Afl Ladder: Our predicted ladder — No love for Pies as non-Victorian clubs dominate
On a humid suburban oval a dozen voices argue over the board as names are marked, swapped and circled — this is the ritual of constructing an afl ladder before the season begins. A team of nine experts combined their predicted positions into a single 1–18 list, producing a table heavy with interstate clubs and thin on Collingwood optimism.
Afl Ladder — What do the experts predict for the top four and wildcards?
The aggregated expert list places four non-Victorian clubs at the summit: Brisbane, Fremantle, Sydney and Gold Coast. That projected top four would mark the first time in two decades the upper quartet are all from outside Victoria. The same exercise fills wildcard spots with Adelaide, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney, while Geelong and the Western Bulldogs are pushed into the top six mix. Collingwood and Carlton miss out of the projected top eight, and West Coast is the unanimous pick for the wooden spoon.
Which clubs are tipped to rise or fall on the afl ladder?
Experts highlighted shifts across the competition rather than steady state order. St Kilda is backed to sneak into a wildcard place ahead of Collingwood, suggesting upward momentum for one club and a lean period for the other. Two non-Victorian clubs are shown making clear gains into finals contention, reinforcing a broader pattern of interstate strength rather than Victorian dominance. The nine-expert averaging method compresses individual outliers into a single consensus ladder that rewards depth and consistency.
Who are the voices behind the predictions and what do pundits say about premiership chances?
Panelists debated recruitment impacts and season prospects; Chad Wingard and Josh Gabelich were named among those discussing which recruits might shift a club’s fortunes. A podcast crew that scrutinised contenders singled out five teams they deem capable of winning the premiership, with Brisbane described as the most complete outfit. Commentary on Brisbane emphasises depth and the ability to lift to a higher standard at critical moments, noting cover across positions and a list of influential players who underpin that view.
On the personnel front, that assessment cites a cluster of established names and reinforcements tied to Brisbane’s recent success: Neale, McCluggage, Andrews, Dunkley, the two Ashcrofts, Zorko, Bailey and Rayner, supported by ruck and key forward options such as Sam Draper and Oscar Allen, plus additional contributors listed as Keidean Coleman, Lincoln McCarthy and Tom Doedee. A calm coaching presence is noted as part of the structure that has underpinned the club’s back-to-back flags.
Despite the consensus ladder and podcast predictions, the landscape is presented as volatile: last season’s movements within the top eight and dramatic swings year-to-year are used to caution against certainty. The experts’ combined ladder is a projection rooted in the present balance of lists and recruitment, not an immutable script.
Back on the oval where the conversation began, the board is folded and names rechecked. The aggregated afl ladder gives a clean view of who the experts favour now, but beneath the numbers are the familiar uncertainties of injury, form and fortune that will decide whether the predicted order holds or the season writes its own story.
