afl 2025 review

home and away season

this year had quite a few supprises and really only 10 teams were competitive and for most of the year only 9 could play finals (sydney had a late surge but was way too little too late) the fact that the bulldogs who had 14 wins and the best percentage missed the finals (partly because they only beat gws of all the finalists). the game of the year was north (16th) drawing with premiers brisbane in hobart (proving the stadium isn’t needed for good games in hobart). west coast were by far the worse wining one game against st kilda. the saints broke the 3/4 time comeback record against melbourne of all time. while essendon lost 12 straight at the end of the year due to injuries. the crows where the big risers from 15th to 1st while the suns made the 8 for the first time in 7th. the other fianlists were brisbane, geelong, freo, gws, hawthorn and collingwood.

interesting season sydney

they were a big victim of injuries even though they beat several better teams but just couldn’t keep up winning 12 games and finishing 10th two games behind bulldogs and 3 games ahead of 3 clubs.

finals summary

geelong became the team to beat after the crows fall in a heap going out in straight loses first minor premier to do so while the hawks made the prelim from 8th only the 2nd team to do so while the suns won their first final (in perth against freo) but the lions stopped it in the first q clash final (still haven’t had a perth final derby) the lions versed the cats in the grand with brisbane going back to back despite losing first final to the cats.

hawthorn summary

the hawks were very hard to beat at home with only geelong (twice including a prelim), collingwood and brisbane being the only ones in melbourne to beat them they also were unbeaten in tassie but close loses in brisbane, perth and adeliade (although they got revenge on the later in the semi final) a strong finals run from 8th ednnig gws and adelaides season indicates they should be up there next year.

premiers brisbane

while not as dramatic as last year they always felt like a contender despite some unusual results losing to melbourne at the gabba and drawing with north in hobart they were a tough team to beat and despite losing first final still earned their 5th premiership and their 2nd in a row.