Fixture 2025 Fixture

[Giant Strides]

All things 2025 fixture related. Early whispers, rumours ... then discussion of fixture issues in-season.

Firstly: Gather Round 2025 rumours



Thursday April 10: @Adelaide_FC v @GeelongCats (N) - Adelaide Oval

Friday: @CollingwoodFC v @sydneyswans (N) - AO

Saturday: Early arvo: @NMFCOfficial v @GoldCoastSUNS - Barossa
Early arvo: @CarltonFC v @WestCoastEagles - AO
Early twilight: @westernbulldogs v @brisbanelions - AO
Night: @essendonfc v @melbournefc (night) - AO

Sunday: Early arvo: @Richmond_FC v @freodockers - Barossa
Mid-arvo: @stkildafc v @GWSGIANTS - Norwood Oval
Evening: @PAFC v @HawthornFC - AO

 

[sydney_gws]

If that comes to pass it'll be one home game for opening round then approximately 2 months until the next game again in Olympic Park.

Easter is pretty late in 2025, I think we get another game in round 2.

 

[sydney_gws]

And then the week after being completely flat as well.

That game was 1.10 kick off. This is 2 hours later. Sun will be lower in the sky by then, probably 50% or more of the ground in shade at 3.20pm

 

[BarryAglett]

It will be interesting to see if the Sunday affects the Pies supporters travelling from Melbourne.

 

[Comedy Capers]

The Monday following the game is a public holiday in Victoria so shouldn't effect the crowd.

 

[Giant Strides]

No Thursday night games for GWS in the first 16 weeks. Likely at GWS request in respect of home games - western Sydney or Canberra on that night would not draw a large crowd.

2025 AFL fixture bolstered with Thursday night games as Dons dominate

New prime time kings as AFL’s 2025 Thurs night blockbusters revealed

www.foxsports.com.au

Opening Round: Brisbane Lions v Geelong, Gabba, 7.50pm (March 6)

R1: Richmond v Carlton, MCG, 7.30pm (March 13)

R2: Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG, 7.30pm (March 20)

R3: Essendon v Port Adelaide, Marvel, 7.30pm (March 27)

R4: Collingwood v Carlton, MCG, 7.30pm (April 3)

R5: Adelaide v Geelong, AO, 7.40pm (April 10, Gather Round)

R6: Brisbane v Collingwood, Gabba, 7.30pm (April 17)

R7: Melbourne v Richmond, MCG, 7.30pm (April 24, Anzac Day Eve)

R8: Essendon v North Melbourne, Marvel, 7.30pm (May 1)

R9: Fremantle v Collingwood, PS, 8.10pm (May 8)

R10: Gold Coast v Hawthorn, TIO, 7.30pm (May 15)

R11: Geelong v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA, 7.30pm (May 22)

R12: Brisbane v Essendon, Gabba, 7.30pm (May 29)

R13: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Marvel, 7.30pm (June 5)

R14: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel, 7.30pm (June 12)

R15: Fremantle v Essendon, PS, 8.10pm (June 19)

 

[Comedy Capers]

No away games either.
Can't compete with wooden spooners(Tigers) and teams which haven't won a final for 20 years (Bombers) for the extra exposure.

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

Glad there’s no Thursday night games. Some of us have to go to work Friday morning.

 

[Giant Strides]

A few other tidbits and speculative guesses for the fixture ...

AFL 2025 season estimated calendar: Key dates for Opening Round, Gather Round, and Finals

The 2025 AFL season is taking shape.

www.zerohanger.com

Of those first 16 weeks of the 2025 season, nine will feature Sunday evening clashes in a new initiative by the AFL.

The AFL will also get a first look into a double-header at Marvel Stadium during Round 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round). Carlton will play Greater Western Sydney on the Saturday at 1.20 pm AEST before North Melbourne hosts Collingwood at the same venue at 7.35 pm AEST later that evening.

Full fixture to be released on Thursday.

February 2025
Indigenous All-Stars vs Fremantle pre-season match scheduled for February 15.

Monday, February 12 - Sunday, February 18: Unofficial intra-club/practice matches
Thursday, February 22 - Sunday, February 25: AFL Pre-season Community Series Week 1
Thursday, February 29 - Sunday, March 3: AFL Pre-season Community Series Week 2

August 2025
Thursday, August 28 - Sunday, August 31: Final Round of the home-and-away season

September 2025

Friday, September 5 - Sunday, September 7: AFL Finals Series Week 1

The finals series kicks off with elimination and qualifying finals across the first weekend.

Friday, September 19 - Saturday, September 20: AFL Preliminary Finals

Saturday, September 27: AFL Grand Final Day

 

[dlanod]

Glad there’s no Thursday night games. Some of us have to go to work Friday morning.

Or school for a lot of our crowds. I've been to midweek NRL games at Olympic Park, it's beyond dead. AFL games would be worse.

