Fixture AFL 2025 Fixture

[Chief]

2025 AFL FIXTURE

Times AEDT until Saturday April 5
Times AEST from Sunday April 6

OPENING ROUND

Thursday March 6

Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats, The Gabba (7.50pm)

Friday March 7

Sydney Swans v Hawthorn, SCG (7.40pm)

Saturday March 8

Gold Coast Suns v Essendon, People First Stadium (5.15pm)

Sunday March 9

GWS Giants v Collingwood, ENGIE Stadium (3.20pm)

Bye: Adelaide Crows, Carlton, Fremantle, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda, West Coast Eagles, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 1

Thursday March 13

Richmond v Carlton, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday March 14

Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday March 15

Geelong Cats v Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium (1.20pm)

Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions, SCG (4.15pm)

Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG (7.35pm)

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday March 16

Adelaide Crows v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (12.35pm)

Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

ROUND 2

Thursday March 20

Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday March 21

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday March 22

Essendon v Adelaide Crows, MCG (1.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

St Kilda v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday March 23

Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles, The Gabba (1.10pm)

North Melbourne v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Bye: Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants

ROUND 3

Thursday March 27

Essendon v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday March 28

Carlton v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday March 29

Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, MCG (1.20pm)

St Kilda v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (4.15pm)

Hawthorn v GWS Giants, UTAS Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday March 30

Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Fremantle, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Bye: Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, Geelong Cats, Sydney Swans

ROUND 4

Thursday April 3

Collingwood v Carlton, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday April 4

Geelong Cats v Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday April 5

Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows, People First Stadium (1.20pm)

Richmond v Brisbane Lions, MCG (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday April 6

GWS Giants v West Coast Eagles, ENGIE Stadium (1.10pm)

Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium (5.10pm)

Bye: Essendon, Hawthorn

ROUND 5 (Gather Round)

Thursday April 10

Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Friday April 11

Collingwood v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Saturday April 12

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Barossa (12.35pm)

Carlton v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (1.20pm)

Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Norwood Oval (4.15pm)

Melbourne v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (7.35pm)

Sunday April 13

Richmond v Fremantle, Barossa (12.35pm)

St Kilda v GWS Giants, Norwood Oval (3.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval (7.20pm)

ROUND 6

Thursday April 17 (Easter Thursday)

Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, The Gabba (7.30pm)

Friday April 18 (Good Friday)

North Melbourne v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Essendon, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Saturday April 19

Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG (1.20pm)

Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

Richmond v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday April 20 (Easter Sunday)

Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide, SCG (3.20pm)

Western Bulldogs v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (7.20pm)

Monday April 21 (Easter Monday)

Geelong Cats v Hawthorn, MCG (3.20pm)

ROUND 7

Thursday April 24

Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday April 25 (Anzac Day)

Collingwood v Essendon, MCG (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Saturday April 26

St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (1.20pm)

Port Adelaide v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, Manuka (7.35pm)

Sunday April 27

Gold Coast Suns v Sydney Swans, People First Stadium (1.10pm)

Carlton v Geelong Cats, MCG (3.20pm)

Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 8

Thursday May 1

Essendon v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday May 2

St Kilda v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday May 3

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide, Mars Stadium (1.20pm)

Adelaide Crows v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Optus Stadium (7.35pm)

Collingwood v Geelong Cats, MCG (7.35pm)

Sunday May 4

Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (1.10pm)

Hawthorn v Richmond, MCG (3.20pm)

Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, The Gabba (7.20pm)

ROUND 9

Thursday May 8

Fremantle v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Friday May 9

St Kilda v Carlton, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 10

Melbourne v Hawthorn, MCG (1.20pm)

Essendon v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (4.15pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs, TIO Darwin (7.35pm)

Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)

Sunday May 11

Richmond v West Coast Eagles, MCG (1.10pm)

Geelong Cats v GWS Giants, GMHBA Stadium (3.20pm)

North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Ninja Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round)

Thursday May 15

Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn, TIO Darwin (7.30pm)

Friday May 16

Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 17

Collingwood v Adelaide Crows, MCG (1.20pm)

GWS Giants v Fremantle, ENGIE Stadium (4.15pm)

Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Marvel Stadium (4.15pm)

Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (7.35pm)

Sunday May 18

Richmond v North Melbourne, MCG (1.10pm)

Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, The Gabba (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v St Kilda, Optus Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round)

