AFL Fixture 2025

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[eldorado]

Sorry if it's been mentioned by why are Geelong playing Essendon, St Kilda & Richmond twice?

Does it contravene their 'formula'?

(Genuine question, i don't actually know the formula...what double ups are top 6 teams supposed to get?)

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Sorry if it's been mentioned by why are Geelong playing Essendon, St Kilda & Richmond twice?

Definitely the first time Geelong have been mentioned ITT....

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Does it contravene their 'formula'?

(Genuine question, i don't actually know the formula...what double ups are top 6 teams supposed to get?)

No - you play 2-3 games against your own grouping and can play 1-2 games against the other two groups when you finish in the top 6. Geelong get the following double ups:

Brisbane Lions, Essendon, GWS Giants, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda (3x top 6, 2x middle 6, 1x bottom 6)

Of course - those who let Geelong live rent free can't wait to jump at shadows and claim conspiracies despite the fact that of all the multiples they copped the worst possible one by getting 3 top 6 teams and 2 middle 6 teams. Not sure how copping the reigning premiers twice, a perpetual top 4 side of the past 5 years who do their best work in the regular season and GWS who lost two close finals to both grand finalists and will only improve is an easy run - but hey, when you are obsessed with the Corio minnows like some are here you'll find a way!

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Definitely the first time Geelong have been mentioned ITT....

Some posters seem to post more about them than they do about Hawthorn - it's genuinely bizarre.

 

[Sixpence]

No - you play 2-3 games against your own grouping and can play 1-2 games against the other two groups when you finish in the top 6. Geelong get the following double ups:

Brisbane Lions, Essendon, GWS Giants, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda (3x top 6, 2x middle 6, 1x bottom 6)

Of course - those who let Geelong live rent free can't wait to jump at shadows and claim conspiracies despite the fact that of all the multiples they copped the worst possible one by getting 3 top 6 teams and 2 middle 6 teams. Not sure how copping the reigning premiers twice, a perpetual top 4 side of the past 5 years who do their best work in the regular season and GWS who lost two close finals to both grand finalists and will only improve is an easy run - but hey, when you are obsessed with the Corio minnows like some are here you'll find a way!

My understanding was each team plays 2x top 6, 2x middle 6 and 2x bottom 6, but some teams playing a third game from the same group seems to match up with what I've seen, so that makes sense.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

My understanding was each team plays 2x top 6, 2x middle 6 and 2x bottom 6, but some teams playing a third game from the same group seems to match up with what I've seen, so that makes sense.

Can change year to year - we copped the 2, 2, 2. Brisbane, Sydney and Port all copped the 3, 2, 1 combo as well. I get having Richmond twice will definitely cushion the blow - but copping GWS, Port and Brisbane twice is no cakewalk. Particularly when Port beat them at Kardinia this year, Brisbane have come bloody close the last two times they played there and GWS have won their last 4 games there.

 

[hawkman]

Can change year to year - we copped the 2, 2, 2. Brisbane, Sydney and Port all copped the 3, 2, 1 combo as well. I get having Richmond twice will definitely cushion the blow - but copping GWS, Port and Brisbane twice is no cakewalk. Particularly when Port beat them at Kardinia this year, Brisbane have come bloody close the last two times they played there and GWS have won their last 4 games there.

St Kilda also beat them as well this year although thar was assisted by Battle destroying Cameron

 

[pattymalone00]

Can we ever get a preseason game at a decent hour to attend in Melbourne (surely we host one in dingley next year )

 

[Buttonsticher]

Can we ever get a preseason game at a decent hour to attend in Melbourne [emoji23] (surely we host one in dingley next year [emoji1696])

Yep its AFT

On SM-A546E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

If you get there. The margins between teams has never been closer and this is a disadvantage compared to other sides fighting for the 8.

People that say playing Port on Gather round is a good thing because we get the interstate trip out of the way, really dismiss some key aspects in all of this.

