‘Not pretty’ brand to be unleashed; can five squeeze into three? 18-club AFL Blowtorch

Every club’s burning question ahead of the AAMI Community Series, as well as the commentators for every Fox Footy game, in our ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!

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AAMI COMMUNITY SERIES 2025 (All times AEDT)

GEELONG CATS v ESSENDON

Tuesday February 25, 7.20pm at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones with Matt Hill, Mark Howard, Jack Riewoldt and David King

Cats’ burning question: How much chemistry can they accrue?

Not that the Cats lacked chemistry in the slightest during their match simulation against Hawthorn last week, but there may be a couple more moving parts for them this season than years gone by. First and foremost, Bailey Smith’s addition into the nucleus looks set to cut a stalwart or two of midfield minutes this year. Geelong’s side for so long as been as flexible and versatile as any, so a tweak to their engine room shouldn’t cause much, if any, disruption. Their forward line against the Hawks looked scary at times, with Ollie Henry (four goals), Brad Close (three), Shannon Neale and Jeremy Cameron (two each) performing with great synergy. Add Patrick Dangerfield — who spent a lot of time inside the arc against Hawthorn — and you’ve got any defence in the competition questioning themselves. Put simply, if the Cats can walk off GMHBA Stadium at full time all on the same page, it’s been a successful pre-season match. As we know, Chris Scott’s side work differently to most others in the league. Continuity is something they have thrived off for so long, but from what we can tell in the very early days, the transition from Tom Hawkins to Neale and integration of youth in the last couple of seasons has been close to seamless.

Bombers’ burning question: How will five squeeze into four … or three?

The Dons are all of a sudden spoiled for choice in the forward half this season. All of Nate Caddy, Peter Wright, Kyle Langford, Harrison Jones and Tom Edwards have strong cases — either on proven consistency or recent form — to play in Opening Round against Gold Coast. Each standing at 191cm or taller, it’s hard to see a world where more than three of the above players play together in the same forward line given Brad Scott will also likely want to play a mix of prodigy Isaac Kako, Jade Gresham and Matt Guelfi (pending fitness) in the front end. Should Langford play further up the ground, four key forward options could be deployed. But Langford has been a consistent goalkicker in the past two seasons. Either way, it makes for a fascinating puzzle left for Scott to solve. Langford is the only one of those five at full fitness that is absolutely guaranteed a spot in the best 23, which means Tuesday’s clash at the Cattery could definitely double as a shootout between four of Essendon’s remaining key forwards.

RICHMOND v COLLINGWOOD

Wednesday February 26, 7.10pm at IKON Park, Carlton

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7pm on Channel 504, with Anthony Hudson, Garry Lyon, Tom Hawkins and Nick Dal Santo.

Tigers’ burning question: Which players will benefit the most from exposure during match simulation?

To be blunt, Richmond’s outing against West Coast last week was far from desirable. It is the furthest thing from a secret that this season is about exposing the club’s next generation of stars, but outside of a select few, their first hit-out of 2025 didn’t showcase much of note. Jacob Blight and Thomson Dow were in and around the ball alongside No. 1 draft pick Sam Lalor, however the latter won’t play against the Pies after fracturing his jaw against the Eagles. Category B rookie Oliver Hayes-Brown showed glimpses as to why he was picked up by the Punt Road recruiters, and may be given a second look this Wednesday night. That being said, a plethora of senior players are expected to return for the only official pre-season match until the start of the home and away season; an addition that will undoubtedly take the burden off the shoulders of so many youngsters. In theory, any inexperienced players that suit up against the Pies will be in consideration to play Round 1 against Carlton, so this hit-out should tell us a lot as to which young guns are best placed after the pre-season.

Magpies’ burning question: What does the midfield mix look like?

