Elo ratings for the 2026 AFL season, based on my bespoke algorithm using custom k-values and seeded with the last few seasons of data at custom weightings. This is a predictor of real team strength, and may be a more accurate representation than their ladder position. You can read more about Elo ratings here.
| Rank | Team | Elo rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane Lions | 1832 |
| 2 | Fremantle | 1728 |
| 3 | Sydney | 1709 |
| 4 | Geelong | 1692 |
| 5 | Carlton | 1668 |
| 6 | Hawthorn | 1645 |
| 7 | Adelaide | 1642 |
| 8 | Western Bulldogs | 1598 |
| 9 | Melbourne | 1565 |
| 10 | Collingwood | 1536 |
| 11 | Gold Coast | 1417 |
| 12 | Greater Western Sydney | 1396 |
| 13 | St Kilda | 1393 |
| 14 | North Melbourne | 1369 |
| 15 | Port Adelaide | 1349 |
| 16 | Richmond | 1190 |
| 17 | Essendon | 1147 |
| 18 | West Coast | 1115 |