As another year of footy approaches, every club's fanbase enters the season with a sense of cautious optimism.
However, some have more reason to be hopeful than most, as their side looks to embed itself into AFL folklore.
Could we see a three-peat in 2026, or will a new club be crowned as kings of the competition?
Here are the five teams most likely to win the 2026 AFL premiership...
2Sydney Swans
The Swans, if they truly take advantage of their healthy list and new superstar key forward, should waltz into the top four in 2026, boasting a fixture that consists of playing the lowly Kangaroos and just two 2025 finalists twice.
Therefore, a date with the final Saturday of September shouldn't be out of the question either.
In Sydney's final 10 games of 2025, of which they won seven, the Swans had the second-best conversion rate of inside 50s that resulted in a mark (28.2 per cent). That's partially in thanks to their engine room returning to full strength, allowing Errol Gulden, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney to combine as the frenetic trio that led them to the decider in 2024.
It's scary to imagine how lethal they could be with their darting kicks flying toward a leading dual Coleman medallist inside the arc.
There's a lot of questions to be answered regarding the Swans' floor and potential ceiling, but if everything clicks, they'll be the team to beat in 2026.
