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 | 1845 |
| 2 | Sydney | 1748 |
| 3 | Adelaide | 1704 |
| 4 | Hawthorn | 1651 |
| 5 | Geelong | 1616 |
| 6 | Western Bulldogs | 1601 |
| 7 | Brisbane Lions | 1574 |
| 8 | Carlton | 1541 |
| 9 | Melbourne | 1512 |
| 10 | St Kilda | 1485 |
| 11 | Collingwood | 1473 |
| 12 | North Melbourne | 1448 |
| 13 | Gold Coast | 1428 |
| 14 | Greater Western Sydney | 1423 |
| 15 | Port Adelaide | 1309 |
| 16 | Richmond | 1250 |
| 17 | West Coast | 1242 |
| 18 | Essendon | 1140 |