AFL 2025 Recap: Adelaide's Record-Breaking Season

Adelaide clinched their first minor premiership since 2017 but only after overcoming a plucky North Melbourne, in what proved to be a good old-fashioned shootout.

Despite leading for the entire encounter, they were unable to pull away at any stage and actually lost the last quarter as the Kangas came charging home late on.

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The result gives them an impressive 18-5 record, which represents their best winning ratio ever in club history, and also a great chance of a tilt at a possible third flag.

Just the tonic for the Crows that endured a very stressful week, played out in the media spotlight, with star midfielder Izak Rankine banned for four matches, having made a homophobic slur; his absence will undoubtedly be felt come next month.

Tom Atkins makes AFL history

Geelong made it six straight wins, also putting up over 100+ points in all of those, travelling a bit under the radar to finish as runners-up after defeating Richmond.

Jeremy Cameron was, once again, amongst the goals with another three, taking his tally to 83 for the campaign, and looks sure to claim a second Coleman Medal of his career – also an absolute shoo-in for a fifth All-Australian blazer as well.

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Midfielder Tom Atkins (pictured above) made a bit of history with a game-high eight tackles, which took his season tally to 204 and broke the previous record set by Scott Selwood.

Whilst they finished on a defeat, it has been a pretty good 2025 for the Tigers, considering they are in the midst of a rebuild, and there was one bright note to come out of the afternoon with the return of defender Josh Gibcus to the starting line-up.

The 22-year-old is playing his first AFL match in 527 days, having been ravaged by injury, which included rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament back in March 2023.

Suns make their first finals series

Gold Coast finally made club history by qualifying for their first-ever finals campaign after hammering a depleted Essendon outfit at the People’s First Stadium.

Ben King booted a career-high seven majors and was amongst thirteen different scorers as the Queenslanders chalked up a record 95-point winning margin.

Under the tutelage of Damien Hardwick, it has been a marvellous achievement, and they have looked a much better side this year and rightly got their just rewards for it.

ALSO READ: AFL 2025: Crows on the Verge of a Minor Premiership

The Suns could have actually booked their place six days earlier, but just fell short against Port Adelaide in what was a highly emotional night in the City of Churches.

Power fans turned out in their droves to pack the Oval and say farewell to coach Ken Hinkley, departing after eleven years at the helm, as well as club record game holder and three-time All-Australian Travis Boak, as he has decided to hang up the boots.

Reigning Premiers looking to go back-to-back

Current reigning Premiers Brisbane will have the chance to go back-to-back, after bagging third spot, having got the job done against Hawthorn in a fiery affair.

They certainly made life difficult for themselves through inaccuracy in front of goal, amassing 23 behinds, but in the end still had enough to come out victorious.

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It was a big night for both former captain Dayne Zorko (pictured above, left), nicknamed ‘The Magician’, who earlier in the week put pen to paper on a new one-year deal with the club and forward Charlie Cameron (pictured above, right) as they brought up their 300th and 250th respectively.

Coach Chris Fagan lauded his players for their contribution over the campaign as he said, “If I were to rate this home and away season, it’s probably been our best ever.”

Magpies claim top four finish

Daniel McStay (pictured below) scored what proved to be the winner as Collingwood clinched the last available top four slot after beating Melbourne in an absolute thriller at the MCG.

Coming in on the back of three straight defeats and really out of form, the Magpies looked to be staring at a fourth that would have blown a double chance opportunity.

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However, led by veteran Scott Pendlebury (pictured above), they managed to get things back on their terms, running down the deficit and over the top of a spirited Demons side.

Unfortunately, it does look to have come at a cost, with key defender Jeremy Howe set for another spell on the sidelines after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury.

Giants edge the Saints in thriller

Greater Western Sydney captain Toby Greene booted four majors to help his troops come from behind and eventually see off the challenge from St.Kilda.

ALSO READ: AFL 2025: Crows on the Verge of a Minor Premiership

Defender Harry Himmelberg, a product of the club’s developmental academy, marked his 200-game milestone by getting forward to put one through the big sticks.

The Giants have yet to win the ultimate prize, but this victory cements a third consecutive appearance at the point end and the ability to have another crack at it.

Whilst this was the Saints’ final action in 2025, the re-signing of superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera to a new contract, along with the news that a couple of big names could be coming into the club, will have their supporters excited about next year.

Dockers make the eight at expense of Doggies

Fremantle made an emphatic statement as they triumphed in what was effectively a wildcard encounter by putting away the Western Bulldogs on their home deck.

In the lead-up to this winner-takes-all type fixture, most of the pundits had the Western Australian club as the one that would not be part of the September action.

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Having missed out spectacularly last year, they ensured that there would be no repeat with a good interstate display. Caleb Serong (pictured above) was exceptional and a key factor in the win, whilst Pat Voss, Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss all booted three snags.

So in the end, the Dockers progress at the expense of the Doggies with their coach Luke Beveridge admitting, in his presser, that “There is a lot of disappointment.”

Blues finish season on victorious note

Carlton managed to end what has been a rather disappointing campaign on a good note by romping to a comfortable victory over one of their big rivals in Essendon.

It is the first time since 2013 that they have got up in the last match of the regular home-and-away season, only the second time since 2004, and finish with nine ‘Ws’.

Tom De Koning (TDK) lined up for his 100th and likely final showing for the Blues, as he has now entered free agency and been the subject of a substantial contract offer from another club. The 26-year-old has yet to decide on his future.

Not the result that the Bombers captain Zach Merrett (pictured below), on his return following surgery to a broken right hand, would have wanted in reaching his 250th AFL game. Although it has been a challenging year for the club, he has been a consistently strong performer.

ALSO READ: AFL 2025: Crows on the Verge of a Minor Premiership

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Swans big winners in the west

Last year’s grand finalists, Sydney, had to recover from a slow opening before going on to put in a strong second-half showing to get past bottom-side West Coast.

Whatever coach Dean Cox (pictured below) said to his players during the break certainly had the desired effect, with captain Errol Gulden telling Fox Footy that they copped a spray.

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Incoming Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich, who takes over from Tom Harley, was in attendance and got to see the side record their biggest winning margin in 2025.

For the Eagles, finishing as wooden spooners, there is no hiding the fact that this has been an awful campaign, with just one victory, and the worst ever in AFL history.