2025 Draw - hoping for MUCH softer

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El Doederino said:
No early Friday game at Norwood is disappointing. That was always a highlight and heaps of people kicked on after boozy Friday lunches which was great.
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Yeah seems odd to not have it, Norwood need to get it set up so would seem a waste not to have 2 games played there. 3 at AO on Saturday seems overkill.

Trust the AFL to change something that’s working.
 

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George Kramer said:
Yeah seems odd to not have it, Norwood need to get it set up so would seem a waste not to have 2 games played there. 3 at AO on Saturday seems overkill.

Trust the AFL to change something that’s working.
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If you're gonna take a game off Norwood, hand it to Glenelg and make a night of it.

Seems utterly pointless otherwise
 
El Doederino said:
No early Friday game at Norwood is disappointing. That was always a highlight and heaps of people kicked on after boozy Friday lunches which was great.
Click to expand...

Added a great lunchtime atmosphere on Friday. Biggest dissapointment.

There was talk of a AFLW all star game so maybe they will play that at Norwood as they will have all the production set up.
 
Eddie Murphy said:
Great news - if we’re playing Geelong at a “neutral” game in gather round, that rules out playing them again which means no Kardinia Park trip!
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Unfortunately it doesn’t.

This year the Gather Round games of Geelong vs Western Bulldogs, Richmond vs St Kilda and Collingwood vs Hawthorn all had return games.

Geelong will have at least 9 games at home and the likes of Collingwood and Carlton won’t be drawn to play there plus Essendon and Richmond rarely do (and won’t both play there in the same season) so that effectively leaves 13 teams for the 9 games (that is assuming they aren’t allocated no more than 9).

And we have to play two of the top 6 teams, one is obviously Port and the other will come from Brisbane, Sydney, Geelong, Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney. Take your pick.
 

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Why did they stuff up what was working?
No double header at Adelaide Oval? I think they will massively regret this. They won't sell out Carlton V WC and they won't sell out Melb V Ess, so instead of having some carry over supporters, they will have two half full stadiums. Just stupid.
Taking away the early Norwood game on the Friday as well. Seems weird.

Then again this is the same organisation that thought having the AFLW teams play 3 or 4 games in a 2 week period was a good idea and were surprised to see the quality of the games drop away. They aren't the smartest....

And yes, I would suggest this means that two of our double up games will be locked in as Geelong and Port. So much for getting an easier draw...
 
They've finally decided not to just cram the trash games into Gather Round

Collingwood vs Sydney and Bulldogs vs Lions are both blockbusters featuring two non-SA potential finalists. Melbourne vs Essendon and St Kilda vs GWS are also potential interesting games
 

AFL Fixture: The 10 most anticipated matches of 2025
We’re just days away from the release of next year’s AFL draw. JAY CLARK names the 10 grudge matches to pencil in the diary as soon as that fixture is revealed.

THE 10 MOST ANTICIPATED MATCHES OF 2025
1

HAWTHORN V PORT ADELAIDE
AFL'S NEWEST RIVALRY
There is certain to be a spicy sequel to the most explosive interaction of the season. No one at Hawthorn has forgotten when Port coach Ken went troppo at Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily after the epic semi-final win over the Hawks at Adelaide Oval. Remember the ‘You aren’t flying anywhere Jack’ barb, and Sicily standing up for his troops? Emotions ran hot after the three-point thriller which knocked Sam Mitchell’s men out of the finals and the coach said he wasn’t interested in taking Hinkley’s call on the matter. Tense. Hawks fans wanted the next contest to be back on the Hawks’ turf at the MCG but it will be the headline act at Gather Round. Hinkley, who apologised profusely for his moments of madness, can breathe a sigh of relief it is back in the Power’s backyard. The whole thing was Kevin Sheedy-esque.


2

SYDNEY V GWS
THE DERBY
The Giants must have spent the off-season in the foetal position. The Mad Monday costume blunder was a total brain fade but the bigger picture will haunt the Giants who had the Swans and Lions on toast in their two finals this year, but lost them both after choking after half time. And that includes leading the eventual premier by 31 points at the start of the last term. But it’s the local rivalry that contains more venom than a brown snake. And let’s only hope the Giants’ social media team pours more petrol on the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ which has become one of the most testy and bitter rivalries in the caper. They just don’t like each other, and isn’t it great.


