AFL Fixture 2025

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No they deliberately game the umpires to the extreme. All teams do it a bit, but most agree on Geelong
Mate gaming the umpires I wouldn't throw stones. We were expert at doing it especially in the 80s. Umpires like anything else really not something we will be worrying about apart from making sure we know the rules of the week
 

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Hawthorn is set to start the new season with a bang as the AFL strongly considers handing the Hawks back-to-back Friday night games across the first fortnight of 2025.
The Herald Sun can reveal the league on Tuesday was weighing up whether to lock in the Hawthorn versus Essendon MCG blockbuster on Friday night in round 1.

It would mean Sam Mitchell’s men play Friday night against Sydney Swans at the SCG in Opening Round and then against the Bombers at the MCG the following week.

While the AFL was still working through its fixture options ahead of the release on Thursday, and could still make changes, it is clear the Hawks will be back in the prime time slots in 2025.

The Bombers prevailed in the round one fixture in 2024. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The Bombers prevailed in the round one fixture in 2024. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
The league is clearly keen to capitalise on one of the most exciting and flamboyant teams in the competition who recovered from a terrible 0-5 start to play finals last season.

And the television audience and ticket sales are expected to increase on the back of a big trade period landing star defenders Tom Barrass (West Coast) and Josh Battle (St Kilda)

But it is in the forward half where livewires Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson and jack-in-the-box Mabior Chol have thrilled crowds with their goal kicking flair and impromptu celebrations.

Captain James Sicily could also be swung forward next year to add to the forward riches following the acquisitions of Barrass and Battle to solidify the defence in a major positional change.

Said one senior club official on Tuesday, the Hawks will be “one of the hottest tickets in town” in the early part of next season as the club aims to continue its rise.

The Hawks are set to feature regularly in prime time across 2025, helping fill the club’s coffers with extra exposure for sponsors and bumper crowds in big games under lights.

It is a reward for the club’s sharp on-field rise last season with the Hawks underlining their destination club status in the exchange period.

Hawthorn looks set to be a prime time feature in 2025. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hawthorn looks set to be a prime time feature in 2025. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images
It will be the third-straight year Essendon and Hawthorn play each other in round 1 as the two clubs, who share one of the best rivalries in football, attempt to build on the fixture.

The Bombers won both encounters in 2023-24, but the Hawks will start favourites on the back of a trip to the SCG the week before.

For the Bombers it means Brad Scott’s men will start the season with back-to-back away games after opening their 2025 campaign against Gold Coast the week before.

Essendon, which has headed back to the draft this year as it attempts to build more youth, would be certain to play a home game in Round 2.

The AFL will unveil the 2025 fixture on Thursday afternoon.

DONS SENT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AGAIN IN 2025

- Scott Gullan

Essendon will make a rare trip down the highway in 2025 as part of Geelong’s 10-game home ground bonanza.

Apart from the Covid season in 2021, the Bombers round 18 game at GMHBA Stadium in 2023 was the first time they’d ventured down the Princes Highway since 1993.

The Cats have requested more games against the “big” Victorian clubs at its newly renovated boutique stadium with a proposal to have them play each of them at least once in a five-year rotation.

Geelong made light work of the Bombers the last time they headed down the highway. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Geelong made light work of the Bombers the last time they headed down the highway. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
Capacity is now around 40,000 with the economic benefits for the surrounding Geelong area of each AFL game now valued at between $5-6 million.

This was a major negotiating tool for Cats CEO Steve Hocking when pushing for 10 games at the home venue, the first time that has happened in Geelong since 1996.

During Covid the AFL scheduled a number of non-Geelong games at Kardinia Park – the Bombers played Gold Coast – in the abbreviated season.

Essendon hasn’t had a great strike rate at the Cats home, losing by 77 points two years ago and also going down by 32 points back in round 21, 1993.

The Bombers last win against Geelong at the venue was in round 18, 1990.
 
The one sad note on all these prime time games is that I'm going to miss get home getting home early evening after a game. The one nice benefit of being off Broadway
 
Not sure I understand the people upset with playing away against port for Gather round. If EVERYONE is playing in Adelaide you might as well kill one of your away games against them with that trip.

I'd much rather play Adelaide or Port away in Gather round which we need to do at some point in the season anyway than play a "home" game against Collingwood And then have to go back again to play Adelaide and Port as an away team.

It’s an extra away game
 
The one sad note on all these prime time games is that I'm going to miss get home getting home early evening after a game. The one nice benefit of being off Broadway
Now you get the whole weekend to watch the winning replays
 
It did say all opening round teams get a bye in first 5 rounds, so pencil that in. I’m thinking 3rd or 4th week. It would be ironic of the afl to give us a bye when we don’t play gather round till the Sunday following
surely us and geelong would get the bye after Easter Monday?
 

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Hawthorn bye in round 6.
Round 0 V Swans
Round 1 V Scum
Round 2 V Baggers
Round 3 in Tassie I believe
Round 4 V Port
Round 5 V Cats

Half of our first 6 games at the G would be a nice strike rate compared to prior years.
 
Hawthorn bye in round 4.

Round 0 V Swans
Round 1 V Scum
Round 2 V Baggers
Round 3 in Tassie I believe
Round 4 Bye
Round 5 V Port
Round 6 V Cats
They could give us GWS in round 3 and then the Dogs round 7 to give us the 2013 fixture of all top 8 teams in the first 7 games

Sorry forgot the Scum weren't a top 8 team. Usually are until July only
 
They could give us GWS in round 3 and then the Dogs round 7 to give us the 2013 fixture of all top 8 teams in the first 7 games
This is a cracking fixture for us.

Get pumped!
I presume the Centenary Game is (hopefully?) Richmond. Would be a nice touch if it was the first Saturday afternoon in May for symmetry.

If Footscray and Norf are going to make a big deal about 100 years, I expect a lot from the most successful club since 1925
 
I presume the Centenary Game is (hopefully?) Richmond. Would be a nice touch if it was the first Saturday afternoon in May for symmetry.

If Footscray and Norf are going to make a big deal about 100 years, I expect a lot from the most successful club since 1925

2nd of May is the Friday night game - would be great to play them 100 years later to the day.
 
2nd of May is the Friday night game - would be great to play them 100 years later to the day.
Doubt Richmond play another prime time game after round 1 except for Anzac eve
 
I presume the Centenary Game is (hopefully?) Richmond. Would be a nice touch if it was the first Saturday afternoon in May for symmetry.

If Footscray and Norf are going to make a big deal about 100 years, I expect a lot from the most successful club since 1925
Carlton on a Thursday night.
 
Besides there is no historic connection with Carlton - even Melbourne would probably make more sense

Played our first ever final against Carlton and have played them in two grand finals. So there is some history there.
 

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