GEELONG is in the box seat for the 2026 McClelland trophy and the $1 million prizemoney.
The Cats have been the most consistently strong performers across both their men's and women's programs so far, and the AFLW team is expected to compete in the semi-finals at the very least, if not qualifying for a preliminary final.
At the conclusion of both seasons (inclusive of finals), teams are allocated 18-1 points, with first place awarded 18, second place 17, down to last place with just the one point.
The AFLW season has another three weeks remaining plus a month of finals, meaning its allocation of points will change.
But after round nine, Geelong is sitting pretty in first position, with Sydney in second.
|
Club |
Men's points |
Women's points* |
Total |
|
Geelong |
14 |
17 |
31 |
|
Sydney |
16 |
12 |
28 |
|
Fremantle |
17 |
10 |
27 |
|
Hawthorn |
15 |
11 |
26 |
|
Melbourne |
10 |
16 |
26 |
|
Western Bulldogs |
12 |
13 |
25 |
|
Carlton |
11 |
14 |
25 |
|
Brisbane |
18 |
5 |
23 |
|
N. Melbourne |
5 |
18 |
23 |
|
Adelaide |
13 |
9 |
22 |
|
Gold Coast |
6 |
15 |
21 |
|
Collingwood |
9 |
3 |
12 |
|
GWS |
7 |
4 |
11 |
|
Port Adelaide |
4 |
7 |
11 |
|
West Coast |
3 |
8 |
11 |
|
St Kilda |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|
Richmond |
2 |
6 |
8 |
|
Essendon |
1 |
2 |
3 |
* as of round nine
After a season-ending ACL suffered by Ally Morphett, it's unlikely the Swans will make a big run to the top four, meaning their ladder position and points tally will likely remain about the same.
Hawthorn and Fremantle are currently in a race to make the eight and won't rise too much further on the W ladder.
Even if Melbourne somehow manages to win the AFLW Grand Final, its points tally will only increase by two, and the Cats would have to finish in fifth or lower in order to slip out of top spot.
If two clubs finish equal-first on points, combined percentage will be used to split them.
The prize money is split with $500,000 going to the AFL/W players, and $500,000 to the club.
Previous McClelland Trophy winners (under combined AFL/W criteria)
2025 – Brisbane
2024 – Hawthorn
2023 – Melbourne