We didn’t necessarily get a great look at Collingwood last week given it played two different sides in the triple-threat match simulation against Brisbane and Gold Coast. And so how the midfield mix looks against Richmond will be intriguing, particularly with Tom Mitchell out and Jordan De Goey under an injury cloud, while Josh Daicos has been moved to half-back. The only real known quantities in the midfield are Darcy Cameron and Nick Daicos. After that there’s a level of unknown. You sense Scott Pendlebury might move into other roles this year, though the 37-year old is probably still needed in the guts if they’re missing key soldiers. Recruit Harry Perryman has trained with the midfield all pre-season and looms as a mainstay in there, so too Jack Crisp. Fellow addition Dan Houston certainly is capable to run through the middle, but he’s trained with the defenders all summer and all indications are that’s where he’ll at least start. Could a Fin Macrae force his way into the team or Patrick Lipinski push for more midfield time? Or does Craig McRae have something else up his sleeve? We’ll get a fair indication this Wednesday.

HAWTHORN v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Thursday February 27, 5.20pm at UTAS Stadium, Launceston

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 5pm on Channel 504, with Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Brad Johnson and Cameron Mooney.

Hawks’ burning question: What happens with Josh Battle and Tom Barrass together down back?

Hawthorn’s match simulation against Geelong last week saw Josh Battle suit up in the brown and gold for the first time — but he did so without his other new teammate, Tom Barrass. The defensive duo look primed to rule the roost in 2025 under Sam Mitchell if they can stay fit, but a question now remains over what to do with traditional defender and captain James Sicily. It’s an excellent problem for Mitchell to have, and puts their depth in the defensive half on full display. With Barrass expected to line up against the Bulldogs down in Launceston, could we see Sicily play more football in the forward 50 than the back 50? One would suspect so, but the balance of interchanging his assets between each end of the ground may not be as easy as a simple magnet move. Assuming Barrass plays on Thursday, where Sicily spends the most time on ground should give Hawks fans, a very good indication as to where he’ll line up this year.

How much will their spate of injuries set them back?

It’s been a nightmare run for the Bulldogs on the injury and unavailability front this off-season. Already without Liam Jones (hamstring), Adam Treloar (calf), Jason Johannisen (hamstring) and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal) for the early part of the season, the Dogs on Friday were dealt another ill-timed blow, with Ed Richards suffering a calf problem that has him in a race to be fit for Round 1. The Dogs are hopeful Richards’ issue won’t sideline him for Round 1 against North Melbourne, but it’s far from ideal for the midfielder, who’s had a standout summer on the track and was one of the best players on the ground at half-time of the Dogs’ match sim against Essendon. Dual premiership Kangaroo David King told SEN Breakfast on Monday morning that he’d left the Bulldogs out of his predicted top eight off the back of their horror injury run. It all comes as the Dogs and coach Luke Beveridge face a crunch season after years of being in and around finals without delivering. As skipper Marcus Bontempelli said earlier this month: “Until we start playing and improving it, the talk’s cheap.”

BRISBANE LIONS v ADELAIDE CROWS

Thursday February 27, 8.10pm at Brighton Homes Arena, Ipswich

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 8pm on Channel 504, with Leigh Montagna, Dermott Brereton, Jordan Lewis, Alastair Lynch and Jonathan Brown.

Lions’ burning question: Has the Joe Daniher void been overstated?

So much of the focus on the reigning premiers over the off-season has surrounded how they’ll cover the loss of Joe Daniher following his shock retirement after the Grand Final triumph. You can’t replace 59 goals just like that. But in our first look at Brisbane in last week’s triple-threat match simulation against Collingwood and Gold Coast, the rest of the Lions’ star-studded forward line looked more than capable of spreading the load. Of course, it mightn’t have been the most reliable indication, with Thursday a proper full dress rehearsal for the season proper. They still have Eric Hipwood and Logan Morris to play as keys plus Zac Bailey, Cam Rayner, Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann — arguably the best crop of small forwards in the game. Lincoln McCarthy, too, is closing in on a return from an ACL rupture. They also brought in Sam Day, but you’d expect he’s more insurance or if a smaller set-up doesn’t work when the real stuff starts, plus Ty Gallop showed plenty in the match simulation.

Crows’ burning question: What will their starting midfield look like?

