Pineapple Grapple at the 'G? Hinkley tips all-Queensland GF

If Ken Hinkley’s prediction is anything to go by, then we could be in for an all-Queensland Grand Final in 2026.

After analysing all 18 lists, the former Port Adelaide coach has rated the reigning back-to-back premiers in the Brisbane Lions as the best list in the competition.

Following the Lions, the 59-year-old then has the Gold Coast Suns as having the second-best list after their maiden finals appearance, which led him to the belief that both sides could be the last two standing.  

“It’s not going to surprise anyone, I don’t think, if Gold Coast were to play Brisbane in a Grand Final with the talent of both lists,” Hinkley said on SEN’s Sportsday.

“If you look through the lists of all clubs, personally, I think the Gold Coast’s list is probably the second list in the competition behind Brisbane.”

But for the Suns to make their first AFL Grand Final in club history, the former Suns assistant notes that they’ll need to be in the top four to be a realistic premiership chance.

“But then I put all of those other things into this mix; injuries, who’s available, where you’re playing, all the things with draws, right time, right place,” he continued.

“A lot of things have to go right for Dimma (Damien Hardwick) and his group to get that far.

“First of all, you’ve got to win 14-15 games for a start to get to the finals.

“And then to get to the top four, you are probably unlikely to win (the premiership) unless you get to the top four.”

The two sides have played one another in the finals arena before, with the Lions having beaten Gold Coast by 53 points in last year’s semi-final.

If this Grand Final match-up were to occur, it would be the first time that two teams from the same state (outside of Victoria) would play each other for the AFL’s ultimate prize.