The 2026 AFL home and away season is over – and for eight clubs, that means they’ve failed.
Here’s how they all got here, and what they need to do in the off-season to ensure there’s no sad repeat next year in Fox Footy’s 2026 Brutal Reviews!
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11. ST KILDA (10-13, 102.8%)
Three word analysis
Promise meets reality
What went right
Their stoppage game finally clicked, and there’s a lot to like about the on-ball brigade’s youthful profile. After years of ranking mid-to-bottom for contested possessions, clearances and points from clearances, the Saints rocketed to first, second and sixth respectively in 2026. That midfield engine — driven by the young brigade of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Hugo Garcia and Max Hall — finally won the ball more than their opposition, and generated territory in the process. The latter’s last three weeks in the midfield were particularly eye-catching in the absence of Wanganeen-Milera, proving himself more than capable as a full-time on-baller heading into 2027. It goes without saying that the retention of ‘Nas’ is paramount to their premiership hopes in future years, but their ceiling through the middle of the ground is very much heading in the right direction. Either side of them, the bookend recruits delivered. Jack Silvagni down in defence was stellar all season long and has claims for a place in the 46-man All-Australian squad, while Liam Ryan’s best football was unstoppable during the bye rounds — eventually finishing with a career-high 31 goals for the season. We’ll touch on the heavy flip side of this coin in the ‘what went wrong’ section below, but against the bottom eight sides, Ross Lyon’s outfit was ruthless. They proved themselves much better than the sides below them, finishing with a 9-1 record against the bottom eight. They smashed the soft underbelly of the competition, and kept the percentage respectable enough to flirt with wildcard talk deep into the year. On an individual front, Callum Wilkie pushed his case very strongly for a second All-Australian jacket, while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was a superstar when fit.
What went wrong
The big-money off-season splash on several stars promised a genuine leap into the top half, and a wildcard berth at worst. Instead, the Saints finished 11th with a 10-13 record — one spot and one win better than 2025 — after once again failing to beat the top eight with any consistency. They smashed the bottom eight sides all year long and kept percentage respectable, but every time a genuine contender turned up, they folded. The inability to convert territory and clearances into sustained scoreboard pressure against quality opposition was brutal. Inefficiency inside 50, a chronic shortage of genuine class ahead of the ball, and a complete lack of killer instinct repeatedly cost them. It’s important to note that the absence of Max King for all but one game in 2026 once again left a major void in their forward line, so in some respects, they were unlucky. Sam Flanders was ruled out for the season in Round 12 after a cruel Achilles injury, while Tom De Koning carried niggles throughout the year. Late-season soft-tissue hits to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Jack Sinclair and others then stripped the list of its best ball movers while the finals window was still theoretically open. There is little doubt over the club’s capacity to jump into the top 10, but after so much talk and hype during the off-season, their campaign was ultimately a failed one. 2027 simply has to be the year that things click at Moorabbin; otherwise, uncertainty over the future of key club pillars such as Ross Lyon himself and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will reach new highs.
What they need
A reliable, durable key forward on the park that can take away the opposition’s best defenders. Max King’s body has to hold up, or a genuine alternative must be found, or at the very least, deployed alongside him. As Rowan Marshall’s future remains clouded at Moorabbin, the Saints need Tom De Koning to develop into the dominant contested force he was signed to be. The stoppage engine is finally humming, but it is still too often wasted by poor delivery and finishing against better sides. Above all, they probably need the composure and finishing quality to turn “competitive against the top teams” into actual wins — and another star half-back would certainly aid their profile. The retention of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in another contract year is obviously critical, but so too is developing the next layer of midfield and forward talent around him.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(6 o’clock): There’s finally enough evidence to suggest St Kilda are building towards something, but nowhere near enough to believe they’re on the cusp of contending. The nucleus of a good side is emerging and the list profile looks healthier than it has for some time, yet 2026 ultimately reinforced how much ground remains between being competitive and being genuinely dangerous. Next year shapes as a defining one. Another meaningful step forward could have the Saints approaching the pointy end quickly, but another season treading water, and some uncomfortable questions about the direction of the club will become impossible to ignore.
First Crack take
David King says: “It’s a fail. We know that — that’s why we’re talking about them. History repeating, for me. They’ve got to make sure these top picks can’t be Clark and Coffield of a few years ago, way back in 2017 when they were pick 7 and 8. They need Phillipou and Tauru to become front liners, not just bits and pieces players in this group. Their midfield is stacked – they are ready to go now. Led by Nas, obviously, but we love Hall, Garcia, Boxshall and Wilson doing some good things. But they need to find some half-backs via the draft or free agency.”
