The AFL world has been extensively negative over the course of the 2026 season, with the organisation’s faulty start hindering what has been a strong opening to the year on field.

Ignoring the mess left by HQ, SEN’s Dwayne Russell has decided to turn his attention to the positives.

Through the first seven rounds we’ve seen some top level football, and Russell has listed his top five reasons as to why the footy has been good in 2026.

“There’s a really good sport happening right now, but unfortunately, AFL House – if they actually get their act together, we’d be talking more about the great stuff,” Russell told SEN Afternoons.

“But the great stuff is getting smothered by the admin disasters, like crap Opening Round talk and bad fixturing talk etc. etc.

“The sun is shining, and I’m feeling good about footy at the moment.”

5. Open Season

“Round 8 there’s no clear favourite. 10 teams can still win it.”

4. Highlight Heavy

“I do feel like even though the games are sometimes blowouts, mark of the year and goal of the year could still happen in the next second.

“There’s been a lot of highlights happening in games at the moment that are fun to watch.”

3. High Scores

“Scoring is up for most teams. You’ve got to have something to cheer if you’re a fan. Even if you’re not winning the game, you need goals to cheer.

“Scoring is up with most teams.”

2. Depth of stars

“There’s a list of stars that aren’t being mentioned enough that are firing on all cylinders.

“Kozzy Pickett, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Isaac Heeney, Zak Butters, Charlie Curnow, Max Gawn, Murphy Reid, Jason Horne-Francis – there’s a lot of stars that we should be talking about more that are firing at the moment and that are giving us what we want.”

1. Hope for the hopeless

“Outside of the top 10 that can’t win it, there is a reason to go and watch your team at the moment.

“Even if your team can’t win it – there’s a reason to go and watch North at the moment. There’s a reason to go and watch Melbourne or Port Adelaide or West Coast.

“There’s hope beyond this year. There’s hope for what’s happening in the future.”