The race for the 2026 McClelland Trophy is set for an exciting finish, with six teams still in contention following the conclusion of the AFLW home-and-away season.

The Geelong Cats are in the box seat to claim the Trophy and $1 million in prize money, with the Sydney Swans, Melbourne, Carlton, Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs all still in the running heading into the 2026 NAB AFLW Finals Series this weekend.

The McClelland Trophy is awarded to the best-performing club across both the Toyota AFL Premiership Season and NAB AFLW Competition, recognising excellence across the club’s men’s and women’s football programs.

Following changes to the criteria in 2025, the Trophy takes into account performances across the home-and-away seasons and finals series of both competitions.

At the completion of both seasons (inclusive of finals), each club is ranked based on its final finishing position in each competition, with the premier receiving 18 points, the runner-up 17 points and so on through to one point for 18th position. Each club’s AFL and AFLW rankings are then combined, with the club that records the highest overall score awarded the McClelland Trophy.

Where two clubs are eliminated in the same week of finals, their home-and-away ladder positions will determine the higher ranking. If two or more clubs finish on the same combined score, a tiebreaker will apply using McClelland Trophy points and then combined percentage.

Geelong enters the 2026 NAB AFLW Finals Series on 31 points, two points clear of Sydney on 29, with Melbourne, Carlton and Hawthorn each on 26. The Western Bulldogs also remain in the running on 24 points.

The winning club will receive $1 million in prize money, with $500,000 distributed across its AFL and AFLW players and $500,000 awarded to the club.

2026 MCCLELLAND TROPHY STANDINGS AFTER AFLW ROUND 12