Predicting every AFL club’s 2026 best-and-fairest winner

With the 2026 AFL season entering its final stages, the race for each club's best-and-fairest award is beginning to take shape. The club champion award is internal recognition of players and their impact across a season. From established superstars chasing another club champion gong to emerging guns pushing their way into contention, we've taken a look at every team and predicted who will win their club's 2026 best-and-fairest. As well as naming a top-five smoky. Adelaide Jordan Dawson It's very hard to go past the Crows skipper for the best-and-fairest, although he's missed a few games. Dawson has been superb in reviving Adelaide's season from an early-year slump. He's led from the front and won games off his own boot. Sam Berry would rival him as a club champion, as would Izak Rankine. Defender Josh Worrell should be among the vote-getters, including a top-five finish. Brisbane Lachie Neale The star midfielder hasn't missed a beat this year, despite the ongoing external noise about his personal life and future at Brisbane. Neale is still one of the best clearance players in the game, and his creative hands help the club generate scores from stoppage. Sam Draper is a smoky for the top five after a brilliant first season at the Lions. Carlton Sam Walsh The gut-running Blues midfielder has been the pinnacle of consistency, and under the direction of Josh Fraser, he has elevated his game to another level. Walsh is an accumulator, but he's finding ways to inflict more damage on the opposition with his ball use. Jagga Smith, despite it being his first proper season in the AFL, is a chance to make the top five. Collingwood Nick Daicos It would be impossible to see how the father-son champion wouldn't claim the Pies' Copeland Trophy this year. One of the shortest-priced favourites for the Brownlow, and Craig McRae has included him in his coach votes almost every week. The club also changed its voting procedure following last year's shock victor Darcy Cameron, who pipped Daicos in the count. “We changed the system, we did,” McRae said after the Opening Round win over St Kilda. “The system was needing to be changed to reward the extreme games. He had an extreme game tonight, didn't he? Forty-odd touches. “I think Nick's just maturing so much in front of our eyes. He trains harder than anyone else. Same with Josh (Daicos), like Josh had an amazing game." [caption id="attachment_179404" align="alignnone" width="2560"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 04: Nick Daicos of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2026 AFL Round 17 match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Collingwood Magpies at People First Stadium on July 4, 2026 in the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] A top-five fancy is key defender Billy Frampton, who has led the backline in the absence of captain Darcy Moore. Essendon Zach Merrett The gun Bomber hasn't reached the heights of previous years following a tumultuous off-season, but he's still performed at such a high level. Merrett is expected to depart Essendon at season's end, but not before a remarkable seventh Crichton Medal. Sam Durham and Archie Roberts would be in the running for the award. Could defender Jaxon Prior be a chance for a top-five finish? The former Lion has been under the pump in defence but has more than held his own. Fremantle Murphy Reid A remarkable year for the Dockers, so we know the best-and-fairest count will be close. But second-year phenomenon Murphy Reid has to be in the running. Assuming a prominent midfield role this season, the Victorian has paid back Fremantle in spades. Fellow on-baller Shai Bolton and Andrew Brayshaw play pivotal roles, while Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy could race for the podium. [caption id="attachment_172133" align="alignnone" width="2560"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Murphy Reid of the Dockers celebrates kicking a goal during the round one AFL match between Geelong Cats and Fremantle Dockers at GMHBA Stadium, on March 15, 2025, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)[/caption] Defender Heath Chapman has had an unheralded season to date, and has been pivotal to the club's premiership push. Could he finish in the top five? Geelong Bailey Smith The hard-running midfielder has had another extraordinary year in the blue and white hoops. Smith has continued finding plenty of the ball and drives the Cats forward quickly. The injury to Max Holmes opens the door to a new winner, while Tom Atkins and Oliver Dempsey are around the mark. Connor O'Sullivan should be among the vote-getters in the Cats' count, with the defender pushing for a top-five slot. Gold Coast Christian Petracca There's not a heap of winners on the Suns' list, especially after a poor three-month block. Recruit Christian Petracca jumped out of the gates in new colours, and has performed at a high level throughout the year. Captain Noah Anderson and defender Bodhi Uwland are candidates for the club champion award. John Noble as a top-five fancy looms as a possibility after a strong year across the halfback. GWS Clayton Oliver After a highly scrutinised move to the Giants, Oliver has returned to his