Almanac Footy: Mid-season footy reviews – Part 1

 

Hi all,

 

Thanks to the cancellation of flights to Central Asia, I’ve had a bit more time and have been able to attend to mid-season reviews earlier.

 

In Part 1, we will look at the first four teams alphabetically – Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton and Collingwood.

 

Adelaide

 

Mid-season:

 

Yes, Adelaide are in the final 8 or 10, but they have found this a hard first half season for two key reasons, being: 1. A harder first half draw, 2. Inconvenient injuries in the wrong places.

 

A glance at Adelaide’s fixture indicates that they’ve played one or two more harder games this season than last season.

 

A look at their mid-season team indicates some instability in defence due to injuries and form. However, McAndrew has been a fillip to their rucks. And, they’ve had mixed results from their midfielders. Rankine and Rachele having more midfield time over the last few weeks has improved it.

 

Adelaide still have a fairly difficult draw to navigate in the second half of the season. However, as their newer midfielders gain greater experience, without injuries, they should navigate the season well and be in a better position to compete in finals than they were last year.

 

Adelaide’s mid-season pick: another genuine goal-kicking midfielder.

 

 

Brisbane

 

Mid-season:

 

Brisbane in 2026 reminds us of how hard it is to win 3-in-a-row. In the pre-season preview, I warned that Brisbane’s list was going the way of other previous football dynasties and it may have come to pass. Their best team hasn’t changed much, but they have had some dropping off in form of some key players from the last few seasons.
For Brisbane, it happened before in 2004. Maybe they can get themselves up into the top 4 by season’s end but, then, all windows close eventually.

 

The end of the season will spell Brissie’s reality.

 

Brisbane’s mid-season pick: Nope, not going to help!

 

 

Carlton

 

Mid-season:

 

Nope, the original analysis was correct, the postscript was a tease.

 

They were too old and too slow. What more can you say?

 

1. The rest of the season will indicate the further strengths and weaknesses of their football staff.
2. Give the worthy juniors a go! Ben Camporeale is a VFL star midfielder but can’t get a senior game. Lucas, as a defender/midfielder, is improving too. If Billy Wilson can do well, so can the others. BTW, Derksen is doing very well in that CHB position, now that he’s been given a go.

 

Carlton’s mid-season pick: another genuine goalkicking rover.

 

and,

 

Collingwood

 

Mid-season:

 

I wish to quote from that famous Canadian 20th Century philosopher, Neil Percival Young, also iterated by the less-famous Nicolette Larson, “Comes a Time …!”

 

For Collingwood, it was never going to be if but when. Yes, they are struggling to run out 4 quarters. The load of carrying so many “oldies” has been too heavy for the Daicos boys to carry. Also, what would they give to have Charlie Dean still on their list now that Darcy Moore is hitting the repetitive injury road?

 

Now is the time to give juniors an opportunity. Elliott is injured and Sidebottom is over the hill. Pendles is trying to get through as many games as he needs to, gathering as many possessions as he can, with the least amount of running possible. And there are others!

 

Collingwood’s mid-season pick: another younger genuinely fast running midfielder.

 

Please excuse any writing errors. I am my own worst editor.

 

Further details, including you club’s best-performed mid-season team, can be found at: https://www.ozfootylistmanager.com/2026-lists-new.html

 

Any questions, please ask.

 

Next: Part 2 – Essendon, Freo, Geelong and Gold Coast.

 

Cheers

 

More from Micky McTigger can be read Here.

 

 

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