CRYSTAL BALL: The A3 Team share their predictions ahead of the 2026 AFL season

Ah yes, we've finally made it through to the start of another AFL season.

And as such, we get another round of predictions made ahead of what's going to be a monster year.

The boys have lined up their thoughts on what they think is going to happen in the AFL this year.

ALEX CATALANO (Cat)

1. Sydney

2. Brisbane

3. Gold Coast

4. Geelong

5. Western Bulldogs

6. Hawthorn

7. Fremantle

8. St Kilda

9. Adelaide

10. Collingwood

11. Carlton

12. GWS

13. Port Adelaide

14. Essendon

15. North Melbourne

16. Richmond

17. Melbourne

18. West Coast

PREMIERS: Sydney

RUNNERS-UP: Brisbane BROWNLOW TOP 3: Marcus Bontempelli, Will Ashcroft, Nick Daicos COLEMAN MEDAL: Charlie Curnow RISING STAR: Jagga Smith BIG MOVER: Sydney BIG SLIDER: GWS

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Josh Ward

RECRUIT OF THE YEAR: Christian Petracca GRAND FINAL ENTERTAINMENT: Foo Fighters HEADLINE YOU WILL SEE IN 2026: Wildcard games panned by fans and media as 7th and 8th bow out early.

HEADLINE YOU WON'T SEE IN 2026: AFL takes feedback on board and changes ruck rule

ALEX DOCHERTY (Doc)

1. Brisbane

2. Sydney

3. Western Bulldogs

4. Gold Coast

5. Fremantle

6. Geelong

7. Adelaide

8. Hawthorn

9. GWS

10. St Kilda

11. Carlton

12. Collingwood

13. Melbourne

14. North Melbourne

15. Port Adelaide

16. Essendon

17. Richmond

18. West Coast

PREMIERS: Brisbane

RUNNERS-UP: Western Bulldogs

BIG MOVER: Sydney and Bulldogs - can't split, both missed finals last year, will make top four this year.

BROWNLOW TOP 3: Marcus Bontempelli, Nick Daicos, Isaac Heeney

COLEMAN MEDAL: Charlie Curnow

RISING STAR: Jagga Smith

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Murphy Reid

RECRUIT OF THE YEAR: Jai Serong

GRAND FINAL ENTERTAINMENT: Tame Impala

HEADLINE YOU WILL SEE IN 2026: Luke Beveridge signs a monster contract extension after guiding the Bulldogs to a top four berth for the first time in his coaching tenure.

HEADLINE YOU WON'T SEE IN 2026: West Coast goes through the year winless and sacks Andrew McQualter.

ALEX MILLER

1. Brisbane

2. Western Bulldogs

3. Fremantle

4. Hawthorn

5. Adelaide

6. Collingwood

7. Gold Coast

8. St Kilda

9. Sydney

11. Melbounre

12. GWS

13. Carlton

14. Essendon

15. Port Adelaide

16. North Melbourne

17. Richmond

18. West Coast

PREMIERS: Geelong

RUNNERS-UP: Western Bulldogs TOP 3 BROWNLOW: Nick Daicos, Caleb Serong, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera COLEMAN MEDAL: Sam Darcy RISING STAR: Jagga Smith

BIG MOVER: Sydney

BIG SLIDER: GWS MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Lawson Humphries RECRUIT OF THE YEAR: Sam Flanders GRAND FINAL ENTERTAINMENT: Run it back with Meat Loaf (just kidding) - Kid Laroi

HEADLINE YOU WILL SEE IN 2026: Lachie Neale requests trade to WA at the end of the season.

HEADLINE YOU WON'T SEE IN 2026: Adam Kingsley sacked by GWS after missing the finals for the first time since 2022.