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Buckley’s top four seeds ahead of Opening Round, 2025
SEN • March 3rd, 2025 1:49 pm
The weekly seeds are back for the 2025 AFL season, and Nathan Buckley is taking over from fellow SEN talent David King this campaign.
Buckley will rank the four teams he has the most confidence in going forward on a weekly basis throughout the year.
With Opening Round set to kick off this week, Buckley's seeds were created after the AAMI Community Series finished up.
Gerard Whateley will join Buckley in naming four seeds following Opening Round, with the SEN host choosing to wait until the first group of games are completed to put his flag in the ground.
The seedings will be updated as the season goes on via SEN’s Whateley.
See the seedings below:
BUCKLEY
1. Brisbane
“I've got Brisbane at one. I still think they're the number one seed,” Buckley said.
“They have got the players who will come back from ACLs. They’ve got the Oscar McInerney story, which I think will help them.
“They've got Will Ashcroft for a whole season, fingers crossed. His brother has come in, I think that they will be able to be as good or better than they were last year, which gets them the one seed.”
2. Sydney
“Second for me is Sydney.
“I think that the Tom McCartin move forward will be excellent.
“Yes, Gulden's going to miss a few games, but I think that their program has consistently brought great home and away performances.
“They've failed in finals recently, the Grand Finals in particular, but I think the new voice will help.
“You've still got a lot of players there that haven't played in a flag, and they're going to be hungry.
“The concern will come in September, but I've got no fears for them to qualify as a top-two team, so they're my second seed.”
3. Geelong
“I think the side that's going to worry them (Brisbane and Sydney) the most is Geelong, and I had them out of the eight last year, mind you.
“But some of the young players that have come through and the balance that they've been able to bring to their team offensively is real.
“They want to go fast in offence, which is modern footy, but they've got a really solid defence behind them, and I love that.
“The midfield will always be the challenge for them, and they've, they've had thin stocks there and managed really well … so there are question marks there, but jeez their flankers and their young players coming through are excellent.
“I think Geelong can trouble the best sides, and they deserve their third ranking.”
4. GWS
“I've got eight teams that could potentially put themselves in the top four this year.
“Carlton, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Collingwood, Fremantle, and the Giants.
“I said the Giants last week, and in my mind, I thought Giants were the side that I think has displayed a high level but still has growth in them and I do believe in the coach that he will find a way for them.
“So, I'm putting them as my fourth seed over the other seven.”
WHATELEY
To be revealed after Opening Round.
