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 | 1624 |
| 2 | Geelong | 1607 |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 1578 |
| 4 | Greater Western Sydney | 1573 |
| 5 | Adelaide | 1570 |
| 6 | Fremantle | 1567 |
| 7 | Collingwood | 1567 |
| 8 | Western Bulldogs | 1549 |
| 9 | Gold Coast | 1546 |
| 10 | Sydney | 1540 |
| 11 | Port Adelaide | 1481 |
| 12 | Carlton | 1466 |
| 13 | St Kilda | 1462 |
| 14 | Melbourne | 1423 |
| 15 | Essendon | 1402 |
| 16 | North Melbourne | 1373 |
| 17 | Richmond | 1352 |
| 18 | West Coast | 1311 |