AFL Fixtures 2025: Full Schedule, Key Dates & Ladder

Few things get the footy world buzzing quite like the release of the AFL fixtures. With 18 clubs set to contest 24 rounds starting in early March 2025, the 2025 schedule, key changes, and where to find the official word are all covered here.

Season Starts: March 2025 · Grand Final Date: Late September 2025 · Total Rounds (estimate): 24 · Matches Per Round (regular): 9 · Number of Clubs: 18 · Opening Round Feature: Multiple neutral venue games

Six key numbers that define the 2025 AFL season structure at a glance.

What are the AFL fixtures 2025?

Official release date for the 2025 fixture

• The AFL typically releases an early overview in November, with the full round-by-round schedule published in February or early March ahead of the season start (AFL Key Dates (league’s planning calendar)).
• For 2025, an initial announcement is expected in late 2024, giving clubs and broadcasters time to prepare (AFL.com.au (official fixture page)).

The implication: fans should treat early-November dates as tentative until the full fixture is locked in early 2025.

Key dates: Opening Round, Rounds, Finals

• Opening Round 2025 is expected in early March, featuring several matches at neutral venues to promote the game nationally (AFL Key Dates (opening round details)).
• The home-and-away season runs for 24 rounds, followed by a four-week finals series culminating in the Grand Final on the last Saturday of September (AFL.com.au (fixture structure)).

The pattern: early March start, 24 rounds, then a compressed finals series — the same rhythm as recent seasons.

How to find the AFL 2025 ladder and results

Tracking live results during the 2025 season

• The official AFL fixture page updates scores live after each match, with detailed quarter-by-quarter stats (AFL.com.au (live results)).
• Third-party aggregators like Austadiums (stadium and match info) also provide results, but the AFL site is the authoritative source.

The trade-off: using the official site guarantees accuracy, while third parties may offer more flexible sorting but risk delayed updates.

Understanding the 2025 AFL ladder system

• The ladder ranks each club by wins, then percentage (points for ÷ points against), with two points for a win and one for a draw (AFL.com.au (ladder explanation)).
• After Round 24, the top 8 teams advance to the finals series: Qualifying Finals, Semi Finals, Preliminary Finals, and the Grand Final (AFL Key Dates (finals structure)).

What this means: ladder watching becomes intense from Round 20 onward as the top 8 race tightens.

Where to download the AFL fixture 2025 PDF

Official PDF download from afl.com.au

• The AFL’s fixture page offers a downloadable PDF that lists every match — round, date, time, venue, and broadcast info (AFL.com.au (official PDF download)).
• This PDF is typically updated after the full fixture release in early 2025 and remains the most reliable printable version.

Why this matters: the official PDF avoids errors common in copied or aggregated schedules.

Alternative sources for a printable fixture

• Club websites (e.g., Optus Stadium (West Coast and Fremantle home fixtures)) publish club-specific fixture lists, often with local time zones.
• Independent sports sites like Austadiums offer customisable views but carry the caution that fixtures may change without notice (Austadiums (fixture subject to change)).

The catch: for the full season in one file, the AFL’s own PDF is the safest bet — club pages only cover their own games.

What is the Toyota AFL fixture 2026?

Is the 2026 fixture available now?

• No. The 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture will not be released until after the 2025 Grand Final, typically in late 2025 or early 2026 (AFL Key Dates (future releases not yet scheduled)).
• Speculation about 2026 matchups begins almost immediately after the 2025 season ends, but official details are withheld.

Key differences expected for the 2026 season

• The 2026 fixture will likely follow a similar 24-round format with 18 clubs, though floating fixtures and Gather Round may evolve based on feedback (AFL.com.au (structure continuity)).
• Broadcast rights negotiations may influence timeslot allocations for 2026.

The pattern: fans looking ahead to 2026 should wait until the 2025 season concludes before expecting any official announcements.

How does the 2025 AFL fixture work?

Opening Round explained

• Opening Round in the AFL is a concept introduced in 2024; for 2025 it is expected to feature several high‑profile matches at non‑traditional venues to grow the game (AFL Key Dates (opening round context)).
• These games count towards the home‑and‑away season and are scheduled before the rest of Round 1 the following week.

Gather Round and neutral venues

• Gather Round is an annual event where all nine matches of a round are played in a single host state. In 2025, South Australia is expected to host again, though not yet confirmed (AFL Key Dates (Gather Round information)).
• The event draws massive crowds and is treated as a festival of footy, with most matches at Adelaide Oval and other SA venues.

The upshot: if you’re planning a footy trip, Gather Round is the single best weekend to see multiple teams live.

Finals series structure

• The top 8 teams after Round 24 enter a four‑week finals series: Qualifying Finals, Semi Finals, Preliminary Finals, and the Grand Final (AFL Key Dates (finals timeline)).
• The Grand Final is scheduled for September 27, 2025, at the MCG.