Season grade
C-
— Will Faulkner
Lyon says Saints weren’t ‘at the level’ | 09:49
12. GWS GIANTS (10-13, 98.9%)
Three word analysis
Constant injury hell
What went right
The Clayton Oliver experiment was a resounding success and went about as well as the Giants could’ve hoped. The midfielder recruit averaged 30.4 disposals, 4.9 tackles and 7.4 clearances per game in his best season since Melbourne’s last top four finish in 2023. It was all the more crucial without Tom Green for the entire season. And yet GWS only gave up a future third-round pick for Oliver, 29, and Melbourne is contributing a significant portion of his wage. In a similar vein, the budget pickup of Jayden Laverde, who GWS initially went for as Leek Aleer insurance, ended up being key to help anchor their defence when Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley were sidelined. The mass injuries also exposed the Giants’ next wave of players to greater opportunities, with the likes of Harvey Thomas, Phoenix Gothard and Max Gruzewski showing strong signs for the future.
What went wrong
Injuries, injuries… and more injuries. The Giants were probably the club hit hardest this season in an injury year from hell. It was the nightmare combination of the quality of those players injured, the amount of time they missed and the recurring nature of more setbacks as Adam Kingsley’s side just couldn’t get settled at any point. It dates all the way back to February when Tom Green suffered a season-ending ACL injury and Sam Taylor sustained a hamstring strain in State of Origin that caused the star defender to miss half the season. The likes of Leek Aleer (played seven games), Jack Buckley (nine), Brent Daniels (10), Phoenix Gothard (16), Max Gruzewski (14), Jesse Hogan (nine), Darcy Jones (none) and Josh Kelly (none) also missed key chunks of the campaign and the club was missing virtually half its best 23 for the entire year. All that considered, to still be in touch of finals is a miracle and speaks to the depth on their list.
What they need
A healthy team on the park. Quite legitimately, we just haven’t seen this team as constructed fully healthy. Or anything moderately close to it. The addition of Clayton Oliver to the midfield – the only position with some question marks – made GWS hopeful it could tip the club over into flag contention after it’d gotten close in recent years under Adam Kingsley. The Giants will be more focused on retooling with what they currently have and continuing to put young players in bigger roles in a transition of the list that’s already started to take place. Veterans including skipper Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Jake Stringer, Stephen Coniglio and Kieren Briggs are out of contract and face uncertain futures, but losing them isn’t the end of the world. It might leave some holes up forward, though the likes of Gruzewski, Gothard and Jones can help off-set that. And Nick Madden has replaced Briggs as the number one ruck. The reality is the new wave of Giants will carry the club forward – not the stars that led them to success over the last 10 years.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(7 o’clock): It might be a case of taking small steps backward to move forward. There’s still a relatively proven system and high-quality nucleus here largely in its prime. The crop of Jack Buckley, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun, Lachie Whitfield, Lachie Ash, Tom Green, Clayton Oliver, Finn Callaghan, Aaron Cadman and Toby Greene (if he stays) could rival any other club’s top 10 or so players. The players around that core have shifted to a younger demographic. How quickly that group can develop might determine whether the Giants bounce or go the other way. Though 2027 looms as (another) crucial year of player retention, with Tom Green considered one of Tasmania’s big targets and Lachie Ash also eligible for free agency.
First Crack take
Leigh Montagna says: “I think they need a system overhaul. I think their game style needs to be looked at. While we love the tsunami, they can’t continue to start their offence from the back half. It’s a bit hit and miss, for me. When it works, we call it the tsunami, and it looks great, but too often it doesn’t, and teams with a good forward-half game have been able to stifle them. I think they need to have more of a forward-half game. We’ve spoken about teams with a strong forward-half game that are playing finals — the Giants are on the outside. I don’t mind their little reset moving on some senior players — it can be a bit like a Melbourne reset, and it might not hurt the club. They’ve got some young talent; get some players back, and I think they can be a much better team next year.”
