With the 2026 grand final all tied up, the grand final sprint couldn’t have been more one-sided as defending champion Jed Walter cruised to another win.
Having been the surprise champion in last year’s event, the Gold Coast forward was once again clear of the field, as he celebrated a good 10m out from the finish line.
Tasmania’s Brandon Leary was the early leader, though he looked to have jumped Cathy Freeman’s starting pistol by a good half second.
However, the native West Australian easily overhauled him by the halfway mark while Willem Duursma put in a strong showing to finish second.
The West Coast man was looking to become just the second sprint winner for the Eagles and first featuring more than two clubs after Josh Rotham won in 2021.
But despite lengthening his stride to clear the pack, he was never catching Walter, who became the first back-to-back sprint winner since Patrick Dangerfield’s three-peat from 2011-13 as Leary slowed to finish third.
Dangerfield and Geoff Ablett (1979-1981) are the only runners to win three sprints in a row, with Walter the hot favourite to join that group next year.
Telstra will make a $5,000 donation to Palm Beach Currumbin Junior Football Club, the community club where Walter began his career, as part of their commitment to grassroots football.
1st place: Jed Walter (Gold Coast SUNS)
2nd place: Brandon Leary (Tasmania)
3rd place: Willem Duursma (West Coast Eagles)
4th place: Jarman Impey (Hawthorn)
5th place: Arthur Jones (Western Bulldogs)
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