The AFL Pre Season is officially DONE. No more guesswork. No more trial roles. Now we react.

In this episode we break down everything we learned from the 2026 AFL Pre Season including:

• The biggest role changes

• Breakout candidates who are now genuine locks

• Premiums that confirmed their value

• Players who lost role security

• Rookies who cemented Round 1 selection

• Pre season traps you need to avoid

With Round 1 around the corner, this is the final clarity episode before teams lock.

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00:00 Intro: Horse welcomes Damo, Footy Mailbag origins

01:41 Carlton v Geelong: what actually matters in pre-season

01:52 Carlton winners: Walsh, Smith, Hewett and the Cripps baseline

02:09 The cheapie watch: Wade Dirksen 99k and job security chat

04:18 “Don’t outthink the room”: Jagger Smith is a lock

04:34 Liam Reidy reality check: R3/F6 upside vs role limits

06:25 Geelong chaos: late withdrawals and role roulette

06:42 Lawson Humphries: classy foot skills, awkward price point

07:07 Tanner Bruhn 270k: trap or value stepping stone?

08:43 Sydney v GWS: Grundy is him (and the Swans pods)

09:07 Errol scare addressed: precaution only, keep him

10:04 GWS: Toby Greene midfield hype vs CBA numbers

11:16 Clayton Oliver: watchlist fade to start, trade-in later

12:06 Brisbane v Gold Coast: Charlie Cameron spike game warning

12:18 Lachie Neale: price temptation vs tag risk

14:20 Link McCarthy 170k: role, scoring range, cash-gen case

15:33 Suns quick hits: Petracca CBAs, Witts context

16:47 Melbourne v Richmond: lightning game, points-per-minute caveat

17:10 Trent Rivers explosion: role and “startable” argument

17:47 Langford midfield mix: what we can and can’t take from it

19:21 Richmond: Sam “Sizzler” Grills on the rookie radar

20:03 Dogs v Hawks: Tim English statement under new ruck rules

21:52 Bulldogs rookies: Butterick + Artie Jones both fades

22:53 Hawks notes: Newcombe classic tease, Mraz looks composed

23:58 Saints v Dons: Nas statement game, Sinclair and co

26:48 Essendon: Archie Roberts breakout signs

27:01 Blackiston deep dive: WAFL numbers and Nick Bryan timeline risk

29:28 Parish and Sharp: price/value discussion, rookie pecking order

31:08 Freo v Adelaide: Hayden Young gift, Murphy Reid breakout case

32:35 Crows: Worrell, Laird, Malera, Rachele midfield opportunity?

34:25 Lachie McAndrew: “just pick him” cash-gen logic

34:40 North v Collingwood: Sheezel/LDU locks, Doberston volatility

35:44 Blamiris 99k: “when he plays R1” story and stash appeal

37:10 Coleman-Jones: two-ruck watch and Cherry implications

37:43 Pies undermanned: Houston role note, Josh Daicos half-back flag

39:29 West Coast v Port: boring game but rookie/cash notes

40:27 Devin Robertson: keeps trending up

40:37 Hamish Davis: wing role, price and West Coast hesitation

42:37 Port Adelaide: Butters/Rozee captaincy, Georgiades draft PSA

43:16 Port cheapies: Marshall, Watkins, Whitlock discussion

45:18 Weekend verdict: Damo’s “must-have” picks (Nas + Ed Richards)

46:50 Surprise fade: Luke Jackson as a trade-in not a starter

47:14 Wrap: where to find Footy Mailbag + what’s coming next on Between the Arcs

If you are serious about climbing rank in AFL SuperCoach 2026, this is the episode you cannot skip.

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