Tim Taranto has won his third Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond's best and fairest for 2026. The 28-year-old polled 55 votes to finish ahead of runner-up Jack Ross, who won the Kevin Bartlett Medal with 47 votes. Defender Nick Vlastuin finished third on 32 votes to take out the Roy Wright Medal.
Brisbane midfielder Will Ashcroft has won back-to-back Gary Ayres Awards as the AFL Coaches' Association's best finals player. Ashcroft polled a game-high 13.5 votes in Saturday's Grand Final win over Fremantle to finish on 27.5 votes, ahead of Caleb Serong on 23. The 22-year-old joins Dustin Martin as the award's only multiple-time winners.
Former Collingwood forward Bobby Hill has confirmed he wants to make an AFL return just months after parting ways with the club. Speaking to Nine News, the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist said he has rediscovered his love for the game and wants to play again. Hill and the Magpies ended his contract in July, concluding an eight-season career across Collingwood and GWS.
Scans have confirmed Fremantle captain Alex Pearce suffered a partial tear of his right Achilles tendon and a significant calf strain, but he will not require surgery. Fremantle expects the 31-year-old to return to training during the pre-season after he was injured in the third quarter of Saturday's Grand Final loss to Brisbane.
Geelong has confirmed premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij has been medically retired from the AFL following concussion issues. The 31-year-old played 209 games across 13 seasons for the Cats, featuring in 21 finals and the 2022 premiership. Kolodjashnij made 11 senior appearances in 2026, playing his final match in round 18.
West Coast's Lily Paterson is available for selection for Sunday's AFLW Derby after recovering from a hip bone stress injury. Liz McGrath will join full training this week as a test following a hamstring injury, while Zoe Wakfer is nearing a return through concussion protocols. Jaide Britton is also expected to play after avoiding major damage from a heavy collision against Essendon.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is weighing whether to retire or coach on in 2027 following the Lions' Grand Final victory on Saturday. The 65-year-old said walking away while on top was "sort of the dream way to finish" after 10 years in charge, but he needed to determine if he had the energy required. Fagan said he would not take long to make a decision.
Fremantle has delisted Bailey Banfield, Sam Sturt, Ollie Murphy and Ryda Luke following the conclusion of its 2026 season. Banfield departs after 119 games across nine seasons, having won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award last week. Sturt managed 31 games in eight injury-interrupted seasons, while Murphy and Luke depart without making a senior appearance.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has been presented with the keys to the city by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at a fan celebration on Tuesday. The honour follows the Lions' Grand Final victory over Fremantle, securing the club's third consecutive premiership. The 65-year-old has a year to run on his contract but is weighing up whether to continue coaching.
Sydney premiership coach John Longmire has joined Essendon as the club's general manager of AFL performance, ending a 25-year association with the Swans. The newly created role will see Longmire oversee strategy, development and conditioning while supporting new senior coach Mark McVeigh. Longmire coached the Swans in 333 games between 2011 and 2024, winning the 2012 premiership, before serving as executive director of club performance.
GWSLinked to Carlton, St Kilda or Melbourne
ADELinked to North Melbourne
HAWLinked to Western Bulldogs
WBDNo club named yet
CARTo Western Bulldogs
RCHLinked to Collingwood, Melbourne or St Kilda
NTHLinked to MelbourneADETo Port Adelaide
PAD26yoRumoured free agent, to Western Bulldogs
BRL33yoRumoured free agent, to CollingwoodGWS32yoTrade requestedGWS33yoRumoured free agent, to Geelong
COL38yoTrade requested, Gold Coast
SYD36yoGWS26yoRumoured free agent, to RichmondGWS31yoTrade requested, Collingwood
GCS26yoNominated for free agency, to Hawthorn
GEE28yoLinked with a trade, North Melbourne# | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | % | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 4 | 1 |  | 23 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 2286 | 1666 | 137.2 | 76 |
| 2 | | 23 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 2543 | 1869 | 136.1 | 72 | |
| 3 | | 23 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 2499 | 2054 | 121.7 | 64 | |
| 4 | | 23 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 2260 | 1881 | 120.2 | 64 | |
Top 6 | 5 | | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 2355 | 1925 | 122.3 | 60 |
| 6 | | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 2169 | 1849 | 117.3 | 60 | |
Wildcard | 7 |  | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 2301 | 2099 | 109.6 | 60 |
| 8 | | 23 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 1901 | 1992 | 95.4 | 54 | |
| 9 | | 23 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 2021 | 1974 | 102.4 | 52 | |
| 10 | | 23 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 2007 | 1978 | 101.5 | 50 | |
Bottom 8 | 11 |  | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 2030 | 1974 | 102.8 | 40 |
| 12 | | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 2073 | 2095 | 99.0 | 40 | |
| 13 | | 23 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 2011 | 2128 | 94.5 | 36 | |
| 14 | | 23 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 1932 | 2175 | 88.8 | 36 | |
| 15 | | 23 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 1804 | 2048 | 88.1 | 28 | |
| 16 |  | 23 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1615 | 2333 | 69.2 | 16 | |
| 17 | | 23 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 1483 | 2373 | 62.5 | 12 | |
| 18 |  | 23 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1601 | 2478 | 64.6 | 8 |
HAW+2.0Zach Merrett in, linked after a trade request from EssendonNTH+1.3Nick Murray in, linked after a trade request from AdelaideGEE+0.8Rowan Marshall in, requested a trade from St KildaFRE+0.6Nathan Broad in, trade rumouredADE-1.6Taylor Walker out, retiredESS-2.2Zach Merrett out, requested a trade, linked to HawthornRCH-2.4Nathan Broad out, retiredGWS-4.6Lachie Whitfield out, trade rumoured to CarltonTim Taranto has won his third Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond's best and fairest for 2026. The 28-year-old polled 55 votes to finish ahead of runner-up Jack Ross, who won the Kevin Bartlett Medal with 47 votes. Defender Nick Vlastuin finished third on 32 votes to take out the Roy Wright Medal.
