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The 20 biggest AFL storylines of 2025
From coach sackings to marathon tribunal hearings, retirements of stars to a wild trade and free agency period, the 2025 AFL season had it all. Here are the 20 biggest and most compelling storylines.
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TOP HEADLINES
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LOOKING AHEAD
Way-too-early predictions: Our picks for 2026 premier, best and fairest, and more
Roos to go back-to-back-to-back? Who wins the best and fairest? Which team will fall? While so much can happen over the offseason, ESPN's AFLW experts have nevertheless turned their attention to 2026 for their way-too-early predictions.
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2026 DRAFT CLASS
Way-too-early AFL Draft Power Rankings: The top 10 for 2026
Twelve months out from the 2026 AFL Draft, this is ESPN's way-too-early top 10 prospects to track.
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HOW DID YOUR CLUB FARE?
AFLW SEASON REVIEW
Pass or fail? How each AFLW club fared in season 2025
Who nailed their season and who's got a long summer ahead? Isadora McLeay hands out a pass or fail verdict for every AFLW team whose season is done and dusted for 2025.
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2025 DRAFT IN REVIEW
Grading every club's selections at the AFL Draft
The 2025 AFL Draft has been run, but which team won? ESPN's draft expert Jasper Chellappah has cast his eye over every club and handed down a grade. Who takes out the lone A+?
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AFL DRAFT
AFL Draft 2025: Inside the bids, trades and chaos that made up the first round
The AFL Draft promised chaos and delivered in spades. With nine bids and a last-gasp live trade changing its complexion, this is the inside story of how the first round played out.
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AFL Draft as it happened: Every first-round pick and analysis
The AFL Draft offers hope to all 18 fanbases. Follow our live blog as we bring you all of the news, analysis, pick swaps, player quotes, and more from Marvel Stadium.
AFLW
'I've never had this much fun': Carlton's culture shift paying dividends
Footy's fixture dilemma: fairness or tradition? You can't have both
Top Headlines
- Larkey to take over from Simpkin as Roos captain
- Dockers secure Zanker in bumper AFLW trade
- Divisive Tasmania AFL stadium gets green light
- AFL premiership stars speak in footy fraud case
- New Cat Buckley still dreams of AFL coaching job
- Roos complete perfect year with GF triumph
- Essendon star Nic Martin ruled out for 2026
- Irish boom could prompt AFLW international game
- Fifth man charged after Brownlow betting scandal
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Way-too-early AFL Draft Power Rankings: The top 10 for 2026
Twelve months out from the 2026 AFL Draft, this is ESPN's way-too-early top 10 prospects to track.
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Listen to the ESPN Footy Podcast
Join ESPN's footy team for some of the best AFL and AFLW analysis and insight on the ESPN Footy Podcast.
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Every AFL club's best and fairest winner for season 2025
The 2025 AFL season might be done and dusted on the field, but now it's time to crown each club's best and fairest winner. So, who was your team's top performer of the year?
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Ranking every AFL after-the-siren winning goal since 2000
Since the turn of the millennium, there have been 32 after-the-siren goals kicked which have won the game. We've ranked them -- taking into account shot difficulty, context of the match, conditions, and more to determine which clutch kick rules them all.
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The AFL's best at everything: Picking the top players at 61 different skills
Best kick on the run? Most elusive player? Boundary line specialist? Best swingman? We named the AFL's standout in 61 specific skills.
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'Exactly what we need': How Aussie Rules helped make ESPN a live sport juggernaut
When ESPN was a fledgling station without any meaningful TV rights, it needed content. Enter Aussie Rules football and the VFL, and a partnership which left a lasting impact on both league and broadcaster, writes Shannon Gill.
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AFL player record holders, statistical leaders, and more
Who has played the most AFL games? Who has kicked the most AFL goals? Here are the league leaders in history for all the stats that matter.