Season grade
D+
— Ben Cotton
More likely to leave than stay | 06:23
13. GOLD COAST SUNS (9-14, 94.5%)
Three word analysis
Big step back
What went right
The first half of the season; or, at least, the first 11 rounds. By the Sunday of Round 10, Gold Coast had just palmed off Port Adelaide in Darwin to move to 7-3 on the season, sitting fourth on the ladder. The Suns’ game was in great order; they ranked first in the competition for forward-half intercepts, and first for scoring from those forward-half intercepts. Supplementing that was their territory dominance; sitting second in the AFL for inside-50 differential, standing at that point as a massive premiership threat. At a certain point in the campaign, everything unravelled spectacularly. But we’ll get to that. In a huge positive this year, Damien Hardwick’s club secured two massive retentions in Jed Walter and, more recently, Bailey Humphrey. Once it became increasingly clear Ben King would return to Victoria at season’s end, Walter’s future at Carrara crystallised, and he turned down $6 million from Essendon to remain up north. Then, last week, it was Humphrey who was persuaded to recommit after also being the subject of trade speculation. Humphrey was the shocker, with many, at this point in the year, writing off any possibility of him remaining a Sun past this season. He’d met with Steven King last year, with the Demons and Hawks again linked this time around. But he rejected those overtures, clearly seeing the vision Hardwick is selling. They also made sure Jake Rogers didn’t go anywhere, and the small forward showed signs at the back end of the campaign to validate that call. Leo Lombard has also been a positive revelation in the forward half this year, finishing as one of just six Suns players to have played every senior game this year. Other Academy talent and young players also opened eyes in 2026, with Oscar Adams, Lachie Gulbin, Jai Murray, Beau Addinsall and Dylan Patterson also proving the future of this list is bright.
What went wrong
There was no shortage of things that went dismally wrong for three-time premiership coach Hardwick and his team. For starters, remember that 7-3 start to the year? The Suns won just two more times in their last 13 matches. It was a collapse of cataclysmic proportions, especially for a team that, back then, looked primed for premiership contention. Instead, after a 15-win campaign last year — a breakthrough season for a long-cursed organisation that finally got the finals monkey off its back — Gold Coast regressed by six wins, back into the ‘mediocre’ tier it has languished in for years since its inception. And the midfield, with reigning Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell and captain Noah Anderson at the forefront and Christian Petracca and Touk Miller playing hybrid roles, was an overwhelming disappointment. The Suns sat dead last for clearance differential, behind the likes of Essendon and West Coast. After ranking second for stoppage return last year, Gold Coast sank all the way to 18th in 2026. The Suns didn’t even sniff the wildcard picture in the final month of the season, with a Round 22 win over GWS snapping a 10-game losing streak that birthed all sorts of internal issues. Stuck in the mire of his mob’s disenchanting form, Hardwick was repeatedly forced to swat away reports of tension and disconnect within his playing group, with Seven’s Tom Morris going as far as to claim in June that Hardwick’s “connection to his players is as strained as it’s been in his time at the club”. Nobody could genuinely answer the question of ‘why’, though, particularly after such an ominous start to the season, but the players’ detachment was plain to see. An on-field bust-up in the Suns’ Round 20 loss to Carlton was the flashpoint, with Christian Petracca berating Leo Lombard after a miscommunication and the young gun defiantly firing back with an expletive. And speaking of Petracca and the on-field product, Hardwick bizarrely admitted after the Round 23 loss to Brisbane that he’s “got to find how I can best use him”. The premiership Demon looked like a Brownlow Medal smokey in the season’s early weeks, before being rendered almost inconsequential by the end of his first year at the club. Remember, this is a player for whom Gold Coast shipped off multiple first-round picks last October. Oh, and Ben King, who’s averaged over 60 goals a season over the past two years, is set to officially announce his free agency exit.
What they need
The Suns need Damien Hardwick to recalibrate this offseason — whether it be in relation to reported tensions with his senior players, or regenerating the game plan. He needs Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell to work things out in the midfield and rectify what was a horrid year in the engine room. Christian Petracca has to be part of that improvement, and Hardwick needs to do as he flagged in that press conference — get the most out of him. He also needs to figure out where best to play Mac Andrew, who’s a so-so defender but could well be a special modern-day ruckman. Gold Coast also needs a big year out of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who never really hit his straps in his first year at the Suns. He and Walter simply need to form a formidable partnership, given the hole King is set to leave in the forward half. The Suns appear to have cooled on pursuing Essendon’s Jordan Ridley via trade, but their initial reported interest indicates key defence is an area of the field they’re looking to improve, particularly with the exit speculation surrounding Charlie Ballard. Small forward, too, presents as an area of need, even with the retention of Jake Rogers.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(7 o’clock): We said the Suns were at 8pm at this time last year, after they’d stunned Fremantle in an away elimination final before getting bundled out by Brisbane. It wouldn’t be plausible to claim they’re still at 8pm, but they’re not far off. We think they’re still in a good position to challenge for the top four next year, provided Hardwick can plug the aforementioned important holes and rejuvenate a group that isn’t that far removed from a semi-final berth. Somewhat against the odds, the club retained Walter and Humphrey, so it’s not as if it’s going to take a damning hit list-wise. If anything, the Suns are set to get stronger again via the natural progression of their bevy of young guns.
