"You don't want to be playing your best football at this point of the season" is an old adage that is thrown around among fans and pundits alike at this point of the year.
Sydney and Fremantle are the two clubs flying at the moment, both sitting on a record of 9-1 and at least two wins clear in the top two spots on the ladder. The Dockers, in particular, have found their groove in 2026 and are currently on a nine-game winning streak (an equal club record) after only losing their first match of the season.
Thanks to its early hard work, Fremantle is poised for its first shot at a premiership tilt in more tha a decade, but how have other teams who have had similar red-hot starts fared across the past two decades?
As it turns out, clubs have found long-winning streaks to start the season provide no certainty of success.
8Hawthorn 2008: Rounds 1-9 (nine wins)
The first cab off the rank on this list did find success after an early season streak.
Hawthorn continued its rise under Alastair Clarkson in 2008 to win the opening nine games of the season.
And while Hawthorn was an underdog in the grand final against Geelong, the Hawks proved anything can happen in the last game of the season to secure the flag.
