Join Regan and Brucey on The Fantasy Forecast for the first player stocktake of 2026.

The boys have their say on whose stocks are up, down, and questionable after the first unofficial pre-season games!

The crystal ball is officially out for our 2026 Big Calls & Predictions episode!

This episode includes our picks for:

- Brownlow Medallist

- Coleman Medallist

- Rising Star

- Top 3 Breakout Players

- Surprise All-Australian

- Best New Recruit

- Top 10 Ladder

- Team Over/Under Lock

- 2026 Big Call

Join Regan and Brucey for the Fantasy Forecast as they answer listener questions ahead of the preseason games!

Get featured on the pod by sending your questions via:

Instagram: @footyforecastpod

Reddit: @footyforecastpod

X: @FootyFore

Or in the comments on Spotify!

Join Regan and Brucey as the Fantasy Forecast returns for 2026 where they break down everything you need strategy wise for AFL Fantasy Classic and Draft this season.

The boys discuss Classic structure, including how to balance rookies across each line, the 30 green dot strategy, and whether you need a genuine set and forget captain option.

Next, they break down bye structure, how many early bye players is too many, and how aggressive coaches should be with early round trades.

Of course it is not preseason without debating ruck strategy. The boys go head to head on two premium rucks versus one value option, and list cheap PODs and breakout contenders to monitor during the preseason games.

Lastly, they dive into Draft strategy, covering where rucks should be taken, how early to target forwards, and how to find value late in the draft.

Be a part of the journey and follow the boys throughout the 2026 fantasy season.

Another tough year in the rebuild saw West Coast finish 18th in 2025, managing just one win in Andrew McQualter’s first season at the helm.

While results were hard to swallow, the Eagles avoided any 100 point blowouts and exposed plenty of youth as injuries to key veterans opened the door for the next wave.

Kurt from the Golden Wings Podcast joined The Footy Forecast to reflect on a challenging 2025 campaign and where the growth is coming from heading into this season.

We break down the Eagles developing game style and frustrations around inconsistent senior performances, before highlighting the positives on the field.

Reuben Ginbey’s runner up best and fairest season stood out, Jobe Shanahan showed genuine promise, Liam Baker was the clear standout, and mid season draftee Tom McCarthy made an instant impact off half back.

We also unpack a strong draft haul headlined by Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff Tytler, adding elite young talent in a major tick for the club’s rebuild.

Experienced additions including Brandon Starcevich and Tylar Young bolster the back six, while we discuss key departures such as former captain Oscar Allen, Liam Ryan, and the retirements of Jeremy McGovern and Dom Sheed.

Looking ahead to 2026, new co captains Liam Duggan and Liam Baker take the reins as the club searches for stability after last year’s leadership drama.

We assess preseason standouts, roles up for grabs and what a realistic pass mark looks like as the Eagles aim to show real progress in the next phase of their rebuild.

A must listen for all Eagles fans!

3-peat is what’s on everyone’s mind as the Lions look to continue their historic run as early premiership favourites heading into the 2026 season.

JB from the Brisbane Lions Fancast joined The Footy Forecast to break down a dominant 2025 campaign that delivered back to back premierships and saw Brisbane never drop out of the top four.

We highlight Hugh McCluggage’s All Australian season, Logan Morris’ 53 goal breakout year and the continued rise of Jaspa Fletcher, along with the depth players who played crucial roles across the season.

The off season is unpacked with a look at the academy led draft haul headlined by Dan Annable, the additions of Oscar Allen and Sam Draper, and the impact of departures including Ah Chee, Starcevich and the retirements of McInerney and Sam Day.

Looking ahead to 2026, we discuss Lachie Neale’s off field drama and its impact on the club, who may step into the captaincy, plus preseason standouts and positional changes as players push to break into the side.

A must listen for all Lions fans!

The Dogs 2025 season proved another frustrating near miss. Despite a strong win–loss record, the Dogs were unable to consistently challenge top eight opposition, falling just short of finals once again.

Matt and Nick from The Salty Bulldog Podcast, the number one Bulldogs page delivering in-depth weekly analysis of all things Doggies, joined The Footy Forecast to provide answers for all Dogs fans heading into 2026.

