Every AFL club’s predicted R1 teamJack Jovanovski, Ben Cotton and Ben Waterworth
Fox Sports
February 11th, 2026RICHMONDB: N.Broad, B.Miller, J.Gibcus
HB: S.Banks, N.Balta, J.Short
C: P.Retschko, D.Prestia, L.Trainor
HF: R.Mansell, J.Faull, S.Lalor
F: S.Campbell, T.Lynch, H.Armstrong
FOLL: T.Nankervis, T.Taranto, J.Hopper
I/C: J.Ross, T.Hotton, S.Green, T.Brown, S.Grlj
EMG: K.McAuliffe, C.Gray, S.Cumming
WE SAY: A prolonged injury recovery means veteran defender Nick Vlastuin is battling to be fit for Round 1, having told foxfooty.com.au in the pre-season he’s “day-by-day” as inactivity over the summer caused other niggles. Conservatively, we’ve left him out for now.
But backline buddy Josh Gibcus remains well and truly in the frame for a Round 1 berth amid an uninterrupted pre-season, while Patrick Retschko has made a good impression in his first Punt Road pre-season.
Sam Lalor has had an uninterrupted pre-season after another hamstring cruelled his rookie year, with the former No.1 pick set to explode in year two.
Top draftee Sam Grlj gets a Round 1 nod as of now and will quickly impress fans with his counter-punch ability, while fellow top-10 pick Sam Cumming is already right on the precipice after impressing as a midfielder in match simulation.
Swingman Noah Balta is expected to settle in defence, while where second-year utility Luke Trainor plays the majority of his footy this year will be worth monitoring.
Tom Sims (foot) and Judson Clarke (knee) are the Tigers’ main longer-term injury casualties.
CARLTON
B: A.Saad, J.Weitering, L.Young
HB: N.Newman, H.Dean, O.Florent
C: S.Walsh, P.Cripps, O.Hollands
HF: A.Cerra, A.Moir, W.Hayward
F: B.Ainsworth, H.McKay, F.Evans
FOLL: L.Reidy, G.Hewett, J.Smith
I/C: M.Pittonet, B.Acres, Z.Williams, C.Lord, L.Cowan
EMG: B.Kemp, C.Chesser, L.Fogarty
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2026-every-clubs-best-23-and-predicted-round-1-team-latest-updates-before-preseason-games-selection-news-lineups-teams-opinion-analysis/news-story/2c174f482828aeddd30ef7caadfe1850