After what was a strong (but unofficial) start to their 2025 season over Port Adelaide in Mount Barker, intrigue now grows over who Matthew Nicks will deploy first in Adelaide’s midfield this season. It was Matt Crouch and Jordan Dawson who spent the most time in the midfield of any against the Power, while Jake Soligo and new recruit James Peatling looked electric at times. But with Izak Rankine almost certain to play more midfield minutes this season, at least two of the aforementioned four who played last Friday are set to start elsewhere on game day. It would be incredibly harsh to move one of Soligo or Peatling given their evident form in the midfield, as it would with Matt Crouch who was one of Adelaide’s few shining lights in 2024. Could that subsequently move Dawson to a wing, or even a half-forward flank? Surely not, but it’s an excellent problem for Nicks to have. And that’s before you take into account the likes of first-year draftee Sid Draper and inside midfielder Sam Berry.

GWS GIANTS v CARLTON

Friday February 28, 5.20pm at Manuka Oval, Canberra

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 5pm on Channel 504, with Anthony Hudson, Nathan Buckley, Nick Dal Santo, Brad Johnson and Eddie Betts.

Giants’ burning question: Who fills key voids?

All eyes are clearly going to be on how recruit Jake Stringer looks and fits into the Giants following his high-profile move from Essendon. But arguably just as important is how the team covers a series of voids – both from the trade period following the departures of James Peatling, Isaac Cumming and Harry Perryman and with injuries to star midfielders Tom Green and Stephen Coniglio. How the midfield restructures without some of those key soldiers is going to be key, particularly without Green. Finn Callaghan is set to move into a pure on-ball role, with Josh Kelly also poised to play permanent midfield after spending more time on the wing in recent years. Toby Bedford is also likely to see increased midfield responsibilities after emerging as one of the game’s most effective taggers in 2024. There will also be general senior opportunities up for grabs for the likes of James Leake and Conor Stone, plus draftee Cody Angove has emerged as an Opening Round bolter. There’s been a lot of buzz around these young GWS players on the fringes, now’s their chance to make their mark.

Are they a better team with Tom De Koning as the solo ruck?

While there’s ample external noise surrounding De Koning’s free agency status – and a reported $12 million offer from St Kilda – his on-field role carries just as much interest. In Saturday’s match sim against St Kilda, De Koning was one of Carlton’s best movers, impacting the game across all three areas of the ground. He pushed forward to kick a goal, dropped deep into defence to take contested intercept marks and competed strongly in the ruck. The Blues last season played De Koning and fellow ruck Pittonet in the same side for eight of their 24 games, resulting in a 2-6 record. When Pittonet didn’t play, Coleman Medallist Harry McKay predominantly pinch-hit in the ruck. Against the Saints, all three rucked at various stages, but Pittonet seemed to attend the most ruck contests. It’s likely all three will have ruck time against the Giants on Friday night, but whether that’s the case come Round 1 and beyond remains uncertain.

GOLD COAST SUNS v SYDNEY SWANS

Friday February 28, 8.10pm at IKON Park, Carlton

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 8pm on Channel 504, with Dwayne Russell, Corbin Middlemas, Jonathan Brown, Gerard Healy and Ruby Schleicher.

Suns’ burning question: Which young stars are ready to go to another level?

For Gold Coast to make a real charge this year and play finals for the first time in club history, the club will need some of its younger players to go to another level and emerge as reliable senior players. The likes of Bailey Humphrey, Jed Walter, Ned Moyle and Ethan Read looked like they were capable of just that in the Suns’ match simulation triple-header against Collingwood and Brisbane. Furthermore, there’s still so much upside and growth in the likes of Matt Rowell, Mac Andrew, Will Graham and Sam Clohesy. Unfortunately prized draftee Leo Lombard looks set for a stint on the sidelines after injuring his shoulder in the match simulation in what was otherwise a promising first hitout. However, throw in trade additions Dan Rioli and John Noble and there’s plenty of reasons to be bullish about Gold Coast climbing the ladder in 2025, with Friday night our first proper look at how Damien Hardwick’s budding side looks.

Swans’ burning question: Will we continue to see a fresh-faced forward line?

