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.
1. Hawthorn-Geelong (Round 4)
This year's Easter Monday classic was arguably the best of its kind, and there have been plenty of special games between these two sides.
With the sun shining, the MCG nearly filled to the brim and both sides contending for a flag, this fixture felt and looked like a Grand Final.
This game had the best qualities of the second and third-ranked matches; it had the heart and soul of the Showdown and the talent, skill and free-flowing nature of the Melbourne-Fremantle clash.
It was close all day long, and the stars of Hawthorn in Nick Watson, Jack Gunston and Jai Newcombe shone, while Geelong's Bailey Smith, Max Holmes and Shannon Neale were electric.
The scores were tied with 30 seconds left, deep inside Hawthorn's forward 50 as about 10-15 players fought and scrapped for the ball, all for it to land in Gunston's hands, who kicked a match-winning point.
The scenes as the final siren sounded looked like the end of a thrilling Grand Final as the camera shook for a minute and the Hawthorn crowd went bananas.
