The 2026 AFL season continues to deliver drama and disappointment, with several teams struggling to find their footing. The latest round of matches saw a few surprises, with some underdogs rising to the occasion and others falling short of expectations. Here's a breakdown of the action, with a focus on the teams that need to turn things around and those that are quietly building momentum.
The Struggling Sides
Essendon
The Bombers are in free fall, and their 15-goal loss to Brisbane on Sunday was a stark reminder of their current struggles. They failed to kick a goal for the first 54 minutes of the game, and had just one major to their name by three-quarter time. It's a worrying trend for a team that was once a contender, and the pressure on coach Ben Rutten is mounting.
Gold Coast Suns
The Suns are in a similar predicament, with a 79-point defeat to Adelaide on Saturday night. They just didn't bring the intensity, and their highly vaunted midfield group managed just nine centre clearances. It's a seventh straight loss for a side that many tipped to be contenders, and the writing is on the wall for a potential early exit from the season.
The Underdogs Rising
Fremantle
The Dockers turned a 22-point half-time deficit into a 100-point victory over Sydney in the second half. They racked up 65 inside 50s, +8 clearances, +25 contested ball, 14 marks inside 50, and 15 tackles inside the arc. It was a total turnaround for the ladder leaders, and a reminder of their potential.
GWS Giants
The Giants are a tipster's nightmare, but their ability to quickly put runs of goals together and never-say-die attitude is impressive. Their remarkable comeback win against Geelong on Saturday night, which saw them kick nine of the last 10 goals of the game, has put them in a great spot to have a crack at a wildcard finish.
The Contenders
Adelaide Crows
The Crows are a force to be reckoned with, and their 79-point demolition of the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night was a testament to their toughness and hunger. They finished +22 for inside 50s, +18 for clearance, +27 for contested ball, +35 for tackles, and +12 goals. Jordan Dawson, Wayne Milera, Sam Berry, and Taylor Walker were all outstanding.
Melbourne
The Demons have all but locked in finals action, and their 46-point win over Richmond at the MCG was a comprehensive performance. Jacob van Rooyen, Tom Sparrow, Kysaiah Pickett, Max Gawn, Jake Bowey, and Joel Fitzgerald were all strong contributors.
The Surprises
Hawthorn
The Hawks booted 10.10 to 4.2 in the second half against Carlton, including eight of the last 10 goals of the game, to run out 64-point winners. It was an impressive and professional win for a team right in the premiership race.
West Coast Eagles
The Eagles turned what on paper looked like being a fizzer into a genuine epic at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon. They gave it everything they had against a side set on playing in September, and certainly should have flown out of Melbourne proud of their efforts.
The Questions
As the season progresses, the questions remain: Can Essendon and the Gold Coast Suns turn things around? Will the GWS Giants be able to sustain their momentum? And can the Adelaide Crows and Melbourne Demons continue their strong form?
