Will the Eagles and Dockers thrive in 2025? The injuries, predictions and lessons learnt

Author: Mali Seward

Who are the premiership contenders for the 2025 AFL season? Here’s an updated ranking of all teams, as well as their chances of contending for the Grand Final win this year.
 
Brisbane Lions – Coming off a 2024 premiership, the Lions topped the way to early predictions for 2025, and until proven otherwise are the team to beat coming into round 1 and with strong form in pre-season friendlies, Brisbane will be hoping to come into round 1 all guns blazing.

GWS – Coming off a hot 2024 season, the Giants are looking to continue their strong form and flip their fortunes when it comes to finals in 2025. Sydney Swans – The swans are a hot topic coming into this year’s season. On the back of two humiliating grand final losses - in 3 years - all eyes are on the team to see if they have what it takes to go all the way in 2025.

Hawthorn – After being arguably the best side in the competition for the second half of 2024, leading the league in points for and points against during a 15-4 run. They now have arguably the best defence in the league and are looking to be one of the top teams in 2025.

Fremantle – After missing out on a top 8 finish by the narrowest of margins, the Dockers are looking to bounce back and go one step further in this year’s campaign. With a strong defensive team it is looking very hopeful for Freo in 2025.

Carlton – Carlton was coming into 2025 with a full lineup, however with their #3 draft pick Jagga Smith being confirmed out, the Blues will need to reset and find their feet early on to finish in the top 8. 2025 is looking to be ‘good,’ rather than a ‘great’ season for the Blues.

Collingwood – After a disappointing 2024 season, Collingwood are well and truly over the “Premiership hangover” and are looking to be back in win territory coming into 2025.

Port Adelaide – With a surprisingly incredible 2024 season, the same would be a miracle for the Power in 2025 as many doubts loom over Port with many on & off pitch issues adding to their worries.

Western Bulldogs – The dogs will need to fight extremely hard to claw their way into the top eight in 2025, however with a strong midfield top 8 is still very do able and can go either way for the Bulldogs in 2025.

Geelong – Yes, the Cats nearly reached a Grand Final less than a year ago, but compared to the seven teams above them, a 2025 premiership seems highly unlikely. With an ageing squad, a top eight finish being the Cats biggest achievement this season is looking more than likely.

Melbourne – Arguably the most frustrating team in the league and a disappointing finish to 2024, a top four or bottom four finish, I don’t think, would surprise anyone, however a mid-table finish is looking the most likely finish for Demon fans this season.

Essendon – With a disappointing result in 2024, only the same is looking to continue in 2025 for the Dons, a team that is still at least 2 years out from a possible top 8 finish. We still need confirmation they can play consistently against the top 8 teams.

Gold Coast – A team that can never win away from home, the suns are once again disappointingly staring at the bottom half of the ladder. Adelaide Crows – Possibly the most irrelevant team in the competition, and with many unproven players, the crows are looking at another mediocre season.

St Kilda – A team that has forever been on the treadmill of mediocrity. With no change coming in 2025, St Kilda are once again likely to finish bottom four, especially with a pretty power lacking front line.  

North Melbourne – The Roo’s are  more than likely to be nowhere near playing finals and it’ll not be surprising if they finish with less than eight wins.

West Coast – Harley Reid. The only thing West Coast fans are clinging onto for the time being.

Richmond - Being the most guaranteed preseason wooden spoon, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the Tigers in 2025.  
 
As the opening round edges closer in 2025, injury troubles are putting many teams in jeopardy before the season even begins. Here’s a look at every team’s injury list heading into Round 1.

Adelaide - Only having 1 injury, Adelaide are the most fortunate club from the lot having just Kieran Strachan out for the first 1-3 rounds with a foot injury.

Brisbane – With a lot of preseason injuries, Brisbane will have to get back on track early and regain their 2025 season goals. Keidean Coleman is the first of 4 players and main concerns with an ACL injury, having no confirmed return date yet. Tom Doedee is the second player with an ACL injury, and another big concern for Brisbane, however, is expected to return mid-season. The next player with an ACL issue is Darcy Gardiner but is on track to return early season. Lincoln McCarthy rounds of the ACL injuries, being in the same condition as Darcy, return around the same time of early season. Luke Lloyd finishes off Brisbane’s injury list and is most likely to return in the early rounds after recovering from a back injury."

Carlton – With a bombshell blow coming to Blues fans over the weekend, #3 draft pick Jagga Smith tore his ACL in a practice match against St Kilda. This puts him out for the season and will undergo the knife in coming weeks. The Blues have also faced other major injuries in players such as Alex Cincotta - with a hip injury, leaving unlikely to return until mid-season. Charlie Curnow had some screws taken out of his knee but will be back within the first few rounds. Nic Newman rounds off the Blues injury list, with a season ending Patella injury.

Collingwood – Ex Brownlow winner Tom Mitchell is dealing with a bone stress injury in his foot and is likely to be worked back into the team slowly. Jordan De Goey is looking unlikely for round Opening Round but is more than likely to return with the first couple of rounds. Harvey Harrison suffered an ACL but could return mid-late season. Harry DeMattia rounds off Collingwood’s injuries with a concussion suffered recently, however he’ll hopefully recover in time for Opening Round/Round 1.

