Morris and Edmund’s Top 5 AFL stories to watch

There are some BIG footy stories brewing in the background.

SEN’s Tom Morris and Sam Edmund have pulled together their top five storylines that could still happen this year.

These are the stories they’d like to see occur in the back end of the 2026 season.

Morris’ 5 stories

1 - Hird returns to Essendon

“This will surprise nobody - James Hird back to Essendon.

“That would be massive.”

2 - Carlton win a wildcard

“Carlton make and then win a wildcard game.”

3 - Dawson to win Brownlow and named AA captain

“That would be a huge story. He’s playing well enough to win the Brownlow.”

Edmund added: “All-Australian captain would just about be a no-brainer at this stage, but Max Gawn has also had a great season.”

4 - Another coaching bombshell

“A senior coaching bombshell. Something wild.

“Imagine if Chris Scott decided to go somewhere or Luke Beveridge or Damien Hardwick or even Sam Mitchell.”

Edmund then threw out a hypothetical scenario.

“What about Chris Fagan at the end of the year - maybe the Lions have won three in a row - and decides he’s had enough.

“Chris Scott goes and coaches his old side, Brisbane, and let’s say Nathan Buckley takes over at Geelong.

“Would that be bombshell enough?”

Morris replied: “That would be bombshell enough, that would fit the bill.”

5 - Zak Butters: where does he go?

“I think the Dogs are just in front but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion.

“Richmond are very much in this and maybe Geelong as well.”

Edmund’s 5 stories (+1)

1 - Zak Butters trade

“Nothing moves the needle like player movement.

“Not whether he leaves - because we know he is - but who he leaves to.

“And how Port Adelaide reacts, what they expect and how the deal ultimately gets done.

“Where it sits in massive deals over time will be a huge story.”

2 - Coaching race

“Just who coaches Carlton, Essendon and Tassie?

“Two of the biggest clubs and two of the most supported clubs in the game on one hand. And who makes history and steers the Devils for the first time - which is a true, once-in-a-career opportunity.

“Three absolute plumb jobs. Even if Essendon and Carlton will be tough, they are massive giants that need to be awoken.

“It’s inconceivable that Josh Fraser would not be part of the process. He has to be involved.”

3 - Wildcard weekend will be massive!

“Exactly how big will the wildcard weekend be?

“How much humble pie will its critics be eating when more than 90,000 rock into the MCG - at this stage for two games - with all the enormous fanfare?”

Morris added: “They will be monstrous games wherever they are. Imagine if they’re at the ‘G!”

4 - Fremantle in finals

“They’re going to finish top.

“We saw Adelaide melt under home town expectations last year.

“Are the Dockers up to it when you’re playing for all the marbles?

“Their last finals win was back in 2022 - their one and only finals win of the Justin Longmuir era. It’s his seventh season, they’ve made finals only twice, they’ve won only one.

“There will be huge pressure on the Dockers. I just want to see how they handle it after they do finish top.”

5 - Sort the score review

“I just want decisions made in real time. I don’t care what cameras they use, whatever the mechanism and technology - let’s just have it so that we can make a decision.

“We need to get rid of the ARC.”

6 - Brisbane three-peat

“I’ve got to have Brisbane in there - they’re going for three in a row for heaven’s sake!

“They’re the last club to win three in a row. So the Lions shooting for a three-peat which is just ridiculous to even say out loud.”