Every round during the 2026 AFL season, we’re looking at the Winners and Losers of the week. Even in the pre-season, it’s good to get your head around which players fired up, and which players cooled off.
And so, with that, we head into the Winners and Losers of the Match Sims.
THE WINNERS
MITCH LEWIS
What the Hawks need is a powerful forward presence in the air – it opens up avenues for everyone else. Whilst Calsher Dear matures, Lewis has been the man Hawks fans wanted to step up, but injury has prevented him. Was this him turning the corner?
A few big contested grabs, some good running when pinch-hitting in the ruck, scoreboard impact, meant that Lewis paid his way in this game. Now, time to stay healthy and make good on the promise he’s shown for years.
JAY POLKINGHORNE
The future of the Geelong forward line is in good hands, with Jay Polkinghorne slotting in and making a very strong case for an early-season debut.
I counted three contested grabs from the 19-year-old, as he had a good time combatting an equally inexperienced Hawthorn defence.
With no games to his name heading into the season, I expect him to play a bit in 2026, and if his Match Sim form carries over, the Cats’ forward line looks set for quite a while.
LENNOX HOFFMAN
Funny, the Hawks “won” the match sim, but two Cats were the standouts.
With Lawson Humphries and Tom Stewart putting the feet up after Origin, The Hoff got to strut his stuff, and did so right from the opening bell.
Hard run out of defence, good one-on-one clashes, and a great read of the footy – the kid did a bit of everything as he established himself as one of the best on the day for the Cats.
They have a habit of finding these types at Geelong. At the moment, I reckon he sits there as injury insurance, but he may be one of those players who, when they get their chance at the highest level, their form makes them very difficult to displace.
BEN AINSWORTH
A wonderful way to start your career at your second club. Yeah, just a scratch match, and like most of you, I will be watching him closely as the real stuff commences, but he didn’t do much wrong in this one, providing a dangerous option at half-forward for the Blues.
The biggest positive was his ability to read the ball off the pack, with two of his four goals coming from front-and-centre contests.
JAGGA SMITH
Good to see ya, kid.
After 12 months out of the game with a knee reconstruction, Smith moved directly into the Carlton midfield and demonstrated clean hands, and a great read of the footy. His running goal to get the Blues on the board was a highlight, and a chance for a second goal was only prevented by a free kick in the previous marking contest. It didn’t count, but his timing for the front-and-centre crumb was perfect.
OLLIE FLORENT
I’m not sure he continues in this role once Nic Newman returns, but Florent relished the freedom the Blues afforded him in this hit out.
Charged with the role of the number one rebound player, his run, maturity, and understanding of what to do, and when to do it, made him stand out in the Blues’ back six.
WILL ASHCROFT
How good is this bloke going to be?
Already with two Norm Smith Medals to his name, he found the footy with ease, continually set up teammates, and made the game look easy. Really does have it all.
CLAYTON OLIVER
The Oliver redemption arc took a sharp turn upwards with a best-afield performance in the Giants’ win over Collingwood. Those fast, clean hands were back, and his his ability to hit a teammate in stride returned, as well.
The loss of Tom Green is huge, but the return to form of Oliver could well make that loss sting a little less.
JAKE STRINGER
Looked fit, and looked very dangerous in the clash against the Pies. Even managed to take a big contested mark, using his opponent as a stepladder. This, after looking like he’d have trouble jumping over a piece of paper for a couple of seasons.
A very good sign for a team that has been hit with nothing but bad signs until now.
OSCAR STEENE
Not all doom and gloom for the Pies. A very strong outing for the young Collingwood big man, providing more than a bit of hope that should the unthinkable occur, and Darcy Cameron gets hurt, the Pies are not as “all at sea” as one may believe.
His centre bounce work was particularly good against Jake Riccardi, who struggled to get his hands on the footy opposed to Steene.
THE PICKETTS
Highlight reel activating.