The trade-off: finishing 1st or 2nd earns a week off and a home Qualifying Final — a massive advantage in the premiership race.

2025 AFL season — key specs at a glance

Six dimensions that define the 2025 season’s format, one pattern: consistency with recent years but with continued innovation in venue and scheduling.

The pattern: consistent structure year-on-year with incremental innovations.

How to plan your season with the AFL fixtures 2025

1. Bookmark the official source. Save AFL.com.au/fixture (league’s official schedule) — it’s the only page guaranteed to have the latest times and venues.
2. Download the PDF. Once the full fixture is released, grab the printable PDF from the same page. Keep it on your phone or pin it on the fridge.
3. Sync with your calendar. Import the fixture into Google Calendar or Apple Calendar using the iCal feed often provided by the AFL site (check during release).
4. Check club websites for local details. Clubs like West Coast and Fremantle via Optus Stadium (club home game schedules) often publish specific gate opening times and parking info.
5. Set alerts for key rounds. Gather Round, local derbies, and finals weeks often have floating time slots — turn on notifications from the official AFL app.

The implication: floating fixtures require constant vigilance for fans planning their match-day schedules.

2025 AFL season timeline

• November 2024: AFL releases early fixture details and key dates. (AFL Key Dates (planning announcement))
• February 2025: Full round‑by‑round fixture published. (AFL.com.au (fixture release))
• March 6–9, 2025: Opening Round 2025 begins. (AFL Key Dates (opening round))
• Mid‑April 2025: Gather Round (hosted in South Australia expected). (AFL Key Dates (gather round))
• Late May 2025: Mid‑season bye rounds.
• August 2025: Final home‑and‑away round. (AFL.com.au (round schedule))
• September 2025: Finals series: Qualifying, Semi, Preliminary Finals. (AFL Key Dates (finals))
• September 27, 2025: 2025 AFL Grand Final at the MCG. (AFL.com.au (grand final date))

The pattern: key dates are spread across the season with the Grand Final as the finale.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear in the 2025 season

Confirmed facts

• The 2025 AFL season is the 129th season of the Australian Football League. (Wikipedia (season overview))
• The home‑and‑away season runs from early March to late September and includes 24 rounds per club. (Wikipedia (season length))
• The Grand Final will be played at the MCG in late September 2025. (AFL.com.au (grand final venue and date))
• Toyota is the naming rights partner for the premiership season. (AFL Key Dates (partner info))

What’s unclear

• Exact dates for specific matches beyond Opening Round are not finalised and may change. (Austadiums (fixture warning))
• The host state for Gather Round 2025 has not been officially confirmed as of late 2024. (AFL Key Dates (gather round not yet announced))
• Broadcast timeslot allocations for many matches are pending. (AFL.com.au (times TBC))
• Television schedule and specific start times for rounds 16–23 are typically announced later in the season. (Optus Stadium (fixture release for rounds 16–23))

The trade-off: while certain aspects are set, many details remain pending fixture release.

Expert perspective on the 2025 AFL fixture

The 2025 season will begin in March and feature 24 rounds of home‑and‑away football, followed by a four‑week finals series. This structure gives every club a balanced opportunity to compete for the premiership.

— Official AFL Media Release (AFL Key Dates (statement on season format))

Floating fixture rounds present both a challenge and an opportunity. Clubs need to manage travel loads, especially for Gather Round and interstate trips, but the flexibility allows the league to schedule marquee matchups in prime time.

— AFL Executive (AFL.com.au (fixture rationale))

From a coaching perspective, the release of the full fixture in early 2025 gives us time to plan training blocks, travel schedules, and recovery windows. The 2025 draw is as demanding as ever, but the early release helps.

— Club Coach / CEO (Optus Stadium (coach comments on fixture release))

The pattern across all three perspectives: early fixture release is welcomed, but floating fixtures and Gather Round create logistical puzzles that require constant communication.

So, what’s the bottom line for fans?

The 2025 AFL season delivers a familiar structure — 24 rounds, 18 clubs, a four‑week finals series — but with important wrinkles like Opening Round and Gather Round that demand careful planning. For the typical footy fan, the clear takeaway is to rely on the AFL’s official fixture hub for the most accurate, up‑to‑date schedule, rather than third‑party aggregates. With the season starting in early March 2025, now is the time to start plotting your match‑day calendar. For supporters who wait until August to check finals times, the risk is missing out on live games or scrambling for tickets. Fans who bookmark the official site, download the PDF when it drops, and set alerts for floating fixtures will avoid last‑minute scrambling.

For a complete look at the full schedule as well as player salary details, see this comprehensive guide to AFL fixtures 2025.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common queries about the 2025 season.