The AFL Wildcard Round and finals series are officially upon us for 2026, with the eight teams missing out now turning their attention to free agency, contracts, the draft and selection calls ahead of next year.
Their home and away responsibilities have come to an end, but the disappointed decision-makers at the eight clubs condemned to watching September from the sidelines are about to earn their keep.
Whether priority 1A is transitioning to a new coach, deciding how best to spend Pick 1 at the upcoming National Draft (or both, if you're Essendon), or attempting to land a big free agency fish, months of planning for the upcoming free agency, trade and drafting periods are about to bear fruit.
So just what is on the agenda for your club?
West Coast
There appears to be light at the end of West Coast's tunnel, even if they finished the season on an 11-game losing skid.
Touted draft picks of years gone by in Harley Reid, Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler and Jobe Shanahan are showing glimpses of the superstars they were billed as becoming, and auxiliary pieces like Tom McCarthy and Marcus Herbert look like they'll be part of the club's next finals tilt, too, whenever that may be.
Demon Trent Rivers has been linked to a move home, and if he can be pried out of Steven King's heralded environment for a fair price, he could help accelerate the Eagles' surge back to the perch from which they fell.
Another savvy draft night, another uninterrupted pre-season for existing talent, and further buy-in to the brand Andrew McQualter is trying to impart on his charges will do wonders for a club without a finals appearance since the 2020 elimination final.