3

COLLINGWOOD V HAWTHORN
THE GINNI SHOW
The MCG will be full to the brim when Jack Ginnivan meets his old mates in another prime time blockbuster for the brown and gold. The Hawks have been off-Broadway since Alastair Clarkson was coach but Sam Mitchell’s men will rightly become marquee men in 2025. And Ginnivan, like him or not, has become one of the most watchable figures and biggest draw cards in the competition because now he how has a licence to celebrate with his mate ‘The Wizard’ Nick Watson. At Collingwood, Ginnivan was told to stand in line, and was eventually booted out. At Hawthorn, he has permission to go full flair. And now who is closer to the next flag, the Hawks or Pies? Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to find out in 2025.


4

CARLTON V COLLINGWOOD
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A BLOCKBUSTER
Not sure Dan Houston will get a full night’s sleep in the big build-up to this one. For a period, Houston wanted to go to the Demons, then the Blues, but landed at the Magpies. Collingwood loaded up on Houston from Port and Harry Perryman from GWS Giants in the exchange period, but the age profile has alarm bells all over it. Without any early draft picks in hand. Hawthorn, West Coast and Richmond fell off the list management cliff, and perhaps Collingwood is next? Whereas the Blues opted to leave Houston on the shelf and go up the draft order in a jackpot swap with West Coast for pick three. This is the sliding doors moment for two of the biggest clubs in the caper. Is Collingwood’s ageing backline up to the task against the Blues’ twin towers, and can the new recruits give Collingwood’s midfield mix the shot in the arm it needs? Someone is going to get leapfrogged.


5

ADELAIDE V PORT ADELAIDE
THE SHOWDOWN
South Australia could become a tinder box if the two local clubs don’t perform in 2025. Port Adelaide has been the big story in recent years as it admirably sought to win a flag but narrowly fell short. However, the stakes will go up a notch for the other SA outfit next season. Adelaide will be in the gun if the Crows miss the finals for an eighth-straight year, especially after going hard in the trade period for three established players, Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne), Isaac Cumming and James Peatling (GWS Giants). They will all walk into the best 22, leaving Adelaide with no more excuses. Watch the jungle drums start to beat about a pitch for Melbourne Simon Goodwin if it goes pear-shaped at Adelaide for Nicks next year. The pressure index will certainly rise for the Showdown which is always the centrepiece in both teams’ regular seasons.


6

GEELONG V WESTERN BULLDOGS
BAZLENKA AGAINST THE OLD MOB
Bailey Smith let people know a long way out last year that things had gone sour for him at the kennel. And the relationship with the senior coach, Luke Beveridge, wasn’t ideal. That happens, but get the popcorn ready for when the two teams collide again next season after Smith dons the blue and white. He was frozen out of the midfield mix under Beveridge but is set to be a key cog in the engine room at the Cats. But he is unlikely to cop any sort of tag. Rather, bet your bottom dollar the Dogs will try to hurt him the other way to expose the two-way game.


7

BRISBANE V SYDNEY
GRAND FINAL REMATCH
The Grand Final rematch is perhaps an obvious one but sadly the premiership decider was largely a non-event as the Lions demolished John Longmire’s men inside 30 minutes. All credit to Brisbane, whose midfield annihilated their much-vaunted counterparts under Chris Fagan’s direction. But Sydney, which has been one of the most respected clubs in the caper over the past two decades, has work to do and scars to heal after being blown away in two of the past three grand finals. They were very public flops. We’ve lauded the Bloods’ young gun midfielders but when it came to the crunch they weren’t up to it. The Grand Final no-show will be all the focus in the lead-up to the two teams’ next clash, and the flashbacks will be tough viewing. But it’s in only September that Sydney can truly make up for it.


