The 2025 age and experience rankings are here ahead of the 2025 AFLย season.
Reigning premiers Brisbane will enter their premiership-defending campaign as the second-oldest club in the competition, with an average age of 25.4.
Recent premiers Collingwood takes the crown as the mature head of the league, following a focus led by coach Craig McRae in relying on experienced players to lead the charge towards the promised land.
As expected, Richmond (23.9 years) and North Melbourne (23.8) sit firmly at the other end of the spectrum, given they are beginning or at the early stages of their rebuild.
Hawthorn went from the second-youngest team in 2024 to the 10th-oldest following the acquisitions of defensive pair Josh Battle and Tom Barrass whilst Adelaide made a similar jump up the age ladder after their busy off-season.
Here's where each club sits on the AFL age and experience ladder ahead of the 2025 season.
Adelaide
Average Age:ย 24.8 years (8th)
Average Games:ย 69 games (12th)
30 or older:ย 4
The Crows bolstered their list by acquiring three experienced heads from rival clubs in the hope of returning to the finals for the first time since the 2017 grand final.
Adelaide ranked bottom four for experience (58.8 games) last year and 14th in age (24.2) but a shift toward mature players should have the club primed for September action.
Club stalwart Rory Sloane departed the club, making former captain Taylor Walker the oldest player at West Lakes, leading Brodie Smith, Rory Laird and Matt Crouch in the 30 or older category before the home and away season is completed.
Brisbane
Average Age:ย 25.4 years (2nd)
Average Games: 85.9 games (2nd)
30 or older:ย 8
Leading into their title defence, the Lions' list has increased in both age and experience from the year before.
The loss of key forward Joe Daniher was matched by the inclusion of former Gold Coast tall Sam Day, while Jarryd Lyons (retired) was the only mature name to exit the club.
Dayne Zorko will eye off 300 AFL games as the only player at Brisbane to be born in the 1980s, boasting an age of 36.
Carlton
Average Age:ย 25 years (6th)
Average Games: 74.4 games (7th)
30 or older: 7
Based on their list, the Blues are in the sweet spot for a genuine shot at the flag after a 30-year hiatus from the top of the mountain.
Carlton ranks middle tier for both age and experience, an improvement on 12 months prior thanks to the acquisition of Nick Haynes and the retention of key players.
Michale Voss welcomed six youngsters to the club, but given the strength of the cohort, can afford them time to develop.
Collingwood
Average Age:ย 26.4 years (1st)
Average Games:ย 102.1 games (1st)
30 or older: 9
The Pies have made it publicly known their intent to ensure an experienced list, and the additions of Dan Houston, Harry Perryman and Tim Membrey reflected that.
Ranking as the oldest and most experienced list in the competition, Craig McRae and his coaching group will rely heavily on those who have spent a large amount of their lives at the elite level.
Scott Pendlebury will enter his 20th season in the AFL as the oldest player in the league, whilst also eyeing Brent Harvey's 432 games record.
Essendon
Average Age: 24 years (15th)
Average Games: 69.6 games (11th)
30 or older: 2
Essendon's off-season strategy was to inject some more youth into the side, believing it has a mix that can currently contend for finals whilst safeguarding their future.
The Bombers took a dip in regards to their age and experience from the previous 12 months which was largely due to the departures of Jake Stringer and Sam Weideman.
Essendon took seven players at the draft including excitement-machine Isaac Kako in the hope of bolstering their small forward stocks.
Dyson Heppell's retirement left Todd Goldstein as the standalone veteran at the club, whilst Dylan Shiel is the only player over the age of 30.
Fremantle
Average Age:ย 24.5 years (11th)
Average Games:ย 67.9 games (13th)
30 or older: 4
The Dockers leapt at a more experienced approach heading into 2025, ensuring the retention of key players while adding premiership star Shai Bolton to the mix.
From one of the more inexperienced sides in 2024 to the middle tier, Fremantle are primed to have a genuine crack at the flag but requires the health of their supreme movers.
Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters still remain on the list following sensational careers and could play a key role in developing the youngsters both on and off the field.
Geelong
Average Age:ย 25.2 years (5th)
Average Games:ย 85 games (3rd)
30 or older:ย 9
Known traditionally as the grandad of the competition given their reliance on experienced campaigners, the Cats have taken, albeit slightly, a backward step in both age and experience.
The loss of Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy to retirement will do that to any club, but Geelong picked up Bailey Smith and Jack Martin to counteract the departures.
Geelong also had a heavy draft focus, acquiring eight players from the various means during November's intake.
Gold Coast
Average Age:ย 24.7 years (9th)
Average Games:ย 71.3 games (9th)
30 or older: 5
The Suns have lacked the killer instinct but were aggressive during the off-season to help push for their maiden finals appearance.
Gold Coast remained consistent in age and experience through the player-swap periods, adding experienced campaigners whilst losing familiar heads.
Ruckman Jarrod Witts and inaugural Sun David Swallow will lead the club as the oldest players following the retirement of Levi Casboult and the departure of Sam Day.