Thursday May 22

Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday May 23

Essendon v Richmond, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 24

Carlton v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (1.20pm)

Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions, MCG (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Fremantle v Port Adelaide, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday May 25

Adelaide Crows v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (1.10pm)

Melbourne v Sydney Swans, MCG (3.20pm)

St Kilda v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 12

Thursday May 29

Brisbane Lions v Essendon, The Gabba (7.30pm)

Friday May 30

Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 31

Gold Coast Suns v Fremantle, People First Stadium (1.20pm)

GWS Giants v Richmond, ENGIE Stadium (4.15pm)

Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows, SCG (7.35pm)

Sunday June 1

Melbourne v St Kilda, TIO Traeger (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Geelong Cats, Optus Stadium (7.20pm)

Bye: Carlton, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 13

Thursday June 5

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday June 6

Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Saturday June 7

Richmond v Sydney Swans, MCG (1.20pm)

Geelong Cats v Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA Stadium (4.15pm)

GWS Giants v Port Adelaide, Manuka (7.35pm)

Sunday June 8

North Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Hands Oval – South Bunbury (3.20pm)

Carlton v Essendon, MCG (7.15pm)

Monday June 9 (King’s Birthday)

Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG (3.20pm)

Bye: Fremantle, St Kilda

ROUND 14

Thursday June 12

St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday June 13

Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, UTAS Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday June 14

Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants, The Gabba (1.20pm)

Essendon v Geelong Cats, MCG (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Fremantle, Optus Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday June 15

Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Carlton, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Bye: Collingwood, Gold Coast Suns, Richmond, Sydney Swans

ROUND 15

Thursday June 19

Fremantle v Essendon, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Friday June 20

Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions, GMHBA Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday June 21

Carlton v North Melbourne, MCG (1.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

Collingwood v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday June 22

GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, ENGIE Stadium (1.10pm)

Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Bye: Adelaide Crows, Hawthorn, Melbourne, West Coast Eagles

ROUND 16 (days and times TBC)

Thursday June 26 – Sunday June 29

Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v St Kilda, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, People First Stadium

Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium

Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v Adelaide Crows, MCG

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, SCG

Bye: Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Geelong Cats, GWS Giants

ROUND 17 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 3 – Sunday July 6

Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval

Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide, The Gabba

Carlton v Collingwood, MCG

Essendon v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium

Geelong Cats v Richmond, GMHBA Stadium

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium

St Kilda v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium

Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG

West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants, Optus Stadium

ROUND 18 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 10 – Sunday July 13

Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood, People First Stadium

GWS Giants v Geelong Cats, ENGIE Stadium

Melbourne v North Melbourne, MCG

Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v Essendon, MCG

St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows, Mars Stadium

ROUND 19 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 17 – Sunday July 20

Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval

Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs, The Gabba

Carlton v Melbourne, MCG

Collingwood v Fremantle, MCG

Essendon v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium

Geelong Cats v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium

Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, UTAS Stadium

Sydney Swans v North Melbourne, SCG

West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Optus Stadium

ROUND 20 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 24 – Sunday July 27

Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval

Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, People First Stadium

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, ENGIE Stadium

Hawthorn v Carlton, MCG

North Melbourne v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium

Richmond v Collingwood, MCG

St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 21 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 31 – Sunday August 3

Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, MCG

Fremantle v Carlton, Optus Stadium

Geelong Cats v Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Richmond, People First Stadium

Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium

St Kilda v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium

Sydney Swans v Essendon, SCG

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 22 (days and times TBC)

Thursday August 7 – Sunday August 10

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba

Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium

Geelong Cats v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium

GWS Giants v North Melbourne, ENGIE Stadium

Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG

Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v St Kilda, MCG

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium

ROUND 23 (days and times TBC)

Friday August 15 – Sunday August 17

Adelaide Crows v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval

Carlton v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium

Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants, People First Stadium

Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG

North Melbourne v Richmond, Ninja Stadium

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats, SCG

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 24 (days and times TBC)

Friday August 22 – Sunday August 24

Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn, The Gabba

Collingwood v Melbourne, MCG

Essendon v Carlton, MCG

GWS Giants v St Kilda, ENGIE Stadium

North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v Geelong Cats, MCG

West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium

 

[theprospector]

so that Pies Sunday r0 on ch7
R1 Friday night Ch7
R2 Friday night ch7

even when they don't make finals still get absolutely gifted

Who do we play round 1?