Brisbane midfielder Will Ashcroft has won back-to-back Gary Ayres Awards as the AFL Coaches' Association's best finals player. Ashcroft polled a game-high 13.5 votes in Saturday's Grand Final win over Fremantle to finish on 27.5 votes, ahead of Caleb Serong on 23. The 22-year-old joins Dustin Martin as the award's only multiple-time winners.
Former Collingwood forward Bobby Hill has confirmed he wants to make an AFL return just months after parting ways with the club. Speaking to Nine News, the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist said he has rediscovered his love for the game and wants to play again. Hill and the Magpies ended his contract in July, concluding an eight-season career across Collingwood and GWS.
Scans have confirmed Fremantle captain Alex Pearce suffered a partial tear of his right Achilles tendon and a significant calf strain, but he will not require surgery. Fremantle expects the 31-year-old to return to training during the pre-season after he was injured in the third quarter of Saturday's Grand Final loss to Brisbane.
Geelong has confirmed premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij has been medically retired from the AFL following concussion issues. The 31-year-old played 209 games across 13 seasons for the Cats, featuring in 21 finals and the 2022 premiership. Kolodjashnij made 11 senior appearances in 2026, playing his final match in round 18.
West Coast's Lily Paterson is available for selection for Sunday's AFLW Derby after recovering from a hip bone stress injury. Liz McGrath will join full training this week as a test following a hamstring injury, while Zoe Wakfer is nearing a return through concussion protocols. Jaide Britton is also expected to play after avoiding major damage from a heavy collision against Essendon.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is weighing whether to retire or coach on in 2027 following the Lions' Grand Final victory on Saturday. The 65-year-old said walking away while on top was "sort of the dream way to finish" after 10 years in charge, but he needed to determine if he had the energy required. Fagan said he would not take long to make a decision.
Fremantle has delisted Bailey Banfield, Sam Sturt, Ollie Murphy and Ryda Luke following the conclusion of its 2026 season. Banfield departs after 119 games across nine seasons, having won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award last week. Sturt managed 31 games in eight injury-interrupted seasons, while Murphy and Luke depart without making a senior appearance.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has been presented with the keys to the city by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at a fan celebration on Tuesday. The honour follows the Lions' Grand Final victory over Fremantle, securing the club's third consecutive premiership. The 65-year-old has a year to run on his contract but is weighing up whether to continue coaching.
Sydney premiership coach John Longmire has joined Essendon as the club's general manager of AFL performance, ending a 25-year association with the Swans. The newly created role will see Longmire oversee strategy, development and conditioning while supporting new senior coach Mark McVeigh. Longmire coached the Swans in 333 games between 2011 and 2024, winning the 2012 premiership, before serving as executive director of club performance.
GWSLinked to Carlton, St Kilda or MelbourneADELinked to North MelbourneHAWLinked to Western BulldogsWBDNo club named yetCARTo Western BulldogsRCHLinked to Collingwood, Melbourne or St KildaNTHLinked to MelbourneADETo Port AdelaidePAD26yoRumoured free agent, to Western BulldogsBRL33yoRumoured free agent, to CollingwoodGWS32yoTrade requestedGWS33yoRumoured free agent, to GeelongCOL38yoTrade requested, Gold CoastSYD36yoGWS26yoRumoured free agent, to RichmondGWS31yoTrade requested, CollingwoodGCS26yoNominated for free agency, to HawthornGEE28yoLinked with a trade, North Melbourne# | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | % | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 4 | 1 | | 23 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 2286 | 1666 | 137.2 | 76 |
| 2 | | 23 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 2543 | 1869 | 136.1 | 72 | |
| 3 | | 23 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 2499 | 2054 | 121.7 | 64 | |
| 4 | | 23 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 2260 | 1881 | 120.2 | 64 | |
Top 6 | 5 | | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 2355 | 1925 | 122.3 | 60 |
| 6 | | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 2169 | 1849 | 117.3 | 60 | |
Wildcard | 7 | | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 2301 | 2099 | 109.6 | 60 |
| 8 | | 23 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 1901 | 1992 | 95.4 | 54 | |
| 9 | | 23 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 2021 | 1974 | 102.4 | 52 | |
| 10 | | 23 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 2007 | 1978 | 101.5 | 50 | |
Bottom 8 | 11 | | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 2030 | 1974 | 102.8 | 40 |
| 12 | | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 2073 | 2095 | 99.0 | 40 | |
| 13 | | 23 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 2011 | 2128 | 94.5 | 36 | |
| 14 | | 23 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 1932 | 2175 | 88.8 | 36 | |
| 15 | | 23 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 1804 | 2048 | 88.1 | 28 | |
| 16 | | 23 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1615 | 2333 | 69.2 | 16 | |
| 17 | | 23 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 1483 | 2373 | 62.5 | 12 | |
| 18 | | 23 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1601 | 2478 | 64.6 | 8 |
HAW+2.0Zach Merrett in, linked after a trade request from EssendonNTH+1.3Nick Murray in, linked after a trade request from AdelaideGEE+0.8Rowan Marshall in, requested a trade from St KildaFRE+0.6Nathan Broad in, trade rumouredADE-1.6Taylor Walker out, retiredESS-2.2Zach Merrett out, requested a trade, linked to HawthornRCH-2.4Nathan Broad out, retiredGWS-4.6Lachie Whitfield out, trade rumoured to Carlton
