Burning questions for all 18 golf equipment; Lachie Neale distraction Brisbane Lions three-peat; Geelong coping with hangover curse after grand ultimate 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 motive for optimism, but in addition lingering questions and doubts.

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

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

Adelaide

Burning query: Are we truly pretty much 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 honestly one of many contenders, or will they regress again into the pack preventing for the highest eight? They rode an ideal fixture and extraordinary damage luck in 2025, two issues that not often replicate, however in addition they have a robust younger core that would proceed enhancing.

Brisbane

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

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

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

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

In the event that they get off to a poor begin, it’ll develop into a degree of focus, and that might concern coach Chris Fagan.

Carlton

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

Carlton confirmed final yr that they may now not be the workforce that sacks its head coach when the strain reaches important mass … however they did then end the season and do away with mainly everyone 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 fallacious 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 actually be the thought lingering in each Blues fan’s thoughts throughout the yr. It is going to be a tricky distraction to beat.

Collingwood

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

The Magpies had the oldest listing 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 facet.

They are going to 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 vital gamers.

Collingwood has pushed its chips in on this group to see if it could convey house one other flag, however 2025 confirmed that despite the fact that they had been the dominant workforce of the primary half of the season, it is robust 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 not possible to totally decide Essendon from a efficiency standpoint final yr, given they battled doubtlessly the best non-COVID damage disaster now we have seen this century.

They unearthed just a few high quality gamers amid that chaos, they retained Zach Merrett and so they added three top-end younger weapons within the draft.

Couple that with the sky not falling from an damage 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 listing is sweet sufficient for a finals tilt, or whether or not they stay just a few years away.

Fremantle

Burning query: How will we get to the subsequent stage?

Fremantle gained 16 video games final season, which is normally greater than sufficient to cement your self a prime 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 needs to be getting again to that 16-win mark, assuming it’ll truly be sufficient to make the highest 4 this time round.

Nonetheless, that’s simpler stated than accomplished, and at this level it is truthful to ask whether or not coach Justin Longmuir has what it takes to raise this workforce into a real premiership contender.

They made minor tweaks to the listing, however will likely be banking on inner enchancment and a few damage 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 ultimate heartbreak curse?

Current historical past suggests the workforce that loses the grand ultimate doesn’t end within the prime 4 one yr later. The final workforce 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 good 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 listing and went into final yr’s grand ultimate clear favourites, however now they have 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 seems to be like a free swing which may pay fast dividends and a premiership coach in Damien Hardwick steering the ship.

After years of irrelevance, the Suns have arguably the very best listing within the competitors sans their Q-Conflict rivals.

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

GWS

Burning query: Has the damage 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 may 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 difficulty as properly.

It was a horror weekend for the Giants, with Inexperienced and Taylor taking place 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 arduous responsible them.

There’s quite a bit 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 accomplished, however now star mid Will Day will miss the primary half of the season with a shoulder damage. Additionally 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 quite a bit to be desired, notably as Day’s damage 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 niche 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 couple of seasons, nevertheless it actually the beginning of a brand new period.

Simon Goodwin, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver are gone, Steven Could 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 actually off his shoulders for 2026.

However they nonetheless have six gamers on their listing 33 and older, together with captain Max Gawn, plus veterans like Jack Viney, Christian Salem, Ed Langdon, Jake Lever and Jack Steele. It is going to be robust to promote a niche 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 everything of the 2020s and this needs to 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 facet. Roos followers have actually been affected person sufficient.

It is going to be arduous to keep away from questions on Clarkson’s potential to guide this group up the ladder if 2026 turns into one other backside 4 season.

They do not need to immediately develop into a prime eight facet, however North followers have waited lengthy sufficient for this workforce to on the very least rise out of the underside 4.

Port Adelaide

Burning query: Was Josh Carr the proper 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 slightly bold 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.

Properly, now it is time to discover out whether or not he was the proper man to go all-in on, as he seems to be 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 person else throughout the previous couple of years, including seven of the highest 28 gamers within the 2024 draft and pair of prime 10 skills in 2025.

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

If issues go to plan, the Tigers may simply discover themselves ready the place they will splash a substantial commerce interval struggle 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 proper gamers?

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

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

All have proven flashes or intervals of brilliance throughout their careers, with out enough consistency to trust 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 robust type, however they are going to 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 workforce within the competitors and, if they will hold Curnow match and firing, ought to be a scary proposition in 2026. Maintaining him on the park has not been a straightforward job over the course of his profession, nevertheless.

West Coast

Burning query: Does this workforce 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 workforce in historical past, the one approach is up for West Coast … proper?

It ought to be. They added the 2 greatest accessible 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 motive to be excited concerning the Eagles.

Nobody is anticipating them to immediately 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 every thing to grab a star key defender within the commerce interval, however they finally 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 and so they boast a few of the recreation’s largest stars. They need to be aiming to contend, not simply make up the numbers.