8

RICHMOND V CARLTON
TRADITIONAL SEASON-OPENER
The Tigers were the worst team and the competition and have since lost four best players in Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton, Liam Baker and Jack Graham. Nathan Broad was chased hard by the Roos and turned down big dollars to remain loyal. But even as the Tigers prepare to hit the jackpot in this year’s draft, they risk being severely undermanned in 2025, and first up will be fascinating against a prime Carlton outfit. If the Tigers, led by Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper in the middle, can be genuinely competitive there is hope this year, with a handful of top-10 picks in the side. But it could also be a bloodbath in the traditional season-opener, signalling a long and torrid second year for Adem Yze year. In any case, the MCG will be full as always for it as a new era starts at Punt Rd.


9

ESSENDON V GWS
WILL THE PACKAGE DELIVER?
Cutting to the chase, Essendon wanted to get rid of Jake Stringer, and accepted half a bag of stale Twisties in return for the 42-goal forward. Stringer will feel like the scapegoat because often when the team played poorly, he was the one who copped it. Unfit, disinterested or a poor influence, Stringer heard it all. In making the move north where he will walk down the street unrecognised, Stringer has the chance to play without the weight of the world on his shoulders, which can make him an even dangerous proposition with a five-star midfield putting the ball on his chest, and a gun small forward crew at his feet. Make no mistake the build-up will be huge and the motivation massive for Stringer to fire in this one. The Stringer show will deserve prime time billing at a club which often gets the Saturday or Sunday afternoon graveyard slots.


10

HAWTHORN V NORTH MELBOURNE
CLARKO V MITCH
The coaching switch was branded a dud back in 2021 but Hawthorn’s faith in Sam Mitchell has been a spectacular success so far, soaring up the ladder this year. While it’s not clear whether Mitchell and ‘Clarko’ are back on each other’s Christmas card lists, this is a game both men will have circled in their diaries. The Roos would love for it to be under the roof at Marvel Stadium early in the season in an attempt to fill the joint. The Kangaroos need to improve sharply in their third season just like Hawthorn did under Clarkson, making finals in 2007. Hawthorn bullied the Kangaroos in the last game of the season, smashing them by 124 points in the wet in Launceston. North has new recruits Jack Darling, Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel to bolster the side for next season, and both sides will be out to prove a point, as this one is personal.


Plus what about …
THE DEMONS

All eyes will be on Christian Petracca’s first physical contest following his recovery from life-threatening injuries in the King’s Birthday clash against Collingwood. Rivals are unlikely to target him in that way, but it will be interesting to see how mentally he copes given his struggles in the wake of that fateful contest which required surgery to save his life. So the spotlight will again be on him and his mate Clayton Oliver who wanted out, too, but was denied a trade to Geelong. The Demons have lost respect and relevancy and will be out to win it all back in 2025. Or has the window shut? The club admits it has lost the destination club tag.

AND ALWAYS A BEAUTY

ANZAC Day, ANZAC Day eve, King’s birthday, Easter Monday.
 
119others said:

AFL Fixture: The 10 most anticipated matches of 2025
We’re just days away from the release of next year’s AFL draw. JAY CLARK names the 10 grudge matches to pencil in the diary as soon as that fixture is revealed.

THE 10 MOST ANTICIPATED MATCHES OF 2025
1

HAWTHORN V PORT ADELAIDE
AFL'S NEWEST RIVALRY
There is certain to be a spicy sequel to the most explosive interaction of the season. No one at Hawthorn has forgotten when Port coach Ken went troppo at Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily after the epic semi-final win over the Hawks at Adelaide Oval. Remember the ‘You aren’t flying anywhere Jack’ barb, and Sicily standing up for his troops? Emotions ran hot after the three-point thriller which knocked Sam Mitchell’s men out of the finals and the coach said he wasn’t interested in taking Hinkley’s call on the matter. Tense. Hawks fans wanted the next contest to be back on the Hawks’ turf at the MCG but it will be the headline act at Gather Round. Hinkley, who apologised profusely for his moments of madness, can breathe a sigh of relief it is back in the Power’s backyard. The whole thing was Kevin Sheedy-esque.


2

SYDNEY V GWS
THE DERBY
The Giants must have spent the off-season in the foetal position. The Mad Monday costume blunder was a total brain fade but the bigger picture will haunt the Giants who had the Swans and Lions on toast in their two finals this year, but lost them both after choking after half time. And that includes leading the eventual premier by 31 points at the start of the last term. But it’s the local rivalry that contains more venom than a brown snake. And let’s only hope the Giants’ social media team pours more petrol on the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ which has become one of the most testy and bitter rivalries in the caper. They just don’t like each other, and isn’t it great.