GWS
Average Age:ย 24.2 years (13th)
Average Games:ย 67.7 games (14th)
30 or older:ย 8
The Giants' age and experience measures took a hit following the fleeing of quartet Nick Haynes, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and James Peatling to rival clubs.
Not to mention the retirement of Adam Kennedy and the delisting of Braydon Preuss.
As a result, GWS were able to invest heavily into the next generation of stars whilst also landing controversial forward Jake Stringer.
Hawthorn
Average Age: 24.6 years (10th)
Average Games:ย 71.7 games (8th)
30 or older:ย 4
Hawthorn's 2024 season saw their rebuild accelerate much quicker than most thought.
A huge spike in both experience and age ranks the 'Hollywood Hawks' in the middle tier of the competition, largely thanks to the Battle and Barrass inclusions.
Sam Mitchell will have both youth and experience at his disposal as the club enters the new season as one of the premiership fancies, albeit to the dismay of the rest of the league.
Club legends Jack Gunston and Luke Bruest will go around again while captain James Sicily has ticked over to the wrong side of 30.
Melbourne
Average Age:ย 25.2 years (4th)
Average Games:ย 76.4 games (6th)
30 or older:ย 6
Melbourne's experience remained consistent 12 months on but due to the loss of premiership players Angus Brayshaw, Ben Brown, Lachie Hunter and Alex Neal-Bullen, their game average took a hit.
The Demons were draft-focused and landed exciting prospects Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay within the first round, while Harry Sharp and Tom Campbell will add something to Simon Goodwin's list.
And despite speculation surrounding Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver's futures, the pair remained put, providing the club plenty of promise heading into the new season.
North Melbourne
Average Age: 23.8 years (18th)
Average Games:ย 61.4 games (16th)
30 or older:ย 4
The Kangaroos remain toward the bottom of the age and experience ladders, but what fans will notice is a huge spike in average games, thanks to Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling.
North Melbourne desperately needed experience both on and off the field to help create standards necessary for the rigours of AFL football.
And although they remain well within their rebuild phase, Alastair Clarkson now has some experienced heads he can rely upon to help develop the next wave.
Port Adelaide
Average Age: 24.4 years (12th)
Average Games:ย 71.1 games (10th)
30 or older:ย 4
The Power remained consistent year after year after losing a host of familiar faces (Charlie Dixon, Dan Houston, Trent McKenzie) only to add new ones.
A mega trade saw the club add fire up forward in the likes of Jack Lukosius and Joe Richards, while the drafting of Joe Berry, Jack Whitlock and Christian Moraes will excite fans.
Travis Boak remains roars ahead of his teammates as the oldest at Alberton, entering his 19th AFL season at age 36, with recruit Rory Atkins and teammates Ollie Wines and Aliir Aliir trailing at age 30.
Richmond
Average Age: 23.9 years (17th)
Average Games:ย 53.9 games (18th)
30 or older: 6
The script was flipped on Richmond in the past 12 months, going from one of the older clubs in the competition to virtually the youngest.
A total of seven premiership players moved on from Punt Road while a trio of experienced players also made room for the new cohort ready to set foot at the Tigers.
Richmond claimed the prized Pick 1 as well as five other selections in the first round to accelerate their rebuild.
St Kilda
Average Age: 24.1 years (14th)
Average Games: 66.6 games (15th)
30 or older: 6
The Saints fell the rankings despite their average age and games dropping every so slightly.
The Moorabbin club took seven players in the draft whilst adding Jack Macrae and Jack Carroll to the mix in the hope of bridging the youth to the experience.
St Kilda has safeguarded their future by including high-end youngsters but could put their upcoming season in jeopardy, especially given the names that were lost in the off-season.
Sydney
Average Age:ย 25 years (7th)
Average Games:ย 82.8 games (4th)
30 or older:ย 7
The Swans didn't change much and their age and experience profile reflects that.
Sydney took on five new faces through the draft and also added former St Kilda defender Ben Paton.
The loss of Luke Parker will open a vacancy for multiple players to step into while Sam Reid's retirement places a larger reliance on the young key forwards to take the club beyond a grand final appearance.
West Coast
Average Age:ย 23.9 years (16th)
Average Games: 61 games (17th)
30 or older:ย 6
The Eagles remained almost identical from the year before in terms of their age and experience demographic.
Despite the loss of club legends to retirement or rival clubs, West Coast were able to add three accomplished players as well as a strong draft group.
New coach Andrew McQualter has a raft of youngsters chomping at the bit for an AFL opportunity, and with vacancies all over the ground, fans should see them unveiled in 2025.
Western Bulldogs
Average Age:ย 25.3 years (3rd)
Average Games: 78.4 games (5th)
30 or older:ย 7
The Bulldogs' profile remained relatively consistent but did see them jump onto the podium regarding their age.
Multiple familiar names including two premiership players sought greener pastures while coming the other way, Carlton's Matt Kennedy joined his third AFL club.
Western Bulldogs also ensured a promising future after securing three players within the first 31 selections as well as mature-age selection Sam Davidson.