Between Kozzie’s blistering bursts out of the centre, and the appearance of him being quicker than just about every player in the game over a short distance, to Latrelle’s top-speed torching of the Kangaroos, the Pickett cousins looked every bit like a tandem that will provide plenty of action worth watching in 2026.
Adding to the speed was the vision of the younger Pickett, whose ability to compose himself and deliver to a teammate inside 50 indicates he is more than just a bloke with a bit of pace.
JACK STEELE
Very strong in the middle for the Dees, and gave them an avenue to goal late in the game, as well.
I was rapt for Steele, given the way he was asked to explore options by the Saints. He deserves a big year, and without Viney in the mix for a while, his role becomes vital to the Dees.
RILEY THILTHORPE
This off-season, I had a heap of Port supporters telling me that Harrison Ramm is ready to make an impact on the 2026 season.
And then, he ran into Riley Thilthorpe.
Ramm may become an excellent defender, but you cannot throw him in there against a behemoth like Thilthorpe and expect miracles. He was taught a lesson by one of the best big forwards in the caper.
LUKE PEDLAR
If you’re looking for mongrel in the Crows team, you’ll find plenty of it, and at the top of the list is Luke Pedlar.
Does not take a backwards step, wins the hard footy, and in this game, he made a big difference around the 50-metre arc.
LACHIE BLAKISTON
Last season, the Bombers needed someone to step in and play key defence. Blakiston stepped up.
This season, they’re a bit thin in the ruck whilst Nick Bryan recovers, and guess who stepped up again? Yeah, Toby Nankervis may not take the Match Sims as seriously as some, but Blakiston gave us the best demonstration of how the changes to the centre ruck contests (hard not to say centre bounce) can be used. He was fantastic.
HUSSEIN AL ACHKAR
Took on the role usually occupied by Isaac Kako, and made an excellent account of himself.
He is desperate at the contest, puts his body on the line, and has good, clean hands at ground level. If he has a good outing in the AAMI series, I would not be surprised to see him get the nod for Round One.
SAM GRLJ
Classy.
Took his time, looked for the best option, and delivered for teammates. For a kid just coming into the system to demonstrate such composure is rare, and he will definitely be one to watch over the next month or so, as he pushes his way into a role off half-back for the Tigers.
Maybe only Sam Banks stands in his way? Or do you play both?
DARCY PARISH
People have short memories when it comes to players and what they’re capable of, and I reckon a few may have forgotten what a ball magnet Parish is.
He controlled the stoppages for the Bombers, and capped off a brilliant display by both hitting the scoreboard and setting up others. Great signs.
JOSH TREACY
Dominated.
I kept a few of my own stats for the game and had him taking six contested grabs amongst his ten marks for the contest.
In typical Treacy fashion, he not only attached the ball in flight, but applied great pressure when the footy was in the hands of the opposition. I sincerely hope he never loses the defensive aspect of his game. It makes him a weapon with or without the footy.
TOM MCCARTHY
Eagles fans have been yapping about his move into the middle all off-season, and for good reason. Just looks the part in there, and fits well alongside Harley Reid as a ball hunter, but also one with a good defensive side to his game.
A couple of his chases are exactly what you’d love to see if you were an Eagles supporter.
MURPHY REID
Every little thing he does is magic.
Finished with three goal assists as he worked between half-forward and the middle, and is clearly someone the Dockers have identified as the player they want delivering the footy inside 50. A bit like the way the Swans love to use Errol Gulden.
A massive year upcoming for the Ron Evans Medallist.
SAM FLANDERS
Did as he liked against the old mob, picking up disposals at will on the Gold Coast.
In slippery conditions, he got better as the game progressed, giving the Saints a clear winner through the middle of the ground.
MAX HALL
Continued his 2025 form in this game, as he slotted four goals, and bobbed up to close down the Suns’ D50 exits on several occasions.
I love seeing players come through the system the hard way and make it work, and Hall is on track to follow Sam Durham and Jai Newcombe as mid-season draftees who have gone onto big things.