3

COLLINGWOOD V HAWTHORN
THE GINNI SHOW
The MCG will be full to the brim when Jack Ginnivan meets his old mates in another prime time blockbuster for the brown and gold. The Hawks have been off-Broadway since Alastair Clarkson was coach but Sam Mitchell’s men will rightly become marquee men in 2025. And Ginnivan, like him or not, has become one of the most watchable figures and biggest draw cards in the competition because now he how has a licence to celebrate with his mate ‘The Wizard’ Nick Watson. At Collingwood, Ginnivan was told to stand in line, and was eventually booted out. At Hawthorn, he has permission to go full flair. And now who is closer to the next flag, the Hawks or Pies? Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to find out in 2025.


4

CARLTON V COLLINGWOOD
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A BLOCKBUSTER
Not sure Dan Houston will get a full night’s sleep in the big build-up to this one. For a period, Houston wanted to go to the Demons, then the Blues, but landed at the Magpies. Collingwood loaded up on Houston from Port and Harry Perryman from GWS Giants in the exchange period, but the age profile has alarm bells all over it. Without any early draft picks in hand. Hawthorn, West Coast and Richmond fell off the list management cliff, and perhaps Collingwood is next? Whereas the Blues opted to leave Houston on the shelf and go up the draft order in a jackpot swap with West Coast for pick three. This is the sliding doors moment for two of the biggest clubs in the caper. Is Collingwood’s ageing backline up to the task against the Blues’ twin towers, and can the new recruits give Collingwood’s midfield mix the shot in the arm it needs? Someone is going to get leapfrogged.


5

ADELAIDE V PORT ADELAIDE
THE SHOWDOWN
South Australia could become a tinder box if the two local clubs don’t perform in 2025. Port Adelaide has been the big story in recent years as it admirably sought to win a flag but narrowly fell short. However, the stakes will go up a notch for the other SA outfit next season. Adelaide will be in the gun if the Crows miss the finals for an eighth-straight year, especially after going hard in the trade period for three established players, Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne), Isaac Cumming and James Peatling (GWS Giants). They will all walk into the best 22, leaving Adelaide with no more excuses. Watch the jungle drums start to beat about a pitch for Melbourne Simon Goodwin if it goes pear-shaped at Adelaide for Nicks next year. The pressure index will certainly rise for the Showdown which is always the centrepiece in both teams’ regular seasons.


6

GEELONG V WESTERN BULLDOGS
BAZLENKA AGAINST THE OLD MOB
Bailey Smith let people know a long way out last year that things had gone sour for him at the kennel. And the relationship with the senior coach, Luke Beveridge, wasn’t ideal. That happens, but get the popcorn ready for when the two teams collide again next season after Smith dons the blue and white. He was frozen out of the midfield mix under Beveridge but is set to be a key cog in the engine room at the Cats. But he is unlikely to cop any sort of tag. Rather, bet your bottom dollar the Dogs will try to hurt him the other way to expose the two-way game.


7

BRISBANE V SYDNEY
GRAND FINAL REMATCH
The Grand Final rematch is perhaps an obvious one but sadly the premiership decider was largely a non-event as the Lions demolished John Longmire’s men inside 30 minutes. All credit to Brisbane, whose midfield annihilated their much-vaunted counterparts under Chris Fagan’s direction. But Sydney, which has been one of the most respected clubs in the caper over the past two decades, has work to do and scars to heal after being blown away in two of the past three grand finals. They were very public flops. We’ve lauded the Bloods’ young gun midfielders but when it came to the crunch they weren’t up to it. The Grand Final no-show will be all the focus in the lead-up to the two teams’ next clash, and the flashbacks will be tough viewing. But it’s in only September that Sydney can truly make up for it.


