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Why each preliminary finalist can and can't win the flag
Two do-or-die prelims. Four teams. One premier. The 2026 AFL season is nearing its conclusion, with Sydney, Fremantle, Hawthorn, and Brisbane still in the hunt for this year's flag. Here's why each of them can -- and cannot -- win the 2026 premiership.
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September Power Rankings: An extended top 35, plus current player comparisons
The majority of top-age junior campaigns are now over, with prospects putting their best foot forward to show off for recruiters all season. Here's Jasper Chellappah's September Power Rankings, with an extended top 35 and player comparisons.
TOP HEADLINES
NBL team-by-team season preview: Depth chart, big questions and more
AROUND THE LEAGUE
NFL Power Rankings: Our post-Week 1 poll of all 32 teams, plus the best non-QB debuts
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Let's kick off NFL Week 2: Seven things Solak thinks -- including that Houston's offense could be decent
CARABAO CUP
Liverpool can't take Mac Allister and Gakpo for granted -- they're still match winners
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Nicol: De Zerbi can't be blamed for Spurs' inability to finish
0:55
Travis Bazzana crushes a home run
0:33
THE W FILES
The W Files: End of an AFLW era? Plus Ella Roberts the star
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Greek flags and Grand Finals: Why Melbourne Victory feels like home for Giovanni Savarese
LATEST ON THE NBA
Paul George opens up about controversial trade to Celtics
1:35
'It's a crime.' Stephen A. laments Kawhi Leonard's lack of punishment
2:21
Looking back at NFLPA report cards -- team travel edition: Who pays for the best planes, hotels?
Top Headlines
- Eden Park sold out amid NRL finals crowd woes
- Ronaldo suffers biggest loss with Al Nassr, Ange
- Knicks agree to deal with vet free agent Konchar
- Celtics' George ready to prove self after trade
- Silver: NBA sought 'precedent' in penalising Clips
- Tassie coach sets timeline for departure
- Arch Manning apologises for violent AI video chat
- Messi named in Argentina squad for farewell game
- Capitals say Ovechkin asked to appear in Putin ad
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A spectacle like no other: the NFL's Australian 'experiment' was always destined to succeed
There was never any doubt Melbourne would embrace the NFL with open arms and deliver a sporting spectacle to remember.
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Subscribe to the ESPN Australia Newsletter
Keep up to date with the latest news from across the sporting world. Be it at home or abroad, we've got it covered in our weekly newsletters.
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ESPN NFL Afters
Laurie Horesh and Jimmy Smith catch their breath and re-hash all the biggest moments, stories, giggles and tears from 10 hours of football.
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NBA preview 2026-27: Can the 76ers solve their 'super-user' puzzle?
LeBron, Maxey, Brown, Embiid. Can the 76ers' high-usage stars make it work? Here's what history reveals.
- Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
Inside Patrick Mahomes' remarkable return from knee injury
On Dec. 14, Mahomes, after suffering the most significant injury of his career, vowed to be back for Week 1. Here's how he did it.
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Manchester derby mess shows VAR's quest for perfection is doomed to fail
Erling Haaland's goal in the Manchester derby proved that perfection will always be out of reach for VAR, despite it being there to give us exactly that.
- Photo by Kirby Lee/Imagn Images
2026 NBA buzz: Latest free agency and trade updates
We're tracking deals, trades and buzz across the NBA, including the latest on Kawhi Leonard and the NBA's investigation into the Clippers.
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Pass or fail? Grading every AFL team's season based on preseason expectations
Make finals, win the flag, or avoid the bottom four ... we gave each team a pass mark coming into the 2026 season. So how did every club go?
- (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Taylor Swift, Tom Cruise share suite at Broncos-Chiefs
The pop star and actor sat side by side while supporting Swift's husband and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce.
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Updated: NRL 2026 team-by-team season review
The 2026 NRL season proper has come to an end, so it's time to evaluate every team's year.
- Karl Bridgeman - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
The staggering numbers behind Premier League's spending power over Europe
Barcola's big move from PSG to Liverpool was a highlight of another summer transfer window in which the Premier League effectively subsidizes big European leagues such as Ligue 1.
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ESPNfootytips
ESPNfootytips
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Listen to our AFL podcast - the ESPN Footy Podcast with Champion Data
Join ESPN's footy team for some of the best AFL analysis and insight on the ESPN Footy Podcast.
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The Far Post Podcast
Join Angela Christian-Wilkes, Anna Harrington, Sam Lewis, and Marissa Lordanic as they dissect all the latest news in women's football.
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The ESPN Daily podcast: How to listen, episode guide and more
Wake up to the best sports story you'll hear all day. Monday to Friday, we bring you an inside look at the most interesting stories at ESPN, as told by the top reporters and insiders on the planet.
