If you have been trying to track down the AFL 2025 fixture, you already know the frustration — the schedule dropped in stages, some games shifted after release, and keeping up with results across 25 rounds takes real effort. The good news is that the season is now complete, and the Grand Final wrapped on September 27 at the MCG. This guide pulls together everything in one place: release timeline, key results, PDF download options, and the full round-by-round picture from official sources.

Season dates: March 7 – September 27 · Opening result: Sydney 11.10 (76) · Grand Final date: September 27 at MCG · Official source: AFL.com.au

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

The table below consolidates five key facts about the AFL 2025 fixture, drawing from official and authoritative sources.

Five key facts about the AFL 2025 fixture
Detail Value Source
Season 2025 AFL Premiership Wikipedia 2025 season page
Start date March 7, 2025 ESPN match preview
End date September 27, 2025 Wikipedia 2025 season page
Official site afl.com.au/fixture AFL official page
Opening result Sydney 11.10 (76) Sporting News results archive
Rounds structure 23-match home-and-away over 25 rounds plus four-week finals series Wikipedia season overview
Thursday night matches 23 of 25 rounds Wikipedia season overview

AFL 2025 fixture release date

The AFL released the 2025 fixture in stages rather than all at once. Optus Stadium announced that the first 15 rounds were published ahead of the season, with matches starting March 16, 2025. A subsequent release covered rounds 16 to 23, which included the 61st Western Derby on July 26.

Official announcement timeline

  • Early 2024: AFL announced first 15 rounds of the 2025 fixture (Optus Stadium initial release)
  • Pre-Round 16, 2025: Rounds 16-23 released with venue details (Optus Stadium rounds 16-23 announcement)
  • Round 24 date at Optus Stadium remained unconfirmed during rounds 16-23 release (Optus Stadium venue update)

Accessing the latest updates

The official AFL fixtures and results page at AFL.com.au hosts the primary source for all match schedules. The site also provides fixture downloads, though the 2026 season PDF was already being promoted on the platform as of the 2025 season’s conclusion.

What this means: the AFL’s phased release approach gave clubs and fans gradual clarity rather than a complete picture upfront, which has implications for travel planning and venue logistics throughout the season.

AFL 2025 fixture results

With the 2025 season now complete, a full results archive is available. Opening Round kicked off on March 7, and the Grand Final wrapped the premiership race on September 27 at the MCG.

Opening Round outcomes

  • March 7: Sydney defeated Hawthorn by 20 points at SCG (ESPN match report)
  • March 13: Richmond defeated Carlton 13.4 (82) to 9.15 (69) at MCG (Sporting News match results)
  • March 14: Hawthorn defeated Essendon 17.9 (111) to 12.13 (85) at MCG (Sporting News match results)
  • March 15: Geelong defeated Fremantle 23.9 (147) to 10.9 (69) at GMHBA Stadium (Sporting News match results)

Preliminary finals results

  • September 12: Adelaide defeated Hawthorn 10.7 (67) to 14.10 (101) at Adelaide Oval (Sporting News finals coverage)
  • September 13: Brisbane defeated Gold Coast 14.16 (100) to 6.11 (47) at Gabba (Sporting News finals coverage)
  • September 19: Geelong defeated Hawthorn 17.13 (115) to 13.7 (85) at MCG (Sporting News finals coverage)
  • September 20: Brisbane defeated Collingwood 15.10 (100) to 11.7 (71) at MCG (Sporting News finals coverage)

What this means: Geelong and Brisbane emerged as the preliminary final winners, setting up their Grand Final clash on September 27.

The upshot

Geelong (2022 winners) and Collingwood (2023 winners) both failed to qualify for the 2025 finals, while Brisbane entered as defending premiers — the Lions ultimately proved their mettle by reaching the Grand Final.

AFL 2025 fixture predictions

Looking at the fixture ahead of the season, several matchups stood out as must-watch material. ESPN highlighted key games from the first month, while the structure of the fixture revealed broader patterns worth tracking.

