make of loss | 07:07
COLLINGWOOD
It was third time lucky for the Magpies in Opening Round, recording their first-ever win in the fixture over St Kilda by two goals on Sunday night. Slightly undermanned against a fully fit Saints outfit, the black-and-white army couldn’t have asked for much more to kick off their 2026 campaign in front of a whopping 82,528 people at the MCG.
In the votes
Not for the first time in 2026, it will be almost impossible to look past Nick Daicos (41 disposals, 11 score involvements, 844 metres gained). The Magpies’ ‘Little Master’ was absolutely everywhere, and in the eyes of many, clearly best afield. His on-ball teammate though in Jordan de Goey (19 disposals, three goals) was excellent through the middle of the ground and around goals, while Dan Houston (28 disposals, 11 marks, 10 rebound 50s, 629 metres gained) played arguably his best-ever game in the black and white. A watch on Scott Pendlebury (26 disposals, 10 score involvements, five goal assists) too, who could well jag a Brownlow vote despite playing just 55 per cent time on ground. Josh Daicos (36 disposals, 13 marks) and Lachie Schultz (20 disposals, two goals) were also huge.
Room for improvement
Craig McRae’s defence conceded 23 more inside 50 entries than they had themselves, which given the end result, is both a good and bad thing. The return of captain Darcy Moore and veteran Jeremy Howe for Round 1 will strengthen their backline, but their ability to take an eye-watering 147 marks shows how they were still able to hold heavy control over the game throughout. An efficiency of 52.5 per cent going inside 50 themselves was also off-the-charts good!
Grade
A-
Pies silence critics against Saints | 02:09
ESSENDON
The Bombers did not play in Opening Round.
FREMANTLE
The Dockers did not play in Opening Round.
GEELONG
Yes, they went in undermanned, but it was still a very disappointing start to the 2026 campaign of last year’s grand finalists. It’s worth noting that last Friday night’s match felt very much more like a Gold Coast domination than a Geelong capitulation, but there was obviously still a big gap between their best and worst. Fremantle next Saturday evening, while at home, won’t be much easier, so they’ll want to move on quickly from their fourth-heaviest loss since the start of 2018.
In the votes
There almost certainly won’t be any Cats player beginning their season with a Brownlow vote, but Ollie Dempsey (20 disposals, nine score involvements, four goals) was valiant all night — highlighted by his three majors in five minutes to start the last quarter. As showcased in his pre-season hit out, Tanner Bruhn (31 disposals, 600 metres gained, two goal assists) looks to be excelling in his new half-back role.
Room for improvement
Chris Scott’s side were tidy at centre clearance, but outside of that, didn’t take home the proverbial points in many other stat lines. The return of Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron this weekend is a more than welcome one, and they certainly won’t be able to concede 71 inside 50s going forward. Plenty of defensive learnings!
Grade
D-
Scott searches for positives in loss | 06:38
GOLD COAST SUNS
No team was more astonishing in Opening Round than Damien Hardwick’s rising Suns. Their 56-point thumping of Geelong last Friday night almost certainly would’ve been bigger if they didn’t put their cue in the rack after three-quarter time, after enjoying two seven-goal terms up until the final break. Gold Coast were widely tipped by many to surge again in 2026, but their maiden hit out this season looked every bit capable of a premiership… without getting too carried away!
In the votes
It just has to be three votes to Christian Petracca (34 disposals — 15 contested, 12 score involvements, 10 inside 50s, three goals). The star Suns recruit had the highest-rated match of his 213-game career, and it should see him poll the maximum quota. Not far behind him will be Bailey Humphrey (15 disposals, nine score involvements, four goals), who set the game alight in the first quarter when the match was won. Touk Miller (30 disposals — 11 contested, one goal) was also commanding, as was John Noble (28 disposals, 570 metres gained, two goals) off half-back.
Room for improvement
Almost next to none. Maybe a slightly better efficiency rate going inside 50, but their 46.5 per cent conversion isn’t going to be the difference when you have 21 more entries than your opposition. Interestingly, the Cats finished the match +8 at centre clearance, which may be Hardwick’s focus in his match review.
