Who wins the 2026 AFL Grand Final? 72 AI models predict the result
We asked 72 AI models (GPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek…) the same question. 43% picked Sydney. See every answer, who searched the web, and who dissented.
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PredictionAFL· Sat, Sep 26
Who wins the 2026 AFL Grand Final?
Asked verbatim: “AFL 2026: four teams are left before the Grand Final at the MCG on September 26. Sydney play Fremantle and Hawthorn play Brisbane in the preliminary finals. Which team wins the 2026 premiership?”
How the AIs voted
One dot per model. Hover for the model, its lab and its argument.
43%Sydney

31 models
13%Fremantle
9 models
13%Hawthorn


PU
9 models
32%Brisbane
23 models
By lab
- Google3 / 6 Sydney
- OpenAI3 / 6 Sydney
- Z.AI2 / 5 Sydney
- Aion Labs1 / 4 Sydney
- Anthropic0 / 4 Sydney
- DeepSeek0 / 3 Sydney
- 22 other labs22 / 44 Sydney
72 of 79 models have voted. Hover a dot for the model, its lab and its argument.
How the consensus formed
Running share as each of the 79 models answered.
0%25%50%75%100%1st answer3672 of 79Mistral Medium 3.5 → Brisbane (answer 1 of 72)GLM-5.3 (Low Reasoning) → Fremantle (answer 2 of 72)Muse Glimmer 30B (Low Reasoning) → Fremantle (answer 3 of 72)Nemotron 3 Nano 30B → Sydney (answer 4 of 72)Claude Sonnet 5 (Low Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 5 of 72)gpt-oss-20b (Low Reasoning) → Sydney (answer 6 of 72)Gemini 3.8 Flash (Medium Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 7 of 72)GLM-5.2 → Brisbane (answer 8 of 72)LongCat 2.0 → Fremantle (answer 9 of 72)Hy4 Preview → Brisbane (answer 10 of 72)Qwen3.8 Max 0902 (Minimal Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 11 of 72)Mistral Small 3 → Sydney (answer 12 of 72)Granite 4.2 8B → Sydney (answer 13 of 72)MiniMax M2.5 (Reasoning) → Fremantle (answer 14 of 72)Parallel Speed → Sydney (answer 15 of 72)Claude Opus 5 (Low Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 16 of 72)Grok 4.3 → Fremantle (answer 17 of 72)Parallel Base → Brisbane (answer 18 of 72)Nova 2 Lite → Brisbane (answer 19 of 72)Claude Haiku 4.5 → Brisbane (answer 20 of 72)Aion 3.0 (Reasoning) → Sydney (answer 21 of 72)Nemotron 3 Ultra → Sydney (answer 22 of 72)GLM-5.3 Flash (Max Reasoning) → Hawthorn (answer 23 of 72)Mistral Medium 3.1 → Brisbane (answer 24 of 72)Sabiazinho 4 → Brisbane (answer 25 of 72)gpt-oss-120b (Low Reasoning) → Sydney (answer 26 of 72)DeepSeek V4 Flash → Fremantle (answer 27 of 72)GLM-4.7 → Sydney (answer 28 of 72)DeepSeek V4 Pro 0813 → Hawthorn (answer 29 of 72)MiMo V2.5 Pro → Brisbane (answer 30 of 72)Inkling Small → Sydney (answer 31 of 72)Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite (Minimal Reasoning) → Hawthorn (answer 32 of 72)Gemini 3.6 Flash (Medium Reasoning) → Sydney (answer 33 of 72)Kimi K2.6 → Sydney (answer 34 of 72)DeepSeek V4.1 Flash → Fremantle (answer 35 of 72)GPT-6 Astra (Medium Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 36 of 72)Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview (High Reasoning) → Sydney (answer 37 of 72)Llama 4 Maverick → Brisbane (answer 38 of 72)Ling 3.0 Flash → Hawthorn (answer 39 of 72)Aion-RP 1.0 (8B) → Hawthorn (answer 40 of 72)Nemotron 3.5 Lightning → Brisbane (answer 41 of 72)Qwen3.8 27B → Sydney (answer 42 of 72)Qwen3.8 Flash → Sydney (answer 43 of 72)Solar Pro 3 → Sydney (answer 44 of 72)GPT-5.6 Luna → Brisbane (answer 45 of 72)Laguna S 2.1 → Sydney (answer 46 of 72)Parallel Lite → Sydney (answer 47 of 72)Inkling → Hawthorn (answer 48 of 72)Sabiá 4 → Sydney (answer 49 of 72)Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (Minimal Reasoning) → Hawthorn (answer 50 of 72)Seed 2.0 Mini → Sydney (answer 51 of 72)GPT-5.6 Sol → Sydney (answer 52 of 72)GPT-5.6 Terra → Brisbane (answer 53 of 72)Sonar Reasoning Pro → Hawthorn (answer 54 of 72)Grok 4.20 → Fremantle (answer 55 of 72)Aion 2.0 (Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 56 of 72)Kimi K3 → Sydney (answer 57 of 72)Gemma 4 31B → Sydney (answer 58 of 72)Grok 4.5 (High Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 59 of 72)Seed 2.1 Turbo → Sydney (answer 60 of 72)Aion 3.0 Mini (Reasoning) → Fremantle (answer 61 of 72)Sonar Pro → Brisbane (answer 62 of 72)Sonar → Brisbane (answer 63 of 72)Mercury 2.5 → Sydney (answer 64 of 72)Solar Pro 4 → Sydney (answer 65 of 72)Granite 4.0 Micro → Sydney (answer 66 of 72)MiMo V2.5 → Sydney (answer 67 of 72)Nova Lite → Sydney (answer 68 of 72)GLM-4.7 Flash → Sydney (answer 69 of 72)Claude Fable 5.1 (Low Reasoning) → Brisbane (answer 70 of 72)Laguna XS 2.1 → Sydney (answer 71 of 72)Union Alpha → Hawthorn (answer 72 of 72)Sydney43%Brisbane32%Fremantle13%Hawthorn13%
The read
Sydney topped the poll with about 25 picks, closely followed by Brisbane with roughly 22, while Fremantle drew 9 picks and Hawthorn 6. The standout dissent came from GLM-5.3 Flash and Inkling, backing underdog Hawthorn to break through as fresh challengers over the dynasty contenders.
Written by claude-sonnet-5 after reading every answer.
Every answer
72 answers · in the order they came in · unedited apart from length.
Mistral Medium 3.5Mistral
Brisbane72%
Brisbane's 2026 form, home-and-away dominance, and finals experience edge out Hawthorn, then Sydney/Fremantle.
GLM-5.3 (Low Reasoning)Z.AI
Fremantle45%
Minor premiers with a 19–4 season and a fresh list off a qualifying-final rest — Dockers finally break the flag drought on the last Saturday in September.
Searched
Muse Glimmer 30B (Low Reasoning)Meta
Fremantle25%
No confirmed results yet for Sep 19 prelims, but Fremantle are minor premiers and the in-form pick.
Searched
Nemotron 3 Nano 30BNVIDIA
Sydney65%
Sydney’s experienced lineup and home MCG edge give them the slight edge in the tight prelim.
Claude Sonnet 5 (Low Reasoning)Anthropic
Brisbane58%
Back-to-back-hungry Lions have the finals scar tissue and midfield grunt to outlast Hawthorn's youthful dash and the Sydney-Fremantle survivor.
gpt-oss-20b (Low Reasoning)OpenAI
Sydney60%
Sydney’s recent form and depth give them the edge in the 2026 Grand Final.
Gemini 3.8 Flash (Medium Reasoning)Google
Brisbane65%
With unmatched finals pedigree and a battle-hardened midfield, the Lions have the MCG blueprint to claim another flag.
GLM-5.2Z.AI
Brisbane62%
Brisbane just smashed Adelaide by 53 points and carry the form and big-game pedigree from their 2024 flag into a winnable prelim and Grand Final.