 

[hawkman]

Who do we play round 1?

Dogs

 

[mikey127]

Dogs

That's round 2.

Tom Morris said Hawks v Ess Friday night round 1

 

[hawkman]

That's round 2.

Tom Morris said Hawks v Ess Friday night round 1

Sorry you are correct. Collingwood must be on Saturday in round 1

 

[Hawkk]

Will be interesting to see how the Hawks, Dogs and North celebrate the centenary in the AFL

Dogs are locked in for a round 2 ‘home’ Friday night game against Collingwood and I presume North will want to play Essendon at Marvel.

For Hawthorn, I would love to see Richmond in the first Saturday arvo or twilight of May. A team we have absolutely no rivalry against but the exact anniversary of the first VFL/AFL game at Glenferrie Oval

 

[manicmagpie]

I love the new fixture time of year, when fans retroactively decide what constitutes an advantage by looking at whatever Collingwood get.

We’ve already had someone complaining that Collingwood has been given the marquee fixture of GWS on a Sunday. But I’m confident this take will be beaten in the next couple of days.

 

[Whiskers]

I love the new fixture time of year, when fans retroactively decide what constitutes an advantage by looking at whatever Collingwood get.

We’ve already had someone complaining that Collingwood has been given the marquee fixture of GWS on a Sunday. But I’m confident this take will be beaten in the next couple of days.

Yeah you lose your away home game against us, but get it against the Dogs instead.
2 byes, the only non northern state team to get it.

 

[Crankyhawk]

Yeah you lose your away home game against us, but get it against the Dogs instead.
2 byes, the only non northern state team to get it.

you mean the only non northern state team to get 2 byes for the second year (pretty sure that cats, essendon, hawks will also get 2 byes this year)

 

[theprospector]

Will be interesting to see how the Hawks, Dogs and North celebrate the centenary in the AFL

Dogs are locked in for a round 2 ‘home’ Friday night game against Collingwood and I presume North will want to play Essendon at Marvel.

For Hawthorn, I would love to see Richmond in the first Saturday arvo or twilight of May. A team we have absolutely no rivalry against but the exact anniversary of the first VFL/AFL game at Glenferrie Oval

Hawks, Dogs and North will all want to play Collingwood for their centenary.

All their fans will then complain about it. Repeat for the next milestone match.

 

[Hawkk]

Hawks, Dogs and North will all want to play Collingwood for their centenary.

All their fans will then complain about it. Repeat for the next milestone match.

Hawthorn has requested that it does not want to play Collingwood in its centenary game. And why would they anyway? Despite 13 flags and 19 Grand Finals they’ve never played each other in a Grand Final

Hawthorn has far stronger rivalries with Essendon (one of the most bitter in the competition), Geelong and even North Melbourne, Sydney, West Coast, Melbourne and Carlton.

The only reason (I presume you are alluding too) is due to Collingwood’s drawing power. But Hawthorn games against Geelong, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond have all drawn 80,000 or thereabouts in recent years

 

[theprospector]

Hawthorn has requested that it does not want to play Collingwood in its centenary game. And why would they anyway? Despite 13 flags and 19 Grand Finals they’ve never played each other in a Grand Final

Hawthorn has far stronger rivalries with Essendon (one of the most bitter in the competition), Geelong and even North Melbourne, Sydney, West Coast, Melbourne and Carlton.

The only reason (I presume you are alluding too) is due to Collingwood’s drawing power. But Hawthorn games against Geelong, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond have all drawn 80,000 or thereabouts in recent years

Yep good points, I was wrong.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Essendon would have also made more sense for the Dogs as it links to the Champion of Victoria match when Footscray won and entered the competition.

Quite possibly we requested Collingwood because we knew one of the other two would likely request the Dons

Not a big deal in my view. If St Kilda can play a home mcg game then why can’t we do it on occasion.

We used to play interstate games at MCG that drew better than at Docklands (abiet at delayed telecast) during 2005-2006 era.

 

[theprospector]

I'm hearing Collingwood to play in Geelong in Round 9. Locking out maybe 70k fans to sit in a rural dump at pork barrell stadium. Bring it on.

 

[blueiris]

It’s so easy, Hawks/Bombers already locked away for their now supposedly annual round 1 game, have the Swans play the Giants, Suns play the Lions and Cats/Pies. Done.