Essendon - Matt Guelfi reinjured his hamstring during training in early February and after consultation with the medical team, immediate surgery looked to be the best course of action. Darcy Parish is in doubt for the opener with a back injury. Jordan Ridley has been out with a minor hamstring strain and is hoping to be back for the early rounds of the season. Alwyn Davey Jnr is currently recovering from knee surgery and is hoping to return around rounds 1-3. Draftee Zak Johnson is back into training after off-season shoulder surgery and is still to be confirmed with a return. Jayden Nguyen has a Meniscus injury and is also ‘tbc’ before a return is to be confirmed.

Fremantle – The Dockers have only a couple of injuries, with Sean Darcy needing surgery to remove a screw in his ankle and will likely return after the first 2-3 rounds of the 2025 season. Nat Fyfe suffered a knee injury and is likely to miss the Dockers round 1 action against the Cats. Rounding off Freo’s injuries is Odin Jones, who required spinal surgery after fracturing his Vertebrae and will be out for the 2025 season.

Geelong – With one of the smallest injury lists of the 18 teams, Cam Guthrie is Geelong’s one and only injured player, out with an Achilles, and is likely to return early into their 2025 campaign.

Gold Coast – Top 10 draft pick Leo Lombard dislocated his shoulder in a midweek practice match but is looking likely to return for opening round, if not he is 100% certain for round one.

GWS – GWS injury and suspension list is a sight to behold, with some post season celebrations concluding in five suspensions. Amongst those suspended players is Josh Fahey, who got the biggest suspension out of the players, not being able to play until round 5. Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Jake Riccardi and Harvey Thomas conclude the Western Sydney team’s suspension list, all not being available until round 3. Toby Greene the team’s captain also received a $5,000 fine for not intervening. Tom Green starts off the Sydney team’s injury list, with a Calf Strain set to halt his start to the 2025 season. Callum Brown and Ryan Angwin are also out until round one with Hamstring and Ankle injuries respectively.
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Hawthorn – With ACL troubling the majority of teams, Hawthorn is no different with both James Blanck and Mitch Lewis remaining on the comeback with coinciding ACL injuries. Calsher Dear suffered a bone stress injury to his back and will be managed cautiously up until his return.

Melbourne – The Demons injury list is more than worrying coming into Opening Round. With many preseason niggles on the list, Melbourne will be hoping for fast recoveries from all players. However, in terms of serious injuries, Shane McAdam’s season is already over suffering an Achilles injury last Friday. Andy Moniz-Wakefield is also out for the season with an ACL injury. Koltyn Tholstrup suffered a bone stress and will be sidelined for 10-12 weeks. Kysaiah Pickett rounds off the Demons list of unavailable players with a suspension that sees him benched until round four.

North Melbourne – Callum Coleman-Jones and Brayden George won’t be ready until early-mid season with Achilles and ACL injuries respectively. Meanwhile George Wardlaw picked up a vigorous hamstring injury that will see him sidelined for a minimum of 3 months. The Roo’s injury woes continue with Josh Goater out for a month with a hamstring injury.

Port Adelaide – Port has some serious injuries coming into their 2025 campaign and will need to work hard to ensure it doesn’t jeopardise the start of their season. Todd Marshall is in doubt to even play at all, in 2025, with a ruptured Achilles. Sam Powell-Pepper is in doubt to play Round one as he continues to recover from an ACL surgery. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is expected to miss the start of the season with a back issue.
 
Richmond – The Tigers are another team riding the ACL train in preseason, having 4 ACL injuries including Judson Clarke who is the closest to return out of the lot, Josh Gibscus who is expected to return mid-season, Mykelti Lefau, an early season returner. And finishing off Richmond’s ACL list is Tylar Young, with another expected return early in the season. As well as all their ACL injuries, the Tigers also have Sam Lalor with a jaw problem, and concluding Richmond’s monstrous injury list is Hugo Ralphsmith with a Hamstring problem sidelining him for the first couple of rounds.

St Kilda – St Kilda is a team that is likely to have another struggling season, and their preseason injury list further confirms that. With a crowded treatment room, St Kilda has multiple badly injured players with Max King, Jack Sinclair and Mason Wood suffering injuries in preseason, however the trio have been cleared for round one. Dougal Howard requires shoulder surgery and will be sidelined for a minimum of three months. Alix Tauru also suffered a back injury and will be out until early in the middle of the season.

Sydney Swans - Another team with many injuries pre – preseason, but only a few out for the start of their 2025 campaign. Harry Cunningham is still ‘TBC’ with a foot injury, Jesse Dattoli has a back issue and will be out until early on midyear. Logan McDonald’s recovery from a foot injury is taking longer than expected and is not guaranteed for the Swans’ opener.

West Coast - The Eagles have two major injuries coming into 2025, Dom Sheed’s season is already over following a ruptured ACL occurring at training. Elliot Yeo is in doubt for the early rounds following an Ankle problem during match simulation.

Western Bulldogs – Finishing off the 18 teams’ injury list, the bulldogs are coming into 2025 with some serious injury concerns. Tim English picked up an abdominal knock in preseason but is expected to return soon, Jason Johannisen and Liam Jones both picked up hamstring problems and are out until early in the midseason. Adam Treloar is expected to be out in the early rounds of the season after he picked up a calf problem. Concluding the team’s injury list is Cody Weightman who is also expected to miss around three months following knee surgery.