Poll : 2026 where do you see us?

[Mantis]

4-8 based on getting more training into everyone and natural progression.

I’m 4-8 too… with scope to push up.

What’s the point of spending the entire ****ing pre-season thinking we’re going to stagnate? Life is hard enough without hope and the way things are shaping up the Poms are going to brain us so I need some positivity in there.

I’m confident we will see a more rounded game style. The learnings from this year need to be the platform to how we grow.

I’m confident we will see real growth and development from our 18-23 year olds. There’s some really good players developing in this group and a few need to push into being in the top 10 come B&F night.

I’m confident our best 6 continue to perform at a high level. We easily get to 12 wins just because they’re all better than the shit teams…. That’s a good starting point to attack from.

[Bornadog]

4-8 based on getting more training into everyone and natural progression.

Nobody above us outside of GCS really improved this trade season, any draftees acquired by concessional picks will take a bit of time most likely. Eating shit last year, regenerating/rebuilding will be the smartest play our club has done in ages.

I can see Pies dropping off from top 4, I always think Geelong will drop off but they never do.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

We'll be around 8-12 again. Yeah we'll get improvements from some players and others will drop but it won't change the root cause of our issues.

We won't stagnate. We'll just continue to repeat the same trends we've seen the last 5 or so years. We'll play good footy at times but when the pressure is on we'll be found wanting once more.

I think we've got enough talent to go 4-8 but we don't have the mental discipline and game structure to do it. Even if we got Wilkie it wouldn't have changed much. We just can't compete under pressure.

What would make us think next year will be any different to those prior?

[Garbs_7]

Yeah I think 4-8 range. We weren't far off it last year, in every game and had some close losses to very good teams that could have changed our ladder position dramatically. We should get an improvement from JOD and Buss down back, Budarick will add a bit to our defence and hopefully getting Cody back adds another dimension to our fwd line. I'm of the belief a big part of our defensive issue were gameplan and strategy related and if we can tweak that a bit, we should be solid down there again like in 2024.

[Stevo]

4 to 8 from my perspective. I don't know how people can go top 4 for next season based on this years performances but clearly some people are very optimistic and kudos too them.

[chef]

If we have a good run injury wise we should be close to pinching 8th. Our squad looks pretty solid outside of the KPD position but im not sold on us being coached well enough to beat the better sides.

[Uninformed]

We'll be around 8-12 again. Yeah we'll get improvements from some players and others will drop but it won't change the root cause of our issues.

We won't stagnate. We'll just continue to repeat the same trends we've seen the last 5 or so years. We'll play good footy at times but when the pressure is on we'll be found wanting once more.

I think we've got enough talent to go 4-8 but we don't have the mental discipline and game structure to do it. Even if we got Wilkie it wouldn't have changed much. We just can't compete under pressure.

What would make us think next year will be any different to those prior?

Make the pre-season all about pressure and transition to defence. Last one was about ball movement and we improved greatly on that this year.

Should be possible - we have talent, great coaches, good facilities, elite FFC level esprit de corps. We are the bees knees!

[Uninformed]

Genuinely unsure.

On paper they should but Big O and Darcy had a good thing going, selfless. That doesn't exist anymore.

Allen should definitely improve their forward structure, but who knows how it will work out. However it probably doesn't matter what they do, they're probably the most talented list I've ever seen.

Yep. They really are stacked. What a find Logan Morris was for them. Also have my doubts as to how effective their recruits will be.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Make the pre-season all about pressure and transition to defence. Last one was about ball movement and we improved greatly on that this year.

Should be possible - we have talent, great coaches, good facilities, elite FFC level esprit de corps. We are the bees knees!

I get it but the issue has been a glaring problem for years. I don't have faith that it will get rectified when no major changes have taken place. But I know I'll open myself up to get hurt again

[Uninformed]

I get it but the issue has been a glaring problem for years. I don't have faith that it will get rectified when no major changes have taken place. But I know I'll open myself up to get hurt again

Your emotional courage is commendable. I tend to seek refuge in blind optimism in an attempt to ignore the scars.

My specific, scientific and data driven reason for going 1-4 and finishing the finals at 1 this year is a vague but discernible confidence that a confluence of circumstances will get us there. There you are - open and shut!

[1eyedog]

How many games did we lose by under 10 points this year? Win two of those and we were pushing for top 4. That's how close it was.

I expect a finals appearance next year at the least.