AFL Supercoach 2026: Power Rankings – Grand Final

It all comes down to this. 

The 2026 season has had plenty of ups and downs and now there’s just one game to go.

Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions will go head-to-head in the Grand Final on Saturday in what looms as a thrilling match. 

I scored 1232 in the preliminary finals which saw my rank rise to 4763 overall. 

With just a week remaining, a rogue play or two in the final match could help you get over the line in your leagues. 

Let’s take a look at the best players to pick on each line for the grand final.

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DEFENDERS

1. Dayne Zorko
2. Jordan Clark
3. Harris Andrews
4. Karl Worner
5. Darcy Wilmot

It feels like there’s a clear gap between the top two and the rest this week. Dayne Zorko was well held against the Hawks last week, but is clearly the premier player of this group. He finds the footy for fun, takes the majority of kick-ins and is so vital to Brisbane’s ball movement.

Jordan Clark caused me all sorts of headaches during the year, but I swallowed my pride and picked him last week, only for the gun Docker to drop a 49. Yikes. Having said that, his form prior to that game had been pretty solid and he’s the main distributor out of defence for the Dockers.

In third is Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews. This is more of an upside play, given how well he can score if he’s allowed to play his intercept game. He might have his hands full with one of Fremantle’s dangerous forwards, but this is the best key defender in the competition who thrives on the big stage.

Underrated Docker Karl Worner is a slightly off-broadway pick, as is dashing Lion Darcy Wilmot. Worner has averaged 92.3 SC points throughout this finals series, while Wilmot should be able to lean into the attacking side of his game more given he doesn’t have to keep an eye on Nick Watson this week. 

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MIDFIELDERS

1. Will Ashcroft
2. Caleb Serong
3. Andrew Brayshaw
4. Lachie Neale
5. Josh Dunkley
6. Hayden Young
7. Hugh McCluggage
8. Shai Bolton

Two-time Norm Smith Medallist Will Ashcroft is the clear number one here. He’s built for the finals stage and has a fire in the belly as he looks to become just the second player ever to win a third Norm Smith. The other is Dustin Martin.

It’s tough to separate Fremantle duo Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw, but it feels as though both will need to be at their best if the Dockers are to give the Lions a challenge. They might not be the most explosive duo in terms of scoring this season, but they’ve been pretty solid all season and that counts for plenty at this time of year.

Lachie Neale received a one-match ban for striking Jack Ginnivan in the preliminary final, but will challenge that at the Appeals Board on Thursday afternoon. If he’s free to play, you’d imagine he’d want to leave a lasting legacy in his final game for the Lions. If Neale’s suspension is upheld, then Josh Dunkley becomes an even better option. Dunkley’s contested game and tackling brilliance means he is built for this stage.

Fremantle star Hayden Young stepped up at a crucial time last week and looms as a real gamebreaker, while Lion Hugh McCluggage came up clutch in the Lions’ preliminary final win over the Hawks.

Fremantle’s Shai Bolton had an enormous final quarter last week, scoring almost 80 SC points, but he can be up and down and would be a risk, although it might be worth taking one in the final game of the year. 

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RUCKS

1. Luke Jackson

Pick Luke Jackson, who would well and truly be in the running for the Norm Smith medal should Fremantle prevail, and move on. There’s no reason to even consider anyone else on this line. 

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FORWARDS

1. Zac Bailey
2. Murphy Reid
3. Josh Treacy
4. Kai Lohmann
5. Cam Rayner

Outside of Zac Bailey, who is clearly the best forward to own, it’s a bit of a raffle after that.

Murphy Reid has had a superb 2026 season which culminated in an All-Australian blazer, but has been down in recent weeks. Can he bounce back?

Fremantle key forward Josh Treacy is another who has struggled in this finals series, but could well and truly rip this game apart. Hawthorn key forwards Mitch Lewis and Jack Gunston combined for nine goals last week, so key forwards can cash in.

Then there’s Brisbane hybrids Kai Lohmann and Cam Rayner, who can do damage both inside 50 and further up the ground. Lohmann turned the game last week in the third term, while Rayner’s the sort of player who thrives on the big stage. 

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