A cut-throat league like the AFL demands excellence, and as a result, there's one winner and 17 losers.
But the reality is, not all clubs are expected to be pressing for a premiership, or even finals.
The introduction of the top 10 and the wildcard round has altered the forecasting of many teams.
And for that exact reason, each team's pass mark should vary based on a variety of factors.
Below, we have determined what each club should be striving for and what their fan base should be expecting in 2026...
Collingwood
Pass mark: Grand Final
The cliff is coming quickly for Collingwood, and 2026 is deemed its last opportunity to achieve the ultimate success before a host of veterans depart.
The Pies attempted to hit the draft knowing full well most of their youth will bide their time in the upcoming season, as Craig McRae struggles to replace the evergreen Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe.
A home preliminary final should've resulted in a grand final chance, but the Pies ran into a white-hot Lions outfit and were dismantled in 15 minutes of football.
But at their best, Collingwood proved they can compete, and those who have quickly forgotten they were 10 points on top of the ladder heading into the final month of the season.
