Adelaide Crows

Brisbane Lions

Carlton Blues

Collingwood Magpies

Essendon Bombers

Fremantle Dockers

Geelong Cats

Gold Coast Suns

GWS Giants

Hawthorn Hawks

Melbourne Demons

North Melbourne Kangaroos

Port Adelaide Power

Richmond Tigers

St Kilda Saints

Sydney Swans

West Coast Eagles

Western Bulldogs

About this Event

You've been hanging on every trade rumour during the off-season, and now it's time to emerge from your summer sports coma as the 2025 AFL season is almost here! This is everything you need to know before the first bounce.

When does the 2025 AFL season start?

Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 6, because that's when the defending premiers, Brisbane, will host Geelong at the Gabba. It's fitting that the Lions get to start their flag defence on home turf, and they'll be keen to show they're hungry for more success. This clash kicks off at 7:50 PM and launches an exciting opening round featuring matches in Queensland and New South Wales.

The 2025 season marks the beginning of a new broadcast era

The AFL's record-breaking $4.5 billion deal means more footy in more places. The Seven Network will continue bringing us the biggest matches of the round, including Thursday nights, Friday nights, and Sunday afternoons, plus all the finals action. But here's the exciting bit – Foxtel and Kayo subscribers are in for a treat, with every single match of the season (except the Grand Final) available with fresh commentary teams and graphics.

Thursday night fever

If you're someone who can't wait until Friday for your footy fix, there's good news. The AFL has cranked up the number of Thursday night games for 2025, with every round featuring a standalone Thursday clash (at least through Round 16, with the rest of the fixture yet to be revealed). It's a move that's sure to please fans who love starting their weekend early with some prime-time footy.

Pre-season warm-ups

Before the real stuff begins, we've got some tasty pre-season matchups to whet our appetite. The practice matches run from February 25 to March 2, featuring some intriguing contests. Keep an eye on the Richmond vs Collingwood clash at Ikon Park – there's never such a thing as a "friendly" between these two powerhouses, even in pre-season.

Gather Round returns to SA

The AFL's festival of football, Gather Round, is back in South Australia for its third straight year. Round 5 (April 10-13) will see all 18 teams descend on Adelaide and surrounds, with matches split between Adelaide Oval, Barossa Park, and Norwood Oval. It's basically a footy lover's dream weekend – nine games across four days in one state.

A very slight rules refresh

There's no need to learn a whole new rulebook for 2025. The changes are minor this year – umpires will bounce instead of throwing after a 6-6-6 warning, and non-controlling umpires can now call advantage at centre bounces. And despite some grumbling from various quarters, the sub-rule lives to see another season.

Fresh faces in new places

The off-season player movement has given us plenty to talk about. Shai Bolton's move from Richmond to Fremantle is arguably the biggest headline-grabber, but there's plenty more intrigue to follow. Dan Houston has taken his talents to Collingwood; Bailey Smith is now a Cat and Jake Stringer will don the orange of GWS.

Perhaps the most interesting development is at North Melbourne, where the Kangaroos have assembled quite the experienced trio in Jack Darling, Caleb Daniel, and Luke Parker. It's clear the Roos are serious about climbing up the ladder in 2025.

What does the leadership landscape look like in 2025?

The captain's list for 2025 reads like a who's who of AFL excellence. Connor Rozee takes the reins at Port Adelaide, while Noah Anderson steps up as Gold Coast's new skipper under the guidance of premiership coach Damien Hardwick. Some clubs are sticking with the co-captain model, including Brisbane (Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews) and Geelong (Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart).

Significant achievements in 2025

Scott Pendlebury continues his march toward Brent Harvey's games record – while he can't quite get there this year, he could finish agonisingly close if he plays every game plus finals. Patrick Dangerfield is on track to join the exclusive 350-game club, while Jack Darling should bring up his 300th game early in the season.

The premiership picture

The bookies have installed Brisbane as favourites to go back-to-back at $7.50, but there's plenty of competition hot on their heels. Hawthorn's $8.50 quote suggests they're expected to continue their rise, while both Collingwood and GWS are considered serious contenders at $9.50.

 

The individual awards markets make for interesting reading. Nick Daicos enters as Brownlow Medal favourite at $6, looking to go one better after his runner-up finish last year. In the Coleman Medal race, Carlton's Charlie Curnow is tipped to add to his impressive collection at $5, while young gun Jagga Smith leads the Rising Star betting at $5.50.

What to watch for in the 2025 AFL season

Beyond the obvious narratives, there are plenty of fascinating subplots to follow in 2025. Can Brisbane become the first team since Hawthorn to go back-to-back? Will Damien Hardwick's arrival spark a Gold Coast surge? Can the Giants build on their remarkable 2024 campaign?

The emergence of Thursday night football as a weekly fixture adds another dimension to the season's rhythm, while the broadcast innovations promise to give viewers more ways than ever to engage with the game.

Never miss a game in the 2025 AFL season

This year promises plenty of excitement, drama, and memorable moments. The countdown is on to March 6, and you can secure tickets to the AFL 2025 season for every round and every match at Queen of Tickets. Add our AFL page to your favourites list and nab the best seats and the best prices every round with ease.