brilliant best as a bullocking midfielder. In the absence of Tom Green, as well as Josh Kelly and Finn Callaghan, the former Demon has stuffed the stat sheet, similar to his top-line Melbourne days. Working in his favour for the award is that a host of stars have battled injury throughout the year. Lachie Ash is also in the running for a maiden best-and-fairest. [caption id="attachment_174130" align="alignnone" width="2560"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 7: Clayton Oliver of the Giants celebrates during the 2026 AFL Opening Round match between the GWS Giants and the Hawthorn Hawks at ENGIE Stadium on March 7, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Hawthorn Jai Newcombe Elevated to co-captain at the start of the year, Newcombe has continued to rise in the rankings of players in the AFL. His midfield brilliance has been a significant factor in the club's push to secure a top-four spot. His clearance game, even with extra attention from rival clubs, is among the best. Josh Ward has had another great season and should be rewarded with a top-five position. Melbourne Max Gawn It is hard to go past the Demons ruckman, who is expected to receive a record-breaking ninth All-Australian blazer. Gawn has been brilliant, and has won games off his own boot, and hand. Kysaiah Pickett is one he'll contend with on the night. Recruit Jack Steele would be pushing for a top five position, largely due to playing a selfless role. North Melbourne Harry Sheezel The Kangaroos accumulator could be searching for his third best-and-fairest. Sheezel's permanent move to the midfield has yielded elite results, with the youngster taking his game to a new level. Cooper Trembath as a roughie to make the top five. Port Adelaide Jason Horne-Francis The Power midfield has taken the next step to stardom. Horne-Francis' on-ball production and efforts inside 50 have him in the race for a spot in the AA squad, and potentially the team. Helping his case is Zak Butters' absence, while defender Aliir Aliir has had a superb season. Ruckman Jordon Sweet has been a surprise packet this year under the new rules and could vote well at the club best-and-fairest. Richmond Tim Taranto The Tigers on-baller has led from the front in a difficult season. Richmond's rebuild is underway, leaving a lot on the shoulders of Taranto to guide the young group whilst also taking responsibility for the midfield. He's usually targeted by opposition, but he finds a way to gather plenty of the ball and put teammates in better positions. Small forward Seth Campbell has enjoyed a breakout campaign, and is tipped to receive some love from the club. St Kilda Callum Wilkie The key defender has been the most consistent Saint throughout the year, and should be rewarded accordingly. Wilkie is tasked with curbing the influence of the game's best forwards, but his intercept work and direction make him the most important St Kilda player. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will be pushing for a second best-and-fairest while Max Hall has been brilliant. Hugo Garcia has emerged as a top-five fancy after a stellar breakout campaign following more midfield minutes. Sydney Brodie Grundy There's a host of Swans who could take out the Bob Skilton Medal, but ruckman Grundy could add to his silverware cabinet. Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner will be nipping at his heels, with all three worthy winners of the award. The former Pie is pushing for another All-Australian blazer, and with Dean Cox in the hot seat, a ruckman himself, maybe Grundy is favoured. James Rowbottom's selfless role could be recognised internally by the vote-givers. He's played in multiple positions on the ground and has performed at a high level, assisting his star teammates. West Coast Harley Reid The young phenom has developed into one of the AFL's best midfielders, and he took a massive step this year. Reid took control of the on-ball group, even with some experience around him. The youngster has upped his output in many areas, including his clearance work and ball use. One improvement will be his finishing in front of goal, but the fact he's getting chances is impressive enough. Tom McCarthy is a ball magnet, and hasn't found difficulty in finding the Sherrin. He's played almost every game and his elevation into significant roles in the defensive half and through the midfield is also a nod to how West Coast view him. Western Bulldogs Marcus Bontempelli The champion Bulldog is set to continue breaking records, joining Scott West on seven best-and-fairests. Bontempelli has been the club's best in 2026, with a host of his star teammates sidelined through injury. Michael Sellwood has materialised into a strong defender for Luke Beveridge, taking on the responsibility of some of the game's best small forwards, including Nick Watson.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	FRE	21	18	3	72	143.4
2	SYD	21	16	5	64	134
3	HAW	21	14	6	58	118.2
4	BL	21	14	7	56	117.8
5	ADEL	21	14	7	56	117.6
6	MELB	21	14	7	56	107.6
7	GEEL	21	13	8	52	120.6
8	WB	21	12	9	48	93.9
9	COLL	20	11	8	46	105.6
10	CARL	20	10	10	40	97

Predicting every AFL club’s 2026 best-and-fairest winner

AND a top-five roughie from each side…

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