Burning questions for all 18 clubs; Lachie Neale distraction Brisbane Lions three-peat; Geelong dealing with hangover curse after grand final loss

The AFL season is across the nook, with follow matches ramping up across the nation and groups shaping up for one more marathon marketing campaign.

And with that comes cause for optimism, but additionally lingering questions and doubts.

For some groups, these lingering questions will outline their seasons. The solutions, optimistic or detrimental, can be essential to their success.

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So, crew by crew, right here is the primary burning query on every head coach’s thoughts heading into the season.

Adelaide

Burning query: Are we truly nearly as good as we had been in 2025?

After ending backside 4 and profitable eight video games in 2024, they had been the sharp riser of 2025, profitable 18 and claiming the minor premiership. Issues didn’t go to plan from there, with the Crows dropping eight straight quarters in September to bow out of finals in straight units.

Now, heading into 2026, groups have had an opportunity to review their rise and they are going to be left asking themselves, merely, whether or not they can match that stage of output as soon as once more.

Are they really one of many contenders, or will they regress again into the pack combating for the highest eight? They rode an amazing fixture and extraordinary harm luck in 2025, two issues that not often replicate, however additionally they have a powerful younger core that might proceed bettering.

Brisbane

Burning query: Will the Neale distraction stand between Lions and three-peat?

Brisbane enters the 2026 season with arguably the best list they’ve had, regardless of profitable the final two premierships, and all that stands of their means is the intangibles that include efficiently climbing the mountain twice in a row.

A type of components is just motivation. No crew has performed extra video games throughout the final two years and it’s a lengthy street again to September. However this Lachie Neale saga threatens to either derail or galvanise the group early in the season.

Neale has stepped down as captain, however early losses would pressure the highlight on what has been a summer time stuffed with distractions for the veteran chief of the Lions locker-room.

In the event that they get off to a poor begin, it’ll turn out to be some extent of focus, and that will concern coach Chris Fagan.

Carlton

Burning query: What occurs if all of it goes incorrect early?

Carlton confirmed final yr that they may not be the crew that sacks its head coach when the strain reaches crucial mass … however they did then end the season and eliminate mainly all people else within the soccer division.

Expectations really feel decrease in 2026 externally given the adjustments each off-field and on-field, but when issues go incorrect within the first half of the season, will the now out of contract Michael Voss survive the warmth as soon as once more?

He’s the one coach within the competitors with out a contract for 2027 and it’ll definitely be the thought lingering in each Blues fan’s thoughts throughout the yr. It will likely be a troublesome distraction to beat.

Collingwood

Burning query: Does this group have one final premiership tilt in it?

The Magpies had the oldest record within the competitors final yr by a large margin, and whereas they’ve parted methods with a few veterans like Mason Cox, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Brody Mihocek, they’ve retained the title of each oldest and most skilled aspect.

They’ll have 11 gamers over 30 by the top of the season, whereas Scott Pendlebury (38), Jeremy Howe (35 turning 36), Steele Sidebottom (35) and Jamie Elliott (33 turning 34) stay 4 of their most necessary gamers.

Collingwood has pushed its chips in on this group to see if it might probably deliver dwelling one other flag, however 2025 confirmed that although they had been the dominant crew of the primary half of the season, it is powerful for the oldest squad within the comp to take care of that gold customary throughout an entire season.

Essendon

Burning query: Are we rebuilding or is that this group able to extra?

It is unattainable to completely choose Essendon from a efficiency standpoint final yr, given they battled doubtlessly the best non-COVID harm disaster we now have seen this century.

They unearthed a couple of high quality gamers amid that chaos, they retained Zach Merrett they usually added three top-end younger weapons within the draft.

Couple that with the sky not falling from an harm perspective, and there may be extra scope for confidence at Tullamarine than many externally anticipate.

However even they would not know the place they sit within the pecking order proper now and whether or not the record is sweet sufficient for a finals tilt, or whether or not they stay a couple of years away.

Fremantle

Burning query: How can we get to the following stage?

