It’s not long now until Round 1 of the 2025 VFL season kicks off when Box Hill take on Carlton at Ikon Park on Friday night.
Over the off-season six players from VFL lists in 2024 made it onto AFL lists through the National Draft, and then some more through SSP selections over the preseason.
There has also been a lot of player movement with many new recruits at VFL clubs, including players from the Talent League, local football and a strong group of 2024 AFL listed players.
Here’s how your team is shaping up going into VFL 2025.
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Box Hill
Coach: Zane Littlejohn
After finishing the 2024 season with a 12-6 record, the Hawks will be thereabouts again in the finals mix in 2025.
In his third season at the helm Zane Littlejohn, who also coaches the Victorian side, has brought in a lot of strong talent over the off-season, which will create a fierce competition for spots.
AFL-listed recruits: Sam Durdin (Carlton), Ethan Stanley (Fremantle)
2025 Prediction: 3rd
Brisbane Lions
Coach: Ben Hudson
After making their third straight preliminary final in 2024, the Lions will be hoping to finally take the next step and make a grand final in 2025.
Chasing their first reserves flag since the 2019 NEAFL season, coach Ben Hudson has added to his squad with a mix of experience and some strong talent from the club’s Academy program.
AFL-listed recruits: Harry Arnold (Sydney)
2025 Prediction: 2nd
Carlton
Coach: Luke Power
The Blues really struggled in the 2024 VFL season, with only one win from their first 12 games before finishing with a 4-14 record.
With some ex-AFL talent added to the squad they will add to the depth they didn’t have last season – but it probably won’t be enough to spark a rise up the ladder.
AFL-listed recruits: Cooper Hamilton (GWS), Denver Grainger-Barras (Hawthorn), Ethan Phillips (Hawthorn), Cooper Vickery (Sydney)
2025 Prediction: 13th
Casey
Coach: Taylor Whitford
With some added talent to their list, Casey would be hoping to rectify their 5-13 performance in 2024.
The Demons’ fortunes in 2025 are very hard to predict compared to most sides – one thing that will help will be them winning at home, having finished 2-7 playing at Casey Fields in 2024.
AFL-listed recruits: Mitch Hardie (Geelong), Riley Bonner (St Kilda)
2025 Prediction: 19th
Coburg
Coach: Jamie Cassidy-McNamara
Coburg were big improvers in season 2024, finishing with a 4-14 record and also pushing some stronger sides.
This season will be hopefully another one of improvement, as they hope to creep up the table; this will be aided by adding a few former AFL-listed players.
AFL-listed recruits: Jack Bytel (Collingwood), Matthew Allison (St Kilda), Joe Furphy (Geelong)
2025 Prediction: 15th
Collingwood
Coach: Andy Otten
Season 2024 was a very disappointing season for the Magpies.
In 2025, they have bolstered their list with some ex AFL listed players and some solid state talent, and could really push up the table in 2025.
AFL-listed recruits: Curtis Taylor (North), Josh Bennetts (Hawthorn)
2025 Prediction: 16th
Essendon
Coach: Cameron Joyce
After the Bombers ended the 2024 season just outside the wildcard spots on the VFL table with a 9-9 record, Cameron Joyce comes in as a new coach, as well as some strong key position recruits.
Following a strong draft last season at AFL level, the new youngsters are going to play an important role in 2025.
AFL-listed recruits: Dom Akuei (Carlton), Tyler Sellers (North Melbourne)
2025 Prediction: 10th
Footscray
Coach: Stewart Edge
In a strong 2024, Footscray finished second on the ladder, before being knocked out by a red hot Southport side in the preliminary final.
They should be around the mark again in 2025 and have brought in some depth this season. If the Bulldogs can stay healthy, they could have a strong tilt at a premiership.
AFL-listed recruits: David Cuningham (Carlton)
2025 Prediction: 7th
Frankston
Coach: Jackson Kornberg
The surprise packets of 2024, the Dolphins made the finals for the first time in nearly ten years while also having multiple players in the VFL Team of the Year.
They kept the bulk of their squad from last season while also adding some big recruits, and will hope to pusher deeper into finals in 2025.
AFL-listed recruits: Will Hamill (Adelaide)
2025 Prediction: 8th
Geelong
Coach: Mark Corrigan
After finishing the home-and-away season in fourth place, the Cats were then bundled out of the VFL finals series in straight sets.
They have added some experienced state league talent to bolster the squad over the off-season, while also trying to cover for some key departures. The Cats will look to push into finals again and hopefully do better this time around.
