The 2026 AFL season might be remembered in future years for the scandals that occurred at Geelong, Carlton and Sydney. But fans should not forget how beautiful and glorious some of the football has been this season.
For all the concerns about how the game has been "ruined" by the league, umpires, or you name it, according to talk back radio, the 2026 season has seen fast-paced, high-scoring and free-flowing football return.
There were a number of unlucky contenders that missed out on this list of the best five games of the home-and-away season.
One sunny Sydney Sunday saw fans witness a full-throttle classic between Sydney and Melbourne in Round 8, with the former winning 131-114.
Out west, Wharfie Time was thrust onto centre stage when Fremantle completed a stirring comeback against Hawthorn at home in Round 9 to the raptures of a packed-out Optus Stadium.
Or when North Melbourne overcame one of its many demons to finally win an Easter Friday match against Carlton. Under the roof at Marvel Stadium, the Roos won by 10 points in a thriller in one of the best victories in the club's recent history, while it was one of the many nails in Michael Voss' coffin at Carlton that would see him depart five weeks later.
There could only be five ranking spots, so here are the best five games of the season according to Zero Hanger.
3. Adelaide-Port Adelaide (Round 8)
Let him Cook.
Just another classic Showdown to add to the litany in the folder.
Adelaide winger Brayden Cook wrote his name in the history books alongside the likes of Jordan Dawson, Angus Monfries and Steven Motlop for famous goals in Showdowns.
This game had everything. From the heaving Adelaide Oval crowd that bellowed from go to whoa, to the countless snapping goals, to the momentum swings, to a Port Adelaide comeback that wasn't.
After being down by 21 points five minutes into the last quarter, Power small forward Joe Berry kicked a snapping goal with 50 seconds left to steal the lead 70-75.
But not to be outdone, Adelaide's Cook received a handball along the boundary line on the 50m arc with 18 seconds left and kicked a goal all while under immense pressure to regain the lead and win an absolute classic.
This game had all the heart and soul of a picture-perfect AFL thriller.