Whilst almost everyone else is playing this ‘extra 12th home/away game” at a neutral ground, irrespective of whether they are named as the home team or not, we are playing an extra genuine AWAY match interstate. 7.20pm on a Sunday evening, yeah not as many will trek across from VIC.

The rest of the season is based on everyone playing 11 home and 11 away games. Like always (except for the Roos and WA teams).

Sorry just had to get it straight.

When we also get Brisbane away this year, you might better understand it.

Has nothing to do with marque games. Straight over the head. Woosh

Sure the players will play anyone at any time. That is their job.

And it has nothing to do with fear but plenty to do with inequalities. Acting with bravado doesn’t change a thing.

Nice to have many prime time games, but Brisbane away in the last H/A round if true, is the 12th away game for the year.

I hate to bring this up again, but I will highlight it once again because the 'random' fixture given to Hawthorn this season was deliberately loaded.

Despite finishing 6th, The Hawks were dealt the toughest fixture and a 12th AWAY game, which as I predicted unfortunately, ended up being the Premiers. The only other team that copped 12 AWAY games - well they got a nice cushy month into the finals finishing with a double up of the Tigers.

Sure we may not go far in the finals regardless, but I would rather our squad experience another final than not playing them. It is a farce.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I hate to bring this up again, but I will highlight it once again because the 'random' fixture given to Hawthorn this season was deliberately loaded.

Brisbane have 12 away games, they travel every second week, their final month of play includes an away trip to Fremantle and having to play us, Collingwood and Sydney who at the end of last year were grand finalists and not tipped to slide as badly as they have. Honestly - just stop whining.

I would like finals also. But last week's game against Adelaide was a finals like game in every sense. This week's is also. The game at the Gabba could very likely be a do-or-die clash. We are playing 3 finals games effectively in the space of a month so losing an elimination final would mean not a great deal towards player development.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

I hate to bring this up again, but I will highlight it once again because the 'random' fixture given to Hawthorn this season was deliberately loaded.

Despite finishing 6th, The Hawks were dealt the toughest fixture and a 12th AWAY game, which as I predicted unfortunately, ended up being the Premiers. The only other team that copped 12 AWAY games - well they got a nice cushy month into the finals finishing with a double up of the Tigers.

Sure we may not go far in the finals regardless, but I would rather our squad experience another final than not playing them. It is a farce.

Our fixture for finishing 9th next year is going to be brutal.

Fully expect a nightmare start, no games in Melbourne for 3 months in the middle of the year and a brutal run home with games against Sydney and Port (The teams that will rebound)

 

[TONYC3163]

Brisbane have 12 away games, they travel every second week, their final month of play includes an away trip to Fremantle and having to play us, Collingwood and Sydney who at the end of last year were grand finalists and not tipped to slide as badly as they have. Honestly - just stop whining.

Yep, and having to worry about the draw to make the final 8 is not a place clubs want to be.

 

[Seagull Supremacy]

Silly me I thought the AFaiL might have finally announced the dates and times for Round 24…

 

[QuietB]

The problem with the Hawks fixture this year is how tough the away games are.

Gold Coast, Freo, Adelaide and Brisbane all away as well as last years grand finalists Sydney early and our bogey team Port.

Hawks have lost 7 games so far; Geelong (as usual - Hawks have to fix this), Port away (as usual ), Gold Coast away, Brisbane, Collingwood, Fremantle away, Adelaide away.

Brisbane and Collingwood were red hot when the Hawks lost to them. And the away games are just hard games.

The Hawks have performed pretty well - they have beat everyone they should and just come up a little short against a very hard away draw.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Our fixture for finishing 9th next year is going to be brutal.

Fully expect a nightmare start, no games in Melbourne for 3 months in the middle of the year and a brutal run home with games against Sydney and Port (The teams that will rebound)

Let's not complain about something that hasn't happened.

 

[TONYC3163]

Let's not complain about something that hasn't happened.

Have you met Golden? They can be negative about absolutely anything.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Let's not complain about something that hasn't happened.