8

RICHMOND V CARLTON
TRADITIONAL SEASON-OPENER
The Tigers were the worst team and the competition and have since lost four best players in Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton, Liam Baker and Jack Graham. Nathan Broad was chased hard by the Roos and turned down big dollars to remain loyal. But even as the Tigers prepare to hit the jackpot in this year’s draft, they risk being severely undermanned in 2025, and first up will be fascinating against a prime Carlton outfit. If the Tigers, led by Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper in the middle, can be genuinely competitive there is hope this year, with a handful of top-10 picks in the side. But it could also be a bloodbath in the traditional season-opener, signalling a long and torrid second year for Adem Yze year. In any case, the MCG will be full as always for it as a new era starts at Punt Rd.


9

ESSENDON V GWS
WILL THE PACKAGE DELIVER?
Cutting to the chase, Essendon wanted to get rid of Jake Stringer, and accepted half a bag of stale Twisties in return for the 42-goal forward. Stringer will feel like the scapegoat because often when the team played poorly, he was the one who copped it. Unfit, disinterested or a poor influence, Stringer heard it all. In making the move north where he will walk down the street unrecognised, Stringer has the chance to play without the weight of the world on his shoulders, which can make him an even dangerous proposition with a five-star midfield putting the ball on his chest, and a gun small forward crew at his feet. Make no mistake the build-up will be huge and the motivation massive for Stringer to fire in this one. The Stringer show will deserve prime time billing at a club which often gets the Saturday or Sunday afternoon graveyard slots.


10

HAWTHORN V NORTH MELBOURNE
CLARKO V MITCH
The coaching switch was branded a dud back in 2021 but Hawthorn’s faith in Sam Mitchell has been a spectacular success so far, soaring up the ladder this year. While it’s not clear whether Mitchell and ‘Clarko’ are back on each other’s Christmas card lists, this is a game both men will have circled in their diaries. The Roos would love for it to be under the roof at Marvel Stadium early in the season in an attempt to fill the joint. The Kangaroos need to improve sharply in their third season just like Hawthorn did under Clarkson, making finals in 2007. Hawthorn bullied the Kangaroos in the last game of the season, smashing them by 124 points in the wet in Launceston. North has new recruits Jack Darling, Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel to bolster the side for next season, and both sides will be out to prove a point, as this one is personal.


Plus what about …
THE DEMONS

All eyes will be on Christian Petracca’s first physical contest following his recovery from life-threatening injuries in the King’s Birthday clash against Collingwood. Rivals are unlikely to target him in that way, but it will be interesting to see how mentally he copes given his struggles in the wake of that fateful contest which required surgery to save his life. So the spotlight will again be on him and his mate Clayton Oliver who wanted out, too, but was denied a trade to Geelong. The Demons have lost respect and relevancy and will be out to win it all back in 2025. Or has the window shut? The club admits it has lost the destination club tag.

AND ALWAYS A BEAUTY

ANZAC Day, ANZAC Day eve, King’s birthday, Easter Monday.
Click to expand...
I think I’ll be washing my hair instead of watching half those matches
 
119others said:

AFL Fixture: The 10 most anticipated matches of 2025
We’re just days away from the release of next year’s AFL draw. JAY CLARK names the 10 grudge matches to pencil in the diary as soon as that fixture is revealed.

THE 10 MOST ANTICIPATED MATCHES OF 2025
1

HAWTHORN V PORT ADELAIDE
AFL'S NEWEST RIVALRY
There is certain to be a spicy sequel to the most explosive interaction of the season. No one at Hawthorn has forgotten when Port coach Ken went troppo at Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily after the epic semi-final win over the Hawks at Adelaide Oval. Remember the ‘You aren’t flying anywhere Jack’ barb, and Sicily standing up for his troops? Emotions ran hot after the three-point thriller which knocked Sam Mitchell’s men out of the finals and the coach said he wasn’t interested in taking Hinkley’s call on the matter. Tense. Hawks fans wanted the next contest to be back on the Hawks’ turf at the MCG but it will be the headline act at Gather Round. Hinkley, who apologised profusely for his moments of madness, can breathe a sigh of relief it is back in the Power’s backyard. The whole thing was Kevin Sheedy-esque.


