With the AFL calendar entering some clear air off the back of a stunning finals series and a blockbuster trade period, attention now turns to the road ahead.
September and October play a large part in how many see the next 12 months unfolding, with finals hopefuls going back to the well as Brisbane looks to snatch a third successive flag.
With a handful of clubs that missed the finals action strengthening their squads for 2026, and others seemingly heading closer toward rebuild territory, we've looked at some potential tales that might unfold next year.
Here are some early, and bold, predictions for the 2026 season...
Aidan Cellini: A QClash Grand Final
Brisbane will make their fourth consecutive decider, and will reach for a third straight premiership. But they will come up against their younger brother, Gold Coast, who have taken leaps and bounds in their development under Damien Hardwick, making back-to-back finals campaigns, including their maiden grand final.
The Suns welcomed superstar Christian Petracca to the club, which will immediately elevate their list, whilst also adding some finals experience and leadership to the mix. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan could add some depth, while Charlie Ballard will return from a knee injury.
As for the Lions, they somehow get better after claiming a pair of consecutive premierships. They add free agents Oscar Allen and Sam Draper to their side, as well as top-five draft fancy Dan Annable via the draft. Not to mention the likes of Jack Payne, Keidean Coleman, Lincoln McCarthy, Tom Doedee, Eric Hipwood, Noah Answerth and Jarrod Berry to their grand final side.
Jonty Raphsmith: Melbourne to finish in the bottom two
Selling hope to members, head coach Steven King hit all the right notes, declaring the Dees are aiming for finals in his first presser as Melbourne coach.
Realistically, it's hard to see many teams in the competition that Melbourne would be capable of beating on paper. The loss of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, while the best outcome for both parties, will be hard to offset in the short term, and there is a lack of A-grade talent across the field.
Granted, the Dees made four nice list additions in the AFL Trade Period, with Jack Steele, Brody Mihocek, Changkuoth Jiath and Max Heath - but none are needle-movers and the former two are probably past their best.
The juggle of Steele and Jack Viney in the same midfield will be an interesting one, given that both are older and old-school midfielders in a team that wants to promote youth. Lots of in-between forwards - neither speedy smalls nor spearheads - don't fill one with confidence about their ability to put an ominous score on the board, while Judd McVee leaves a vacancy behind the ball.
It will also be interesting to see how much AFL Steven May plays in 2026. Expect Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay and co. to be given every opportunity to blossom under the new regime.
Harrison McIlwane: Bobby Hill makes a case for the All-Australian squad
The 2023 Norm Smith medallist endured a torrid season off the field in 2025, ultimately putting paid to his chances of featuring in Collingwood's run to the preliminary final weekend.
The addition of a fit and firing Bobby Hill to Craig McRae's side is as good a boost as they could ask for, as the black and white have one last tilt at a flag with the current iteration of the list.
At his best, Hill offers line-breaking speed, immense pressure and X-factor in the front half. His strengths align with those of McRae's side on the whole, when it's firing.
In a forward line that is sure to look different in 2026 after multiple departures, expect Hill to take on more scoring responsibility and flourish because of it.
Mitch Keating: Suns claim minor premiership
With the addition of Christian Petracca, another pre-season into their young stars, and the return of defender Charlie Ballard, the Suns improve on their 2025 campaign with some ease.
It'll be Damien Hardwick's third season at Carrara, with a positive trend hopefully continuing after the Suns won 11 games in 2024 (two more than 2023) and then 15 this year.
Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson could be the best two midfielders in 2026, while Bailey Humphrey will wax with Petracca to form a constant headache across the midfield and forward thirds.
Ballard's return will alleviate the pressure on Sam Collins and Mac Andrew, while the other end of the field could see Jamarra Ugle-Hagan return to form, with the acquisition of the former No.1 pick either being a big win for Hardwick or the Suns continue to rely on Ben King, Ethan Read and Jed Walter, all of whom will be better than they were this year.
Gold Coast will also add a handful of this year's best draft names via their Academy, giving the senior side no easy ride come selection.
Brodie Dunn: St Kilda to finish in the top four
With St Kilda's busy trade period bringing in Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Sam Flanders, and Liam Ryan, Ross Lyon's side has improved its stocks in each line of the field.
The Saints' squad still has plenty of young developing players to balance out their side, along with some experience.
They will be banking on Mattaes Phillipou to continue progressing and staying fit, along with Darcy Wilson, Alix Tauru, Max Hall and Tobie Travaglia, who have all shown signs of what they could become.
A midfield mix of Flanders, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair, with De Koning and Rowan Marshall providing support, has the potential to be one of the better midfield groups in the competition.
Key forward Max King is progressing and looking likely to get back to playing footy, which will provide a strong marking presence for the midfield group to target, which they haven't had, along with elite small forwards Jack Higgins and Liam Ryan at his feet.
The Saints have shown that they are going all-in next season, with their large spending during the trade period, and I think it will pay off and push them into the top four next season.
