The 2025 AFL season will kick off tomorrow night, with Round 0 taking place.
The SE Voice’s sports reporter Will Boston has grabbed the popcorn, ready to settle in to the new season, and has checked out the Limestone Coast’s finest ready to take the field for their clubs.
Jordan Dawson
Robe’s Jordan Dawson will be out to lead the Adelade Crows to their first finals appearance in seven years.
Since moving the Crows in 2022 Dawson has had a huge impact at the club, being named captain in 2023 and winning back to back club BNF’s.
Dawson has set himself as one of the top players in the league, coming off a great 2024 season where he averaged 24.5 disposals, five marks and 6.1 tackles a game while also polling 18 votes at the Brownlow.
After a season that had high expectations for the Crows, Dawson’s side missed out on finals, finishing 15th on the ladder.
With another year as captain under his belt Dawson will be hungry for finals this year.
Darcy Fogarty
Lucindale’s Darcy Fogarty will be looking to build off the success he had in 2024 as he continues to insert himself as the top man in the Crows forward line.
Fogarty had a career season last year where he averaged 10.9 disposals, 4.8 marks and 1.8 goals.
He ended the season as the team’s leading goal kicker for the first time in his career, kicking 41 goals in 23 games.
Fogarty continues to improve every year and 2025 will likely be no different, given he will be a key piece in the Crows’ success in 2025.
Mitch Hinge
Mundulla’s Mitch Hinge had the best season of his career last year.
Playing out of the backline Hinge averaged 22 disposals, 4.9 marks and 5.1 rebound 50s.
Hinge had a career year across the board where he had three games with over 30 disposals and was a crucial piece in the Crows’ backline with his ability to move the ball which resulted in him having high rebound 50 numbers.
This year Hinge will continue to grow as a player as he builds off the success from last year.
Luke Pedlar
It was a disappointing year for Kingston’s Luke Pedlar as injuries set him back from making an impact that many had hoped for after a strong 2023 season.
Pedlar struggled with consistency last year, only playing four games.
Besides the injuries, Pedlar struggled to stay in the side, playing most of the year in the SANFL.
There is still hope for Pedlar to make a big impact in Adelaide based on previous form, but staying healthy and playing some consistent football will be keys for him in 2025.
Brad Close
It was an up and down season for Mount Gambier’s Brad Close as he did not have the most consistent and impactful year experienced in previous seasons.
Close averaged 12.7 disposals, 2.8 marks and 2.3 tackles a game along with kicking a goal a game as well as 5.3 score involvements and a goal assist too.
Last season Close started strong, kicking a goal in 18 of his first 19 games but struggled in the final four games of the season and in the Cats to finals games, going goalless.
In 2025 Close will look to find some form from the early parts of 2024 as the Cats aim to make another push for a grand final appearance.
Jeremy Cameron
It was a big season for Dartmoor’s Jeremy Cameron as he showed little signs of aging, averaging 2.7 goals, 16.3 disposals and six marks while ending the season with 64 goals, the third highest in a season for his career.
Jezza was also named in the All-Australian side while also leading the Cats in Brownlow votes with 16.
Cameron also had a solid performance in the finals for the Cats, kicking four goals against the Power then kicking two against the Lions in the preliminary final.
As Jezza heads into his 14th season, he and the reloaded Cats will be primed to have another dominant year.
Lachie Neale
It was a year to remember for Kybybolite’s Lachie Neale as he and the Lions reached the pinnacle and were crowned AFL premiers. Neale’s 2024 campaign was a great one as he averaged 29.3 disposals, 4.6 marks and 7.8 clearances with some big games as he had 11 30 plus disposal matches as well as a 40 disposal outing.
Neale was named in his fourth All-Australian side as well as polling 22 Brownlow votes.
The Kid from Kyby Neale was a big contributor in the finals, having 27, 19 and 31 disposal games leading into the grand final.
He topped it off with a best on ground worthy performance in the big dance with 35 disposals, eight marks and nine clearances in the 60 point thrashing of the Swans.
This year Neale and the Lions are primed to contend for a repeat with some fresh new faces in Brisbane.
Lincoln McCarthy
Bordertown’s Lincoln McCarthy did not have the best of seasons despite his side winning it all in 2024.
McCarthy’s season was cut short after the forward suffered a nasty knee injury in round 8 which saw him miss the remainder of the season.
Before the injury McCarthy was having a solid season, averaging 12.3 disposals, 3.8 marks and a goal a game.
McCarthy made his return to footy in the Lions’ preseason game against the Crows, where he recorded eight disposals, five kicks, two tackles and two clearances.
After recovering from a tough injury it will be hard work for McCarthy to break back into a senior side looking to go back to back.
Mason Redman
It was a solid year for Millicent’s Mason Redman as he did well to build off a successful 2023 season.
Red Dog ended the year averaging 21.1 disposals, six marks, 4.5 rebound 50s and 2.1 intercept marks.
It was somewhat of a disappointing year for the Bombers as they started strong, only losing two games in their first 11 matches but ran out of gas in the second half of the year to finish with a record of 11-11-1, leaving them 11th.
After a long absence in the finals Redman and the Bombers will seek to make history this as they push to play finals footy in 2025.
Angus Clarke
After a stellar 2024 Mount Gambier’s Angus Clarke will have one goal in 2025 – playing in an AFL match.
Clarke was drafted back in November by the Essendon Bombers at pick 39 and has already made an impact in the preseason after winning the club’s 2km time trial.
Clarke had a big 2024, playing 10 games for Glenelg in the SANFL Under 18 competition, averaging 16.7 disposals while playing in all the games for South Australia in the Under 18 National Championship where he averaged 17 disposals, 5.8 intercept possession and two intercept marks.
The new Baby Bomber was praised for his intercept abilities during the AFL draft and will be a solid contributor in the side’s defence.
With Clarke not being named in the Bombers preseason game against the Cats he has got a lot of work to do in 2025.
Tom McDonald
Tom McDonald and the Melbourne Demons will look to rebound after a tough year for the club in 2024.
Despite the team finishing 14th McDonald had a bounce back year after suffering injuries during the past couple of seasons.
McDonald had a pretty healthy year, averaging 14.4 disposals, six marks and 6.3 spoils a game.
Last season McDonald was a crucial piece in the Dees backline and will look to be so again this year as Melbourne work to end up back in the top eight.
Toby Pink
It was a monumental year for Tantanoola’s Toby Pink as he made his way back into the AFL system after being delisted by the Swans in 2019. Pink made a name for himself in the SANFL playing for Glenelg.
Pink switched to the backline while playing for the Tigers where he helped them win a premiership in 2023 as well as being named as full back in the team of the year.
That year’s performance had him picked up as a delisted free agent by North Melbourne where he debuted in round one and went on to play 15 games of AFL footy in 2024.
In those games Pink averaged 6.9 disposals, 2.5 marks and 2.1 spoils a game.
After a solid first year in the AFL Pink will look to build off the work he did in 2024.
