The reveal of the 2025 AFL Fixture has pundits and tipsters making assertions about their club's aspirations for next year.
A 25-week adventure will take us on the highs and lows of football, showing us the rigour AFL players are willing to go through to achieve the ultimate glory.
On the run towards a premiership, there'll be marquee games, trips to hostile territory and double-up games.
We take a look through YOUR club's primetime slots (Thursday/Friday night), interstate trips, who they'll play twice and who will be a fast starter...
(All dates and times from Round 16 onwards are yet to be determined)
VIEW: FULL 2025 AFL Fixture
Adelaide
The Crows were disappointing in 2024 after many tipped them to make finals for the first time since 2017. However, they have the opportunity to start the season off with a bang, facing only one top eight side (Geelong) in the first six weeks of the season.
Primetime slots: 4
Interstate trips: 10
Top-8 clashes: 10
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Collingwood, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast
OR-GR fixture: St Kilda (Round 1), Essendon (Round 2), North Melbourne (Round 3), Gold Coast (Round 4), Geelong (Gather Round/Round 5)
Brisbane
The 2024 premiers have turned from the hunters to the hunted, with 17 other sides attempting to take them off their perch. As it stands, the Lions are set to travel a fair bit, given their non-Victorian tagline. They will unfurl their flag in Opening Round against the Cats and face the Swans the following week.
Primetime slots: 5
Interstate trips: 11
Top-8 clashes: 11
5-day breaks: 2
Double-ups: Collingwood, Gold Coast, Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney, Western Bulldogs
OR-GR fixture: Geelong (OR), Sydney (Round 1), West Coast (Round 2), Richmond (Round 4), Western Bulldogs (Gather Round/Round 5)
Carlton
Tipped to go further in 2025 than they did this year, the Blues have the perfect springboard to get their season off to a flyer. They were granted a leave of absence from Opening Round and will remain in Melbourne until Gather Round, where a clash with West Coast awaits. They are also one of the leading teams that will fill the Thursday/Friday night fixtures.
Primetime slots: 7
Interstate trips: 6
Top-8 clashes: 9
5-day breaks: 0
Double-ups: Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast
OR-GR fixture: Richmond (Round 1), Hawthorn (Round 2), Western Bulldogs (Round 3), Collingwood (Round 4), West Coast (Gather Round/Round 5)
Collingwood
There was no doubt that the Pies would dominate the primetime slots in 2025. They've got a tough draw, but by the sounds coming from the club, they believe they can return to the top. A tough opening six weeks, but if they return a positive ledger, that will set them up for a determined run during Winter or face a similar fate to 2024.
Primetime slots: 7
Interstate trips: 6
Top-8 clashes: 11
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne
OR-GR fixture: GWS (Opening Round), Port Adelaide (Round 1), Western Bulldogs (Round 2), Carlton (Round 4), Sydney (Gather Round/Round 5)
Essendon
It's now or never for the Bombers, who squandered a finals berth by losing six of their last seven games. History will say that Essendon have no trouble getting their season going, and their first month of football puts them in winnable positions.
Primetime slots: 8
Interstate trips: 6
Top-8 clashes: 11
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Carlton, Geelong, Gold Coast, Richmond, Sydney, Western Bulldogs
OR-GR fixture: Gold Coast (Opening Round), Hawthorn (Round 1), Adelaide (Round 2), Port Adelaide (Round 3), Melbourne (Gather Round/Round 5)
Fremantle
The Dockers have failed miserably by their own standards, but with one of the best midfield groups in the competition, plus the inclusion of matchwinner Shai Bolton, they are primed to return to the finals. A relatively difficult first five games, if Fremantle can return a positive balance, it will set them up for success through the middle part of the year. They also have fewer interstate trips than normal, thanks to North Melbourne's venture in their state.
