The 2025 AFL season begins this week, so it's time to look at every club and determine just what constitutes a 'pass' this year. Make finals? Avoid the wooden spoon? Win the premiership?
Our ESPN football writers have surveyed the field and given their pass marks for each club ahead of the season.
Adelaide
2025 pass mark: Play finals
It's the same pass mark we gave them last season, a year that began with so much hype after an unlucky finish to 2023, and one that ended in utter disappointment. Put simply, the Crows underachieved based on expectations, and yet here we are once again looking at a side that, although finishing in the bottom four, still has one of the most potent forward lines in the game, class in the middle, most exemplified by Izak Rankine and Jordan Dawson, and important new recruits. It's a tough competition, but there just can't be any excuses for Matthew Nicks and the Crows this year.
Brisbane
2025 pass mark: Return to the Grand Final
When you're the reigning premier, the baseline for the following year is always returning to the Big Dance. When you're the reigning premier with an influx of best-23 talent returning from injury, then you really should have your sights set on going back-to-back. It's no surprise Brisbane is the favourite to repeat their effort in 2025, but it's a little unfair to set a premiership as a pass mark. Instead, we'll go with another Grand Final appearance, because anything short of that will likely feel like a failure for Chris Fagan's talent-laden side.
Carlton
2025 pass mark: Play in a preliminary final
The Blues made a preliminary final in 2023 and looked every bit a premiership threat again in 2024 before injuries took their toll late in the season, their embarrassing elimination final exit at the hands of Brisbane not truly reflective of their full potential. This year? Well, there's no excuses. Injuries have taken a toll in pre-season with Nic Newman and Jagga Smith ruled out for the year, but there's time to correct that and plug the holes ... just look at what the Lions managed last season. The Blues are still stacked with talent and have a plethora of stars in their prime. Anything less than another preliminary final appearance in 2025 would be underwhelming.
Collingwood
2025 pass mark: Make the most of the ageing list
They're all in. Like, really all in. The Magpies' premiership defence in 2024 ended in total disappointment, missing finals by percentage and finishing ninth on the ladder. But they've doubled down on experience, bringing in seasoned recruits such as Dan Houston, Harry Perryman, and Tim Membrey to bolster their current list's win-now potential, which still remains as high as ever. Craig McRae is coaching the oldest team, and the most experienced team in the competition, so the time to strike is now. If they fail to push deep into September, the cliff could be coming, and coming fast.
Essendon
2025 pass mark: Have a winning record post the mid-year bye
It's been the same old story for the Bombers in each of the last two seasons. The club has teased a return to finals might be on the cards with some stirring wins in the first half of the year, only to absolutely capitulate down the stretch and leave fans wondering if that finals win drought will ever be snapped. In 2023, the Bombers turned an 8-5 record into 11-12 by the end of the season. Last year, their 8-2-1 start morphed into 11-11-1. If Essendon is to take the next step in 2025, as many are boldly predicting, it cannot suffer another catastrophic drop off in the effort, performance, and result stakes. Instead, it needs to play until the final, final siren!
Fremantle
2025 pass mark: Win a final
Winning a final was something the Dockers achieved in season 2022, with basically the same team as they have now, before slipping to 14th in 2023. Last year they looked like a top-four threat, only to collapse in the final month and miss finals entirely. Now, with one of the strongest lists in the competition and the addition of two-time premiership player Shai Bolton, expectations are sky high. They have talent on every line and really should be contending for the flag, but given they haven't played finals in two years, the first step is simply winning one. With coach Justin Longmuir now on a strange, rolling contract, the pressure is on to turn potential into results.
Geelong
2025 pass mark: Avoid signs of slowing down
We know Geelong don't do rebuilds, and with 16 finals appearances from the last 18 seasons, a premiership in 2022, a preliminary final last year, and midfield dynamo Bailey Smith joining the fold, the expectation for a side that has built a reputation of sustained success should be hefty. Their pass mark isn't just making finals, either, it's proving they're still in the fight to win it all. Whether that means another deep September run or pushing for a top four spot throughout the home and away season, the challenge for the Cats is to show that their window isn't closing anytime soon. And let's be honest, it probably isn't.
Gold Coast
2025 pass mark: Snap the finals drought
Deja vu? The Suns are once again seeking that elusive finals berth, and until they break through, this will continue to be their pre-season pass mark. Damien Hardwick has now been at the helm for a full year, and with another preseason of instilling his game plan, improvement must be expected, particularly after a 13th-place finish that was actually closer to a finals berth than it may appear on paper. Gold Coast's away form, which saw them win just two of 11 matches on the road, remains a major of concern, but if they're able to turn just a couple of those losses into wins -- and maintain consistency at home -- a maiden finals appearance is well within reach in 2025.
GWS
2025 pass mark: Contend, and make amends
The Giants were one of the most baffling teams of 2024, finishing in the top four and clearly looking like a premiership threat before a disastrous straight-sets finals exit. Their 44-point capitulation against Brisbane in the semifinal and a blown 28-point lead against Sydney in the qualifying final left all footy fans both stunned and bemused. It's all anyone has been able to talk about this offseason. The talent across the Giants' list remains undeniable, and with a no-doubt burning desire to make up for last year's disappointing end, expect GWS to be back contending for the ultimate prize.