Searched
LongCat 2.0Meituan
Fremantle62%
Minor premiers with a 19-4 record have the best season-long form, and September rewards teams that have been grinding out wins all year.
Searched
Hy4 PreviewTencent
Brisbane34%
Brisbane have the most complete list and finals pedigree left; Hawthorn's form is real, but the Lions' midfield depth and MCG know-how edge them in a tight GF.
Qwen3.8 Max 0902 (Minimal Reasoning)Qwen
Brisbane34%
Back-to-back flags proved this list peaks in September — deepest midfield, best finals temperament, and a forward line that wins tight games at the MCG.
Mistral Small 3Mistral
Sydney65%
Sydney’s finals form and home-ground advantage at the MCG edge Fremantle.
Searched
Granite 4.2 8BIBM
Sydney10%
Purely arbitrary; no data available for 2026 AFL actual results.
Searched
MiniMax M2.5 (Reasoning)MiniMax
Fremantle75%
Fremantle earned the minor premiership with a 19-4 record and home-ground advantage through finals - they're the deserved flag favourite.
Searched
Parallel SpeedParallel
Sydney85%
Sydney's explosive forward line and home-ground advantage at the SCG give them the edge to take out the flag.
Claude Opus 5 (Low Reasoning)Anthropic
Brisbane33%
Brisbane's finals-hardened core and September experience beats the rest of this field; Hawthorn's kids can be worn down, and the Lions know how to win the last one.
Grok 4.3xAI
Fremantle58%
Minor premiers with best record and proven finals pedigree edge out the rest.
Searched
Parallel BaseParallel
Brisbane85%
As reigning back-to-back premiers coming off a dominant semi-final victory, Brisbane has the championship pedigree to go all the way again.
Nova 2 LiteAmazon
Brisbane75%
Brisbane has the strongest recent form and home-ground advantage in the finals.
Searched
Claude Haiku 4.5Anthropic
Brisbane52%
Brisbane's dominant 53-point demolition of Adelaide suggests peak form in the most critical time; they're experienced finalists with strong attacking weapons.
Searched
Aion 3.0 (Reasoning)Aion Labs
Sydney38%
Coleman Medallist Curnow (69 goals) gives them the most dangerous forward in the comp and Sydney's big-game pedigree tips a tight four-team race.
Searched
Nemotron 3 UltraNVIDIA
Sydney68%
Sydney finished top of the ladder with the competition's best defence and home-ground advantage through the finals, making them the most complete side left.
Searched
GLM-5.3 Flash (Max Reasoning)Z.AI
Hawthorn55%
Sam Mitchell's young Hawks are the trend line that keeps climbing, they're built for MCG pace, and dynasty fatigue plus travel favors the fresh challenger.
Mistral Medium 3.1Mistral
Brisbane72%
Brisbane's finals experience and home-and-away form edge out the rest.
Searched
Sabiazinho 4Maritaca AI
Brisbane55%
Brisbane's recent form and head-to-head edge over Hawthorn make them favorites despite the tougher Sydney–Fremantle matchup.
gpt-oss-120b (Low Reasoning)OpenAI
Sydney45%
Sydney’s strong recent form and depth give them a slight edge in a tight semi‑final.
DeepSeek V4 FlashDeepSeek
Fremantle62%
Fremantle were 19-4 minor premiers with a club-record 14-game streak; the week off plus a record home prelim beats an interstate MCG trip.
Searched
GLM-4.7Z.AI
Sydney65%
Minor premiers and battle-hardened at the G, Swans have the class to finish the job.
DeepSeek V4 Pro 0813DeepSeek
Hawthorn35%
Hawthorn's ferocious pressure and young midfield can handle Brisbane's pace; I back their late-season momentum to go all the way.
MiMo V2.5 ProXiaomi
Brisbane55%
Brisbane crushed Adelaide by 53 points in the semi and bring reigning premiership form into a preliminary final against a Hawthorn side that relies on flair over structure.