Primetime slots: 4
Interstate trips: 10
Top-8 clashes: 11
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Collingwood, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast, Western Bulldogs
OR-GR fixture: Geelong (Round 1), Sydney (Round 2), West Coast (Round 3), Western Bulldogs (Round 4), Richmond (Gather Round/Round 5)
Geelong
As always, the Cats should be there or there abouts when it comes to premiership calculations. They'll feature at their true home ground (GMHBA Stadium) 10 times, which would usually yield a high-percentage win rate. Their inclusion into Opening Round has them on deck to face Brisbane to begin the 2025 season, with the following month including very winnable games.
Primetime slots: 5
Interstate trips: 6
Top-8 clashes: 10
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Brisbane, Essendon, GWS, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Richmond
OR-GR fixture: Brisbane (Opening Round), Fremantle (Round 1), St Kilda (Round 2), Melbourne (Round 4), Adelaide (Gather Round/Round 5)
Gold Coast
Like Essendon, it's now or never for the Suns. They haven't made finals since joining the competition in 2011, but the fixture reveal has them primed to make the leap into September football. A softer opening five weeks with no teams having played finals in 2024, whilst the usual two Darwin games have been a stomping ground for Gold Coast.
Primetime slots: 1
Interstate trips: 14 (2 in Darwin)
Top-8 clashes: 10
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Adelaide, Brisbane, Essendon, GWS, Melbourne, Richmond
OR-GR fixture: Essendon (Opening Round), West Coast (Round 1), Melbourne (Round 3), Adelaide (Round 4), North Melbourne (Gather Round/Round 5)
GWS
No primetime matches but no five-day breaks (up until Round 16). The Giants' straight-sets exit from last year's finals series means little, given they lost by single digits to the two grand finalists. However, they should start favourite for every match in the opening six weeks, including against Collingwood in Opening Round.
Primetime slots: 0
Interstate trips: 12
Top-8 clashes: 10
5-day breaks: 0
Double-ups: Brisbane, Gold Coast, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast, Western Bulldogs
OR-GR fixture: Collingwood (Opening Round), Melbourne (Round 1), Hawthorn (Round 3), West Coast (Round 4), St Kilda (Gather Round/Round 5)
Hawthorn
Thrust into the primetime fixturing due to their historic run from 0-5 last year to a semi-final. However, progression isn't always linear, and now the Hawks are on everyone's radar. Can they meet the expectations? Clashes against four of last year's finalists in the opening six weeks will determine whether or not they are ready to go deeper in September.
Primetime slots: 7
Interstate trips: 10
Top-8 clashes: 10
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne, West Coast
OR-GR fixture: Sydney (Opening Round), Essendon (Round 1), Carlton (Round 2), GWS (Round 3), Port Adelaide (Gather Round/Round 5)
Melbourne
Marred with off-field drama, the Demons could be a sleeping Giant of the competition. It feels that people have forgotten they won a premiership four years ago and made successive top-four finishes the following two seasons. Melbourne has largely kept the club together - in terms of their list - but how much will the turbulent off-field antics impact the on-field?
Primetime slots: 2
Interstate trips: 7
Top-8 clashes: 9
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Collingwood, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, St Kilda, West Coast
OR-GR fixture: GWS (Round 1), North Melbourne (Round 2), Gold Coast (Round 3), Geelong (Round 4), Essendon (Gather Round/Round 5)
North Melbourne
There's not much to expect from North Melbourne, who, by their own admission, need help from a leadership front to steer their star youngsters in the right direction. An interesting venture in Western Australia begins in 2025, selling two "home" games to the state to assist the club financially. With finals scrapped from the agenda, can they shake the tree and see what falls?
Primetime slots: 1
Interstate trips: 10
Top-8 clashes: 11
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Adelaide, Carlton, Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney, Western Bulldogs
OR-GR fixture: Western Bulldogs (Round 1), Melbourne (Round 2), Adelaide (Round 3), Sydney (Round 4), Gold Coast (Gather Round/Round 5)
Port Adelaide
2025 could be Ken Hinkley's last season, depending on how they perform. The Power have finished in the top four in the last four out of five seasons but have failed to take the step to the decider. A relatively soft opening draw, facing only one finalist from last year in their first five games.