I'll complain about what I want

 

[TONYC3163]

I'll complain about what I want

and frequently

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I'll complain about what I want

yes, you certaintly will.

 

[RobHawk]

We do not play the following teams in Melbourne this year
Sydney
GWS
Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Fremantle
Gold Coast

I understand that there is a preference for playing interstate teams in Launceston but this is bordering on the ridiculous.
Why don’t we play against some Victorian teams in Tassie and some more interstate teams in Victoria to balance things up

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

yes, you certaintly will.

Glad we understand.

 

[RoughysMullet]

We do not play the following teams in Melbourne this year
Sydney
GWS
Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Fremantle
Gold Coast

I understand that there is a preference for playing interstate teams in Launceston but this is bordering on the ridiculous.
Why don’t we play against some Victorian teams in Tassie and some more interstate teams in Victoria to balance things up

It’s a crowd number and money thing.
When we play Victorian clubs in Melbourne we typically get bigger crowd numbers from the away supporters attending and therefore ticket sales are up.

If we play Gold Coast, Freo, giants, port Adelaide etc at the G we are likely to get poxy crowd numbers and therefore the cost to the club is exacerbated that’s why those games are more often left to be played in Tassie - the whole reason we play down there is to minimise the financial impact to the club…

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

The problem with the Hawks fixture this year is how tough the away games are.

Gold Coast, Freo, Adelaide and Brisbane all away as well as last years grand finalists Sydney early and our bogey team Port.

Hawks have lost 7 games so far; Geelong (as usual - Hawks have to fix this), Port away (as usual ), Gold Coast away, Brisbane, Collingwood, Fremantle away, Adelaide away.

Brisbane and Collingwood were red hot when the Hawks lost to them. And the away games are just hard games.

The Hawks have performed pretty well - they have beat everyone they should and just come up a little short against a very hard away draw.

People can have their own opinion no issue with that. But to think arbitrary decision-making can't be skewed or loaded, well...... Especially in an environment already so entrenched with targeted policies and handicapping measures.

the 12th AWAY game for GATHER ROUND, is another lever to be used to meet the targeted policies above. So judging by the first 3 years of Gather Round scheduling, if we don't get the following 4 teams making up the 2026 and 2027 fixturing, then it is a farce.

Richmond
Collingwood
St Kilda
North

North should not be excluded from this. They have volunteered a 13th and 14th AWAY game to WA

Gather Round - 12 AWAY games
				Season	Previous Year
			Last 4	Position	Position
2023​	Carl	Adel	St K (a)	6th	14th
			Melb (h)	4th	5th
			GC (a)	15th	12th
			GWS (h)	7th	16th
	WB	Port	Rich (h)	13th	8th
			St K (a)	6th	10th
			WC (h)	18th	17th
			Geel (a)	12th	1st
2024​	Melb	Adel	WB (a)	7th	9th
			Port (h)	4th	5th
			GC (a)	13th	15th
			Coll (h)	9th	1st
	Ess	Port	Frem (h)	10th	14th
			GC (h)	13th	15th
			Syd (h)	1st	8th
			Bris (a)	5th	2nd
2025​	Haw	Port	Adel (a)	top 2	15th
			Coll (h)	top 4	9th
			Melb (h)	12th	14th
			Bris (a)	top 4	1st
	Geel	Adel	Port (h)	11th	5th
			Ess (h)	Bottom 4	11th
			Syd (a)	10th	2nd
			Rich (a)	16th	18th

 

[Ned Ryerson]

We do not play the following teams in Melbourne this year
Sydney
GWS
Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Fremantle
Gold Coast

I understand that there is a preference for playing interstate teams in Launceston but this is bordering on the ridiculous.
Why don’t we play against some Victorian teams in Tassie and some more interstate teams in Victoria to balance things up

Have you seen how our crowd numbers dive when we play low-drawing interstate sides at the MCG? The club's coffers do far better out of Melbourne based sides and that is exactly what the club would be angling for.