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 | Hawthorn | 1729 |
| 2 | Fremantle | 1659 |
| 3 | Western Bulldogs | 1658 |
| 4 | Sydney | 1644 |
| 5 | Brisbane Lions | 1641 |
| 6 | Geelong | 1618 |
| 7 | Adelaide | 1522 |
| 8 | Gold Coast | 1519 |
| 9 | Collingwood | 1498 |
| 10 | Greater Western Sydney | 1477 |
| 11 | Melbourne | 1472 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 1464 |
| 13 | North Melbourne | 1432 |
| 14 | Port Adelaide | 1377 |
| 15 | West Coast | 1373 |
| 16 | Essendon | 1357 |
| 17 | Carlton | 1329 |
| 18 | Richmond | 1223 |