Primetime slots: 1
Interstate trips: 10
Top-8 clashes: 11
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Adelaide, Carlton, Fremantle, Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney
OR-GR fixture: Collingwood (Round 1), Richmond (Round 2), Essendon (Round 3), St Kilda (Round 4), Hawthorn (Gather Round/Round 5)
Richmond
Like North Melbourne, there is little expectation of Richmond and what they achieve. Fans and supporters alike are excited to see the next wave of stars come through, given their historic draft hand. They'll still draw big crowds but may only hear the theme song at the start of each match.
Primetime slots: 3
Interstate trips: 6
Top-8 clashes: 9
5-day breaks: 2
Double-ups: Essendon, Geelong, Gold Coast, North Melbourne, St Kilda, West Coast
OR-GR fixture: Carlton (Round 1), Port Adelaide (Round 2), St Kilda (Round 3), Brisbane (Round 4), Fremantle (Gather Round/Round 5)
St Kilda
You never know what you're going to get with the Saints. Ross Lyon seemingly gets his players to play above their capabilities, as reflected by their 2023 finals appearance. However, reality hit them hard the following season. St Kilda is a middle-tier side, but with 'Ross the Boss' at the helm, they suffocate their opponents, making most games winnable.
Primetime slots: 3
Interstate trips: 7
Top-8 clashes: 11
5-day breaks: 0
Double-ups: Fremantle, Geelong, GWS, Melbourne, Richmond, Western Bulldogs
OR-GR fixture: Adelaide (Round 1), Geelong (Round 2), Richmond (Round 3), Port Adelaide (Round 4), GWS (Gather Round/Round 5)
Sydney
Sydney didn't do much wrong in 2024 but was still left standing without the cup in their hands. A quiet trade period means the club believe they have the talent to contend again, albeit history will say it's hard to return following a dismantling on the last Saturday of September. A tough start to their 2025 season, but if they return a positive ledger, it'll set them up for the colder months that are to come.
Primetime slots: 3
Interstate trips: 11
Top-8 clashes: 10
5-day breaks: 0
Double-ups: Brisbane, Essendon, Fremantle, GWS, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide
OR-GR fixture: Hawthorn (Opening Round), Brisbane (Round 1), Fremantle (Round 2), North Melbourne (Round 4), Collingwood (Gather Round/Round 5)
West Coast
A few key inclusions, plus the new ideas of senior coach Andrew McQualter and the Eagles, could surprise a few. They won five games in 2024 and will look to improve on that metric. Like Fremantle, they were gifted an extra "home" game due to North Melbourne's venture in Western Australia.
Primetime slots: 1
Interstate trips: 10
Top-8 clashes: 10
5-day breaks: 0
Double-ups: Adelaide, Carlton, Fremantle, GWS, Melbourne, Richmond
OR-GR fixture: Gold Coast (Round 1), Brisbane (Round 2), Fremantle (Round 3), GWS (Round 4), Carlton (Gather Round/Round 5)
Western Bulldogs
They are arguably the most talented list in the competition that fails to consistently come together throughout a long and arduous season. If the Bulldogs are serious about their aspirations, they should see their opening five matches as winnable games, knocking off a quartet of fellow contenders. If not, they could find themselves well behind the eight-ball, which has proven in the past to be too farfetched to come back from.
Primetime slots: 5
Interstate trips: 6
Top-8 clashes: 9
5-day breaks: 1
Double-ups: Brisbane, Essendon, Fremantle, GWS, North Melbourne, St Kilda
OR-GR fixture: North Melbourne (Round 1), Collingwood (Round 2), Carlton (Round 3), Fremantle (Round 4), Brisbane (Gather Round/Round 5)
