The AFL Pre Season is officially DONE. No more guesswork. No more trial roles. Now we react.
In this episode we break down everything we learned from the 2026 AFL Pre Season including:
• The biggest role changes
• Breakout candidates who are now genuine locks
• Premiums that confirmed their value
• Players who lost role security
• Rookies who cemented Round 1 selection
• Pre season traps you need to avoid
With Round 1 around the corner, this is the final clarity episode before teams lock.
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00:00 Intro: Horse welcomes Damo, Footy Mailbag origins
01:41 Carlton v Geelong: what actually matters in pre-season
01:52 Carlton winners: Walsh, Smith, Hewett and the Cripps baseline
02:09 The cheapie watch: Wade Dirksen 99k and job security chat
04:18 “Don’t outthink the room”: Jagger Smith is a lock
04:34 Liam Reidy reality check: R3/F6 upside vs role limits
06:25 Geelong chaos: late withdrawals and role roulette
06:42 Lawson Humphries: classy foot skills, awkward price point
07:07 Tanner Bruhn 270k: trap or value stepping stone?
08:43 Sydney v GWS: Grundy is him (and the Swans pods)
09:07 Errol scare addressed: precaution only, keep him
10:04 GWS: Toby Greene midfield hype vs CBA numbers
11:16 Clayton Oliver: watchlist fade to start, trade-in later
12:06 Brisbane v Gold Coast: Charlie Cameron spike game warning
12:18 Lachie Neale: price temptation vs tag risk
14:20 Link McCarthy 170k: role, scoring range, cash-gen case
15:33 Suns quick hits: Petracca CBAs, Witts context
16:47 Melbourne v Richmond: lightning game, points-per-minute caveat
17:10 Trent Rivers explosion: role and “startable” argument
17:47 Langford midfield mix: what we can and can’t take from it
19:21 Richmond: Sam “Sizzler” Grills on the rookie radar
20:03 Dogs v Hawks: Tim English statement under new ruck rules
21:52 Bulldogs rookies: Butterick + Artie Jones both fades
22:53 Hawks notes: Newcombe classic tease, Mraz looks composed
23:58 Saints v Dons: Nas statement game, Sinclair and co
26:48 Essendon: Archie Roberts breakout signs
27:01 Blackiston deep dive: WAFL numbers and Nick Bryan timeline risk
29:28 Parish and Sharp: price/value discussion, rookie pecking order
31:08 Freo v Adelaide: Hayden Young gift, Murphy Reid breakout case
32:35 Crows: Worrell, Laird, Malera, Rachele midfield opportunity?
34:25 Lachie McAndrew: “just pick him” cash-gen logic
34:40 North v Collingwood: Sheezel/LDU locks, Doberston volatility
35:44 Blamiris 99k: “when he plays R1” story and stash appeal
37:10 Coleman-Jones: two-ruck watch and Cherry implications
37:43 Pies undermanned: Houston role note, Josh Daicos half-back flag
39:29 West Coast v Port: boring game but rookie/cash notes
40:27 Devin Robertson: keeps trending up
40:37 Hamish Davis: wing role, price and West Coast hesitation
42:37 Port Adelaide: Butters/Rozee captaincy, Georgiades draft PSA
43:16 Port cheapies: Marshall, Watkins, Whitlock discussion
45:18 Weekend verdict: Damo’s “must-have” picks (Nas + Ed Richards)
46:50 Surprise fade: Luke Jackson as a trade-in not a starter
47:14 Wrap: where to find Footy Mailbag + what’s coming next on Between the Arcs
If you are serious about climbing rank in AFL SuperCoach 2026, this is the episode you cannot skip.
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