"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.
7St Kilda 2009: Rounds 1-19 (19 wins)
The Saints' season 18 years ago was arguably their most dominant in their history as Ross Lyon's men looked destined to reach that elusive second flag.
St Kilda successfully navigated its way through 19 wins from 19 games, including that famous win against Geelong in Round 14, as an invincible season looked on the cards before a couple losses late in the home-and-away fixture.
The Saints and Cats would then play off in a memorable grand final where a Matthew Scarlett toe-poke crushed St Kilda hearts.
This win streak is the equal fifth-best in V/AFL history.