HUGH BOXSHALL
Won’t have caught the eye of too many, but his desperation and hard-nosed tackling were a genuine highlight through the first half of the game.
He is one of those Saints who, if he can reach the next level, will make this club a tough one to get the better of.
LOGAN MCDONALD
First game in 18 months, and he seemed to relish the new Sydney forward setup, slotting four goals and taking some lovely marks on the lead.
With Charlie Curnow drawing the defensive heat, McDonald played a big higher up the ground, and then doubled back to goal – it is a role that played to his strengths, and one the Blues will have to be aware of for Round Zero.
ARTHUR JONES
Has been robbed of a clean run at the game for a while now, thanks to injury, and I reckon Dogs fans would have been smiling as they watched him get through this game unhindered.
Looked every bit the classy half-forward in this game, and could give the club an added scoring punch in 2026.
LACHLAN MCANDREW
We could put him in the winners list, or Reilly O’Brien on the losers list and it means the same thing.
McAndrew now seems to be in the box seat for the Round One starting ruck spot after an impressive outing against Port. Early contested marks and scoreboard impact would have ROB feeling pretty nervous about his place in the team.
JACOB WEHR
Performed above expectations, with hard run from the wing indicating he might be ready to make the most of his second chance at AFL level.
Port had several players who performed well (Aliir, Burgoyne) but Wehr was the surprise packet, so he gets the nod.
THE LOSERS
Not too many losers at this time of the year. It’ll be closer to a 50/50 split as the real stuff starts.
MITCH KNEVITT
I keep being told that Knevitt is on the verge of selection at Geelong, and that he’ll be making his mark. I have the feeling I may be waiting a while for that to happen based on his Match Sim performance.
Made up for a few errors, but when you have a 50/50 split of good and bad, you evidently have some work to do.
BODIE RYAN
Gotta take the opportunities when they’re presented, and in this game, consistent errors indicated that Ryan is still a bit away from grabbing a senior berth at Hawthorn.
I liked his endeavour, but he did run himself into trouble a fair bit, and if you’re going to leave your man to impact another contest, you have to be sure you’re going to do so. Ryan didn’t impact enough, and it opened things up for the Cats.
OSCAR ALLEN
An inauspicious start to his tenure at Brisbane, with an average showing as a key forward (one goal and very few touches) and a late head knock ruling him out of the upcoming AAMI Series game.
It means that, should the Lions opt to play him, he’ll be heading into the season opener with scant game time under his belt.
ADAM CERRA
Another hamstring ping for Cerra, as he failed to get through the game.
He has been hit with several soft tissue injuries over the last little while, and is now unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. A massive blow for both him and the Blues.
BRENT DANIELS
The GWS injury plague continues to claim victims, with Brent Daniels continuing his horrid run with soft tissue issues continuing in the Match Sim.
He didn’t last long before having to leave the field with a hamstring complaint.
NORTH MELBOURNE’S DEFENCE
They sucked last season, and they sucked in this game, as well. And it wasn’t just the back six, either.
The North mids failed in their duty to get back and chop the defence out, often seen jogging at three-quarter pace as their opponents ran past them. I know, I know… it is only a match sim, right?
And then, it’s only Round One. Then it’s only a few losses. Then, another season wasted.
If you play the way you train, then you most certainly play the way you go about things in match sims, as well.
CAM ZURHAAR
Barely saw the footy and, frankly, looked like he didn’t care too much whether he did, or didn’t.
North needs every player doing everything they can, every damn game. Zither played like being out there was a chore.
JASON HORNE-FRANCIS
That foot injury flared up again in Port’s loss to the Crows, sparking fears that this may become a more chronic injury.
The club has stated it was “minor awareness”.
Hmmm, perhaps like when you have a small feeling that a car is coming up behind you and if you don’t take notice, you’ll get run over. Let’s hope JHF was able to move out of the way in time.
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely… thank you – HB
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