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
3Melbourne bid Goodwin goodbye
The Melbourne Demons parted ways with one of just four premiership-winning coaches in their history mid-year. Simon Goodwin was shown the door in early August, with assistant coach Troy Chaplin taking the reins in an interim capacity for the final rounds of the season, before well-travelled assistant coach Steven King was unveiled as the permanent replacement in mid-September.
Goodwin's departure put a bow on that iteration of Melbourne's playing list, less than four years after their drought-breaking premiership in 2021, following consecutive straight sets finals exits in 2022 and 2023, and missing finals altogether in 2024; a September record that is a far cry from the talks of a dynasty that characterised the flag celebrations of 2021.
