Pre-season training is well underway as AFL clubs begin their preparations for 2026.
As is the case every year, there are a number of clubs that surge up the ladder as their list improves and their players mature. On the other hand, ageing lists and player turnover see other clubs regress.
We look at three clubs expected to rise, and three that may fall in 2026.
Riser: Fremantle
Fremantle looms as another big improver in 2026.
With the fourth youngest list in the competition last season, the Dockers still managed to finish sixth, with only percentage keeping them out of the top four. An extra year of growth and continuity should see this group take the next step.
The core midfield group of Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Hayden Young is dynamic. Serong and Brayshaw are elite clearance players, with Young's run and sublime foot skills complementing them perfectly. With the three of them set to be 25+ next season, you get the feeling they could become one of the best midfield combinations in the competition.
The addition of Luke Jackson in 2022 has been a huge boost to the Dockers. With the ability to play genuinely anywhere, he has become a match-winner in the ruck and ahead of the ball. Following promising spells in the centre this year, you can expect Jackson is set to play as a genuine midfielder at times in 2026.
Fremantle's rise feels inevitable. The talent is there, the age profile is ideal, and they have match-winning talent at their disposal.
