With coaching changes, star trade moves, controversial calls and ongoing alterations at AFL House, 2025 was a year of headlines.
The next 12 months promise some sizeable stories too, with uncertainty surrounding more AFL coaches, the game’s biggest names rising further, year-long trade speculation on stars, and some facing the heat in the aftermath of this year’s twists and turns.
So, as we reach the turn of the new year, let’s take a look at nine names set to shape the AFL and as certain headline makers for 2026.
Michael Voss
If you thought the noise surrounding Voss was loud in 2025, the next 12 months could be deafening.
The Carlton coach’s contract reaches its cessation at the end of the 2026 season, which is Voss’ fifth campaign in charge of the club.
A decision was made on his future following a nine-win 2025 season, with the Blues backing their man in, but they did need to weigh up that call first.
A slow start to 2026 will be cause for concern at Princes Park, with Voss set to lead a Carlton outfit without two-time Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow.
The loss of the spearhead forward is a huge hit to the Blues’ hopes of finishing in the top half, which could be the pass mark for Voss after finishing 11th this year.
Zak Butters
All eyes are on the Power star and what call he makes on his future as free agency nears.
The three-time Port Adelaide best and fairest is expected to be in the sights of every Victorian club as he considers his future in South Australia, with the lure of a return to his home state strong.
The Western Bulldogs are viewed as a strong contender for his services, while Geelong and Hawthorn have also been closely linked.
Port Adelaide will do everything it can to retain the 25-year-old, who is one of the best midfielders in the game.
If he is to leave, his exit will come after months of headlines on where he’ll head next, while the Power will be in line for a sizeabl return given his status as a restricted free agent.
Other star names currently coming off-contract in 2026 include Sam Walsh, Ben King and Zac Bailey.
Greg Swann
The new football performance boss has already significant changes since coming into the role in late July.
Swann has already seen the bounce and the sub scrapped, while a last-disposal rule has been introduced for the boundary line between the 50m arcs.
Overlooking the Match Review Officer, umpiring, game analysis, player movement, laws of the game, innovation and increased engagement to clubs, coaches and players, Swann’s sweeping changes are likely to continue in 2026.
The MRO and the game’s officiating continue to face external criticism, and look to be the two major products for Swann to assess.
Zach Merrett
All eyes will be on Essendon’s ex-captain following a controversial conclusion to the year, with Merrett’s desired move to join arch rivals Hawthorn falling through during the trade period.
The Bombers held firm in negotiations with the Hawks, forcing Merrett to see out another year of his six-year contract, which expires at the end of 2027.
How the six-time Crichton Medal winner responds to start the new season will be fascinating, with the dramas only made richer given the Bombers will clash with the Hawks in Round 1.
Then come the months that will follow, with Merrett’s future a certain topic of discussion for the second year in a row. Does he seek a move to the Hawks once again? Can the Bombers convince him to settle? Or could another suitor emerge?
Dougie Cochrane
Standout draft prospects often lead headlines for most of the year, with ‘the race’ for Pick 1 a significant tale with each new season.
That is usually a product of there being some uncertainty surrounding who will open the draft, but 2026 could see the first two teenagers picked being club-tied.
The 2025 draft haul was heavily impacted by matched bids and team-linked talent, and while 2026 may not have as many first-round quality teenagers already tied to a club, the two headline names are.
Port Adelaide NGA prospect Dougie Cochrane and Carlton father-son selection Cody Walker enter 2026 as the standout prospects for the new draft class.
Walker has caught headlines for several year given his long-known ties to the Blues, but Cochrane’s journey has only recently seen his priority access with the Power confirmed.
After months of having his NGA application reviewed, Cochrane’s ties to the Power were officially approved in November. The decision significantly shifted the shape of next year’s draft class, leaving clubs currently rebuilding with another name they can’t select.
The late call on Cochrane is set to be a story all year, while discourse on whether the club with Pick 1 makes bids for the South Australian and/or Walker will eventually arise.
Nick Daicos
The mercurial Magpie is never far from headlines, with his ascension to be the face of the game coming with its critics.
But there’s no doubting Daicos’ standing as arguably the game’s most damaging asset at arguably the biggest club of them all, with 2026 being just his fifth season in black and white.
After polling 98 Brownlow votes in the past three seasons, there’ll be no ruling the Collingwood ace from this year’s race, but it’ll be another premiership that sits in his sights.
Just how far can Daicos take his game in 2026? We’re about to find out.
Nathan Buckley
The Collingwood champion is back at clubland, joining Geelong as an assistant after spending the past several seasons in the media since his Magpies coaching exit.
And while getting used to Buckley in Cats colours will take some time, it’ll be the fascination surrounding what comes next for the former senior coach, with Tasmania looming as a likely landing spot.
The Devils will be expected to announce their inaugural coach sometime in 2026, and Buckley looks almost a sure thing.
He opted against the Melbourne role amid talks with Tasmania, and the coaching comeback with the Cats looks to be the needed stepping stone before his seemingly inevitable return to the top flight as the Devils’ man.
Justin Longmuir
The ongoing employment agreement between Longmuir and the Dockers has only extended the speculation and uncertainty surrounding the Fremantle coach’s future.
The decision, confirmed last February, was a curious one, but one that was made to show how strongly the two parties are invested in one another.
Heading into 2026, Longmuir will be one of just two coaches without a guaranteed future, with the aforementioned Voss being the other.
That situation will only compound the external attention on Longmuir’s future, with Fremantle expected to be a serious contender this year in what will be the coach’s seventh season in charge of the Western Australian club.
Harley Reid
Although his contract call finally brought an end to the speculation on his future at West Coast in August, expect the rumours to return in 2026.
Reid’s two-year deal will take him through to the end of 2028, and while the Eagles can breathe for a moment, they’ll be back at the table wanting to secure another extension for their young star in no time.
The same could be said for circling rivals, who were reportedly of the view this year that Reid could have sought a move back to Victoria despite having a year to run on his contract.
But Reid’s future aside, the Eagles wunderkind is set to create his own headlines in 2026 as he lets his football do the talking, letting those questioning the mouth-watering offers that were tabled know exactly why he’ll be one of the game’s best-paid players in the near future.