Grade
A+
Petracca’s dream start at the Suns! | 07:21
GWS GIANTS
Undermanned but defiant – GWS sent a statement to the rest of the competition with their revenge win over the Hawks, who knocked the Giants out of last year’s finals race. The Giants were on from the opening bounce as they were harder at the footy, more daring through the corridor and more structured in attack as they piled on 13 first half goals – the second worst score conceded by rival coach Sam Mitchell. While GWS allowed the Hawks to add some respectability to the scoreboard in the final term, the damage had already been done to three quarter time. Despite Hawthorn winning the midfield battle in that last term, GWS still finished +7 in clearance, +5 for inside 50s, +7 for tackles and +11 for contested ball. The Giants managed just six goals for the second half, but still ended the game sitting at 61 points scored from turnovers in their forward half.
In the votes
It was the Clayton Oliver of old in his debut for his new club. The former Demon turned it on with 26 disposals, 10 clearances and a ripping boundary line goal to ease coach Adam Kingsley’s concerns for life without injured mid star Tom Green in 2026. Stepehn Conilgio is another who wound back the clock on Saturday with a 22-disposal, two-goal game. Jake Stringer was unstoppable in attack as he slotted five goals from his 14 touches. His tally could have been even more if not for inaccuracy as he also finished with four behinds. Joe Fonti impressed despite being matched up against the speed of Nick Watson when he was forward, and finished the Giants’ best with 11 intercepts. Finn Callaghan was able to run freely for much of the contest, collecting 26 touches and more than 730m gained.
Room for improvement
2024 Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan had three goals in the first quarter and looked set for a day out… but that’s how he finished for the match. Jake Riccardi, while adding his own three goal haul, was ill-disciplined as he coughed up five free kicks against. Skipper Toby Greene went at just 50 per cent disposal efficiency.
Grade
A
Oliver STARS in GWS upset over Hawks | 01:55
HAWTHORN
It was meant to be an easy trip to Sydney to take on a GWS outfit missing at least eight of their starters. Instead, the Hawks were punched in the face by the Giants who were braver at the contest and took the game on at every opportunity. The Hawks were rattled in defence – with GWS players left alone or allowed free jumps at the footy repeatedly in a first half horror show. They ended up conceding 13.4 (82) in just a half – when they average score conceded for an entire match in 2025 was 74 points. Only a last quarter stand made the match appear closer on paper as the Hawks got to within 21 points. But the visitors were outplayed in a worrying start in season 2026.
In the votes
Nick Watson looked to be the man to inspire the Hawks. He had to contest hard in his forward half and snagged two goals as a result. But he struggled to have that same impact in his limited centre bounce appearances. James Sicily overcame a slow start to finish with 23 disposals, plus almost 600m gained and 14 intercept possessions. It’s worth noting he went at almost 96% disposal efficiency too. Mabior Chol found a spark with three big contested grabs and two goals – but he lacked the supply and struggled to stay in the entire contest.
Room for improvement
Hawthorn need to find another midfielder to go with Jai Newcombe. While he still finished with a team-high 25 touches, only four of those were contested which is a four-year low for the star. Coach Sam Mitchell trialled Nick Watson in the middle, but with only six centre bounce attendances, his time was limited. Josh Weddle needs to find a permanent home – and if it’s in defence, accountability will be key as he was found ball watching like a few other teammates at times in the loss to the Giants. Lloyd Meek had an off day with just six touches.
Grade
D
Mitchell blunt after opening round loss | 07:26
MELBOURNE
The Demons did not play in Opening Round.
NORTH MELBOURNE
The Kangaroos did not play in Opening Round.
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power did not play in Opening Round.
RICHMOND
The Tigers did not play in Opening Round.
ST KILDA
After all the off-season hype at Moorabbin, it was ultimately an underwhelming start to the Saints’ 2026 campaign, going down to Collingwood by two goals in front of their largest-ever crowd for a home-and-away fixture. Those types of blockbusters don’t come around overly often for the red, white and black, so they’ll be ruing the missed opportunity to face former captain Jack Steele and Melbourne next week with a win under their belt.
In the votes
It’s unlikely any Saints will see a vote next to their name on Brownlow night in Opening Round, but co-captain Jack Sinclair (35 disposals — 94.3 per cent efficiency, 560 metres gained, one goal assist) might go the closest. Marcus Windhager (29 disposals, 11 marks) looked composed with ball-in-hand through the back half, while Brad Hill (24 disposals, 760 metres gained, one goal) gave his side plenty of dash.
