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 | Fremantle | 1771 |
| 2 | Sydney | 1752 |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 1685 |
| 4 | Geelong | 1659 |
| 5 | Brisbane Lions | 1643 |
| 6 | Gold Coast | 1608 |
| 7 | Western Bulldogs | 1563 |
| 8 | Adelaide | 1555 |
| 9 | Collingwood | 1532 |
| 10 | Melbourne | 1527 |
| 11 | Greater Western Sydney | 1481 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 1451 |
| 13 | Port Adelaide | 1377 |
| 14 | North Melbourne | 1368 |
| 15 | Essendon | 1262 |
| 16 | Richmond | 1255 |
| 17 | Carlton | 1253 |
| 18 | West Coast | 1248 |