2

SYDNEY V GWS
THE DERBY
The Giants must have spent the off-season in the foetal position. The Mad Monday costume blunder was a total brain fade but the bigger picture will haunt the Giants who had the Swans and Lions on toast in their two finals this year, but lost them both after choking after half time. And that includes leading the eventual premier by 31 points at the start of the last term. But it’s the local rivalry that contains more venom than a brown snake. And let’s only hope the Giants’ social media team pours more petrol on the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ which has become one of the most testy and bitter rivalries in the caper. They just don’t like each other, and isn’t it great.


3

COLLINGWOOD V HAWTHORN
THE GINNI SHOW
The MCG will be full to the brim when Jack Ginnivan meets his old mates in another prime time blockbuster for the brown and gold. The Hawks have been off-Broadway since Alastair Clarkson was coach but Sam Mitchell’s men will rightly become marquee men in 2025. And Ginnivan, like him or not, has become one of the most watchable figures and biggest draw cards in the competition because now he how has a licence to celebrate with his mate ‘The Wizard’ Nick Watson. At Collingwood, Ginnivan was told to stand in line, and was eventually booted out. At Hawthorn, he has permission to go full flair. And now who is closer to the next flag, the Hawks or Pies? Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to find out in 2025.


4

CARLTON V COLLINGWOOD
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A BLOCKBUSTER
Not sure Dan Houston will get a full night’s sleep in the big build-up to this one. For a period, Houston wanted to go to the Demons, then the Blues, but landed at the Magpies. Collingwood loaded up on Houston from Port and Harry Perryman from GWS Giants in the exchange period, but the age profile has alarm bells all over it. Without any early draft picks in hand. Hawthorn, West Coast and Richmond fell off the list management cliff, and perhaps Collingwood is next? Whereas the Blues opted to leave Houston on the shelf and go up the draft order in a jackpot swap with West Coast for pick three. This is the sliding doors moment for two of the biggest clubs in the caper. Is Collingwood’s ageing backline up to the task against the Blues’ twin towers, and can the new recruits give Collingwood’s midfield mix the shot in the arm it needs? Someone is going to get leapfrogged.


5

ADELAIDE V PORT ADELAIDE
THE SHOWDOWN
South Australia could become a tinder box if the two local clubs don’t perform in 2025. Port Adelaide has been the big story in recent years as it admirably sought to win a flag but narrowly fell short. However, the stakes will go up a notch for the other SA outfit next season. Adelaide will be in the gun if the Crows miss the finals for an eighth-straight year, especially after going hard in the trade period for three established players, Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne), Isaac Cumming and James Peatling (GWS Giants). They will all walk into the best 22, leaving Adelaide with no more excuses. Watch the jungle drums start to beat about a pitch for Melbourne Simon Goodwin if it goes pear-shaped at Adelaide for Nicks next year. The pressure index will certainly rise for the Showdown which is always the centrepiece in both teams’ regular seasons.


6

GEELONG V WESTERN BULLDOGS
BAZLENKA AGAINST THE OLD MOB
Bailey Smith let people know a long way out last year that things had gone sour for him at the kennel. And the relationship with the senior coach, Luke Beveridge, wasn’t ideal. That happens, but get the popcorn ready for when the two teams collide again next season after Smith dons the blue and white. He was frozen out of the midfield mix under Beveridge but is set to be a key cog in the engine room at the Cats. But he is unlikely to cop any sort of tag. Rather, bet your bottom dollar the Dogs will try to hurt him the other way to expose the two-way game.


7

BRISBANE V SYDNEY
GRAND FINAL REMATCH
The Grand Final rematch is perhaps an obvious one but sadly the premiership decider was largely a non-event as the Lions demolished John Longmire’s men inside 30 minutes. All credit to Brisbane, whose midfield annihilated their much-vaunted counterparts under Chris Fagan’s direction. But Sydney, which has been one of the most respected clubs in the caper over the past two decades, has work to do and scars to heal after being blown away in two of the past three grand finals. They were very public flops. We’ve lauded the Bloods’ young gun midfielders but when it came to the crunch they weren’t up to it. The Grand Final no-show will be all the focus in the lead-up to the two teams’ next clash, and the flashbacks will be tough viewing. But it’s in only September that Sydney can truly make up for it.