AFL-listed recruits: Nathan Kreuger (Collingwood)
2025 Prediction: 5th
Gold Coast
Coach: Tate Kaesler
The 2023 VFL premiers had a disappointing end to 2024, getting eliminated in the Wildcard round by Frankston.
The Suns have been stable over the summer, adding to the experienced players they already have to guide a list full of Academy talent.
AFL-listed recruits: Hugh Greenwood (North Melbourne)
2025 Prediction: 12th
GWS
Coach: Wayne Cripps
After finishing 8-10 last season and missing the finals, the Giants have taken a different route to improving their list. The majority of their talent coming is from local level, in the Sydney competition, and then a few more from the Ovens & Murray League.
2025 Prediction: 18th
North Melbourne
Coach: Tom Lynch
North have recruited really well for season 2025 after a very disappointing 2024, finishing 15th. Adding multiple players from AFL lists will try to help cover the experienced talent they lost over the off-season.
With another large crop of youngsters added through the AFL draft, I see North missing finals again in 2025 – but coming closer than last year.
AFL-listed recruits: Oli Hotton (St Kilda), Darcy Macpherson (Gold Coast)
2025 Prediction: 11th
Northern Bullants
Coach: Rohan Welsh
2024 was another tough season for the Bullants, in which they only managed two wins.
2025 is looking like going on similar lines; they kept their star players, but besides that have endured a lot of turnover within the squad. To compensate, they have added a lot of young, inexperienced VFL players and local football stars.
2025 Prediction: 21st
Port Melbourne
Coach: Brendan McCartney
Port Melbourne in 2025 are moving into a new era after a difficult 2024. The club has brought in ex AFL senior coaches Brendan McCartney and James Hird to run the program.
Along with this, they have had a massive list turnover and added many former AFL-listed players.
With the amount of talent on their list, Port Melbourne should make finals in 2025.
AFL-listed recruits: Dyson Heppell (Essendon), Charlie Lazzaro (North Melbourne), Tex Wanganeen (Essendon), James Van Es (St Kilda), Kaine Baldwin (Essendon), Jayden Davey (Essendon), Dominic Bedendo (Western Bulldogs)
2025 Prediction: 9th
Richmond
Coach: Jake Batchelor
Former Tiger Jake Batchelor comes in as the new coach of the Richmond VFL side in 2025, who will look to just get improvement out of the Tigers’ fresh crop of young players.
With a big list turnover at AFL level, a lot of experience lost and a host of new youngsters joining the club, the Tigers will most likely struggle in 2025.
2025 Prediction: 17th
Sandringham
Coach: Brendon Goddard
Brendon Goddard will have a very tough ask in his first season as coach of Sandringham, as very few remain from their 2024 VFL list.
His side will be full of inexperienced youngsters and there could be a lot of changes most weeks between St Kilda’s VFL and AFL teams. Hopefully the list stays healthy and the Zebras can be competitive in games.
2025 Prediction: 20th
Southport
Coach: Matthew Primus
The grand finalists from last season will be strong again in 2025, having not only kept the majority of their list intact but adding some more experience to the fold.
Coach Steve Daniels is a loss but new coach Matthew Primus has already spent multiple seasons with the program, so it should be a smooth transition. They will look to make the grand final again in 2025.
AFL-listed recruits: Hewago Oea (Gold Coast)
2025 Prediction: 1st
Sydney
Coach: Jarrad McVeigh
The Swans kept a lot of their 2024 AFL squad intact, but what they did lose was some experienced VFL players.
The majority of their additions are former Swans Academy members coming through for their first taste of VFL football. New coach Jarrad McVeigh will have a tough ask in 2025 guiding a very young side, and will rely a lot on the health of their AFL-listed players.
2025 Prediction: 14th
Werribee
Coach: Jimmy Allan
The 2024 VFL premiers have had a huge off-season, with three premiership players now on AFL lists.
A big group have also decided to move on, and the club have added over 20 new players to the squad. Still with some premiership stars sticking around and an added host of youngsters, the Tigers should push for another finals berth in 2025.
2025 Prediction: 6th
Williamstown
Coach: Justin Plapp
The Seagulls have kept the bulk of their squad intact from 2024. After finishing in the wildcard spot, they pushed the Lions in the semi-finals, nearly making a preliminary final.
They have added some former AFL-listed players and quality youngsters from the Talent League and look ready to make a push deep into finals in 2025.
AFL-listed recruits: Lachlan Gollant (Adelaide), Carter Michael (Brisbane)
2025 Prediction: 4th
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