First Crack take
Leigh Montagna says: “I think they’ll learn a lot of lessons from this season. I think maybe I’m buying what Damien Hardwick is selling in regards to they’ll learn a lot and this can be the making of them. I think they’ve learnt that expectation; they need to know they need to roll up the sleeves and dig in, the little things matter. It’s about the we and not me — I think they got caught up in their own football rather than the team. The roles are important, and I think Damien Hardwick has a lot of chess pieces. I think he needs to figure out exactly how to use them all. I think he’s admitted he didn’t get that right this year — if he can get those pieces in the right spots and they play as a team, I’m expecting them to bounce back big next year. I haven’t lost faith in them.”
Season grade
F
— Jack Jovanovski
Dimma pays tribute to departing stars | 07:06
14. NORTH MELBOURNE (9-14, 88.8%)
Three word analysis
Getting there… slowly
What went right
The wheel is turning. Alastair Clarkson’s side nearly doubled its win total from last year and notched its most victories since 2019. It was enough for North to be hovering around wildcard contention for most the season in a big step forward from where they’ve come from. We saw more consistency from the Roos – both in regards to being in games for longer and week to week – and they challenged some quality opponents. Finn O’Sullivan took his game to another level as a defensive midfielder and might be the best of North’s high draft picks in recent years. Veteran recruit Luke Parker proved to be a valuable addition and added real leadership and calmness behind the ball. At the other end of the ground, Jack Darling was a good get to add some experience to the forward line and a foil for Nick Larkey, while youngster Cooper Trembath really came on as a Rising Star contender.
What went wrong
The defence remains a concern in year four under Alastair Clarkson, with the Roos ranked bottom four in points against. There are issues both with the team defence and back six personnel (more on that later) in an area they simply have to clean up to make a meaningful leap up the ladder. Getting that right needs to be the main priority. Meanwhile, the new ruck rules didn’t suit Tristan Xerri. After establishing himself as a brute force and one of the most dominant rucks in the competition in recent years – including claiming the Syd Barker Medal in 2025 – Xerri suffered from fewer stoppages and general ruck combat against more athletic opponents. In an otherwise relatively injury-free season for the club, George Wardlaw still couldn’t stay on the park consistently largely due to more soft tissue problems. But when the midfield beast is out there, boy does it make a difference, as he’s arguably North’s most important player.
What they need
A key defender. Charlie Comben is a gun but desperately needs a running partner back there to anchor the back six. List boss Brady Rawlings was content with the Roos’ key back stocks ahead of last year’s trade period, but surely there’s more urgency now to upgrade their stocks, instead of again pinning so much hope on the likes of Aidan Corr, who turns 33 next year, Toby Pink, Griffin Logue, and Will Dawson. Someone like Jacob Weitering would be a dream get. Perhaps more realistically, they’ve been linked to Adelaide duo Nick Murray and Jordon Butts, who would both also fill a glaring need. Not a need as such, but Zane Duursma and Riley Harderman are yet to re-sign as priority signatures.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(6 o’clock): The Roos have clearly improved, even if not to the level some anticipated. Again, tightening up the defence would go a long way for the club in 2027. It’s a year Alastair Clarkson will come under the microscope as he enters the final campaign of a five-season deal. This isn’t a young team anymore and the club will, rightfully, have added expectations of going to another level yet again. A first finals campaign since 2016, just like it was this year, should be the goal and expectation for the success-starved North Melbourne faithful.
First Crack take
David King says: “The reset is almost complete, so I think Clarko’s done what he was tasked to do four and a half years ago. This is a big year for him … It’s not a tick, no way. I think (they are) too reliant on stoppage; there are too many holes in their defensive profile. They’ve chopped and changed many times over the last 18 months in how they actually defend. They’ve got a pre-season to get that right — and if you can’t get that right, they’ll replace Alastair Clarkson at some point next year … They are too tall up forward, they’ve got no forward-half pressure. There’s a lot to work on for the Kangas.”
Season grade
B
— Ben Cotton
Clarko: They had a greater desire | 07:42
15. PORT ADELAIDE (7-16, 88.1%)
Three word analysis
Battered, Butters… building?
