Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge has given his top three coaches from the 2026 AFL season.

After a superb home and away and finals series, a number of coaches stood out above the rest.

From Melbourne’s shock rise under Steven King, Carlton’s turn of form under Josh Fraser, Hawthorn’s deep run under Sam Mitchell and Fremantle’s leap to the top under Justin Longmuir, the votes could go in several directions this season.

On Tuesday, Fremantle's Longmuir was credited with the AFLCA Coach of the Year award, ahead of Chris Fagan (Brisbane) and Dean Cox (Sydney).

Hodge offered a slightly different view, naming his top three on SEN Whateley.

See Hodge’s top three below:

Third place - Dean Cox (Sydney)

“Just from where they came from last year. He did a lot of work over the off-season,” Hodge said.

“From missing finals last year – yes, they had a lot of injuries – but he did a lot of work on understanding what the players need.

“They were primed; they were in good form until all the stuff that unfolded.

“As far as how he got them (up), the emotion he got them up for the first final… they were a quarter away from playing in a Grand Final.

“It was heart-breaking – you wanted for those players out there to get through because they did nothing wrong.

“That’s why I’ve got Coxy down.”

Second place - Justin Longmuir (Fremantle)

“He has got them through that shaky stage from Round 20 onwards.

“That’s why he has probably dropped (in the order), because it’s still unknown how they are going to handle this pressure.

“They’ve been shaky over the last six weeks, can they respond?”

First place - Chris Fagan (Brisbane)

“This is a coach that’s been there numerous times.

“We look at halfway through the year when they had 14 or 15 injuries, so many people said, ‘do we put a line through the Brisbane Lions?’

“No, not yet. They’ve got resilience, there’s storyline with it.

“That’s why I’ve got Chris Fagan for coach of the year.

“JL, Coxy, Sam Mitchell, even Steven King was outstanding – there’s so many out there.”