With Logan McDonald considered in some doubt to be ready for the start of the season due to an ankle injury, the Swans will be eyeing key-position reinforcements. Swingman Tom McCartin was thrown into attack against GWS in their match simulation hit-out last Friday, so whether or not he remains deployed in attack will be worth following. It was resident goalkicker Joel Amartey, however, who stepped up in the win against the Giants, snagging six goals in a promising display. Kayo caller Justin Edwards said: “If McCartin and Amartey can combine in the forward line, that is great news for Swans fans.” Despite slotting a career-high 43 goals from 25 matches in 2024, the 25-year-old Amartey is yet to put the full package together, so he will be aiming to start the season fast after a modest finals campaign last year. Meanwhile, rebounding flanker Braeden Campbell lined up forward of the ball for the Swans against GWS, booting four first-half goals to put his name forward as a potential attacking asset this season. The 23-year-old left-footer played 23 senior games last season, albeit six came as the tactical substitute. Thus, he will be keen to cement a regular starting spot in Dean Cox’s side.

ST KILDA v PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday March 1, 3.10pm at RSEA Park, Moorabbin

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 3pm on Channel 504, with Leigh Montagna, Kelli Underwood, David King, Gerard Healy and Ruby Schleicher.

Saints’ burning question: Which bolter can make lightning strike twice?

Ross Lyon’s brigade may currently be wounded by injury, but it may have just allowed them to unearth a future gun or two in their match simulation against Carlton over the weekend. Fans saw Hugo Garcia at the top level nine times in season 2024, although four of those instances were as the starting sub. The 19-year-old has proven at VFL level he is a competitive beast with his tackling and accumulation of the Sherrin. Garcia is ready for more time in the senior side. Similarly, a third-round draft pick from last year’s talent in Hugh Boxshall was exposed to an AFL standard for the first time and looked comfortable throughout. The Claremont product has trained in the club’s midfield group throughout pre-season, and is a smoky to play Round 1 against Adelaide. And perhaps the most left-field bolter to possibly travel to Adelaide is Liam O’Connell, a Category B rookie from Ireland who starred on the wing against the Blues. All three of the aforementioned now have a second chance to prove themselves to play for home-and-away points, but with some players still set to return from injury between now and then, it looks all three will find themselves named at senior level in mid-March.

Power’s burning question: Where will the magnets land this time around?

Port Adelaide’s line-up against cross-town rivals Adelaide last Friday was by no means erratic, but the magnets certainly shifted much more than their opposition’s at Mount Barker. Jason Horne-Francis, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters were all deployed in the midfield for most of their time on ground, in what looks to be a very settled trio that will also be helped at times by Willem Drew and Ollie Wines. In defence however, things are far less certain. Injuries to Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea mean the full-back position is far from locked down. It meant Miles Bergman on Friday doubled as both an interceptor and key defender against the Crows. The 23-year-old played exceptionally, but it’s an unforgiving role that is extremely hard to sustain for long periods. Subsequently, defender-turned-forward Jeremy Finlayson now looks primed to start in the back half to give Bergman and Aliir Aliir a hand with opposition talls. That move could open the door for young gun Ollie Lord to rotate into Port’s forward line as another key tall, with coach Ken Hinkley proving many a time in recent years that you can have no shortage of marking forwards in his side. Josh Sinn started off half-back for the Power in Mount Barker, with fans no doubt keeping a close eye over his role and position again this Saturday.

WEST COAST EAGLES v NORTH MELBOURNE

Saturday March 1, 6.10pm at Hands Oval, Bunbury

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6pm on Channel 504, hosted by Kath Loughnan with Adam Papalia, Matthew Pavlich and Will Schofield.

Eagles’ burning question: How will their new fast, dynamic and “not pretty” brand fare?

