Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Netball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
SEN.com.au's 2025 AFL ladder predictor
Luke Mathews • July 9th, 2025 4:14 pm
As the competition gears up for the final two months of the season, we have taken a look at the final seven rounds of the season and tried to predict the final 2025 AFL ladder.
Sitting at 14-2, it looks like Collingwood will finish on top of the ladder for the 21st time and the second time in three seasons.
But it is expected the Pies will drop a couple of games between now and the end of the season as they manage players in preparation for a finals push.
But to stay first, Craig McRae’s men may only be able to afford two losses due to Geelong’s easy fixture with the Cats only having one game against a top eight side which is GWS this weekend.
We believe that Brisbane, the Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Hawthorn will fight over the final two spots in the top four.
Brisbane are in the box seat, with the Lions currently in second spot however they do have by far the hardest fixture.
The Lions will face the Bulldogs, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Fremantle, Gold Coast and Sydney and will likely need to win at least five of their last seven to guarantee a top four finish.
The Bulldogs usually come with a charge towards the end of the season and the next fortnight’s matches against Adelaide and Brisbane will shape their season.
By winning at least one, the Dogs are a huge chance make the top four, barring any mishaps against sides like Essendon, Melbourne, Fremantle and West Coast.
There’s also a possibility Adelaide will finish on 16 wins, and percentage could decide who gets the final spot in the top four
The Crows have a slightly more difficult fixture with games against the Bulldogs, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Gold Coast set to define their season.
By beating the Bulldogs this week, or breaking their hoodoo against Collingwood, that might be enough for the Crows to secure a top four finish.
Hawthorn could also finish on 16 wins, however they could be up against it to make the top four due to their low percentage compared to Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
The Hawks' form has turned a corner recently and have season defining matches against Fremantle, Adelaide, Collingwood and Brisbane.
They’ll need to win six games to guarantee a top four finish, however they do have a strong record against Brisbane and Collingwood in recent times.
It leaves Gold Coast, Fremantle and GWS to fight over the final two spots in the top eight with 14 wins likely needed to make finals.
Gold Coast have a game in hand and a healthy percentage but will need to avoid any slip ups and beat at least one of Collingwood, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Fremantle are currently out of the eight and will likely need to beat either Hawthorn, Collingwood and Brisbane to make the finals.
Fortunately for the Dockers, they do have four games against Optus Stadium which should help them in matches against Hawthorn and Brisbane.
GWS unfortunately are left in ninth position despite winning 13 games for the year.
The Giants will likely need four wins from the final seven games and a win against Geelong, Sydney, the Bulldogs and Gold Coast might see them sneak into the eight.
With all of that in mind, check out our picks for each remaining game and how the ladder shapes up as a result of those tips.
Round 18
CAR def by BRI by 42GCS def by COL by 3WB def ADE by 20GWS def by GEE by 20RIC def by ESS by 8FRE def by HAW by 16MEL def NM by 3STK def by SYD by 37PA def WCE by 45
Round 19
ESS def by GWS by 44BRI def WB by 16HAW def PA by 5SYD def NM by 36CAR def by MEL by 3WCE def RIC by 16GEE def STK by 37COL def FRE by 35ADE def GCS by 7
Round 20
HAW def CAR by 39ESS def by WB by 47GWS def by SYD by 13GCS def BRI by 9FRE def WCE by 33NM def by GEE by 48ADE def PA by 3RIC def by COL by 24STK def by MEL by 21
Round 21
WB def GWS by 14ADE def HAW by 25MEL def WCE by 23GCS def RIC by 44SYD def ESS by 27COL def by BRI by 22STK def NM by 5GEE def PA by 26FRE def CAR by 8
Round 22
HAW def COL by 23GEE def ESS by 51STK def RIC by 39BRI def SYD by 2CAR def GCS by 13PA def by FRE by 19GWS def NM by 26MEL def by WB by 34WCE def by ADE by 46
Round 23
ESS def by STK by 3FRE def BRI by 10GCS def GWS by 20CAR def by PA by 13HAW def MEL by 31ADE def by COL by 3NM def RIC by 30SYD def by GEE by 10
WB def WCE by 53
WB def WCE by 53
Round 24
GCS def ESS by 29GWS def STK by 42NM def by ADE by 36WB def FRE by 15COL def MEL by 14RIC def by GEE by 53ESS def by CAR by 20BRI def by HAW by 18PA def GCS by 7SYD def WCE by 38
FINAL PREDICTED LADDER
- Collingwood - (19-4 - 128.5%)
- Geelong - (18-5 - 136.0%)
- Brisbane Lions - (16-6-1 - 113.9%)
- Western Bulldogs - (16-7 - 133.1%)
- Adelaide - (16-7 - 132.0%)
- Hawthorn - (16-7 - 117.1%)
- Gold Coast - (14-9 - 117.9%)
- Fremantle - (14-9 - 106.9%)
- GWS - (13-10 - 109.6%)
- Sydney - (12-11 - 102.4%)
- Port Adelaide - (10-13 - 92.6%)
- Melbourne - (9-14 - 88.1%)
- Carlton - (8-15 - 93.6%)
- St Kilda - (8-15 - 85.6%)
- Essendon - (7-16 - 75.4%)
- North Melbourne - (5-17-1 - 78.5%)
- Richmond - (3-20 - 65.9%)
- West Coast - (2-21 - 66.0%)
