The belt vs. the standings
10 completed seasonsIs the belt a good judge of the best team? Here's who held it when each regular season ended, next to the best record that year.
2Seasons it matched
20%Match rate
5Holder in the top 3
3.2Holder's average rank
| Season | Best record | Holder at the end | Holder's rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fremantle 19–4 | Brisbane Lions 16–7 | 3rd of 18 |
| 2025 | Adelaide Crows 18–5 | Fremantle 17–7 | 4th of 18 |
| 2024 | Sydney Swans 17–6 | Western Bulldogs 15–9 | 6th of 18 |
| 2023 | Collingwood 19–5 | GWS Giants 14–10 | 5th of 18 |
| 2022 | Geelong 18–5 | Geelong 18–5 | 1st of 18 Same |
| 2021 | Port Adelaide 18–5 | Port Adelaide 18–5 | 1st of 18 Same |
| 2020 | Port Adelaide 15–3 | Richmond 12–6–1 | 4th of 18 |
| 2019 | Brisbane Lions 18–6 | Richmond 18–6 | 1st of 18 |
| 2018 | Richmond 19–4 | Hawthorn 15–9 | 6th of 18 |
| 2017 | Adelaide Crows 15–6–1 | Geelong 15–6–1 | 1st of 18 |