We break down Luke Beveridge’s performance following his contract extension, ongoing concerns around the Bulldogs’ defensive structure, and key player performances.

We discuss Rory Lobb’s transition into a key defensive role, Sam Darcy’s emergence as one of the competition’s most exciting young stars, and the continued rise of underrated contributors Rhylee West and Ed Richards.

We also chat the Bulldogs’ off-season, reviewing their draft haul, the addition of Connor Budarick, plus the fallout from Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s departure.

Looking ahead to 2026, the focus turns to whether the Dogs can finally capitalise on their star-studded list. We discuss players under pressure to deliver, preseason standouts, and what the Bulldogs must address defensively to push back into finals contention.

A must listen for all Dogs fans!

Adelaide’s season last year delivered a major statement, finishing first with an 18–5 record after not playing finals since 2017 and ending the home and away season a game clear at the top the ladder. 

While finals heartbreak followed with a straight-sets exit, the year still marked a significant step forward in what was widely viewed as a breakout season for the Crows.

Jack and Harry from Crows Nation, Adelaide’s number one fan channel and podcast with over 15.5K followers, joined The Footy Forecast to reflect on their rising campaign and where it all unravelled at the pointy end of the season.

We unpack the expectations heading into 2025, the pressure that comes with finishing on top, and standout performances from the season gone.

We touch on Riley Thilthorpe’s All-Australian breakout, Jordan Dawson’s midfield dominance, and Josh Worrell’s emergence as a defensive general.

We also break down Adelaide’s off-season, reviewing their draft haul, the additions of Callum Ah Chee and Finnbar Maley, and the list changes following several departures.

Looking ahead to 2026, the focus turns to preseason standouts, the impact of Dan Curtin’s preseason injury on Adelaide’s plans, competition for spots and senior players under pressure. 

To close, we discuss what a pass mark looks like next season and the boys give us an early Adelaide-themed big call as the Crows look to build on their stellar season last year.

A must listen for all Crows fans!

It’s Ferrari central ahead of an optimistic year for Richmond fans. Despite finishing 17th with a 5–18 record, the Tigers’ 2025 season marked a clear step in the right direction.

A surprise Round 1 win over Carlton and an encouraging early run set the tone before injuries and inexperience caught up with the group, but the growth of a young list provided genuine excitement moving forward.

Chris from the Tigercast Podcast, a fan-driven Richmond podcast and channel covering everything inside the four walls of the club, joined The Footy Forecast to preview all things Tiges ahead of the 2026 season.

We cover expectations following the 2024 wooden spoon, Adem Yze’s progress in his first season as senior coach, Sam Lalor’s exciting promise, Sam Banks’ breakout year off half-back, and the continued rise of Seth Campbell.

We also break down Richmond’s thriving off-season, reviewing a strong draft haul headlined by Sam Cumming and Sam Grlj, along with the list changes following several departures ahead of the 2026 season.

To close, we turns to 2026 with discussion around preseason standouts, injury updates on key young players, potential positional changes, and senior players under pressure to respond.

Chris also shares what a pass mark looks like for the Tigers, breakout players to keep an eye on this season and a Richmond hot take for the 2026 season.

A must listen for all Tigers fans!

Hawthorn look to build on their exciting past two seasons, with 2025 delivering 15 wins in a tightly contested year and further cementing their contender status with a preliminary final appearance before falling to arch-rivals Geelong.

Nat from Hawks Insiders, a platform delivering inside insight and coverage of all things Hawthorn, joined The Footy Forecast to reflect on the season that was and preview what shapes as another massive year ahead.

We discuss expectations following the Hawks’ rapid rise, how the group handled the pressure of finals football, and standout performances across the list.

Key players in focus include Josh Weddle’s emergence as a genuine star, Jack Gunston’s remarkable career-best season, and the impact of recruits Josh Battle and Tom Barrass, alongside a look at some underrated contributors.

We also break down Hawthorn’s off-season, reviewing their draft haul, the failed pursuit of Zach Merrett, and notable list changes.

Looking ahead to 2026, we chat about the newly shared captaincy of James Sicily and Jai Newcombe, the impact of Will Day’s early-season absence and potential midfield opportunities up for grabs.

A must listen for all Hawks fans!