AFL Season: Early Season Surprises and Struggles
Barely a month into the Australian Football League season and the narrative is already rich with drama, with several clubs facing significant challenges while others are soaring unexpectedly. From looming crises to surprising ascents, the early stages of the 2026 season have provided ample talking points, even sparking debate about the league’s choice of entertainment for the Grand Final. We’ve identified five teams whose early performances, for better or worse, warrant a closer look.
Essendon: A Losing Streak Deepens
Essendon finds itself in a precarious position, grappling with a losing streak that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. As of their clash with the undefeated Western Bulldogs, the Bombers hadn’t tasted victory in 317 days, a drought stretching back to May 2025. While last season’s injury woes offered a degree of leniency for coach Brad Scott and the team, the opening to 2026 has been nothing short of grim.
They’ve been comprehensively outplayed by Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, and more alarmingly, were outmatched by a North Melbourne side that has consistently resided at the bottom of the ladder since 2020. This dire run has placed significant pressure on coach Brad Scott, while whispers surrounding captain Zach Merrett’s off-season intentions and the ever-growing losing streak cast a long shadow over the club. Adding to the concern is the fact that, aside from Nic Martin, Mason Redman, and Nick Bryan, the Bombers have most of their preferred players available. The club appears to be teetering on the brink of collapse just weeks into the season.
Carlton: Approaching Familiar Depths
The Blues have become something of a perennial fixture at the bottom of the 21st-century ladder, and as the Michael Voss era appears to be drawing to a close, they are once again finding themselves in familiar territory. Carlton has conceded a staggering 36 goals in second halves across their first three games, while managing to kick just 11 themselves. They’ve surrendered two second-half leads and narrowly avoided a third against Richmond, a fate that might have befallen them had they been more accurate in front of goal.
This pattern of second-half fade-outs is not a new phenomenon, extending back to mid-2024 and arguably even further, and it’s a problem that Voss has been unable to rectify. Key figures like Patrick Cripps appear to be running on empty, and the team’s on-field leaders seem incapable of halting opposition momentum. Their upcoming schedule offers little respite, with a clash against North Melbourne followed by a brutal stretch against Adelaide (away), Collingwood, Fremantle (away), St Kilda, and Brisbane (away). The situation could very well deteriorate further.
West Coast: A Glimmer of Hope Emerges
The 2025 season was an absolute nadir for West Coast. With a single win to their name, their captain’s departure, and a decade spent largely in the bottom four, finding a silver lining seemed an almost impossible task. However, the summer has brought about a remarkable shift. The addition of two highly touted draft prospects, Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler, has already paid dividends, with both showing flashes of potential superstardom in their opening games.
Jake Waterman is back to his All-Australian calibre as a potent key forward, and Jobe Shanahan is shaping up to be a long-term partner in attack. Harley Reid continues his impressive development, Tim Kelly looks revitalised, and Tom McCarthy and Milan Murdock have proven to be inspired recruits outside the draft. Furthermore, their significant trade acquisition, Brandon Starcevich, is yet to even feature in defence. Crucially, the Eagles have secured back-to-back wins for the first time in two full seasons, demonstrating a capacity to climb out of the doldrums, even if a full resurgence isn’t immediate.
Port Adelaide: The Grass Isn’t Always Greener
Beyond a convincing victory over a struggling Essendon side, Port Adelaide’s early season form has been a cause for concern. They’ve suffered defeats at the hands of North Melbourne and West Coast, compounded by the long-term hamstring injury to captain Connor Rozee. In Rozee’s absence, and with the looming uncertainty surrounding Zak Butters’ potential departure at the end of the year, Port’s midfield looks particularly vulnerable.
While Jason Horne-Francis is undeniably a star and Jase Burgoyne a valuable role player, the depth of talent in the midfield appears thin at this juncture. The Power are rapidly discovering that the desire for change isn’t always rewarded, especially when the previous leadership under Ken Hinkley consistently delivered September action. New coach Josh Carr now faces the significant challenge of proving he is the right man to guide the club into its next era.
Western Bulldogs: Building Momentum
The Western Bulldogs have long been recognised for their exceptional playing list, with numerous players consistently featuring in top-tier rankings. However, translating this raw talent into sustained finals success since their 2021 Grand Final appearance has been an elusive goal, often hampered by defensive frailties. Their start to the 2026 season, however, has been nothing short of spectacular.
They’ve secured impressive victories against the reigning premiers Brisbane at the Gabba, minor premiers Adelaide in Adelaide, and comprehensively defeated GWS. This strong showing has come even with star key forward Sam Darcy yet to truly hit his stride. Defensive improvements have been evident, with James O’Donnell and Buku Khamis appearing more assured thanks to structural adjustments and individual growth. Their midfield remains as dominant as ever, and they currently sit as the second-highest scoring team in the competition, trailing only Gold Coast, who have benefited from a more favourable draw. After just one month, the Bulldogs have firmly established themselves as the team to watch.
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