Fremantle gained 16 video games final season, which is normally greater than sufficient to cement your self a high 4 spot, however the unprecedented hole between the highest and backside groups noticed them caught within the backside half of the eight.

This yr, their quest must be getting again to that 16-win mark, assuming it’ll truly be sufficient to make the highest 4 this time round.

Nevertheless, that’s simpler stated than carried out, and at this level it is honest to ask whether or not coach Justin Longmuir has what it takes to raise this crew into a real premiership contender.

They made minor tweaks to the record, however can be banking on inner enchancment and a few harm luck to take that subsequent step. The jury stays out on whether or not they can combine it with the premiership contenders.

Geelong

Burning query: Can this group break the grand closing heartbreak curse?

Current historical past suggests the crew that loses the grand closing doesn’t end within the high 4 one yr later. The final crew to take action was, truly, Geelong in 2020, one in all solely two groups to take action since 2015.

Brisbane in fact gained the flag from fifth in 2023, however nonetheless needed to go the great distance to take action, which isn’t the pathway you’d need via September.

The Cats have taken nice strides so as to add youth and pace to their record and went into final yr’s grand closing clear favourites, however now they need to begin from scratch.

And historical past suggests that may be a troublesome path. Simply take a look at Sydney in two of the final three years, the Bulldogs in 2021, the Giants in 2019 or the Crows in 2017.

Gold Coast

Burning query: What extra may we probably want?

The Suns lastly broke their finals drought final season and now the time for excuses is over.

They’ve added 9 first-round picks within the final three drafts via their mighty academy, they’ve added famous person expertise in Daniel Rioli and Christian Petracca, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan appears like a free swing which may pay quick dividends and a premiership coach in Damien Hardwick steering the ship.

After years of irrelevance, the Suns have arguably the most effective record within the competitors sans their Q-Conflict rivals.

And something in need of a high 4 end and a premiership tilt would really feel like underdelivering.

GWS

Burning query: Has the harm dam wall damaged earlier than spherical one?

Tom Inexperienced out for the season, Sam Taylor might have surgical procedure on his hamstring, Darcy Jones is recovering from a torn ACL, Josh Kelly would possibly miss many of the season after hip surgical procedure, Toby Bedford has a torn hamstring, Leek Aleer will not be prepared for the beginning of the season and Finn Callaghan now has a hip situation as effectively.

It was a horror weekend for the Giants, with Inexperienced and Taylor happening in successive days and warping exterior expectations for his or her season.

Many will now predict them to slip out of the eight when placing season predictions collectively, and it is laborious responsible them.

There’s so much driving on Clayton Oliver’s shoulders now in that midfield.

Hawthorn

Burning query: Is that this a premiership-winning midfield with out Merrett?

Hawthorn knew it desperately wanted a famous person midfielder as the ultimate piece of its premiership puzzle, therefore going all-in to land Zach Merrett within the commerce interval.

Not solely did they fail to get that carried out, however now star mid Will Day will miss the primary half of the season with a shoulder harm. In addition they misplaced James Worpel to Geelong in free company.

The Hawks have all of the expertise you’d hope for at both finish of the bottom, however that midfield leaves so much to be desired, significantly as Day’s harm historical past mounts.

They might want to conjure up some magic in there this season to contend.

Melbourne

Burning query: Is that this successfully a spot yr?

It would not be proper to name this the beginning of a rebuild for Melbourne, given they’ve drafted half a dozen first spherical picks in the previous few seasons, but it surely definitely the beginning of a brand new period.

Simon Goodwin, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver are gone, Steven Might is on the outer and it is Steven King’s world at Demonland.

King will successfully get a free hit of a season to reshape issues to his liking, and exterior expectations are definitely off his shoulders for 2026.

However they nonetheless have six gamers on their record 33 and older, together with captain Max Gawn, plus veterans like Jack Viney, Christian Salem, Ed Langdon, Jake Lever and Jack Steele. It will likely be powerful to promote a spot yr to that group.

North Melbourne

Burning query: Is that this Alastair Clarkson’s final probability to get it proper?