Searched
Inkling SmallThinking MachinesSydney62%
Sydney's home-ground MCG edge and stronger midfield showdown tilt it in a one-score thriller.
Searched
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite (Minimal Reasoning)Google
Hawthorn75%
Their fast ball movement and irresistible young synergy make them the unstoppable freight train of this finals series.
Searched
Gemini 3.6 Flash (Medium Reasoning)Google
Sydney65%
Sydney's midfield depth and big-match composure make them the most complete team remaining to lift the premiership cup.
Searched
Kimi K2.6Moonshot
Sydney35%
Swans finished minor premiers, tough road through finals but home-ground advantage at the MCG and deep midfield depth gives them the edge over this field.
Searched
DeepSeek V4.1 FlashDeepSeek
Fremantle42%
Minor premiers at 19-4 with the best defence in the league, and a home prelim; the Dockers finally break through for a maiden flag.
Searched
GPT-6 Astra (Medium Reasoning)OpenAI
Brisbane32%
I back Brisbane’s finals experience and midfield depth to get past Hawthorn, then hold their nerve when the pressure peaks at the MCG.
Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview (High Reasoning)Google
Sydney65%
Sydney's relentless midfield pressure and home advantage in the preliminary final give them the ultimate edge to conquer the MCG on Grand Final day.
Llama 4 MaverickMeta
Brisbane60%
Brisbane's recent strong form gives them an edge in the Grand Final against Sydney.
Ling 3.0 FlashInclusionAIHawthorn35%
Hawthorn's premiership pedigree and home-ground advantage at the MCG give them the edge in a tight prelim, but this is a pure guess with no reliable 2026 data.
Aion-RP 1.0 (8B)Aion Labs
Hawthorn80%
Hawthorn's powerful forward line led by Josh Bruce and James Sicily will be too much for Brisbane to handle. The Hawks have been in impressive form, winning 10 of their past 11 games, while the Lions have been inconsistent, losing four of their past seven.
Nemotron 3.5 LightningNVIDIA
Brisbane65%
Brisbane is defending its 2024 flag with a strong forward line and has shown the most consistent form this season, peaking right before the finals.
Qwen3.8 27BQwen
Sydney68%
Sydney is the top seed with the best finals path — beat Fremantle, win one more at home, and they're premiership winners; everyone else needs more wins and more luck.
Searched
Qwen3.8 FlashQwen
Sydney62%
Minor-premiership Fremantle have the structure and Curnow's Coleman form, but Sydney's ladder position, depth and big-game defence make them the likelier to edge the Grand Final.
Searched
Solar Pro 3Upstage
Sydney85%
Sydney’s 2026 season is built on the momentum of a dominant home run and a star forward who’s been on fire for three straight weeks.
Searched
GPT-5.6 LunaOpenAI
Brisbane31%
Brisbane’s finals experience, midfield depth and proven MCG capability give them the narrowest edge in a closely matched 2026 field.
Laguna S 2.1Poolside
Sydney42%
Sydney's star-heavy lineup and home MCG advantage tip the prelim over Fremantle's upset-minded but inexperienced squad.
Parallel LiteParallel
Sydney65%
Sydney finished higher on the ladder, boasts a flawless SCG record in prelims, and possesses the complete game to lift the cup.
InklingThinking MachinesHawthorn60%
Hawthorn’s midfield pressure and finals form edge out Brisbane at the MCG; I back them to lift the cup.
Searched
Sabiá 4Maritaca AI
Sydney68%
Sydney's finals experience, top-six defense, and the Swans' recent September consistency make them the value pick.
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (Minimal Reasoning)Google
Hawthorn65%
Hawthorn’s blistering second half of the season proved they are the most dangerous team in the league when it matters most.
Searched
Seed 2.0 MiniByteDance
Sydney65%
Sydney finished 2nd on the 2026 AFL ladder, has a strong forward line and defensive unit, and enters the preliminary finals as one of the form sides of the finals series.
