Knight’s 2026 Premiership posters unveiled – and you can get one

Wharfie time or a pride of three-peat lions? No matter the result on Saturday, Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight has both bases covered.

Unveiling the two potential Herald Sun Premiership Posters for 2026, Knight said the posters captured two very different grand final stories ahead of the historic clash between the Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions.

While the posters celebrate both teams competing for premiership glory, they also continue a longstanding tradition of raising money for sick children at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.

With all proceeds from the sale of the posters donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Executive Director Rebecca Cowan said that every poster sold directly supports life-saving equipment and medical care at the RCH.

“It’s wonderful to see this beloved Grand Final tradition continue to flourish year after year,” Ms Cowan said.

The posters have raised more than $8.2 million since they were first drawn by legendary Herald Sun cartoonist William Ellis Green (WEG) in 1954. Commemorating Footscray’s first and only premiership that year, WEG’s iconic posters continued for more than 50 years.

So committed was the artist to the Good Friday Appeal for sick children that he discharged himself from hospital two weeks before the 2008 Grand Final to ensure he could draw the posters. He passed away peacefully at home just after Christmas with his family and Joan, his wife of 63 years, that same year.

This is not the first time award-winning cartoonist Knight, who has been drawing the posters since 2009, has been asked to tweak an initial design. Ahead of past season deciders, St Kilda requested changes to the head on its 2010 poster, Collingwood took issue with a heavily tattooed magpie and Melbourne complained the Demon looked, well … “too demonic”.

For families who have relied on treatment from the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Appeal carries meaning far beyond the footy field.

Excited Brisbane supporter Blake, a former patient at the hospital, is hopeful about his team’s chances in the upcoming Grand Final.

After being dismissed by four different doctors, Blake was treated at the RCH for Kawasaki disease, where he received “nothing but the best care”.

Blake said that it was extra special that the money from the posters would go to the RCH.

Also a Brisbane fan, Darcy, who also attended the poster reveal moment, spent months at the RCH recovering from serious injuries sustained in a car accident that tragically claimed his father’s life.

His mum Krista said he displayed the “the determination and strength of a Lion”, just like his favourite footy team.

“(The hospital’s) support during such a tragic and difficult time in our lives will never be forgotten,” Krista said. “It’s only possible due to the generosity of the community who support such appeals as the Good Friday Appeal.”

For Knight, capturing the contrast in this year’s Grand Final teams provided two very different stories to bring to the page.

“Usually when I’m drawing the Grand Final posters, I’m looking for what makes each team unique, but this year the stories couldn’t be more different,” he said.

This is Knight’s 18th year of creating the AFL’s only officially endorsed Premiership poster.

More than 100 volunteers will sell the posters for $5 outside the MCG immediately after the final siren on Grand Final day, Saturday, September 26.

Posters will also be available online at goodfridayappeal.com.au

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