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AFL Teams Round 1 2026 Full Team Lists and Selection News

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Thu 12 Mar 2026 09:00

Jeremy Darke 12 Mar 2026

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AFL Teams Round 1 2026
Essendon introduces three AFL debutants.
Richmond's top-10 draft pick Sam Grlj makes debut.
Geelong's stars Dangerfield and Cameron return.

AFL Teams Round 1. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

AFL Teams Round 1 2026 Full Team Lists

Several sides have made bold selection calls, including Essendon naming three AFL debutants, Richmond handing a first game to top-10 draft pick Sam Grlj and Brisbane dealing with multiple suspension blows ahead of a huge clash with Sydney.

AFL Teams Round 1 2026 Full Team Lists
Carlton vs Richmond
Essendon vs Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants
Geelong vs Fremantle
Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions
Collingwood vs Adelaide Crows
North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide
Melbourne vs St Kilda
Gold Coast Suns vs West Coast Eagles

Geelong has responded to its Opening Round defeat with the return of stars Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron, while a number of young prospects across the league are set to make their first appearances at AFL level.

Get Tips & Predictions for every game of Round 1 of the 2026 AFL season.

Carlton vs Richmond

Thursday, March 12, 7:30pm at the MCG

Carlton: Lachie Cowan and Matt Carroll return, while Hudson O’Keeffe replaces Liam Reidy as the second ruck. Adam Saad is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Ashton Moir and Reidy are omitted.

Richmond: Top-10 pick Sam Grlj makes his AFL debut. Noah Balta has been cleared to play, while Tom Brown and Luke Trainor miss selection.

Carlton	POS	Richmond
L. Cowan, J. Weitering, H. Dean	B	N. Balta, B. Miller, N. Broad
M. McGovern, L. Young, O. Florent	HB	S. Banks, S. Grlj, J. Short
C. Chesser, P. Cripps, O. Hollands	C	H. Ralphsmith, S. Lalor, K. McAuliffe
W. Hayward, H. McKay, B. Ainsworth	HF	S. Campbell, M. Rioli, R. Mansell
J. Smith, B. Kemp, L. Fogarty	F	J. Faull, T. Lynch, H. Armstrong
M. Pittonet, G. Hewett, S. Walsh	FOLL	T. Nankervis, T. Taranto, J. Ross
Z. Williams, C. Lord, E. Hollands, M. Carroll, H. O’Keeffe	I/C	J. Trezise, J. Gibcus, J. Hopper, S. Green, C. Gray

Essendon vs Hawthorn

Friday, March 13, 7:40pm at the MCG

Essendon: Three debutants headline the Bombers’ side with Dyson Sharp, Hussien El Achkar and Max Kondogiannis all set for their first AFL games.

Hawthorn: Cam Mackenzie and Ned Reeves return, while Harry Morrison and Finn Maginness are dropped after the Opening Round loss.

Essendon	POS	Hawthorn
J. Prior, B. McKay, Z. Reid	B	K. Amon, T. Barrass, J. Impey
A. Roberts, M. Redman, A. McGrath	HB	J. Battle, J. Sicily, B. Hardwick
X. Duursma, J. Caldwell, B. Fiorini	C	D. Moore, C. Mackenzie, M. D’Ambrosio
S. Durham, N. Caddy, A. Perkins	HF	S. Butler, M. Lewis, N. Watson
H. El Achkar, P. Wright, K. Langford	F	C. Macdonald, M. Chol, J. Gunston
L. Blakiston, D. Parish, Z. Merrett	FOLL	L. Meek, J. Newcombe, C. Nash
D. Sharp, A. May, M. Kondogiannis, Z. Johnson, J. Nguyen	I/C	J. Scrimshaw, J. Ginnivan, J. Ward, J. Weddle, N. Reeves

Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants

Saturday, March 14, 1:15pm at Marvel Stadium

Western Bulldogs: Ryley Sanders and Will Lewis come into the side with injuries ruling out Arthur Jones and Jordan Croft.

GWS Giants: The Giants go in unchanged after their Opening Round win over Hawthorn.

