AFL 2025 Finals Contenders: Can Anyone Stop Geelong and Adelaide?
The home-and-away season is done, and eight clubs remain in the hunt for the Premiership flag. Adelaide and Geelong lead the way, but the chasing pack is stacked with dangerous contenders. Here’s the ladder and how each side shapes up heading into September.
Current Top 8 (2025 AFL Ladder)
| Rank | Team | W | L | D | % | Points | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide Crows | 18 | 5 | 0 | 139.3 | 72 | W9 |
| 2 | Geelong Cats | 17 | 6 | 0 | 141.5 | 68 | W6 |
| 3 | Brisbane Lions | 16 | 6 | 1 | 114.2 | 66 | W2 |
| 4 | Collingwood | 16 | 7 | 0 | 122.4 | 64 | W1 |
| 5 | GWS Giants | 16 | 7 | 0 | 115.3 | 64 | W3 |
| 6 | Fremantle | 16 | 7 | 0 | 109.0 | 64 | W1 |
| 7 | Gold Coast Suns | 15 | 8 | 0 | 124.9 | 60 | W1 |
| 8 | Hawthorn | 15 | 8 | 0 | 120.9 | 60 | L1 |
Contenders in Focus
- Adelaide Crows: Nine wins straight, ruthless pressure, and a stingy defense led by Jordan Dawson make them the form side of the comp.
- Geelong Cats: With the league’s best percentage and Jeremy Cameron firing, Geelong enter September in ominous form despite questions about a soft run home.
- Brisbane Lions: A finals regular with balance across the park. A qualifying clash with Geelong looms as a massive test.
- Collingwood: Last year’s premiers still have Nick Daicos and finals nous, but stuttering form means they’ll need resilience.
- GWS Giants: Red-hot with nine wins from their last ten. Toby Greene and a stacked midfield make them the “dangerous floater.”
- Fremantle, Suns, Hawks: All capable of an upset. Freo’s midfield depth, Gold Coast’s speed, and Hawthorn’s grit give them paths to cause damage.
Key Matchups
- Adelaide v. Collingwood – minor premiers vs. reigning champs
- Geelong v. Brisbane – qualifying final packed with stars
- GWS v. Hawthorn & Fremantle v. Gold Coast – elimination battles with upset potential
Outlook: Adelaide and Geelong look bound for a collision course, but Collingwood’s pedigree, GWS’s hot streak, and Brisbane’s firepower mean the flag race is far from settled. The 2025 AFL Finals promise high drama and unforgettable football.