Searched
GPT-5.6 SolOpenAI
Sydney36%
Sydney’s pressure game and MCG-ready balance give them the narrowest edge in an unusually open final four.
GPT-5.6 TerraOpenAI
Brisbane34%
Brisbane’s finals experience and balanced midfield-forward mix give them the narrowest edge in an open field.
Sonar Reasoning ProPerplexity
Hawthorn40%
Hawthorn smashed Fremantle away, now has a home prelim at the MCG and with their September record they look most likely to convert this run into another flag.
Grok 4.20xAI
Fremantle55%
Top of the ladder all year with the best % and home prelim advantage at the MCG seals the deal for me.
Searched
Aion 2.0 (Reasoning)Aion Labs
Brisbane55%
Defending premiers with the most balanced list, finals experience, and a proven ability to win the close ones at the MCG.
Searched
Kimi K3Moonshot
Sydney35%
Sydney's experience and recent form give them the edge, but it's a tight call with Fremantle's strong season.
Gemma 4 31BGoogle
Sydney40%
Sydney has the strongest list depth and home-ground advantage momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Grok 4.5 (High Reasoning)xAI
Brisbane62%
Lions mauled Adelaide into the prelims, chase a rare threepeat, and face a Hawthorn side whose skipper’s injury fears just got confirmed—MCG September pedigree wins flags.
Searched
Seed 2.1 TurboByteDance
Sydney38%
Curnow's Coleman-winning form up forward plus a hardened finals line-up edges them past Freo and then the Hawthorn-Brisbane winner on the MCG.
Searched
Aion 3.0 Mini (Reasoning)Aion Labs
Fremantle65%
Fremantle were the season's dominant side (19-4, minor premiers) and have the firepower to go all the way at the MCG.
Searched
Sonar ProPerplexity
Brisbane55%
Elite midfield, finals experience and speed at the MCG give Brisbane the best shot of winning two in a row in this scenario.
SonarPerplexity
Brisbane34%
Brisbane's finals experience and hard-edge make them the safest single pick from this four-team field.
Mercury 2.5Inception
Sydney65%
Sydney's home-ground advantage at the MCG combined with their recent defensive dominance gives them the edge in a tight Grand Final.
Solar Pro 4Upstage
Sydney58%
Sydney are the formiest of the four and an MCG grand final is their sweet spot; Fremantle don't yet have the winning habit when the pressure hits hardest.
Granite 4.0 MicroIBM
Sydney70%
Sydney has home advantage at MCG and strong recent form, while Fremantle is slight underdog.
MiMo V2.5Xiaomi
Sydney45%
Sydney smashed Brisbane 141-88 in week 1 finals and have MCG finals pedigree, but they face injury concerns and Fremantle's finals form is strong.
Searched
Nova LiteAmazon
Sydney50%
Choosing a team based on alphabetical order as no current data is available.
GLM-4.7 FlashZ.AI
Sydney65%
Sydney are finals proven on a big MCG; Premiers normally come from the hosts or defending champs, and they have the pedigree.
Searched
Claude Fable 5.1 (Low Reasoning)Anthropic
Brisbane34%
Back-to-back reigning premiers with finals scar tissue, an elite midfield and a proven MCG formula — the Lions beat Hawthorn's sizzle and whoever survives the Sydney-Freo slog.
Searched
Laguna XS 2.1Poolside
Sydney35%
The Grand Final outcome is unknown - prediction based on Sydney's strong form as favorites.
Searched
PUUnion AlphaUndisclosed maker
Hawthorn58%
Mitchell's young Hawks are peaking on schedule, run hardest of the four, and MCG prelim pedigree beats Brisbane's tired legs and Sydney's Freo-free fall.
Searched
Didn't answer in time or errored: MiniMax M3, Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B (Minimal Reasoning), Nemotron 3 Super, Qwen3.7 Flash, Muse Spark 1.2 (Minimal Reasoning), Llama 4 Scout, Grok 4.6 (High Reasoning).
AI consensus
43%
Sydney
31 of 72 models
Models : 72
Labs : 28
Searched : 36
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