The AFL landscape was once again defined by storylines of significance in 2025.
Paradigm-altering trades, moments of individual brilliance and administrative decision-making were just some of the sagas to fuel the perpetual news cycle this season.
So with most of the year in the rearview mirror, let's count down the 10 biggest stories of 2025, with some honourable mentions to kick us off!
Honourable mentions
- Richmond's Round 1 win over Carlton
- Jeremy Cameron's pursuit of the elusive 100-goal season
- The departure of Melbourne's dynamic midfield duo of Petracca and Oliver
- AFL scraps the bounce as the method of restarting play
- Tasmania's stadium gets parliament approval
9The greatest comeback in history
The St Kilda Saints completed the largest three-quarter-time comeback in V/AFL history, overcoming the Melbourne Demons under the roof at Marvel Stadium, having trailed by a seemingly insurmountable 46 points at the last change.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera played one of the greatest individual quarters of all time to power the Saints to victory, recording 10 disposals, six score involvements, 302 metres gained and the final two goals of the contest to overrun a tired Demons outfit, who would dismiss Simon Goodwin just over a week later.
In a quirk that reignited debate about the Brownlow Medal's legitimacy, Wanganeen-Milera was not awarded the full three votes for his all-time performance, condemning Jack Viney to a lifetime as the answer to that trivia question.
