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The four bottom 10 clubs that should play finals in 2026
SEN • August 29th, 2025 8:46 am
Every year, there are at least two changes to the top eight from the previous campaign, so what changes will there be in 2026?
From 2024 to 2025, half of the top eight changed as Sydney (1st), Port Adelaide (2nd), Western Bulldogs (6th) and Carlton (8th) were replaced by Adelaide (1st), Collingwood (4th), Fremantle (6th) and Gold Coast (7th).
While the average is almost three changes each year, what if 2026 plays out the same way as 2025, where four changes occur?
With that amount of change in mind, former Crows coach Brenton Sanderson was asked by Gerard Whateley what four sides should be playing finals next season after missing out in 2025.
“At this time of year, coaches get to present to the board and lay out their short-term objectives,” Sanderson said on SEN Mornings.
“These four clubs, I think, would be presenting that, ‘We're going to play finals next year’."
Western Bulldogs
“They won 14 games and had a percentage of 137.
“I think we're all still glass-half-full on the Western Bulldogs. There's not much pessimism. I think the feeling is disappointment.
“There has to be a real optimism around some adjustments to the game plan, and they may only be minor, but they could be and should be a real contender next year.
“Offensively, they were electric this year, the highest-scoring team in the league.
“The missing players would have been helpful, but ultimately, they weren't able to defend transition… they've got to have the conversations around, 'Do we bring in a top line A-grader to our defence?’.
“If they can fix that, they can contend.”
Carlton
“Let’s look at the Blues. They're probably in that phase at the moment where it's really clear what they need to improve on.
“They need to add speed, improve ball use, build depth and manage the almost injury crisis they had this year.
“Then you've got the added contract fallout of missing a couple of really important players.
“But their goal must be to bring in speedy link-up mids and players off half back that can provide some run and punch.
“Michael Voss needs to sit down with his coaching group, and they need to improve their transition speed both in offence and defence.
“On 2025, Carlton has got to find another five wins on their 9 this year… but 12 might put you in contention next year… it can turn really quickly if you’re a Carlton fan.”
St Kilda
“They’ve re-signed Nasiah, and TDK is on his way… and they won four of their last five games.
“It was the middle part where they only won 2 of 12, which hurt them.
“They’re also linked to Leek Aleer at GWS, but they need to strengthen the engine room. I think their priority should be inside mids that are dynamic.
“I think there's enough young under-22 talent there that they can build on, and obviously, we sometimes forget about Max King as well.
“It feels like they're going to be really active around strengthening their list… but they've got to find ways over the summer to generate more opportunities to score.
“It's a really big off-season, I think, for St Kilda, which could launch them into finals.”
Sydney
“They won 6 of the last 8 games. They found form, but it was just too late.
“Towards the back end, it looked like they found that 2024 back half offence that sort of deserted them at the beginning of this year, it was just such a slow, sluggish start to the season.
“There was also no continuity with personnel, they were all injured at the wrong time.
“The key thing for them over the summer is going to be how they structure their forward line.
“It feels like their midfield is stacked and young, and I think they need a bit more run and punch off half back again.
“If they target a big power mobile forward and can find a little bit more run off half back… as well as tinker with the game plan a little bit, then they’re going to be a real contender again in 2026.”
