Pass mark for 2026?

[Andyy]

Reckon 6 is pass. 
We can’t go backwards Andyyy.
win:loss ratio is not the only/best indicator of progress in this rebuild

8 is a stretch but honestly that 2024 crop and a fit Gibcus might surprise a few next season.
Can't expect a pack of 19yo kids to be the difference just yet IMO

 Full seasons from Lynch and Balta might get a few on back foot.
Lynch is going on 34 and went at a little more than 1.5 goals/game this year. Also not the answer/difference in 2026 IMO. Balta had an interrupted year and I'd back him in to return to form maybe

We know that next year there will be clubs like Carlton in round 1 who’s expectation will make them tighter on game day.  If we can get off the chain like we did vs GWS, Carlton and Eagles (over there) there’s no reason why we won’t bob up and expose a couple of pretenders.
Definitely will beat a few teams unexpectedly but like I said I'd be happy with 6. We fluked a couple of wins this year to get 5.

I’d love a scalp like the Bulldogs next year.
Bogey team for us IMO. They will always smash us when we're this weak. That's their MO.

[the claw]

Lol at the hysteria and focus on the win loss table.

Improvement for us atm is NOT directly related to win loss ratio's.

In fact if playing as many available kids as possible is the aim, as it should be. Then  US  and WCE are likely bottom two again.

If the kids are fit we must play them. Lets not do this year again where we managed 6 wins with so many of our kids not available.

Its a fact people, not until we get a large group of the talented kids to 60 - 100 games then we are gunna struggle to win games.

Measure improvement just with wins then punt road oval will get torn down by disgruntled supporters.

Ya know lets say all of Smillie Lalor, Hotton, Faull, Armstrong Trainor Campbell McAuliffe and Cumming play 15 games each then we will cop plenty of hidings.

The only other option is to play blokes like Rioli Sonsie HRS etc we will still lose and may even jag 5 or 6 wins but it will get us nowhere.

We don't need to win games to see player improvement in youngsters.

Embrace year two of the rebuild they usually take a lot longer than what is spoken about. Watch the kids get games and experience this will be the real improvement not some win against a battling side with a side full of older battlers. Which if we are honest is where most of our wins came from.

[one-eyed]

Gossage stating the obvious.

RICHMOND (17th)

“They’ll rise. They won’t make finals but they’ll rise.”

RISE

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/12/03/afl-20256-rise-fall-or-stay-in-2026

[one-eyed]

20 bold predictions

Jack Jovanovski with Will Faulkner
Fox Sports
January 2, 2026

Richmond wins the wooden spoon

Most should consider this call pretty bold. The easy way to go would have been to tip the Eagles by some distance, but while the Tigers surprised many by winning five games in 2025, they played like a three-win side for much of last year’s campaign. Richmond could very well be usurped by the Eagles, who this off-season added premiership experience in the form of Brandon Starcevich and ex-Tiger Tylar Young to further shore up their defence. They should also see natural progression out of prodigious former no.1 pick Harley Reid, while fellow up-and-comers Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett, Bo Allan, Jobe Shanahan and Tom Gross should also take steps, and the club in November added top-four draft picks Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler to the fold. Of course, there’s every chance Richmond takes another step this year under Adem Yze propelled by its exciting crop of 2024 draftees, but West Coast really shouldn’t be the basket case it was last year.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2025-20-bold-predictions-for-2026-season-finals-and-top-eight-tips-wildcard-hawthorn-premiers-brownlow-medal-analysis/news-story/361eb0cc1831f94013741b129f64ca2b

[Hard Roar Tiger]

At some point there’s going to be a side that rapidly drops down the ladder and ends up below us, norf and the eagles. It might not be this year but honestly would not surprise if either the Dees or Port get the spoon this year

[Andyy]

I don't think we'll get the spoon.
Probably 3-4 wins at least, likely 4-6.

Bottom 4 finish.

Another top 5 draft pick drifting out to 10 with some academy and free agency BS etc

[WilliamPowell]

At some point there’s going to be a side that rapidly drops down the ladder and ends up below us, norf and the eagles. It might not be this year but honestly would not surprise if either the Dees or Port get the spoon this year

I tend to agree with this

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Dees tumble further

[one-eyed]

Richmond - Pass mark: Win 4 games

Aidan Cellini
zerohanger.com
January 5, 2026

The Tigers surprised all with five victories in 2025 as they tick off season one of their rebuild.

But any project is set to plateau, and although Adem Yze has other ideas, it wouldn't be a shock to see Richmond dip in the amount of wins.

However, what should be a focus is minimising the damage on losses, or bridging the gap of those clubs who sit higher than them on the ladder.

Richmond's main objective is to develop two draft classes' worth of extreme talent, and get them up to AFL speed.

https://www.zerohanger.com/flag-or-bust-finals-bound-top-10-fancy-each-clubs-pass-mark-for-2026-171973/14/

[one-eyed]

Burning Question for Richmond in 2026:

Was the Tigers' competitiveness in 2025 a fluke?

Aidan Cellini, Patrick Parnell & Hayden Farquhar
zerohanger.com
January 12, 2026

The Tigers were one of the surprises of the 2025 season, despite winning just five games for the year.

A stunning comeback in Round 1 against the old foe Carlton served as an optimistic launchpad for a year of strong development from their crop of rookies and second-year players, and helped them achieve four further victories, including one over top eight side Gold Coast. They also came within a kick of upsetting GWS and St Kilda.

However, entering 2026, the consensus seems to be Richmond will regress rather than advance a rapid rebuild following an off-season of minimal player movement, outside of their two first-round draft picks.

That's an understandable call to make, given the Tigers' underlying numbers were largely comparable to West Coast. However, the yellow-and-black proved just last year why you shouldn't discredit their legitimacy as a team capable of recording a few upsets, and will likely build on the experience they gained from their close contests last year.

If they can hold their own for a full four quarters, rather than fading out as they did in close contests against GWS and Sydney last year for example, this feverish young side can prove they're ready to belong with the other 16 sides that finished above them in 2025.

https://www.zerohanger.com/the-burning-question-facing-your-afl-club-in-2026-171998/14/