What went right
In a year that, on paper, threatened to get out of hand quickly, Josh Carr’s first season at the helm was one Power fans should be very happy with — beyond their ladder position and win-loss record. Defensive integrity is not easy to establish in your opening season as head coach, but Port’s structure without the ball was elite for large chunks of the year. Through the first 17 rounds, they ranked second for points against, points from turnovers and chain-to-score, while sitting outright first for defensive-50-to-inside-50s against. Even with an undermanned back six for much of the second half of the season, Port proved difficult to score against and regularly forced opponents into low-percentage entries. At the other end of the ground, Mitch Georgiades produced his second straight year with 50 or more goals and, crucially, put pen to paper to extend his stay at Alberton until the end of 2029. The midfield still had moments of genuine class when Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis were fit and firing — with the Round 16 Showdown win over cross-town rivals Adelaide the clearest example. Towards the back end of the season as the injury toll mounted, Jase Burgoyne thrived with greater freedom through the midfield and around the ground, and will certainly be a name to watch at the start of 2027. Former Blue Corey Durdin proved himself the club’s best off-season recruit with 32 goals as a small forward, while Aliir Aliir and Jordon Sweet were crucial senior figures who had strong years in a redeveloping side.
What went wrong
Port Adelaide’s injuries were as brutal and relentless as ever in 2026. Captain Connor Rozee was ruled out for the year in Round 2 with a serious hamstring rupture, as ongoing nerve complications further hampered him on the sidelines. By the back end of the year, the list was shredded — with no bigger hole than the one left when restricted free agent Zak Butters suffered a season-ending syndesmosis injury. Beyond the health of their players, the scoring inefficiency became chronic. Too many entries produced nothing, and the side repeatedly folded against quality opposition once the injury crisis hit. The same defence that ranked so highly early completely lost its ability to transition the ball, finishing the season 17th for defensive-50-to-inside-50 rate, 14th for inside-50s and 13th for score per inside-50. They could stop teams, but they couldn’t punish them — and they look set to lose even more class come October’s free agency period. The looming departure of dual All-Australian Zak Butters hung over the club all year, and now threatens to strip the Power of its best player as he eyes a move back to Victoria.
What they need
Before anything else, clarity and adequate compensation around Zak Butters and his impending departure will be front of mind. With Geelong seemingly closing in on the 25-year-old, either a massive retention package or a trade that brings genuine draft capital and list depth is compulsory. Beyond Butters, getting a healthy Connor Rozee back as a driving force through the middle will do the club a world of good. Their forward half must also become far more efficient, particularly with Mitch Georgiades continuing to fire on all cylinders. Ranking between 13th and 17th in key transition and scoring metrics is unacceptable for a side that can defend as well as Port can. They need cleaner delivery inside 50, better decision-making under pressure and another reliable scoring option alongside Georgiades. Their list is obviously developing, but a cruel run with injuries for two seasons in a row has brutally exposed their lack of depth. Make no mistake, Carr’s defensive foundations are there, but next season will tell us a lot more about how quickly this group can climb.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(5 o’clock): The defensive rebuild under Josh Carr has given the Power a solid base, and Georgiades provides a genuine focal point. That said, a 7-16 finish, season-ending injury to the captain, chronic scoring inefficiency and the likely loss of Zak Butters mean the window is still firmly shut. They’re not totally in the dark, and you can see the outline of a plan, but midnight remains a long way off. One more injury-ravaged year like 2026 and the clock resets completely.
First Crack take
Leigh Montagna says: “They were very, very good — Josh Carr, big tick. I think he’s shown he’s got a system, they’ve got buy-in with the playing group, they give effort. But for me, it’s about adding talent now. I think the system and effort and belief and all those things can only take you so far. They need the talent to match that to be able to turn competitive performances into wins. Did a lot right — I liked the way they went about it. But they need to continue to find ways to add talent, particularly losing their best player Zak Butters if that’s the case.”
Season grade
D+
— Will Faulkner
Carr: ‘We know where we are as a club’ | 04:04
16. WEST COAST EAGLES (4-19, 69.2%)
Three word analysis
Signs. Setbacks. Suffering.
