AFL Supercoach 2026: Dylan Bolch's Team Reveal - Grand Final


<p>It’s time for one final team reveal in 2026.</p>



<p>Thanks to everyone who has engaged with the SC Playbook AFL content this year, from podcasts to articles and socials, it’s been our biggest year yet.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It’s fitting that the two best sides of 2026 will contest the grand final this year and fingers crossed it’s a game that delivers.</p>



<p>Here’s how I’m looking going into the grand final. </p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DEFENDERS</strong></h2>



<p>I’ve locked in <strong>Dayne Zorko</strong> and won’t be pivoting from that. The guy has been one of the best defenders all season when fit and has had a pretty solid finals series, averaging 93 SC points per game. The Hawks negated him quite well last week, but I’m backing him to bounce back. I’ve locked in Brisbane’s premier distributor out of defence so it only makes sense to do the same with Fremantle’s <strong>Jordan Clark</strong>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I owned Clark throughout the majority of the 2026 season and he caused me plenty of headaches, but it’s slim pickings in defence. Like Zorko, Clark has had a really solid finals campaign averaging 90 SC points, although he did struggle last week, posting just 49. Having said that, could he get some close attention from Lions forward Conor McKenna this week?&nbsp;</p>



<p>If I go searching for a point of difference back here, then I don’t mind the look of Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews. He’s the best key defender in the game and an intercepting beast, but I am worried that he might have his hands full with the Dockers’ tall attack.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MIDFIELDERS</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Will Ashcroft </strong>should be in every single team this week. A proven finals performer who thrives on the big stage, Ashcroft is chasing a third Norm Smith medal, which would be the equal most of all-time. He was arguably Brisbane’s best in the preliminary final win over Hawthorn and has had an outstanding second half of 2026.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I’m struggling to split the Fremantle pair <strong>Caleb Serong</strong> and <strong>Andrew Brayshaw</strong>, so I’m just picking both. It feels as though Serong might be more likely to get some attention early, but if the Dockers are any chance of winning this game, these two need to lead from the front. I am slightly concerned about the pressure of becoming the first Fremantle side to win the premiership, but if anyone can deal with that pressure, it’s these two.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I’ll likely lock in a fourth midfielder at flex, which at this stage could be any of Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage, Hayden Young or Shai Bolton. I think the Lions are likely to win, so it’ll probably be one of the Brisbane boys unless I have a change of heart.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>RUCKS</strong></h2>



<p>No need to waste time here, pick <strong>Luke Jackson</strong> and be done with it. The guy’s an out and out star and my tip for Norm Smith if Fremantle wins. While Sam Draper and Darcy Fort are notoriously a tricky ruck matchup, Jackson is different gravy. </p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FORWARDS</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Zac Bailey</strong> is a lock as someone who averaged 98.1 SC points throughout the home and away season. After a poor first final against the Swans, he’s bounced back in a big way with scores of 142 and 100. A proven big game performer who can score points in a number of ways.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After that, it’s a bit of a raffle, but right now I’m looking at Fremantle young gun <strong>Murphy Reid</strong>. Reid has struggled throughout this finals series, but a guy of his talent can’t be down for too long. Reid has had a breakout 2026 season which culminated in a maiden All-Australian blazer and I just get the sense he’ll be setting himself for the biggest game of all.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I am still considering one of Brisbane’s fleet of small forwards, including Kai Lohmann, Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron. All three have stood up in big games over the past few seasons and could be an ideal point of difference play. Picking the one that’ll pop though is proving difficult.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FLEX</strong></h2>



<p>As mentioned above, I’ll be selecting a fourth midfielder here. Right now it’s <strong>Lachie Neale</strong>, who will be challenging his one-match suspension at the Appeals Board this afternoon. Neale averaged 110 SC points throughout the home and away season and had a strong outing in the preliminary final against Hawthorn, recording 119 points. He’ll want to go out with a bang in what is likely his last ever game in Lions colours. </p>



<p>If Neale’s ban is upheld, I’ll probably pivot to Josh Dunkley, who’s built for the finals stage. A clearance beast and tackling machine, he’ll be playing in his sixth ever grand final. </p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CAPTAINCY</strong></h2>



<p>It’s a two-horse race for me this week. I currently have the triple captaincy on Luke Jackson who can score well even in a loss, while the vice-captaincy is on Mr September in Will Ashcroft. </p>



<p>You could flip those two if you think the Lions will win and win big, but right now I’ve got the captaincy on Jackson due to his ability to pile on plenty of points in such a short space of time.</p>


AFL Supercoach 2026: Dylan Bolch’s Team Reveal – Grand Final

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