New coach Andrew McQualter has been unapologetic around his desire to introduce a new style at the Eagles as they embark on a new era. McQualter is a disciple of the golden Damien Hardwick era at Richmond, which saw the Tigers claim three flags in four seasons with an effective front-half, forward-handball and, at times, risky gameplan. Unsurprisingly, McQualter has brought a lot of those high-risk, high-reward traits to West Coast – and the footy world caught a glimpse of how damaging the style can be last week when the Eagles kicked six goals in the second quarter of a match sim against Richmond. Co-captain Liam Duggan told reporters on the weekend: “It’s pretty fast, dynamic (gameplan). It’s not pretty, but we’ve adapted quite well. I probably took a while to adapt to it. Some of the old habits come into your game as we’re going through the pre-season but I think we’re starting to see the product of what it is and we’re all finding our own little groove in that gameplan as well.” West Coast will have a great opportunity to unleash its new style against the Kangaroos on the weekend.

Kangaroos’ burning question: Who will feature in their go-to centre bounce crew?

The Kangaroos’ determination to build from the draft in recent years has led to a deep midfield pool on their list – and many of those young stars will have to start the season outside the centre square. Luke Davies-Uniacke, clearly, is a lock, while a strong summer from Tom Powell means he looms as a permanent centre bounce option. And skipper Jy Simpkin’s best-on-ground performance for the Indigenous All-Stars against Fremantle suggested he’s primed for a significant year. But then you’ve also got Will Phillips, who’s a genuine on-baller, as well as Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher and, the Roos’ most recent top draftee, Finn O’Sullivan. Sheezel was drafted as a forward, won the Rising Star award as a half-back and, since last year’s mid-season bye, has shown his freakish talent as a goalkicking midfielder. McKercher, like Sheezel, impressed as a rebounding defender in his debut AFL campaign, but has been training this summer as a half-forward with midfield stints. O’Sullivan has impressed as a winger in his first off-season – and all signs point to him debuting in Round 1 – but he clearly has huge on-ball upside. How coach Alastair Clarkson strikes the balance this season will be a fascinating follow.

FREMANTLE v MELBOURNE

Sunday March 2, 6.10pm at Rushton Park, Mandurah

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6pm on Channel 504, hosted by Kath Loughnan with Adam Papalia, Matthew Pavlich and Adam Simpson.

Dockers’ burning question: Will their exciting first-round pick cement a Round 1 debut?

While a lot of the attention has centred on the imprints made by Sam Lalor, Levi Ashcroft, Isaac Kako and the like, Fremantle appears to have quietly found itself a first-round gem in Victorian hybrid Murphy Reid, who is firming for an early league debut. Taken with the No. 17 pick last November, Reid’s innovation at stoppage and in congestion has those in purple justifiably excited, and he shapes as a genuine chance at making a Round 1 AFL appearance when the Dockers travel to play Geelong on March 15. According to The West’s Mitch Woodcock, Reid, mixing between high-half-forward and midfield roles, has usurped fringe best-23 Dockers Neil Erasmus and Matthew Johnson if Sunday’s match simulation line-ups are anything to go by. Reid also flashed promising signs against the Indigenous All Stars. And thus, seemingly in the box seat for a forward-half role to start the season, the Sandringham Dragons product has an opportunity to cement his spot with a pleasing outing when Fremantle hosts Melbourne on Sunday. A threat around goals whether playing in the middle or in the attacking third, the 18-year-old averaged 28 disposals per game for the Dragons last year.

Demons’ burning question: Which of their new talent can make the strongest claim?

Melbourne’s match simulation clash with North Melbourne on Saturday provided plenty of optimism for fans of the red and the blue; namely the consistency of Clayton Oliver and continued rise of Trent Rivers. But beyond the more regular members of Simon Goodwin’s 23 last year lay first-year duo Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay, as well as Brisbane recruit Harry Sharp. The latter was the best of the lot at Arden Street days ago, kicking four goals on a wing to skyrocket into Round 1 contention. Langford is evidently ready-made to slot straight into Goodwin’s side to play GWS in mid-March, while Lindsay also held his own. There is a world where the aforementioned trio are all vying against each other for a spot or two come Round 1, which is what makes this Sunday’s clash with Fremantle extra intriguing. Can all three squeeze into the same starting team with a good performance in Mandurah, or is this the match that seals their early-season fate?