What went right
Overall, this was West Coast’s most competitive season in a few years. Yes the Eagles only won four games, but their percentage of 69.2 was the club’s best return since 2021. There was clear progress in the Eagles’ forward-half game under Andrew McQualter, whose brand and defensive identity started to show. After ranking 13th for forward-half pressure rating, 15th for forward-half tackles and 13th for forward-half intercepts last year, the Eagles improved those rankings to eight, sixth and 10th respectively in 2026. They also got a lot of games into their young players, ranking second in the league behind Essendon for games played by Under 21-year-olds. First-round draftees Cooper Duff-Tytler, Josh Lindsay and, especially, Willem Duursma fitted into the team well. Individually, Harley Reid had an outstanding season that should see him claim a comfortable maiden best and fairest. The big surprise packet was Bailey Williams, who produced a career-best that saw him not only claim the Eagles’ No.1 ruck mantle, but also re-sign long-term with the club, despite strong rival interest. Veteran midfielder Tim Kelly regained much-needed form on the ball, too. Emerging forward Jobe Shanahan quickly became the Eagles’ best contested marker, dominating the air in both arcs whenever required, while Reuben Ginbey at one point was in the All-Australian mix with his awesome defensive work before his year was cut shot after 13 games. And the Eagles found a couple of gem mature-age recruits in Milan Murdock and Marcus Herbert.
What went wrong
The post-bye results. After losing to North Melbourne by one point in Round 14 before their mid-season bye, the young Eagles struggled to maintain their competitive edge in the back-half of the season. They lost all of their last nine games of the year by an average margin of 37 points, while also conceding an average of 103 points to their opposition. Prior to that, they had two horror early-season losses to Sydney (-128 points) and St Kilda (-101) that upped the pressure on McQualter and the club. The Eagles’ clearance game continues to be their Achilles heel, ranking 17th for both clearance differential and points from clearance differential. It’s the fourth straight season where West Coast has ranked among the bottom three teams in both categories. While Jake Waterman ended the year with an impressive 49 goals, his wayward kicking in winnable games cost his team dearly. Elliot Yeo looked off the pace for much of the year and first-round draftee Elijah Hewett struggled to get going amid a few injury setbacks. Free agent recruit Brandon Starcevich only came into the team halfway through the season due to a pre-season calf injury.
What they need
More midfield class. With Yeo’s drop-off, it feels like the Eagles need an experienced, classy midfielder to help guide Reid and Duursma through the next few years. Lachie Neale would be handy … he’s a free agent and set to depart Brisbane at season’s end. Collingwood is seen as the favourite to land the superstar, but a Neale-Eagles partnership makes a lot of sense. West Coast could also really do with a young gun small forward, considering the goalkicking reliance on Waterman and Shanahan this year. They’re in the mix for off-contract Bulldog Arty Jones, who has ample interest from several clubs. The rebuild is finally moving, but the Eagles still haven’t found enough stars to make you believe the climb will be quick.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(3 o’clock): The 2026 season was always going to be a stocktake for West Coast to measure the trajectory of the rebuild it started years ago and establish whether McQualter could actually move the rebuild forward. And while the Eagles only recorded four wins, they were far more competitive than previous seasons. A lack of experience, class and polish denied them more victories in 2026. The foundation of the list is there, but many more pieces are needed.
First Crack take
David King says: “I think next year will be a jump year for them, I really do. I think they’ve got their premiership torch-bearers in Harley Reid, Ginbey, Duursma. I think they’ve got those guys ready to go. But the February photos will tell the story for me — I want to see Shanahan putting on five, six, seven kilos and becoming a man this offseason. I want to see Duursma doing the same so he can play with a bit more physicality and stand up forward of the ball in those marking contests. And Harley Reid, just to become the perfect specimen. It’s that leap this pre-season. They’ve got to go past these inconsistent senior players in a hurry.”
Season grade
D+
We need to stand up Yze | 06:37
17. RICHMOND (3-20, 62.5%)
Three word analysis
So many injuries
What went right
Only Essendon might’ve had less go right this season than Richmond. But even the last-placed Bombers got more games into their youngsters (166 combined senior matches for under-21-year-olds) than the Tigers (117) did this season, and they walk away with the No.1 draft pick in November. Seth Campbell, 21, was the only Richmond player to appear in all 23 games this season, while Sam Grlj (21 games) was the most-featured under-21-year-old. The argument isn’t hard to make that Campbell has developed the most of any player under Adem Yze’s reign, having played at least 21 games in the past three seasons, and being voted to the 22Under22 squad this year. It’s a stretch, but to get five more games into Sam Lalor at the back end of the season after his Achilles setback was a plus. Otherwise, generally speaking, any and all exposure for the club’s young talent, including Sam Cumming’s 14 games and the aforementioned Grlj’s 19, should be considered positives. In terms of the way the Tigers played, there were far more negatives than positives, but it became clearer later in the season that they were trying to build an identity as a clearance team. After ranking 14th for clearance differential through the first 16 rounds, they ranked ninth from Rounds 16-23. Given the limited personnel at his disposal, Yze’s side prioritised contest, clearance and territory. Gaining metreage with circumspect long kicks as opposed to targeting lower-percentage options proved the more efficient option for the young Tigers. It allowed them to be more organised defensively and set up the ground — even if they were still picked apart once the opposition got back inside 50. Here’s to hoping they can instil more dare into their ball movement with more quality on the park in 2027.
