I asked ChatGPT what is your prediction for the 2025 AFL Grand Final?
Results were interesting to say the least:
The 2025 AFL Grand Final Feels Worthless
The AFL Grand Final is supposed to be the pinnacle of Australian sport — a celebration of skill, courage, and fair competition. But in 2025, the big day already feels tainted. For many fans, this year’s decider is shaping up to be one of the most meaningless in recent memory, thanks to a perfect storm of poor umpiring, fixture manipulation, and uninspiring spectacle.
It’s impossible to ignore the umpiring controversies that have dogged the 2025 season. Week after week, baffling calls and blatant inconsistencies have left players, coaches, and supporters scratching their heads. Critical games were swung on soft free kicks, missed holding-the-ball calls, and “stand” interpretations that seem to change by the quarter.
By the time September rolled around, the competition’s credibility was already shredded. A Grand Final reached through such murky adjudication feels more like the product of chance — or worse, bias — than the result of genuine merit.
Then there’s the elephant in the room: Geelong’s continued exploitation of their boutique cheat ground down at Kardinia Park. Teams forced to play there face not just the parochial crowd, but the warped dimensions of a ground that bears little resemblance to the MCG where the Grand Final is played.
Combine that with a fixture that seemingly bends over backwards to give the Cats maximum home comfort, and it’s no wonder many supporters question whether Geelong’s wins hold any weight. If success is built on an uneven playing field, can it really be respected?
The AFL’s obsession with “blockbusters” and marquee slots has created a fixture where certain clubs are permanently advantaged. More prime-time exposure, more games at preferred venues, and softer travel loads all add up.
This year’s finalists owe at least part of their presence to these manufactured advantages. The idea that we’re seeing the “best” teams in the Grand Final is laughable — we’re just seeing the best beneficiaries of head office politics.
If the footy itself doesn’t inspire, surely the spectacle will? Don’t bet on it. Once again, the AFL is trotting out bland, middle-of-the-road pre-game entertainment designed to offend no one but excite even fewer. Forget iconic anthems or memorable performances — this year’s warm-up acts are destined to fade into irrelevance before the first bounce.
Now imagine, for a moment, if Collingwood had made it. The atmosphere would be electric, the MCG at fever pitch, and the storylines compelling. Love them or hate them, the Magpies bring a theatre to the big stage that few clubs can rival.
Instead, we’re left with a Grand Final that feels like a beige afterthought — an event the AFL will hype to the skies but that many fans will watch with a shrug.
The 2025 AFL Grand Final should be the jewel in the crown. Instead, it’s a hollow showpiece tarnished by dodgy umpiring, lopsided fixtures, and uninspired spectacle. For neutral fans, it’s hard to muster enthusiasm when the whole competition feels compromised.
And the worst part? It didn’t have to be this way.
Results were interesting to say the least:
The 2025 AFL Grand Final Feels Worthless
The AFL Grand Final is supposed to be the pinnacle of Australian sport — a celebration of skill, courage, and fair competition. But in 2025, the big day already feels tainted. For many fans, this year’s decider is shaping up to be one of the most meaningless in recent memory, thanks to a perfect storm of poor umpiring, fixture manipulation, and uninspiring spectacle.
The Umpiring Farce
It’s impossible to ignore the umpiring controversies that have dogged the 2025 season. Week after week, baffling calls and blatant inconsistencies have left players, coaches, and supporters scratching their heads. Critical games were swung on soft free kicks, missed holding-the-ball calls, and “stand” interpretations that seem to change by the quarter.
By the time September rolled around, the competition’s credibility was already shredded. A Grand Final reached through such murky adjudication feels more like the product of chance — or worse, bias — than the result of genuine merit.
Geelong’s Cheat Ground
Then there’s the elephant in the room: Geelong’s continued exploitation of their boutique cheat ground down at Kardinia Park. Teams forced to play there face not just the parochial crowd, but the warped dimensions of a ground that bears little resemblance to the MCG where the Grand Final is played.
Combine that with a fixture that seemingly bends over backwards to give the Cats maximum home comfort, and it’s no wonder many supporters question whether Geelong’s wins hold any weight. If success is built on an uneven playing field, can it really be respected?
Fixture Advantage – By Design
The AFL’s obsession with “blockbusters” and marquee slots has created a fixture where certain clubs are permanently advantaged. More prime-time exposure, more games at preferred venues, and softer travel loads all add up.
This year’s finalists owe at least part of their presence to these manufactured advantages. The idea that we’re seeing the “best” teams in the Grand Final is laughable — we’re just seeing the best beneficiaries of head office politics.
Pre-Game Entertainment – A Snooze Fest
If the footy itself doesn’t inspire, surely the spectacle will? Don’t bet on it. Once again, the AFL is trotting out bland, middle-of-the-road pre-game entertainment designed to offend no one but excite even fewer. Forget iconic anthems or memorable performances — this year’s warm-up acts are destined to fade into irrelevance before the first bounce.
Imagine if Collingwood Were Playing…
Now imagine, for a moment, if Collingwood had made it. The atmosphere would be electric, the MCG at fever pitch, and the storylines compelling. Love them or hate them, the Magpies bring a theatre to the big stage that few clubs can rival.
Instead, we’re left with a Grand Final that feels like a beige afterthought — an event the AFL will hype to the skies but that many fans will watch with a shrug.
The Verdict
The 2025 AFL Grand Final should be the jewel in the crown. Instead, it’s a hollow showpiece tarnished by dodgy umpiring, lopsided fixtures, and uninspired spectacle. For neutral fans, it’s hard to muster enthusiasm when the whole competition feels compromised.
And the worst part? It didn’t have to be this way.