I don't see the Lions playing the Suns so early in the season but the Swans vs Lions and Suns Vs Giants looks right

 

[blueiris]

2024 Opening Round had GWS biggest non Derby crowd, GABBA and Suns also had a sellout.

So clearly the AFL and NSW/QLD teams like it from a commercial perspective.

Do the players and footy departments want it, not really.

Perhaps give the Saints a crack next year, get them an extra prime time game and the advantage of starting early.

Lions sold out the Gabba 8 out of 11 times last season do you really think opening round had anything to do with that?

 

[JPetro83]

23 Thursday night games in 2025? Not sure if it has been p;osted but Sam Edmund tweeted it.

 

[Underarm]

Lions sold out the Gabba 8 out of 11 times last season do you really think opening round had anything to do with that?

Less of an impact on Brisbane and Sydney as they're capped by their stadium size but absolutely for GC and GWS.

 

[JPetro83]

Gather Round leak/release, Opening round leak/release followed by round 1 leak and release. So hopefully today Round 1 leak.. tomorrow round 1 release then the full fixture tomorrow night?

 

[Cleavy]

23 Thursday night games in 2025? Not sure if it has been p;osted but Sam Edmund tweeted it.

Fixture exclusive: AFL gives itself over to Thursday night football

Thursday night footy is here to stay.

sen.com.au

It can also be revealed that Essendon will feature in the most Thursday night games in the first 16 weeks, playing four games on that week night.
Carlton, Hawthorn, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions will each play three Thursday night games in the first 16 weeks.
In all, 15 of the 18 clubs will play Thursday night football at least once in the first 16 weeks of the season.
----------------------

 

[jdeezy]

Fixture exclusive: AFL gives itself over to Thursday night football

Thursday night footy is here to stay.

sen.com.au

It can also be revealed that Essendon will feature in the most Thursday night games in the first 16 weeks, playing four games on that week night.
Carlton, Hawthorn, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions will each play three Thursday night games in the first 16 weeks.
In all, 15 of the 18 clubs will play Thursday night football at least once in the first 16 weeks of the season.
----------------------

I love Thursday Night games, happy they've expanded the slate. Since not everyone does the obvious answer is to give every team one each as a home game to spread it around, I guess they're kind of on the right track there but if course they're still leaning into their favourites.

 

[eth-dog]

Fixture exclusive: AFL gives itself over to Thursday night football

Thursday night footy is here to stay.

sen.com.au

It can also be revealed that Essendon will feature in the most Thursday night games in the first 16 weeks, playing four games on that week night.
Carlton, Hawthorn, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions will each play three Thursday night games in the first 16 weeks.
In all, 15 of the 18 clubs will play Thursday night football at least once in the first 16 weeks of the season.
----------------------

Oh FFS. I thought we'd get a few Sunday games (only games I can get to).

 

[Billy ray]

I hope no suns home games on thursday night. Away is fine

 

[mcs095]

I'm hearing Collingwood to play in Geelong in Round 9. Locking out maybe 70k fans to sit in a rural dump at pork barrell stadium. Bring it on.

When did the MCG suddenly reach 110K?

 

[eth-dog]

I love Thursday Night games, happy they've expanded the slate. Since not everyone does the obvious answer is to give every team one each as a home game to spread it around but if course the AFL will pick and choose it's favourite clubs to feature instead.

I like them in certain situations. They should be used early (until end of first school holidays) and then later in the year (during the middle school holidays) and then not again after that.

 

[JasRulz63]

I can't believe Collingwood are involved in this garbage again.

I firmly believe opening round derailed our 2024 season and was the primary reason we didn't make finals. Finished 1 game out of finals, but lost the first 3 games. Even winning just 1 of those first 3 games would have got us into the top 8.

Yes, Brisbane won the Grand Final, but they also started 0.3, and what stopped our resurgence was the amount of injuries we had throughout the season. Brisbane were lucky to have a good run with minimal injuries.

Good run with minimal injuries? We came into the season with Ashcroft recovering from an ACL and then had five additional players do their ACLs during the season (four whom would've been earmarked as best 22 this year).

This article from before round 23 has Brisbane missing the third most games from their best 22 players.

I do agree it's rough on teams that went deep into finals the year prior. We'll see how Brisbane and Sydney start the year next year.