North Melbourne has been glued to the underside of the ladder for the whole lot of the 2020s and this must be the yr one thing adjustments.

With the quantity of younger expertise they’ve introduced in throughout that interval, this feels just like the season it has to occur for Clarkson’s aspect. Roos followers have definitely been affected person sufficient.

It will likely be laborious to keep away from questions on Clarkson’s capacity to guide this group up the ladder if 2026 turns into one other backside 4 season.

They do not must abruptly turn out to be a high eight aspect, however North followers have waited lengthy sufficient for this crew to on the very least rise out of the underside 4.

Port Adelaide

Burning query: Was Josh Carr the correct man to go all in on?

Port Adelaide is setting itself the expectation of taking part in finals this yr (and yearly) in keeping with chairman David Koch, which may be just a little formidable coming off a poor 2025.

They’re additionally in a brand new period with coach Josh Carr on the helm, after a prolonged succession and handover course of with Ken Hinkley.

Nicely, now it is time to discover out whether or not he was the correct man to go all-in on, as he appears to reshape the membership and hopefully re-sign star midfielder Zak Butters.

Richmond

Burning query: Simply how good is our younger core?

Richmond has loaded up on younger expertise like no one else throughout the previous few years, including seven of the highest 28 gamers within the 2024 draft and pair of high 10 skills in 2025.

They’ve a younger crew brimming with expertise and confirmed sufficient final season to counsel this won’t be a prolonged rebuild.

If issues go to plan, the Tigers would possibly simply discover themselves able the place they will splash a substantial commerce interval conflict chest of money on the finish of 2026 and bolster these children with some mature expertise.

If not, then it may be one other 12-24 months of slowly letting this group develop up collectively.

St Kilda

Burning query: Have we cashed in on the correct gamers?

St Kilda was by far the boldest crew in final yr’s low season, splashing tens of millions to each retain high expertise like Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Marcus Windhager, but additionally purchase 4 gamers from different golf equipment.

They’re making an aggressive push to play finals, however they should hope Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Sam Flanders and Liam Ryan can assist lead them there.

All have proven flashes or durations of brilliance throughout their careers, with out adequate consistency to believe in them.

Sydney

Burning query: Was Curnow the ultimate piece of the premiership puzzle?

There’s one thing concerning the Sydney Swans and going all-in on star key forwards. This time they gave away three first spherical picks, Will Hayward and Ollie Florent to land 29-year-old Charlie Curnow.

The Swans have made grand finals in 2022 and 2024 and completed final season in sturdy kind, however they may hope including a famous person key ahead is the ultimate piece of the premiership puzzle.

They now boast as a lot elite expertise as any crew within the competitors and, if they will maintain Curnow match and firing, ought to be a scary proposition in 2026. Protecting him on the park has not been a simple process over the course of his profession, nonetheless.

West Coast

Burning query: Does this crew now have sufficient expertise to get off the canvas?

After profitable only one recreation in 2025 and dropping extra video games in a single season than any crew in historical past, the one means is up for West Coast … proper?

It ought to be. They added the 2 finest obtainable skills within the draft in Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler, they solidified their backline with Brandon Starcevich and Tylar Younger and they need to get more healthy seasons from key gamers like Jake Waterman and Elliot Yeo.

Couple that with what may be the Harley Reid breakout yr, and there is loads of cause to be excited concerning the Eagles.

Nobody is anticipating them to abruptly win 10 video games, however even a half dozen would in all probability tick the field for lots of followers.

Western Bulldogs

Burning query: Who emerges to fill the defensive void?

It is no secret the Bulldogs tried the whole lot to grab a star key defender within the commerce interval, however they in the end got here up quick.

They’ve moved on from Liam Jones and Rory Lobb is 33. They will be hoping James O’Donnell and Jedd Busslinger are capable of emerge as younger gamers able to holding a key place slot down again.

If that’s the case, they need for nothing up ahead and thru the midfield they usually boast among the recreation’s largest stars. They need to be aiming to contend, not simply make up the numbers.