Four games in two states will open the 2025 AFL season beginning in Brisbane

The Brisbane Lions will unfurl their premiership flag with a gap spherical Gabba conflict towards Geelong.

4 video games throughout two states will mark the second incarnation of the AFLs Opening Spherical to start the 2025 season.

Two video games in Queensland and two in NSW, the primary on Thursday, March 6, will open the brand new season earlier than all groups become involved in spherical 1 the next week.

The AFL is banking on Victorians eager for soccer to journey north, opening the season on the Labour Day lengthy weekend with 2024 shock packets Hawthorn and powerhouse golf equipment Essendon and Collingwood additionally concerned.

Hawthorn will tackle Sydney on the SCG on Friday evening, March 7, whereas on Saturday, March 8, the Gold Coast Suns will play Essendon at Folks First Stadium adopted by a Sunday conflict between the GWS Giants and Collingwood at Engie Stadium on March 9.

The primary full spherical of the season then begins the next week with the standard Richmond v Carlton fixture on the MCG on Thursday, March 13.

Below the fixture, which shall be launched in full this week, all 18 groups can have performed the identical variety of matches by the tip of spherical 4.

“After a profitable begin to the 2024 season, we stay up for persevering with the momentum in 2025 earlier than we head right into a blockbuster spherical of matches in spherical 1,” AFL boss Andrew Dillon declared.

“Footy is rising exponentially in NSW and Queensland – all 4 golf equipment noticed greater than 10 per cent development in membership this previous season and now we have seen neighborhood participation numbers develop a mixed 17 per cent this 12 months,” Dillon mentioned.

“We have been lucky to be ready the place we have been in a position to have entry to our main venues in Queensland and NSW a weekend sooner than traditional which gave us a novel alternative to create Opening Spherical and we’re thrilled these venues can be found to us once more for subsequent 12 months.

“Given this Opening Spherical weekend additionally falls on the Labour Day lengthy weekend in Victoria, it presents a terrific alternative for followers to journey north to assist their membership and revel in an prolonged interstate break.

“We proceed to attempt to have footy in each house across the nation, whether or not that be enjoying, teaching, umpiring, supporting or volunteering and beginning the season throughout Queensland and NSW will solely amplify this want.”

Opening Spherical 2025

Thursday, March 6

Brisbane v Geelong on the Gabba, 6.50pm AEST (7.50pm AEDT)

Friday, March 7

Sydney v Hawthorn on the SCG, 7.40pm AEDT

Saturday, March 8

Gold Coast v Essendon at Folks First Stadium, 4.15pm AEST (5.15pm AEDT)

Sunday, March 9

Larger Western Sydney v Collingwood at Engie Stadium, 3.20pm AEDT