Expert must-watch games

  • Sydney vs Brisbane in Round 1 on March 15 at SCG (ESPN fixture analysis)
  • Opening Round: Sydney vs Hawthorn on March 7, 7:40pm at SCG (ESPN fixture analysis)
  • Hawthorn vs GWS in Round 3 on March 29, 7:35pm at UTAS (ESPN fixture analysis)

Key Optus Stadium matchups

  • West Coast vs Gold Coast on March 16, 3:10pm in Round 1 (Optus Stadium fixture list)
  • Fremantle vs Sydney Swans on March 23, 3:10pm in Round 2 (Optus Stadium fixture list)
  • Western Derby on March 30, 3:10pm in Round 3 (Optus Stadium fixture list)
  • West Coast vs Essendon on Good Friday, April 18, Round 6 (Optus Stadium fixture list)
  • Fremantle vs Adelaide on ANZAC Day evening, April 25, Round 7 (Optus Stadium fixture list)
  • 61st Western Derby on July 26, Round 20 (Optus Stadium rounds 16-23 announcement)

The pattern: Thursday night matches appeared in 23 of 25 rounds, with Sunday night matches in nine of the first 16 rounds — making midweek viewing a structural fixture of the 2025 season rather than an exception.

AFL 2025 fixture PDF download

Finding a downloadable PDF of the AFL 2025 fixture requires knowing where to look. The official AFL site provides fixture data but not a direct 2025 PDF, while third-party services fill that gap with multiple format options.

Official PDF sources

The AFL.com.au fixtures page hosts the official schedule and results, with download functionality available. However, the platform was already promoting the 2026 season PDF by the time the 2025 season concluded — a known limitation for those seeking the past season’s file.

For state-level leagues, the Queensland AFL offers a separate 2025 fixture PDF as an example of regional league documentation.

Download options from third-party sites

The trade-off: official sources are authoritative but limited in download options, while third-party services provide machine-readable formats but carry lower source authority.

Why this matters

Fans planning travel or fantasy leagues often need offline fixture files — the gap between the official site’s display-only format and third-party downloadable options is a genuine pain point that the AFL has not yet addressed with a dedicated 2025 PDF.

AFL 2025 ladder

The AFL 2025 ladder updated after each round based on match results, with the final standings determined through the four-week finals series. The defending premiers Brisbane Lions ultimately reached the Grand Final, while Geelong advanced from the other bracket.

Current standings integration

Live ladder data is available through AFL.com.au alongside the fixture page, though historical 2025 ladder archives are not always preserved in the same location as the 2025 season PDF.

Fixture impact on ladder

Nine of the first 16 rounds featured Sunday night matches, and Thursday night games appeared in 23 of 25 rounds — this scheduling concentration affected travel fatigue and recovery windows for teams playing multiple short-gap matches.

The implication: teams with heavy Thursday night commitments faced a cumulative rest disadvantage that played into final ladder positions, particularly for clubs based outside Victoria traveling to Optus Stadium or other distant venues.

The AFL has today released the first 15 rounds of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixtures, and we have some huge matches to look forward to!

— Optus Stadium, venue announcement, 2024

The AFL has today released the fixtures for rounds 16 to 23 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

— Optus Stadium, venue announcement, 2025

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Fans tracking the AFL 2025 season can reference the 2025 AFL live scores guide for up-to-date fixtures, results, and ladder positions alongside official PDFs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the start date for AFL 2025 fixtures?

The 2025 AFL season officially started on March 7, 2025, with Opening Round featuring Sydney vs Hawthorn at SCG. (Wikipedia)

How to access AFL 2025 fixture results?

The official AFL fixtures and results page at AFL.com.au provides the primary source, with complete results from all rounds including finals available through the platform.

Are AFL 2025 fixtures available as PDF?

No dedicated 2025 AFL PDF was found on the official site; the platform promotes the 2026 season PDF. Third-party services like FixtureDownload offer the schedule in CSV, XLSX, ICS, and JSON formats.

What are the top AFL 2025 fixture predictions?

Key matchups highlighted by ESPN included Sydney vs Brisbane in Round 1, the Opening Round Sydney vs Hawthorn clash, and the Hawthorn vs GWS fixture in Round 3. (ESPN)

How does the AFL 2025 ladder update?

The ladder updates after each round based on match results, with standings available through AFL.com.au. The 2025 season concluded with Brisbane and Geelong in the Grand Final on September 27.

When was the AFL 2025 fixture released?

The AFL released the first 15 rounds in early 2024, with rounds 16 to 23 announced in 2025 before Round 16 began. (Optus Stadium)

What are the postponed AFL 2025 games?

Brisbane Lions’ Opening Round match was postponed, and Gold Coast’s scheduled match was also listed as postponed during the initial fixture announcements. (Wikipedia)

For fans tracking the 2026 season, the choice is straightforward: check AFL.com.au first for the official schedule, then cross-reference with FixtureDownload if you need downloadable formats — the official site leads on authority, the third-party service leads on utility.