Hawthorn
2025 pass mark: Prove their rise in 2024 was not a fluke
After a couple of years finishing near the bottom of the ladder, it's fair to say Hawthorn shocked the AFL world last year by surging their way back into finals, doing so even after a dismal 0-5 start to the season. Throughout the middle stages of 2024, the Hawks were playing some of the most eye-catching football and looked every bit like one of the competition's best teams. Was it just an outlier, or are they truly legit? The inclusions of defensive posts Tom Barrass and Josh Battle definitely shores things up down back, and the eventual return of forgotten forward Mitch Lewis will be crucial, so one thing's for certain: expectations are higher. Let's see if these young players can handle it.
Melbourne
2025 pass mark: Give their stars a reason to stay
Melbourne's 2024 season was one of turmoil. There was the Clayton Oliver off-field drama and the star midfielder's desire to move on, Christian Petracca's post-injury frustrations, and the fact the Demons finished the season in the bottom five. Despite their 2021 premiership core still largely intact, Melbourne has failed to truly recapture the form that saw them claim that flag. With serious questions over the future of key players like Oliver, Petracca, and Kysaiah Pickett, Melbourne's 2025 pass mark is simple: provide their stars with a reason to stay at the club, and rediscover their finals brand of footy. If they can't do that, it could end up being another season of total dysfunction.
North Melbourne
2025 pass mark: Be in finals contention for most of the season
We'll put it to you this way: the Demons finished 14th last year, despite being just two wins off eighth place. No, it doesn't mean we believe the Roos will match that tally and win 11 games, but they should be good enough to at least be within touching distance of those finals positions for three quarters of the season. If they're a mathematical chance one month out from September, it's a win, and a clear step in the right direction after the acquisitions of Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel, and Jack Darling, and the natural improvement of young guns such as Harry Sheezel and Colby McKercher. The Roos have bucket loads of potential on every line, so it's about time we begin to see it all coming together on the field.
Port Adelaide
2025 pass mark: Send Ken Hinkley off in style
Port Adelaide is once again in the finals mix in Hinkley's final season at the helm. After another preliminary final appearance in 2024, expectations are high, but the Power's consistency, along with their genuine premiership credentials, is always the real question mark. The pressure is on for this club to not only make finals again, but make a deep run in September, sending Hinkley out with the kind of send-off he deserves after 13 years of solid service. It's been a long journey for Hinkley without capturing the ultimate prize, and 2025 should be about giving him the fairytale ending, or risk his tenure ending in more frustration for the Power faithful.
Richmond
2025 pass mark: The kids prove last year's draft haul was a success
When you go all-in on a particular draft, you'd really want to make sure you hit the mark on most selections. The Tigers parted ways with a heap of experience following the 2024 season, and it left them with the type of draft capital never before seen for a non-expansion team. Sam Lalor, Josh Smillie, Taj Hotton, Jonty Faull, Luke Trainor, and Harry Armstrong were the six first-round selections we'll (hopefully) see running around in the yellow and black this season, and there'd be nothing better if you're a Tigers fan than seeing glimpses of what's to come in the future, if anything to justify losing those premiership heroes.
St Kilda
2025 pass mark: Somehow, overachieve
It's difficult to make a strong case for St Kilda being competitive and pushing for finals this season. Their forward line looks thin, their midfield has question marks, and their injury list is already a nightmare before the season has even started. Ross Lyon's defensive game style has often come under scrutiny, too, and without obvious firepower inside 50 outside of Max King, Jack Higgins, Cooper Sharman, and Mitch Owens, it's tough to see where the scoring improvement actually comes from. Under Lyon, though, defence has usually held them in good stead. So maybe they can grind their way to an overachieving season and set the stage for a more realistic finals push in 2026 when some reinforcements are back and we have confidence their game plan is in good enough order.
Sydney
2025 pass mark: Another Grand Final appearance
After what they Swans have put their fans through in the past few seasons, with two catastrophic losses in the Big Dance, this pass mark really should read 'win the premiership, at last'. They're the modern-day perennial chokers on the big stage, but we'll cut them a tiny bit of slack, given they're consistently around the mark. In Dean Cox, Sydney has a new voice in the coaches box, but the talent is certainly still there, and they should be back in contention. At this point, anything less than reaching another Grand Final will probably feel like a disappointing step in the wrong direction.
West Coast
2025 pass mark: Build the type of nest Harley Reid won't want to leave
If Andrew McQualter can prove to Reid the future is worth waiting for, and turn potential into even slight progress this season, then that should be viewed as a monumental win for the club. West Coast is still in rebuild mode, so expectations of this still-developing squad need to remain low. Reid is a superstar in the making and it's inevitable Victorian clubs will come knocking for his signature (if they aren't already), so the Eagles need to show him something worth sticking around for. That could be many things, including gradual on-field improvement, a strong club culture, or simply telling him he is the undisputed face of the club who can lead the next dynasty.
Western Bulldogs
2025 pass mark: Don't let a tough start ruin the season
The Bulldogs always seem to be a difficult team to get a reading on. They've got the talent, as they've had for many years, but the are set to face some serious early-season hurdles. There's injuries to key players, including skipper Marcus Bontempelli, Liam Jones, Adam Treloar, and Jason Johannisen, a ridiculously tough opening five weeks, and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's curious absence from the club. Add in the fact out-of-contract coach Luke Beveridge is fighting for his future, and the Bulldogs would want to come out firing, or could very easily be playing catch up. Season 2025 has all of the makings of a drama-filled, topsy-turvy year for the Bulldogs, but get through the storm that is their first five matches with more wins than losses, and we'll do nothing but applaud.