Predicted ladder: Where your club will sit after round six of the 2026 season

The first six rounds of the 2026 AFL season could kickstart a premiership assault — or setup a year from hell. We’ve gone early and predicted where every club will sit, with a stunning ladder leader.

It is never too early to look ahead at what can be the most important part of the season.

By the end of round 6, the teams that matter are usually separated from those that don’t.

At that stage in 2025, the top nine that would define the season was already in place, with the Bulldogs in eighth spot just ahead of the Dockers – an early tell for the season-shaping round 24 match.

In 2024, six of the sides that would make the finals were in the top eight.

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The same can be said for 2023 and 2022.

It is not all over if your team isn’t flying in the opening rounds – Brisbane was 12th after round 6, 2024 and would win the flag – but a fast start usually sets the season up.

Just ask Sydney this year about hitting form in the second half of the season: sometimes it is too late.

So with the fixture now set, this is a very early look at which teams will cruise in that important first month-and-a-half and which teams are up against it.

Gold Coast may be set for a golden run while Melbourne and Essendon will be hoping this is way off the mark.

Originally published as Predicted ladder: Where your club will sit after round six of the 2026 season