What went wrong
Injuries, injuries and more injuries. It isn’t a stretch to say that Richmond’s rebuild has been set back a year due to the debilitating situation this year, particularly early in the campaign. According to Champion Data’s measures, the Tigers were the third-most impacted club by injury in the competition. But for the club’s supporters, it would have felt like they were the most uprooted. The club’s eight highly-touted 2024 draft picks played a combined 55 games this season. That’s an average of 6.8 games per player this season. That alone should explain just how frustrating this season has been for all involved. Meanwhile, in terms of metrics, offence was massively challenging for the Tigers this year, ranking 18th for scoring, 18th for score-per-inside-50, and 18th for chain-to-score. They were also second-last for ball movement and dead last for defensive-50-to-score. They might have been prioritising clearance and territory, but their game plan when it’s time to transition the ball is cloudy. For the vast majority of this year, it wasn’t clear what the attacking blueprint was. But even if it was more identifiable, as constructed this year, they likely wouldn’t have had the quality with ball in hand to execute it. “I’d like to see more … I’m still not sold on what their brand is, yet,” triple Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt said on Fox Footy. “I think that’s the thing that will be on watch big time early at the start of next season. It’s been hard for them with injury … training has been a massive issue; they haven’t had enough (players) to practice and put Adem Yze’s game plan in (effect) on the weekend. They’re going to be a really interesting watch in the first couple of months of next year.” Next year is a big one for Yze, who’s contracted through 2028. Otherwise, Richmond’s once-exciting 2021 draft class remains an overwhelming disappointment. No.9 pick Josh Gibcus played one senior game before injury again struck him down, Tom Brown (No.17) was moved forward for the last game of the year in a telltale sign of how the coaching staff thinks he’s progressing as a defender, Tyler Sonsie (No.28) remains uncontracted and faces being delisted, Sam Banks (No.29) didn’t come on this year as a threatening back-half rebounder, and Judson Clarke (No.30) played just the last three games of the year after a rotten run of back-to-back ruptured ACLs. The Tigers have a bright future with their youngsters, but it’s that 24-to-29-year-old bracket that’s letting them down — apart from Tim Taranto and Jack Ross.
What they need
Ready-made midfield strength and depth, at least while the likes of Sam Lalor, Sam Cumming, Taj Hotton and Josh Smillie develop into formidable and consistent AFL weapons. It’s why the club’s list management department has lobbed an $18 million offer at Zak Butters, with the Tigers having been in the race for months alongside Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood. But the prospect of actually landing his signature still feels like a pipe dream for the Tigers, who won’t be contending in the short term despite their salary cap war chest. They are, though, considered extremely likely to land out-of-favour Giants ruckman Kieren Briggs on a multi-year deal. Briggs would serve as crucial insurance for ageing captain Toby Nankervis, with developmental prospect Ollie Hayes-Brown in the background. But aside from strictly personnel-related needs, Richmond must get healthy, and quick. It also needs a healthy version of Josh Gibcus, with the former top-10 draft pick losing another year due to injury. With Nathan Broad retired and Nick Vlastuin nearing the same fate, 2024 first-rounder Luke Trainor also needs to make notable strides as an interceptor. But perhaps most importantly of all, with its rebuild effectively set back one year, the club needs to prioritise a revered high-performance guru to lead a sustainable program. “Their most important acquisition won’t be Zak Butters, it’ll be a high-performance manager,” former Carlton coach Michael Voss told Fox Footy’s Geelong-Richmond broadcast on Saturday night. “Because you cannot develop a team when you have injuries like what they’ve had the last three years … You have to build cohesion on the training track, as well as when they come out and play. To be able to try and describe the way they play is really difficult when there are so many breakdowns, when you’ve got so many young players out there that haven’t played a lot of football together … the most important step of all is get their bodies right.”
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(3 o’clock): In many respects, this feels like a lost year for Yze’s Tigers. They weren’t able to get enough games into their future stars, nor establish a sustainable game plan, and were decimated by injury — with their high-performance boss departing in-season. In saying that, the young guns’ ceiling is incredibly high, and if they can get on the park regularly next year, that’ll be clear to all. Sam Lalor, Sam Cumming, Josh Smillie and Taj Hotton. Just note that group. It’ll be Richmond’s core midfield rotation for the next decade. Once that quartet gets 50 games into them, watch out, AFL.
