The 2026 AFL season is upon us, the hype machine is humming and there’s nothing like a fresh year to convince yourself you’ve found the edge.
A Brownlow for a generational Pie, a Coleman champion flying a little under the radar, and a powerhouse eyeing a three-peat, there’s genuine value hiding in plain sight.
At $4.50 with Ladbrokes, it’s not just me who believes this is the year.
Collingwood midfielder and Mauritian maestro Nick Daicos has arguably been the unluckiest (and best) player in the game over the past three seasons when it comes to the Charlie, finishing 2nd twice and 3rd with totals of 32, 38 and 28.
The AFL’s change of rules certainly helps his case in 2026 with umpires now allowed to view player statistics before casting their votes. This will hopefully ensure less errors on Brownlow night such as Nas polling 2 after the greatest individual game in living memory (don’t hold your breath).
Daicos was unstoppable among fellow elites in the AFL Origin match for the Big V, accumulating a game-high 38 disposals and 679m gained.
Collingwood will likely regress this season, so expect the young champion to shoulder the load and (fingers crossed) get rewarded on Brownlow night.
Next Best: Zak Butters (Port Adelaide) – $15
This is all very dependant on Zak’s attitude. Towards the umpires, that is.
Butters has been the leader of the Port Adelaide midfield for years now ahead of Connor Rozee and Travis Boak (retired), but the 25-year-old has a propensity to annoy anyone who isn’t a Port player or supporter.
Despite missing the first four games of the 2025 season, Butters hit the ground running upon his return and polled 21 votes with 28 disposals, 5.1 tackles and 6.6 clearances per game.
After destroying the West Coast Eagles in their practice match over the weekend (game-high 36 disposals and 2 goals), Butters is primed to make a genuine run at this year’s Brownlow. If he can stop mouthing off and generally getting under everyone’s skin, including the umps.
How is the reigning Coleman Medallist $9?
Cameron, who won last year’s gong with 83 majors, is currently on the fourth line of betting behind Charlie Curnow ($4), Sam Darcy ($5), and Ben King ($7).
After overcoming a broken arm he suffered in the 2025 AFL Grand Final, it was a minor quad strain that caused Cameron to miss the Origin and Pre-Season games for the Cats.
However, he’s expected to be available for Geelong’s Opening Round clash against the Suns, so there’s no reason to think that $9 is anything but a bargain at this point of the season.
Cameron finished 21 goals ahead of Ben King (GC) in last year’s Coleman, a gap far too wide to think of leaving him out at his current price.
Next: Charlie Curnow ($5)
Probably one worth waiting on to try and get a better price but follow star Swans recruit Charlie Curnow closely this season.
The two-time Coleman Medallist (2022-23) had a tough final year at Carlton before forcing a trade up north.
He will receive an immediate bump with the elite delivery from a midfield consisting of Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Callum Mills, but it might take a month or so to work out each other’s games and running patterns.
For this reason, we’ll be waiting and watching his price before jumping on.
Hard to go passed the two-time defending champions as they embark on a third-straight premiership campaign.
While no team that wins back-to-back flags should get noticeably better over one off-season, the Lions have gone to another level on paper with the addition of Oscar Allen (West Coast), Sam Draper (Essendon) and Academy star Daniel Annable.
Throw in another pre-season under the belts of Will and Levi Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Wilmot, Ty Gallop and Logan Morris, and you’ve got a team that could well win the next five.
The departures of Callum Ah Chee, the Big O and Brandon Starcevich would be enormous at most other clubs.
Lincoln McCarthy and Keidean Coleman return from injury, while two-time Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale (who accumulated 31 touches over the weekend) has something to prove after his highly publicised off-season issues.
Fages won’t want to mention it, but there’s a very strong chance the Lions replicate their ancestors from the early 2000s.
Next Best: Sydney – $9
Are the Swans’ forward issues a thing of the past?
With two-time Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow leading out of the goal square, there is every chance.
After one year under the tutelage of Dean Cox, the Swans are positioned well for their first premiership tilt since 2012 with Curnow’s inclusion alongside Malcolm Rosas jnr (Gold Coast), Jai Serong (Hawthorn) and a fit Errol Gulden, Callum Mills, and Tom Papley.
After winning just two of their first seven games last year, the Swans took their time to understand Cox’s game plan before storming home with three out of four and just missing finals.
While they were forced to give up Oliver Florent and Will Hayward in the trade with Carlton for Curnow, there won’t be too many disappointed Swans fans when they realise Gulden, Warner and Heeney have something of his ilk to kick to inside 50.