Champion Data has dropped the positional allocations for AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach 2026, and as always, some players have gained gold while others have lost their most valuable asset. Let me break down the changes that matter most and what they mean for your squad construction.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Forward Line Has Changed Completely
The forward line looks drastically different from last year. Gone are Bailey Smith, who is now MID only, and several of 2025’s top forward options. Matt Kennedy, Jason Horne-Francis, Jack Macrae and Chad Warner will all be available as midfielders from the start of the season. Luke Jackson has also lost forward status.
That’s a lot of quality scoring power removed from the forward line, which makes the players who remain even more valuable.
Harry Sheezel will be the top priced and ranked forward to start the year with an average of 109 in AFL Fantasy and 107 in SuperCoach. We’ve covered him extensively already, but his MID/FWD status makes him the most versatile premium in the game. You can start him as a forward and never worry about that position again.
Sam Flanders had defensive status last year but is back as a forward for 2026. This isn’t the first time he’s been forward eligible, but given his move to St Kilda and the promise of more midfield time, this DPP status creates interesting squad building options. You could start him as a forward, watch him score like a midfielder, and have the flexibility to move him if needed.
Adam Treloar gets MID/FWD after injury crushed his 2025 season and he spent 45% of game time as a forward. He’ll get an awesome discount in SuperCoach off his average of 72, but it won’t be as strong a value buy in AFL Fantasy where his price comes off the previous year’s 110. Still, this is a player who averaged over 100 in back to back seasons before injury struck. If he can stay healthy, he’s a genuine top six forward with midfielder scoring.
Jordan De Goey is now MID/FWD, and if he can stay healthy through the preseason, I really like this as a consideration. He’s always had the ceiling, and now he’s got the positional flexibility to make him a genuine squad option. The injury risk is real, but the upside is there.
Izak Rankine and Kysaiah Pickett both maintain their MID/FWD status, which keeps them in the conversation as potential forward premiums. The Geelong trio of Jeremy Cameron, Shaun Mannagh and Gryan Miers are all listed as pure forwards.
Christian Petracca is at a new club in Gold Coast after his trade but has retained the MID/FWD status he gained during 2025. Joel Freijah was DEF/MID when the season ended, but will start the new one as a MID/FWD. He did show scoring potential, albeit inconsistent, last year.
Nic Martin will miss a big chunk of 2026, maybe even the whole season, but he’s changed from last year’s DEF/FWD status to MID/FWD. Trade period wantaways Bailey Humphrey from Gold Coast and Jy Simpkin from North Melbourne have both maintained MID/FWD status.
On the cheaper price point, new West Coast Eagle Deven Robertson has retained forward status, while new teammate Finlay Macrae is MID/FWD. Harry Schoenberg is listed as a pure midfielder.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Ruck Forward Revolution
This is where things get interesting. Sam Draper, the new Brisbane Lions ruck, will have RUC/FWD status. He had a great 2025 season before it was ended by injury and could be paired perfectly with new West Coast Eagle Cooper Duff-Tytler, who is also RUC/FWD.
If you wanted to go RUC/FWD crazy, then go and pick new Carlton player Liam Reidy, who also has RUC/FWD status. This opens up some genuinely unique squad structures where you could avoid picking a traditional forward premium altogether and just stack your team with high scoring mids and rucks who have forward eligibility.
Embed from Getty ImagesDefence Loses Quality But Gains Others
One of the biggest losses for defence is Max Holmes, who is now just a pure midfielder. Holmes was a premium defender who scored like a midfielder last season. Losing that DPP removes one of the most popular defensive options from 2025.
Harley Reid gained DPP during last year but in 2026 he returns to being a pure midfielder. Another blow for those hoping to use him as a defensive option.
But it’s not all bad news. Connor Rozee got defensive status during the season and became a dual position player. He’ll enter the 2026 season with DEF/MID, which is huge given his scoring potential from the back half.
Jack Sinclair should be no surprise to see retaining defensive status. Same with Lachie Whitfield, Dayne Zorko, Jordan Clark, Callum Mills, Bailey Dale and Lachie Ash. All remain viable defensive options.
There were some fears that Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s end of 2025 season run in the midfield could cost him defensive status this season. Those fears can be removed. He’s a pure defender to start 2026, which is exactly what fantasy coaches wanted to hear.
Miles Bergman spent some time through the midfield during the season, and a season ending injury may have aided in his retention of defensive eligibility. He’ll start the year as a pure defender, which keeps him in play as a defensive premium.
Liam Baker, the possible new Eagles skipper, has lost forward status and is now a defender. While Caleb Daniel was a popular MID/FWD for us in 2025, but after spending the year across half back is just listed as a defender.
Josh Daicos and Rory Laird both started 2025 as pure midfielders. They’ll enter this new year as defenders, which adds some genuine quality to the defensive pool.
Colby McKercher was a boom pick at the back end of 2025 and looks like a popular starter now that he maintains defensive status. To be fair, it was never in doubt given how North Melbourne used him.
The New Draftees
Of the new draftees coming in, Willem Duursma & Sam Cumming are pure midfielders. Dylan Patterson is listed as a defender. Daniel Annabelle is a midfielder. Sullivan Robey has DPP with MID/FWD status, as does Jacob Farrow with DEF/MID as is Sam Grlj and Zeke Uwland.