First Crack take
David King says: “What did we really learn about Richmond this year? I don’t know what we learnt. Seth Campbell? That’s about it. They had poor health; they had a poor plan we saw week on week. They played, I think, largely inoffensive football. So this coach (Yze) has a pre-season to get all that right. And the club needs to help him any which way they can, because if they don’t, this will fade really quickly. So, I don’t know whether the coach survives like this at the end of next year if this is still the case. It’s a big gamble with Tom Lynch (playing on another year). And all eyes, for me, go on his first six weeks next year.”
Season grade
D-
— Jack Jovanovski
Bombers close in on coaching decision | 02:16
18. ESSENDON (2-21, 64.6%)
Three word analysis
Another painful reset
What went right
At least the kids got lots of exposure. No team got more games into their 21-and-under players this season than the Bombers. And a lot of the signs were positive. All three 2025 first-round draftees – Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow and Dyson Sharp – had a profound impact at times, while Archie Roberts’ significant growth will probably see him claim the club’s best and fairest award. Contract-wise, they were able to secure Nate Caddy – who booted six goals in Round 24 to finish with 46 for the season – on a long-term deal. The Bombers, also, finally got a full season out of key defender Zach Reid, who put his luckless injury behind him. He was one of just two players, alongside Zach Merrett, who played every game this season. There were only two wins, but the Round 19 win over the Giants was a darn special one.
What went wrong
Where do you start? The club’s first wooden spoon in a decade exposed ample issues. Essendon president Andrew Welsh declared in April he had “absolute belief that Brad (Scott) will be our next premiership coach”. Six weeks later, Scott was sacked after just one win from his past 24 games, with Dean Solomon replacing him. And while there was a short-term improvement in scores against under Solomon, the Bombers remained an easy team to move the ball against all season, ranking 18th for all of scores per inside 50 against, chain to score against and defensive 50 to inside 50 against. The Bombers limped to the line, conceding over 100 points in seven of their last eight games for the season. Then there were the injuries. Of the 18 clubs, Essendon was the second-most affected team by injury this season, with only the Giants more impacted. They had to use an equal-competition-high 41 players for the season. Nic Martin, one of their best players, didn’t get on the park at all after suffering a late-2025 ACL injury, while Jordan Ridley again struggled for continuity. Individually, it was a year to forget for Ben McKay, who was dropped twice during the season and was thrown around the field – at both AFL and VFL level – in an attempt to find form.
What they need
Again, where do you start? Above all, time – for this rebuild remains in its infancy, even though the Bombers have attacked the draft hard in recent years. List-wise, they just need more talent – and they’ll get first choice at the draft pool this year with the No.1 pick. Do they go a generational ruck in Harry Van Hattum, a powerful forward-midfielder like Arki Butler or Gus Teixeira, or an explosive midfielder like Ethan Drever? Positionally, they’d love another key defender, especially if Ridley leaves to join a rival club. Overall, it feels like it’s going to be an off-season with significant list turnover, with Merrett and Ridley tipped to seek new homes again, as well as contract calls looming on the likes of Elijah Tsatas, Jade Gresham, Archie Perkins, Nik Cox and Matt Guelfi.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
(1 o’clock): It feels like no team in the competition is further away from the flag than the Bombers – and this year’s ladder position reflects that. The good news is the rebuild started a few years ago while the Bombers were mid-table, attacking drafts with multiple first-round picks. The bad news is potentially losing a couple of key experienced players like Merrett and Ridley over the next off-season means more patience from impatient Bombers fans is required.
First Crack take
Leigh Montagna says: “If it is Mark McVeigh coming in, I think he needs to strip it right back. I think he needs to make some hard calls on some senior players. Anyone who doesn’t want to be there, anyone that hasn’t helped the club move forward, move them on. And base it around (the fact that) there is a core group of 25-and-unders. There is talent there. But they need to strip back and start working on their fundamentals. Even watching (against Port in Round 24), their fundamental skill level is not good enough. How they defend fundamentally is not good enough; the basics of defending are not there, and their offence.
So, just strip it right back. It’s going to be the long game, but I think it’s the only approach to teach them everything that they need to do in the right way. And then build from there. Too many bad habits they’ve got as a club.”
Season grade
F
We are absolutely on the right path | 08:20