Dwayne Russell's 10 most watchable AFL teams

The AFL is in the midst of sorting the 2026 fixtures, with prime time slots atop the agenda of all awaiting fans.

In 2025, prime time fixtures were far from perfect, with non-finalists Essendon (12), Carlton (11) and the Western Bulldogs (10) handed the most Thursday and Friday night fixtures of any team.

With attendances, TV viewership and broadcast rights, weighted schedules and breaks all playing major roles in the league's scheduling, it isn't as straightforward as selecting the best teams to play off every Thursday and Friday.

That said, SEN's Dwayne Russell has ranked the competition's 10 most watchable teams, weighted by who he believes should be the AFL's priority sides for prime time football.

“If I was doing the fixturing for the AFL, I would rank their teams from 1-18 as to who is going to bring the most eyeballs, and who are the most watchable teams to put on prime time,” Russell told SEN Afternoons.

1 - Collingwood

Last season: 10 prime time games

“I still think Collingwood is number one.

“They’ve got the biggest supporter base in the country; they’ve got the most possible eyes to tune in to TV.

“The grandstands are always full at the Collingwood games, so you get the best atmosphere you can possibly get with 80-90,000 at the MCG. It’s always a great atmosphere which does come through your televisions at home, (and) they’ve got arguably the best player in the comp in Nick Daicos.

“There is a prediction that they are going to drop off the cliff and miss the eight this year, but that’s the beautiful thing about Collingwood; it gives the other 17 fanbases something to cheer for. Watching a Collingwood trainwreck is almost more enticing as a blockbuster fixture than a Collingwood win!

“In terms of eyeballs, fixturing and blockbuster, Collingwood is still number one, and having Collingwood as the number one for prime time is a no brainer, because it if is a trainwreck season for Collingwood, people are going to watch it.”

2 - Brisbane

Last season: Seven prime time games

“Brisbane are my number two. Back-to-back premiers, best team in the comp. Every Gabba game, the grandstands are full, and you can feel the atmosphere coming through the TV.

“We know all of their players; we know their players and their coach like old friends. They play a great brand of footy, and they are going to be at the top-end again.”

3 - Hawthorn

Last season: Nine prime time games

“I’ve got Hawthorn at three. Premiership chance, competitive every single game they play, they play a great attacking style, they are full of personalities and goal celebrators.

“They’ve always got a big crowd at their games, so their atmosphere is always great every time they play. The love-hate factor is huge as well – almost bigger than Collingwood. Sam Mitchell is divisive, and 17 other fanbases win if Hawthorn lose too.”

4 - Geelong

Last season: Five prime time games

“Geelong are fourth for me. Second best team in the comp last year, and they’ve also earnt the right to be prime time with an exciting style to watch and a long list of household name stars that pack stadiums.

“There’s always the ‘big game’ atmosphere when the Cats play. There are a few like Patrick Dangerfield and Bailey Smith that divide public opinion. The Cats have almost become the AFL fans’ villains, and a good movie needs a good villain.”

5 - Sydney

Last season: Four prime time games

6 - Adelaide

Last season: Five prime time games

“I’ve got Sydney and Adelaide pretty much even at five and six. Both teams fill their stadiums every time and have earnt the home game blockbuster status. I think a Thursday and a Friday night game on prime-time TV needs a big crowd atmosphere.”

7 - Fremantle

Last season: Five prime time games

“I’ve got Fremantle at seven, only because the attacking Fremantle should be top five.

“The dour, ‘we are not scoring much, we’re going to move the ball slowly’ Fremantle is seven. We don’t know what kind of Fremantle we are going to get next year, but come the floating fixture late in the year, when the AFL reassesses who is prime time, Fremantle could climb up that list and be top five, depending on what style of footy they play.”

8 - Western Bulldogs

Last season: 10 prime time games

9 - Gold Coast

Last season: Two prime time games

10 - GWS Giants

Last season: Four prime time games

“We have got some blockbuster away team status teams. Eight nine and 10 for me, you’ve got the Bulldogs – they can’t fill Marvel without help. The Giants can’t fill their stadium on their own. The Gold Coast can’t fill their stadium on their own without help.

“All of those teams are great teams to watch, but in terms of being blockbuster home teams, I reckon they are better off as the away team. They are always going to have to play a Brisbane, a Hawthorn, a Geelong or a Sydney to get that full house atmosphere at their venue.

“Quite often for the Giants or for the Gold Coast, it’s the Collingwood game that fills that joint.”