The 2025 AFL season was littered with classic fixtures and dramatic matches, with post-siren winners and defining final-minute plays combining to create another memorable season.
Before we look toward 2026, we recap some of the best encounters of the year, counting down the 10 greatest games of 2025.
Starting at 10, here's our ranking of the 10 best games from the year that was...
5Gold Coast vs Adelaide, Round 4
A rivalry is building between these two sides, with each contest having some heat and choice words shared by the pair of playing groups.
The Crows ended the year with bragging rights thanks to a strong Round 19 win over the Suns at Adelaide Oval, but the earlier clash between the two this year went the other way in thrilling, yet controversial, fashion.
Not for the first time, the game's aftermath saw the AFL concede the Crows should have seen an alternate ending due to a misjudged umpiring decision, with Izak Rankine not awarded possession for a last-minute marking contest in his side's forward 50.
The dying moments that followed were encapsulating as Mac Andrew and Riley Thilthorpe went head-to-head, with the former getting the win as the Crows struggled to find the hands of their spearhead, who ended the day with five goals to his name.
"I've got no issues with getting into a forward, but I thought he lacked class both in that moment and after the game where he took it too far."
Matthew Lloyd wasn't impressed with Mac Andrew's fiery exchange with Riley Thilthorpe.#9AFLSFS – Watch on Nine & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/go9J6B346f
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 6, 2025
The pair were happy to exchange words throughout the game, and Andrew delivered a sarcastic thumbs-up to his opponent after the final siren to pour salt in the wound of the Crows forward.
