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...
Gold Coast
Pass mark: Grand Final
A grand final appearance. A bold statement, which is what the new Gold Coast Suns is all about.
Breaking the 15-year absence from September football, coupled with its first-ever finals win, will hold the club in good stead going forward.
But the addition of Christian Petracca and a host of first-round academy graduates could unlock a scary reality that the AFL may not have prepared for.
The Suns rank among the youngest and most inexperienced teams in the competition, but are still performing at an incredibly high level.
So why not make the decider in 2026?