8

RICHMOND V CARLTON
TRADITIONAL SEASON-OPENER
The Tigers were the worst team and the competition and have since lost four best players in Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton, Liam Baker and Jack Graham. Nathan Broad was chased hard by the Roos and turned down big dollars to remain loyal. But even as the Tigers prepare to hit the jackpot in this year’s draft, they risk being severely undermanned in 2025, and first up will be fascinating against a prime Carlton outfit. If the Tigers, led by Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper in the middle, can be genuinely competitive there is hope this year, with a handful of top-10 picks in the side. But it could also be a bloodbath in the traditional season-opener, signalling a long and torrid second year for Adem Yze year. In any case, the MCG will be full as always for it as a new era starts at Punt Rd.


9

ESSENDON V GWS
WILL THE PACKAGE DELIVER?
Cutting to the chase, Essendon wanted to get rid of Jake Stringer, and accepted half a bag of stale Twisties in return for the 42-goal forward. Stringer will feel like the scapegoat because often when the team played poorly, he was the one who copped it. Unfit, disinterested or a poor influence, Stringer heard it all. In making the move north where he will walk down the street unrecognised, Stringer has the chance to play without the weight of the world on his shoulders, which can make him an even dangerous proposition with a five-star midfield putting the ball on his chest, and a gun small forward crew at his feet. Make no mistake the build-up will be huge and the motivation massive for Stringer to fire in this one. The Stringer show will deserve prime time billing at a club which often gets the Saturday or Sunday afternoon graveyard slots.


10

HAWTHORN V NORTH MELBOURNE
CLARKO V MITCH
The coaching switch was branded a dud back in 2021 but Hawthorn’s faith in Sam Mitchell has been a spectacular success so far, soaring up the ladder this year. While it’s not clear whether Mitchell and ‘Clarko’ are back on each other’s Christmas card lists, this is a game both men will have circled in their diaries. The Roos would love for it to be under the roof at Marvel Stadium early in the season in an attempt to fill the joint. The Kangaroos need to improve sharply in their third season just like Hawthorn did under Clarkson, making finals in 2007. Hawthorn bullied the Kangaroos in the last game of the season, smashing them by 124 points in the wet in Launceston. North has new recruits Jack Darling, Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel to bolster the side for next season, and both sides will be out to prove a point, as this one is personal.


Plus what about …
THE DEMONS

All eyes will be on Christian Petracca’s first physical contest following his recovery from life-threatening injuries in the King’s Birthday clash against Collingwood. Rivals are unlikely to target him in that way, but it will be interesting to see how mentally he copes given his struggles in the wake of that fateful contest which required surgery to save his life. So the spotlight will again be on him and his mate Clayton Oliver who wanted out, too, but was denied a trade to Geelong. The Demons have lost respect and relevancy and will be out to win it all back in 2025. Or has the window shut? The club admits it has lost the destination club tag.

AND ALWAYS A BEAUTY

ANZAC Day, ANZAC Day eve, King’s birthday, Easter Monday.
Click to expand...
We are struggling for good matches if kangaroos v hawthorn and Carlton vs Richmond are blockbusters to look forward to.
 
FR0GGY said:
We are struggling for good matches if kangaroos v hawthorn and Carlton vs Richmond are blockbusters to look forward to.
Click to expand...
Haha, yes true. In their defence clearly the draw isn’t even out yet so they are just rolling out the normal tropes. Perhaps it was a useless article to post as doesn’t add much value.
 
119others said:
Haha, yes true. In their defence clearly the draw isn’t even out yet so they are just rolling out the normal tropes. Perhaps it was a useless article to post as doesn’t add much value.
Click to expand...
And having ANY blockbuster game in 2025 with the words “Richmond Tigers” is absolutely laughable. They may not win a game next year. Will be interested to see what the odds for that are when the fixture is announced and betting agencies start posting different markets.
 
FR0GGY said:
We are struggling for good matches if kangaroos v hawthorn and Carlton vs Richmond are blockbusters to look forward to.
Click to expand...
The Vics are so desperate to justify Carlton V Richmond as worthy of the season opener. The games are slop. They've barely ever been good at the same time and that trend continues.
 

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2025 Draw - hoping for MUCH softer

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