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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Horn

AFL 2026 predicted ladder part two: history suggests Geelong may struggle

A composite image of Ross Lyon, Bailey Smith and Sam Darcy.
A composite image of Ross Lyon, Bailey Smith and Sam Darcy. Smith’s Geelong don’t fare too well in our 2026 AFL season predictions. Composite: AFL Photos/Getty Images/AAP

12th: Melbourne

Melbourne recently released a membership video that leaned into the cliches and the disappointment – one of the better executed and coherent offerings from the club in recent years. They were eight wins off finals last year. But they beat Brisbane at the Gabba, nearly beat Collingwood twice and ran top-placed Adelaide close. They lost half a dozen games by eight points or less.

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