2026 : Simulating the Final Ladder After Round 6
/SUMMARY
This year’s post Round 6 simulations suggest that the teams can be roughly grouped as below:
(For anyone who is curious about the precise methodology I’ve employed, see this blog post over on the General Probability and Statistics journal)
Hawthorn and Sydney: 99% chance of being finalists (including the wildcard finals); 75-80% chances of Top 4; roughly 25-30% chances of being Minor Premier
Geelong and Fremantle: roughly 97% chance of being finalists (including the wildcard finals); 60% chances of Top 4; roughly 10-15% chances of being Minor Premier
Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs: about 90-95% chances of being finalists; roughly 35-40% chances of Top 4; roughly 5% chances of being Minor Premier
Gold Coast: about 80% chances of being finalists; about 20-25% chances of Top 4; about 2% chances of being Minor Premier
Adelaide: about 75% chances of being finalists; about 10% chances of Top 4; about 1% chances of being Minor Premier
Collingwood. Melbourne, and GWS: about 50-60% chances of being finalists; about 5-7% chances of Top 4; <0.5% chances of being Minor Premier
St Kilda: about 40% chances of being finalists; about 2% chances of Top 4; <0.5% chances of being Minor Premier
North Melbourne and Port Adelaide: about 20-30% chances of being finalists; about 1% chances of Top 4; <0.5% chances of being Minor Premier
Carlton, West Coast, and Essendon: about 3-6% chances of being finalists; <0.5% chances of Top 4; <0.5% chances of being Minor Premier
Richmond: <0.5% chances of being finalists; <0.5% chances of Top 4; <0.5% chances of being Minor Premier
