2026 AFL Season Preview: Fixtures, Premiership Favorites, and the Players Set to Dominate

The 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership season is shaping up as one of the most anticipated in recent memory. With the reigning back-to-back premiers, the Brisbane Lions, chasing a historic three-peat, a host of contenders loading up for a challenge, and sweeping rule changes set to alter the fabric of the game, there is no shortage of storylines. From the blockbuster Opening Round fixtures to the future of superstars like Zak Butters, here is your complete guide to the 2026 AFL season .

📅 Key Fixture Highlights and Rule Changes

The AFL has released the fixture for the first 16 rounds, with a "rolling fixture" model to be applied for the remainder of the season to ensure the most competitive and attractive match-ups late in the year .

Marquee Match-ups to Watch:

Opening Round (March 5-8): The season kicks off with a bang, headlined by Sydney vs. Carlton at the SCG on Thursday night. Other blockbusters include Gold Coast vs. Geelong and St Kilda vs. Collingwood at the MCG .
Round 1: The first full round features a massive Essendon vs. Hawthorn clash at the MCG, a game made spicy by Zach Merrett's failed trade request to the Hawks over the summer .
Round 4: Christian Petracca will face his old side, Melbourne, for the first time since his blockbuster move to the Gold Coast Suns .

Major Rule Changes for 2026:
The AFL has implemented significant rule changes designed to speed up the game and reduce stoppages :

Abolition of the Substitute: The much-maligned medical substitute rule has been scrapped, replaced by a five-player bench, giving coaches more flexibility.
No More Centre Bounces: In a historic shift, the traditional centre bounce has been abolished. Field umpires will now bounce the ball only at the start of quarters, with all other centre resumptions starting with a throw-up.
Wildcard Finals Round: The finals series has been expanded. Teams finishing seventh through tenth will now compete in a "wildcard" round for the right to play in the traditional eight-team finals series.

🏆 Premiership Contenders and Predictions

The race to the 2026 Grand Final is wide open, with the premiership favoritism split between a dynasty-seeking powerhouse and a new wave of challengers.

The Hunt for a Three-Peat: Brisbane Lions

The Brisbane Lions enter 2026 as the team to beat. After claiming back-to-back flags in 2024 and 2025, Chris Fagan's side has somehow gotten stronger. They've added Coleman Medal-winning forward Oscar Allen (via free agency) and big man Sam Draper to a list that already boasts stars like Lachie Neale and Zak Bailey . However, the Lions face two hurdles: the "tax" of a tough fixture as premiers and the off-field distraction surrounding co-captain Lachie Neale's future and personal life, which threatens to upset their usually calm environment .

The Rising Contenders

Gold Coast Suns: For the first time in club history, the Suns are genuine premiership threats. Under Damien Hardwick, they made finals in 2025 and have since added Christian Petracca and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to an elite midfield core of Rowell and Anderson. Former Port coach Ken Hinkley has even predicted an all-Queensland Grand Final between the Suns and Lions .
Fremantle Dockers: SEN's Tim Gossage has made the bold call that the Dockers will break through for their first-ever premiership in 2026. The reason? The shrewd recruitment of veteran ruck Mason Cox. Gossage argues that Cox's presence will allow Luke Jackson to roam freely as a midfielder, unlocking the full potential of Fremantle's talented squad .

Potential Sliders

Collingwood Magpies: ESPN predicts the Pies could be the biggest sliders in 2026. With Brodie Mihocek departing and Mason Cox delisted, there are serious questions about where their goals will come from. A tougher fixture could see them miss the finals entirely .

⭐ Players to Watch in 2026

Nick Daicos (Collingwood): The Brownlow Medal favorite. After finishing runner-up in 2024 and 2025, the superstar Magpie is tipped to finally take home the game's highest individual honor .
Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs): According to Garry Lyon, the 22-year-old Bulldog is poised to become the best player in the competition. After watching him train with the Victorian State of Origin squad, Lyon described a moment of sheer brilliance that left his star teammates laughing in disbelief .
Ella Roberts (West Coast): In the AFLW, the 20-year-old Eagle is predicted to be the breakout star and potential Best and Fairest winner after a stunning 2025 campaign .

💰 The Off-Field Storylines: Contracts and Trades

The 2026 season will be dominated by the futures of several out-of-contract superstars .

Zak Butters: The biggest story of the year. Port Adelaide's superstar is weighing up a record-breaking 8-year, $14 million deal, but Victorian clubs like Geelong, Carlton, and Hawthorn are circling hard for the restricted free agent .
Sam Walsh & Zac Bailey: Both are free agents at year's end. Walsh is being aggressively pursued by Geelong, while Bailey has a queue of clubs from Brisbane to the South Australian border lining up for his signature .
Tasmania's Shopping Spree: 2026 is "go time" for the Tasmania Devils. They will begin formally meeting with players to build their inaugural list ahead of their 2028 entry, targeting both high-end talent and established veterans .

From the historic return of State of Origin to the chaos of the trade period and the on-field battle for the cup, the 2026 AFL season promises drama from the first bounce to the final siren.