Western Bulldogs	POS	GWS Giants
L. Jaques, B. Khamis, R. Lobb	B	J. Laverde, J. Buckley, C. Idun
C. Budarick, J. O’Donnell, B. Dale	HB	L. Ash, L. Whitfield, J. Fonti
S. Davidson, M. Bontempelli, B. Williams	C	H. Thomas, C. Oliver, R. Angwin
R. West, S. Darcy, J. Freijah	HF	P. Gothard, J. Riccardi, S. Coniglio
W. Lewis, A. Naughton, T. Liberatore	F	J. Stringer, J. Hogan, M. Gruzewski
T. English, M. Kennedy, E. Richards	FOLL	K. Briggs, T. Greene, F. Callaghan
M. Sellwood, O. Baker, C. Hynes, R. Sanders, L. Bramble	I/C	H. Himmelberg, H. Rowston, J. Delana, X. O’Halloran, C. Brown

Geelong vs Fremantle

Saturday, March 14, 4:15pm at GMHBA Stadium

Geelong: Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron headline the inclusions after the Opening Round loss. Mitch Knevitt and Ollie Henry are omitted while James Worpel is injured.

Fremantle: The Dockers stick with the Sean Darcy–Luke Jackson ruck combination, with Mason Cox missing the final side.

Geelong	POS	Fremantle
C. O’Sullivan, J. Henry, S. De Koning	B	K. Worner, O. McDonald, H. Chapman
T. Stewart, O. Mullin, L. Humphries	HB	J. Clark, A. Pearce, J. McVee
M. O’Connor, B. Smith, O. Dempsey	C	C. Wagner, A. Brayshaw, M. Johnson
B. Close, S. Mannagh, J. Martin	HF	I. Dudley, P. Voss, S. Switkowski
J. Cameron, S. Neale, P. Dangerfield	F	S. Bolton, J. Treacy, M. Reid
M. Blicavs, T. Atkins, M. Holmes	FOLL	S. Darcy, L. Jackson, C. Serong
Z. Guthrie, J. Clark, T. Bruhn, G. Miers, M. Edwards	I/C	B. Walker, J. Amiss, N. O’Driscoll, N. Erasmus, H. Young

Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions

Saturday, March 14, 7:10pm at the SCG

Sydney: The Swans go in unchanged after their Opening Round win over Carlton.

Brisbane: The Lions are missing suspended trio Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner and Zac Bailey, while Hugh McCluggage and Logan Morris are injured. Sam Draper debuts for the club and Dan Annable makes his AFL debut.

Sydney	POS	Brisbane
C. Mills, T. McCartin, D. Rampe	B	K. Coleman, Z. Zakostelsky, R. Lester
L. Melican, N. Blakey, J. Serong	HB	D. Wilmot, J. Fletcher, D. Zorko
R. Bice, J. McInerney, M. Roberts	C	B. Reville, W. Ashcroft, J. Berry
M. Rosas, J. Rowbottom, T. Papley	HF	C. Cameron, O. Allen, L. Ashcroft
J. Amartey, C. Curnow, I. Heeney	F	S. Draper, C. Rayner, T. Gallop
B. Grundy, E. Gulden, C. Warner	FOLL	D. Fort, J. Dunkley, L. Neale
S. Wicks, A. Sheldrick, J. Jordon, J. Lloyd, L. McDonald	I/C	K. Lohmann, L. McCarthy, D. Annable, J. Tunstill, N. Answerth

Collingwood vs Adelaide Crows

Saturday, March 14, 7:35pm at the MCG

Collingwood: The Magpies go in unchanged from their Opening Round win, with Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe still sidelined.

Adelaide: Riley Thilthorpe and James Peatling return, while Lachie McAndrew and Callum Ah Chee come into the side.

Collingwood	POS	Adelaide
B. Frampton, I. Quaynor, B. Maynard	B	W. Milera, J. Butts, H. Bond
D. Houston, J. Daicos, J. Crisp	HB	N. Murray, J. Worrell, R. Laird
E. Allan, N. Daicos, P. Lipinski	C	B. Cook, J. Dawson, I. Cumming
L. Schultz, J. De Goey, B. McCreery	HF	L. Pedlar, R. Thilthorpe, C. Ah Chee
T. Membrey, J. Elliott, D. McStay	F	J. Rachele, T. Walker, D. Fogarty
D. Cameron, S. Pendlebury, H. Perryman	FOLL	L. McAndrew, S. Berry, J. Soligo
W. Parker, S. Sidebottom, N. Long, J. Buller, R. Steele	I/C	T. Murray, J. Peatling, A. Neal-Bullen, M. Michalanney, B. Keays

North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide

Sunday, March 15, 1:10pm at Marvel Stadium

North Melbourne: Lochy Dovaston will make his AFL debut, while Colby McKercher and Luke McDonald return despite recent injury concerns.