Room for improvement
As Ross Lyon was quick to point out in his post-game press conference, there were definitely positives to take out of his side’s loss — but there were also some stat lines that raised a few eyebrows. Their conceding of 147 marks was quite frankly absurd, and statistically, gave them next to no chance of taking home the four premiership points. Their 63 entries inside forward 50 were obviously a plus, but to only walk away with 66 points to show for it is a concern. They may consider themselves slightly stiff given just how well Collingwood converted when going inside the forward arc. In better news, their centre clearance game was strong.
Grade
C-
Ross weighs-in on Daicos vs Nas duel | 08:34
SYDNEY SWANS
The Swans ran out 63-point winners over the Blues in the season opener – but it’s worth remembering they took nearly 40 minutes just to get their first goal on the board. And while the floodgates opened in the second half – including a whopping 12-goal third quarter – coach Dean Cox will want to amend their goalless start and find a way to bring out the best that we saw in that mesmerising third quarter. The Swans showed us their ability to score and score quickly against the Blues – with six goals in just over 11 minutes, but they were beaten by the Carlton mids in the first half – and still finished the match down -17 in contested ball. While a 63-point win sounds great on paper, the Swans led the match for only 30 seconds longer than the Blues did. It’s just that in the tale of two halves, Sydney put their foot down and capitalised on their opportunities while Carlton couldn’t do that with their momentum in the first half.
In the votes
The Swans were “beaten up” through the middle in the first half as they struggled to win the footy. But Justin McInerney turned the tables in the second half. He would go on to finish with a team-high 31 touches – at almost 84% efficiency too, three goals and 14 score involvements. Matt Roberts’ 18 touches doesn’t sound vote-worthy, but he was influential. The first of his two goals came as the Blues tried to halt the Swans’ barnstorming momentum in the third. His second started the run of six goals that killed any Blues hopes of a fightback. Errol Gulden threw himself around to finish with a team-high 11 tackles, while it was Chad Warner in the first half who “single-handedly” kept the Swans within striking distance. Warner’s night ended with 20 disposals, 563m gained, four clearances and 1.3.
Room for improvement
It was a tough night for the Swans in the first half as they couldn’t get their hands on the footy. The Blues were harder at every contest – but never put it on the scoreboard. The Swans attack end looked disjointed while star Tom Papley spent most of the first term on the bench as part of his managed minutes to start the season. But it was a different story in the second half as the Swans looked flawless.
Grade
A
Curnow and co. cook Carlton in opener | 03:59
WEST COAST EAGLES
The Eagles did not play in Opening Round.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs shouldn’t have been able to head up to the Gabba and beat the back to back reigning premiers on their celebratory night… but that’s exactly what Luke Beveridge’s men did. Despite falling to a 26-point deficit late in the third term, the Dogs fought “tooth and nail” to land nine of the last 12 goals of the match to claim the four points. Their thrilling five-point win was made more impressive by the fact they had 13 less inside 50s, 47 less disposals, six less clearances, 17 less contested possessions and almost 40 less marks. But it was a pure heart and soul effort from a Bulldogs outfit that struggled against the competition’s best last season. But it’s a new year, new Bulldogs as their attacking style of play came up big against the Lions on Saturday night.
In the votes
Marcus Bontempelli was at his inspirational best. Yes, 19 disposals doesn’t sound like a day out, but his three goals came at clutch moments. And when the match was on the line in a seesawing final quarter, it was the Bont who sent himself back as the spare man in defence, He finished with four clearances, five tackles and eight score involvements. And while Bontempelli was at either end, it was Ed Richards in the middle who was getting it done. Richards finished with an equal team-high 30 touches, seven clearances, four tackles, two goals and a whopping 16 score involvements. Rory Lobb was outstanding in his 200th milestone game. He may have only pulled down four marks to go with his 13 touches, but he was everywhere in defence, nullifying the Lions attack. New recruit Connor Budarick gave the Dogs some much needed run to finish with more than 500m gained from his 27 touches and a goal. And shoutout to Tim English for his late gut-running from halfback all the way almost to his goal square to take the mark and kick the match-winning goal. A huge effort from a big man who battled almost solo against Lion Darcy Fort.
Room for improvement
It’s back to the goal kicking practice for Jordan Croft. The Bulldog missed two very gettable opportunities – and in what was a tight contest that went down to the wire, those misses could have proved costly.
Grade
A+
Bevo: Players were really composed! | 11:29