AFL Fixture 2025: Every game locked in, see who your team plays and where

The full AFL fixture has been revealed for 2025 — with a host of big changes from previous years. Check out where your club will be playing and when here.

• Analysis: Carlton big winners in 2025 fixture

The AFL has backed-in the ‘Showtime’ Hawks to live up to their prime time billing next season and defended the call to put the Ken Hinkley grudge match under lights.

Hawthorn was gifted four Friday night and three Thursday night matches starting with three marquee slots across the opening three rounds of the new season.

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Hawthorn started last season 0-5 and will face tough opposition in the first five rounds this year, but fixture boss Josh Bowler said Sam Mitchell’s men deserved the chance to shine on the main stage after their thrilling rise in 2024.

“They (Hawthorn) were a goal away from the prelim final and play an exciting brand of footy,” Bowler said.

“People like seeing exciting footy so we like to put those (clubs) in the big slots.”

However, there was concern over the decision to schedule the Hawks against Port Adelaide on a standalone Sunday night spot in Gather Round.

Hokball is coming to primetime in 2025.

The contest will almost certainly reignite the feud between the two clubs after Hinkley’s stoush with Hawthorn players after the final siren of Port’s thrilling semi-final win last season.

Hinkley was fined $20,000 for the verbal blast which was a sore point for Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and became one of the biggest stories of the final series.

But Bowler said the decision to put the Port-Hawthorn contest in a marquee slot was not hypocritical of the league or related in any way to the Hinkley spice.

“No, not at all. It’s all about the match-up,” he said.

“But ultimately you guys and the fans can decide on that part of it (rivalry).

“We try to schedule the big matches from the final series in big slots, so we have got Brisbane-Geelong to open the season which was another big prelim and that final went down to a goal.

“So, what a way to finish Gather Round.”

Carlton also feature prominently in the marquee slots across the first 16 rounds with three Thursday night and three Friday night matches.

Collingwood, which starts the season with back-to-back six-day breaks, and another short lead-in in Round 6, are also slated on three Thursday nights and four Friday nights.

Bowler said the AFL was excited to showcase the game on 23 Thursday nights in total, more prime time Sunday nights, and throughout the season live on Saturdays on Foxtel.

Caleb Daniel will play his first match as a Roo against his old club. Picture: Michael Klein

Dan Houston will play his first game as a Magpie in round 1 against Port Adelaide. Picture: Collingwood FC

As the Herald Sun revealed on Wednesday, ‘Super Saturday’ on Fox Footy in Round 1 will include the grand final replay between Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions and Caleb Daniel and Dan Houston’s first games against their old sides under lights.

The Dreamtime at the G game between Essendon and Richmond has also been moved from a Saturday night to a Friday night for the first time.

Bowler said the AFL was pleased with the balance of coverage in 2025 including the Dreamtime switch.

“There is not regular Saturday night footy on free to air (television) this year on Channel 7 so that time slot has moved to a Thursday night,” Bowler said.

“Dreamtime is a pretty significant game for the industry of national interest and we wanted to make sure it was in the biggest slot possible so as many people across the country can enjoy it.

“We think it will be a great evolution of ‘Dreamtime’.”

Bowler also indicated Opening Round was likely to stay in the northern states in years to come.

“It was highly successful last year and we expect it to be no different this year,” he said.

“It is a great way to start the competition in Queensland and New South Wales so I don’t see it going anywhere.”

All times AEDT until Saturday, April 5, then AEST from Sunday, April 6.

Originally published as AFL Fixture 2025: Every game locked in, see who your team plays and where