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Rise, stay or fall: Assessing all 18 AFL clubs ahead of 2026
SEN •  December 4th, 2025 9:59 am
Rise, stay or fall?
What will the fate of the 18 AFL clubs be in season 2026?
SEN WA Breakfast’s Scott Cummings was quizzed by co-host Tim Gossage on which teams will rise from last season, who will stay around the same mark and who will fall.
See the club-by-club responses below:
ADELAIDE (Semi Finalists)
“It will be hard for them to emulate what they did,” said Cummings.
“I think they’ll still play finals but they won’t be sitting on top.”
FALL
GEELONG (Runners-Up)
“Everything says they should drop but they just don’t.”
STAY
BRISBANE (Premiers)
“Arguably the best list in the competition, they’ll stay.”
STAY
COLLINGWOOD (Preliminary Finalists)
“I think they could fall. They’ll be fighting for a spot in the eight, they could make the 10.”
FALL
GWS (Elimination Finalists)
“They finished fifth, I think they stay around that mark.”
STAY
FREMANTLE (Elimination Finalists)
“They’ll rise, they’ll be in the top four. They should be, they have to be.”
RISE
GOLD COAST (Semi Finalists)
“I think they’ll rise. They’ve got a taste for it, they’ve got a lot of experience out of it, a lot of benefit out of an away win in Perth in a final.”
RISE
HAWTHORN (Preliminary Finalists)
“They finished eighth, and they’ll fall. Not much but they’ll fall a little.
“Everyone will pump them up against and say this is their time. Why? Who have they added?”
FALL
WESTERN BULLDOGS (9th)
“They should rise, they should be better than last year. Ninth to fifth or sixth.”
RISE
SYDNEY (10th)
“Charlie Curnow is a big in. They should be higher than 10th but I’m going to say stay.
“I’m struggling to put my finger on Sydney.”
STAY
CARLTON (11th)
“Fall (significantly). I think they’re in for a tough year.”
FALL
ST KILDA (12th)
“Have to rise. They’ve gone all out. I say they climb four to five spots.”
RISE
PORT ADELAIDE (13th)
“They either stay or fall. From 13th, it’s hard…”
FALL
MELBOURNE (14th)
“Melbourne will fall. Lost too many good players.”
FALL
ESSENDON (15th)
“Essendon will fall. How are they going to be better?
“Nic Martin is gone for the year, their bolter draft pick (Sullivan Robey) is in all sorts with his back, Zach Merrett’s not going to give a rat’s…”
Gossage added: “No way! You make a good point, but they’ll rise.”
FALL
NORTH MELBOURNE (16th)
“They stay there. I just don’t think the bloke in charge (Alastair Clarkson) is a developer.”
STAY
RICHMOND (17th)
“They’ll rise. They won’t make finals but they’ll rise.”
RISE
WEST COAST (18th)
“They’ll definitely rise. I’ve got them for six or seven wins.”
RISE