 

[BarryAglett]

Glad there’s no Thursday night games. Some of us have to go to work Friday morning.

I nearly always have the TV on for Thursday night games. Even if only as background noise to check the score.
Getting to a Thursday night game, however, would be a PITA.

 

[Canberra Pear]

Bulldogs, Port and North at Manuka.

I'm personally happy with Port, but Canberra's been shafted again.

That now makes it 35 times hosting the big four Victorian teams at Engie, and only once at Manuka.

 

[Comedy Capers]

Looks like no night games at Engie at least until they release rounds 16 to 24 timeslots.

 

[Adam Giant]

Home games at Giants Stadium vs

• Collingwood (Round 0)
• West Coast (Round 4)
• Fremantle (Round 10)
• Richmond (Round 12)
• Gold Coast (Round 15)
• Geelong (Round 18)
• Sydney (Round 20)
• St Kilda (Round 24)

Not a whole lot to get excited about there. I understand why they do the Membership rollover before the draw comes out.

Away game highlights:

• Derby against Sydney (Round 8)
• Back to back games in Adelaide vs St Kilda (Round 5) and the Crows (Round 6)
• Only one trip to Perth (vs West Coast in Round 17). This game follows our bye so we should be nice and fresh for the trip.
• No trip to Ballarat thank God. We play the Dogs in Round 21 at Marvel.

 

[Adam Giant]

Looks like no night games at Engie at least until they release rounds 16 to 24 timeslots.

The old 4.35pm timeslot has also been brought forward slightly to 4.15pm.

 

[Battlepants]

I'm pretty happy with our double-ups.

• Sydney: We get this every year obviously, but after a team gets demolished in a grand final they always struggle a the next year. It's like clockwork. So having them as one of our "harder" matchups works out for us
• Geelong: I'm tipping them to also drop down the ladder a bit. Granted people say this every year, but the age of their list has to catch up to them at some point.
• Bulldogs: Lost Daniels, lost Macrae, lost Smith. I can see them dropping a long way down the ladder. Could honestly be a bottom 4 team next year.
• St Kilda: I think they will be a bottom 4 team next year.
• Gold Coast: This matchup could be a danger for us, with all the talent they've packed into their list lately, they could shoot up the ladder at any time.
• West Coast: Should still be easy wins.

 

[Adam Giant]

I'm pretty happy with our double-ups.

Maybe, but I'm still scarred by our 0-5 record against the Swans and Dogs this year.

 

[Giant Gutsache]

Grand final will be our first game at MCG since round 1.

 

[dlanod]

Grand final will be our first game at MCG since round 1.

If we're undefeated. Otherwise we could play a final or two there before the Grand Final.

 

[Giant Gutsache]

If we're undefeated. Otherwise we could play a final or two there before the Grand Final.

I guess you mean undefeated in finals? Be unlucky to miss top 2 with 5 losses during the season.
I’m bullish.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Seems our fixture is assessed as the 8th hardest.

Play twice: West Coast, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Sydney, Geelong, Gold Coast
First four: Collingwood (H), Melbourne (A), Hawthorn (A), West Coast (H)
Last three: North Melbourne (H), Gold Coast (A), St Kilda (H)
Byes: Round two, round 16
Thursday/Friday matches: 0/0 (Total: 0)
Five-day breaks: 0
Degree of difficulty: 54 (Equal eighth hardest)
What the club says: TBC

Double-ups, prime slots, degree of difficulty: We rank your club's fixture

Check out all you need to know about your club's fixture for the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

 

[sydney_gws]

The old 4.35pm timeslot has also been brought forward slightly to 4.15pm.

I was a bit underwhelmed , i wonder if wacky Wednesday impacted our draw. At least we avoid Ballarat this year.

 

[Land of the Giants]

Grand final will be our first game at MCG since round 1.

Not happy we only play there once.

 

[Giant YoYo]

Giants' 2025 Manuka games revealed: GWS bank on 'massive crowds' ahead of cross-code battle

The Giants are targeting three more sell-out crowds in Canberra.

www.canberratimes.com.au

According to this Canberra times article it looks like the 7:30pm Canberra games look to be in part to go head-to-head with the Brumbies.

Looks like the AFL were considering moving two of the earlier season Canberra games later in the season next year so will be interesting to see whether that happens for 2026.

 

[domologue]

Geez, that thought brings back unpleasant memories.

How bad it was in the stands ... I can't imagine playing a footy game in it! (And then add in the injuries we suffered in that game.)

I saw more players cramping and smashing the pickle juice in that game than in the rest of the season combined.

 

[Battlepants]

Swans, Giants to have Sydney to themselves for derby rematch

The AFL Sydney derby will be the only top-level men's sport in the heart of the city in the first weekend of May

www.afl.com.au

AFL at least getting one thing right with the fixture.