Port Adelaide: Corey Durdin and Jacob Wehr are in line to make their club debuts after being named in the squad.

North Melbourne	POS	Port Adelaide
T. Pink, G. Logue, C. Comben	B	L. Jones, E. Ratugolea, T. Marshall
F. O’Sullivan, C. Daniel, T. Blamires	HB	M. Bergman, A. Aliir, K. Farrell
J. Simpkin, T. Powell, D. Stephens	C	J. Burgoyne, C. Rozee, J. Wehr
P. Curtis, C. Trembath, J. Konstanty	HF	J. Horne-Francis, M. Georgiades, J. Berry
C. Zurhaar, N. Larkey, L. Dovaston	F	D. Byrne-Jones, J. Whitlock, J. Richards
T. Xerri, L. Davies-Uniacke, H. Sheezel	FOLL	D. Visentini, Z. Butters, W. Drew
Z. Duursma, C. McKercher, L. McDonald, C. Coleman-Jones, L. Parker, J. Darling, Z. Banch, R. Hansen Jr	I/C	C. Durdin, J. Mead, O. Lord, J. Lukosius, J. Sweet, E. Mackinlay, L. Evans, J. Watkins

Melbourne vs St Kilda

Sunday, March 15, 3:15pm at the MCG

Melbourne: Bayley Fritsch has been named despite an unusual dog-bite injury, while Jai Culley is in line for his club debut.

St Kilda: Rowan Marshall is ruled out under concussion protocols, with Liam Stocker, Isaac Keeler and others added to the squad.

Melbourne	POS	St Kilda
H. Petty, J. Lever, B. Howes	B	J. Silvagni, C. Wilkie, A. Caminiti
C. Jiath, D. Turner, C. Salem	HB	A. Tauru, B. Hill, N. Wanganeen-Milera
X. Lindsay, J. Steele, E. Langdon	C	M. Windhager, M. Hall, D. Wilson
K. Pickett, J. van Rooyen, T. Sparrow	HF	M. Phillipou, H. Boxshall, M. Owens
B. Fritsch, B. Mihocek, K. Chandler	F	L. Ryan, C. Sharman, J. Higgins
M. Gawn, C. Windsor, H. Langford	FOLL	T. De Koning, S. Flanders, J. Sinclair
K. Tholstrup, J. Culley, J. Melksham, T. Rivers, T. McDonald, M. Heath, H. Sharp, L. Pickett	I/C	J. Macrae, L. Stocker, I. Keeler, J. Carroll, A. Dodson, M. Wood, H. Garcia, C. Banfield

Gold Coast Suns vs West Coast Eagles

Sunday, March 15, 6:10pm at People First Stadium

Gold Coast: Jed Walter headlines three inclusions alongside Ned Moyle and Connor Graham.

West Coast: The Eagles unveil young trio Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler and Josh Lindsay.

Gold Coast	POS	West Coast
M. Andrew, B. Uwland, S. Collins	B	R. Ginbey, T. Young, B. Allan
J. Noble, D. Rioli, J. Jeffrey	HB	L. Duggan, B. Hough, J. Lindsay
L. Weller, W. Powell, S. Clohesy	C	H. Davis, E. Yeo, D. Robertson
T. Miller, B. Humphrey, W. Graham	HF	J. Graham, J. Shanahan, W. Duursma
E. Read, B. King, L. Lombard	F	A. Reid, J. Waterman, J. Cripps
J. Witts, N. Anderson, C. Petracca	FOLL	M. Flynn, H. Reid, T. McCarthy
J. Walter, A. Davies, N. Moyle, B. Long, Z. Uwland, C. Graham, O. Adams, J. Farrar	I/C	T. Kelly, C. Duff-Tytler, R. Maric, T. Cole, R. Bazzo, F. Macrae, J. Newton, M. Murdoch