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Join our Fantasy SRP league"Absolutely stacked": The two AFL lists without weakness
SEN • January 29th, 2026 8:22 pm
The AFL has released their predicted best 23 for each AFL team, and a pair of teams caught the eye of Kane Cornes.
Compiling all available players from each AFL list, the AFL’s experts pieced together their best lineup for each team, including new recruits, rookies and emergencies.
Reading into the clubs’ best available sides, Cornes had his eyes firmly on to two sides up north, who present as two of the competition’s biggest contenders ahead of 2026.
“The AFL have done their best 23s for each team,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“My attention was drawn to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and how absolutely stacked these lineups are.
“When you look at what Brisbane have been able to do, and what they’ve been able to add…
“They’ve now got a team that does not have a weakness other than a bit of off-field stuff, and who knows about the motivation factor after a lot of those players have won two in a row.
“(Sam) Draper comes in as the ruckman, and in this best 23, our man Michael Whiting has done this, he has got both Ashcroft’s (Levi and Will) on the bench, (Kai) Lohmann on the bench, (Darcy) Gardiner, (Bruce) Reville, (Dan) Annable and (Darcy) Fort as the emergencies.
“(Eric) Hipwood is not even there because he is injured, and it is absolutely loaded. What is at stake now for Chris Fagan and this group? Three in a row, and football immortality.
“There is really no reason, judging by the depth, star power, youth and experience of this squad, that they can’t make it three in a row.
“Then there’s Gold Coast, who are equally as stacked. Whether this is the time or not, their emergencies; (Alex)Davies, (Jy) Farrar and (Jed) Walter – can’t even get a game!
“There are a few question marks on Jamarra, but he has been included in the best 23. The midfield reads (Noah) Anderson, (Matt) Rowell, (Christian) Petracca. Bailey Humphrey is coming into the peak of his powers. Zeke Uwland – who knows. He is supposed to be a freak.
“Bodhi Uwland is on the bench of this best 23. It is frightening, the strength of this squad and the star power.”
Beyond the stacked nature of both Queensland sides, Cornes weighed in the potential of a premiership for either club and what that triumph would mean for the legacy of either coach.
For Chris Fagan, another premiership would mark a magnificent threepeat, whilst Gold Coast’s Damien Hardwick would claim his fourth and first at his new club.
“I wanted to speak about Gold Coast and Brisbane and the legacies that are at stake for the coaches in particular,” Cornes continued.
“For Fagan to go three in a row, you are now in rare air. You are in an era where it is as hard as it’s ever been to win, particularly as an interstate club – you are the equal to (Alastair) Clarkson, the equal to (Chris) Scott.
“And what does it do for Hardwick? I said maybe two years ago that Gold Coast will win two out of the next five premierships.
“He gets four and goes right in the mix with all the best coaches ever.”
The two sides are set to face off in the AAMI Community Series on Thursday February 26th.
