"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.
2Melbourne 2021: Rounds 1-9 (nine wins)
The Demons' drought-breaking season saw the oldest club in the land win its first nine games in the second pandemic affected year.
Melbourne would finish on top of the ladder that season as well as start a win streak of 17 straight games across 2021-22.
The Dees then broke their 57-year premiership drought with a memorable win against the Western Bulldogs in Perth.
