Mornings with Mark Duffield - FULL SHOW (14.10.2026)

Mark Duffield (0:03)

Radio WA for WA.

SPEAKER_2 (0:05)

This is Mornings with Mark Duffield on SENWA.

Mark Duffield (0:11)

Hello, everybody. Welcome to the SENWA radio studio. We're out here at Optus Stadium, a hot Wednesday morning in Perth. We are here thanks to Beaumont Homes' award-winning design built to be loved forever. As I mentioned, it's hot in our Fair City today, but there are showers developing later in the day atop of 30 degrees. Made in WA for WA, this is Mornings with Mark Duffield on SENWA. So, okay, folks, with the trade deadline looming and most of the list shaping deals already done, how are you viewing your 2027 ladder? So this morning, I'm going to take a quick shot at how the key trades this year might shape the ladder next year. So let's start with this year's grand finalists, Brisbane and Fremantle, not major players in the trade period. And I still think they're going to be top four contenders in 2027 So Brisbane have lost Lockie Neal. We're waiting to see if they lose Kadeen Coleman. But the rest of their list is good enough and young enough if they stay hungry enough. And if history beckons you strongly enough to win three on the burst, why not do something that hasn't been done in almost 100 years of footy and win four in a row?

Freemantle, well, they will be shattered by the grand final loss, but that doesn't change the fact that this list doesn't want for much and still has, I think, significant room for improvement. I think both of these teams will be fighting for spots in the top four. Let's move on to the beaten preliminary finalists. I think Hawthorne should start the season as your flag favourite. They were seconds away from a grand final birth this year. They add Zach Merritt to their midfield. They add Ben King to their attack. Jack Gunston aside, nobody here is likely to be getting too old, and they do have cover for Jack.

Sydney, the other beaten preliminary finalists, I have concerns, and I think a top eight birth is more realistic than flag contention. My main concern is how do they reintegrate the Pullman 5 minus 1 now, of course, back into the group without any bitterness and issues. I worry also about just how much the loss of Nick Blakey impacts their bounce off the back. The beaten semi-finalist Geelong, they add Toby Green, they add Jordan Ridley, and they add Rowan Marshall. But I see Geelong's top end as a preliminary final.

And I think holding their 2026 position would be a pass mark. So that's as a semi-finalist. The aged for me is the issue. So Patty Dangerfield turns 37 early in the season. Mark Blitzhaf is 36 Tom Stewart 34 They bring in Toby Green, but he is going to be 34 himself. Jeremy Cameron also 34 Jordan Ridley comes in, perhaps as a replacement eventually for Tom Stewart. He's younger, but there are question marks over his durability. He hasn't played much footy in the last three seasons.

Adelaide, contrary to Geelong, they're not as old, but the question is, have they done enough? And I wonder whether the Crows are waiting to throw the kitchen sink at Nisai Awanganeen Millera next year. So they couldn't lure Zach Bailey. They lose Tex Walker. I think they are one big signing away from being a genuine contender, and they didn't get it this year. I think Carlton should play finals, but I'm not comfortable that they can contend. Joel Amati comes on board as a tall forward and a wingman for Harry McKay, but that's promising, but he's also very hit and miss. Lockie Whitfield helps ball movement, but not necessarily defensive profile. And age is a bit of an issue with Lockie as well. Rivals, I think, have had a look at what Josh Fraser was building in the back half of this season, and rivals will be better prepared for Carlton next year. The Bulldogs will have failed if they don't play in a preliminary final. So Zach Butters gives them a midfield as potent as any in the AFL. The Bont, Ed Richards and Zach Butters.

No excuses.

Sam Butt-Darcy hopefully back from injury, and they've added defensive depth with Jordan Butts. As I said, no excuses in 2027

I think Melbourne gets a pass mark if they make the top 10, and a top six berth would represent great success. They surprised a few teams this year, teams that will be better prepared for them next year. I think Zayn Dersma, who they have brought on board, will be a watch, but as yet, Zayn Dersma is unproven.

Collingwood brings in Lockie Neal and Jesse Hogan, but just too many question marks for me to have them higher than top eight. Neal will be 34 Hogan barely played this year. He has a checkered history with injury. I'm just not convinced that what they have done turns them into a flag contender, and like the cats, they are old.