AFL Round 1: Sunday live updates and results
Two bargain rucks shape as must-have money-makers in SuperCoach this year, while the Demons unearthed another rookie gem. See all Sunday’s big SuperCoach takeaways.
Two thumpings and a nailbiter finished the first round of SuperCoach for 2025.
There were plenty of big scores for Crows and Suns but St Kilda and West Coast didn't get much of the SuperCoach pie, while GWS and Melbourne slugged out a thriller.
Here are six things we learned from a big Sunday to finish the first SuperCoach weekend of 2025.
Recap all the action in the blog below.
1. GET BOYD IN YOUR TEAM
If you’re part of the 43 per cent of SuperCoaches that didn’t have Harry Boyd in their team, ask yourself why.
Boyd took on the rucking duties for St Kilda against Adelaide with Rowan Marshall playing more forward, and finished with a very respectable 62 points.
Not bad for a $99,100 purchase with a Break Even of 18.
Unfortunately, most of the other Saints cheapies didn’t fare as well with Liam O’Connell finishing on 28 points, Angus Hastie 53 and Hugo Garcia 54.
2. MATT FLYNN WILL MAKE A LOT OF MONEY
He was smoked in the hitouts 68-13 by Jarrod Witts, but Matt Flynn battled all day in the ruck to finish with 87 points – very respectable at his price tag.
He faces another crafty ruck opponent in Oscar McInerney next round but then things should get easier with a game against Fremantle and Liam Reidy ... assuming Sean Darcy isn’t back from injury by then.
Regardless, if Flynn holds the No.1 ruck role he’s going to be one of the best money trains of 2025.
3. FINN IS NO FLASH IN THE PAN
Finn Callaghan couldn’t match his 144-point score from opening round, but he still did lots of brilliant things on his way to 104 against the Demons. If you started him, enjoy the score, the rest of SuperCoach land can prepare to bring him in after the Giants' bye next weekend – before what will the first of many sharp price increases for the GWS jet.
4. THE ROOKIE WE ALL MISSED
Xavier Lindsay flew under the radar all pre-season, but he’s firmly on it now after an eye-catching debut for the Demons.
Taken with pick 11 in last year’s draft, Lindsay looked slick off a wing and half-back, and looked headed for a SuperCoach ton before running out of gas late in the game to finish on 86 points from 22 disposals.
We get one more week to assess the rookie landscape before prices change, but factor in spending $158,500 to get Lindsay in the midfield before round 3.
5. JOSH RACHELE IS BACK IN TOWN
If there were any question marks about Josh Rachele’s mindset coming into the new season, he swiftly answered them.
The midfielder kicked two goals, notched 21 disposals and was involved in more than half of Adelaide’s goals.
It’s the sort of form that makes his current price of $343,900 seem like a steal after an opening round score of 107.
6. HILL FACES A HUGE CLIMB
Bradley Hill has some work to do to hit his Break Even over the first three weeks.
He was restricted to just six touches and a goal in the heavy defeat, netting him a score of just 17, well short of his 72 breakeven.
Life doesn’t get any easier with the Saints set to line up against Geelong in round two.
Originally published as AFL Round 1: Sunday live updates and results
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