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Taking a mulligan: The 2025 hot takes we might regret for all 18 clubs
SEN • April 9th, 2025 6:49 pm
TAKING A MULLIGAN
Autumn has arrived and the morning chill and cooler winds have taken a little heat out of some of our carefully crafted hot takes over the summer.
If we had our time again, we might not feel as strongly about the following big statements.
Check out what takes we might be wrong about for each club after Round 4!
Originally published in the AFL Record.
ADELAIDE MIGHT STRUGGLE TO SCORE
After leading the competition in 2023, Adelaide ranked 12th for total points last year, averaging 82.8 points a game. There were questions asked of Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe, while some doubts had been cast over Josh Rachele after he was dropped late in the season. Critics were wondering when the penny would drop. But in 2025 the Crows have already posted cricket scores of 135, 161, 114 and 90, boasting the most prolific attack in the League in the early stages, Matthew Nicks has the Crows absolutely humming so far this season.
ANDREW SLEVISON
BRISBANE LIONS MIGHT SUFFER A PREMIERSHIP HANGOVER
In the past two seasons, we’ve seen 2022 premiers Geelong and 2023 premiers Collingwood suffer premiership hangovers. The Cats started their premiership defence 0-3, just as the Magpies did a year later. Given recent history, many felt the Lions could suffer a similar fate, particularly with the loss of Joe Daniher to retirement. Well, on the evidence so far, the Brisbane Lions again look like the team to beat, showing no signs of the Cats/Magpies post-premiership slump.
LACHLAN GELEIT
THE BLUES COULD CONTEND FOR A PREMIERSHIP
Carlton fans entered 2025 with high hopes. Off the back of Patrick Cripps’ record-breaking season, the introduction of young gun Jagga Smith and a relatively established list, the Blues appeared primed and ready for a top four charge. That dream started to dwindle before a ball was kicked, as season-ending injuries to Nic Newman and Smith tormented the Blues’ pre-season, while Sam Walsh and Charlie Curnow staggered to the start line with injury concerns. Now, after an embarrassing round one loss to Richmond and average performances against the Hawks, Bulldogs and Magpies any talk of a premiership seems extremely misplaced.
JAIDEN SCIBERRAS
COLLINGWOOD GOT THE LACHIE SCHULTZ TRADE WRONG
The Magpies copped it from many in 2024 after bringing Lachie Schultz into the club the previous off-season in exchange for a future first and second round pick. With the small forward not quite reaching the heights he did at Fremantle in his debut Collingwood season, the Magpies were accused of overpaying, particularly as his arrival led to Jack Ginnivan leaving for Hawthorn, where he flourished. Even though it’s taken Schultz some time, he seems to have blossomed in his second season in black and white with brilliant games in wins over Port Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and Carlton where he was named best afield.
LACHLAN GELEIT
THE DONS HAVE FINALS IN THEIR SIGHTS
It felt like Brad Scott’s third season in charge would have the Bombers knocking firmly on the finals door, especially after they spent most of 2024 in the eight. But it seems they’re back in rebuild mode given they’ve already blooded three debutants, are playing inexperienced youngsters in key roles and expectations should likely be tempered. Their win over Port Adelaide was gritty and timely, but it’s clear they are building a foundation for the future. It could be seen as exciting, but you’d have to ask a starved Essendon fan.
ANDREW SLEVISON
FREMANTLE CAN MAKE THE JUMP TO PREMIERSHIP CONTENDER
Fremantle was tipped by many to be the competition’s biggest riser in 2025 after narrowly missing out on finals in 2024. Those hopes were based around Freo’s sudden drop off in 2024 after looking a top four hope for much of the season as well as a strong off-season which saw the club acquire exciting ex-Tiger Shai Bolton. Even though the Dockers still may prove to be one of the competition’s better teams, they certainly haven’t looked like it in their opening few weeks. At least they're now 2-2 after a tough start.
LACHLAN GELEIT
THE OLDIES WILL HAVE TO CARRY THE CATS
Not quite the case. In the first three rounds, Geelong fielded eight players with 50 games or less experience including super cool defender Lawson Humphries, who was playing WAFL reserves two years ago. Midfielder Mitch Knevitt looks stronger, defender Connor O’Sullivan has a Rising Star nomination and Shannon Neale is a 10-year key forward in the making. Remember Bailey Smith is only 24. He blitzed in his hoops debut and was good again last week after a calf issue grounded him in round two. The oldies are still the glue to this team, but the next generation is coming along nicely.
MICHAEL LOVETT
THE SUNS OVERPAID FOR THEIR OFF-SEASON RECRUITS
Two games so far in 2025 and the Suns’ recruits look very much the part. Daniel Rioli seems right at home, slotting into a familiar role under Damien Hardwick with 21 disposals and two goals on debut, while John Noble also collected a strong 19 touches with six score involvements off the opposite half-back flank. Both backed that up with huge performances against Melbourne and Adelaide. If they can keep that going over the course of the season and propel the Suns to a top eight finish, it will be money well spent.
JAIDEN SCIBERRAS
FINN CALLAGHAN WAS NOT WORTH THE MONEY
When young gun Finn Callaghan was offered a reported $17m to join St Kilda, the largest contract in AFL history, the football world could not fathom how a 21-year-old who was yet to break out as a star could be worth the money – and when Callaghan turned it down to re-sign for significantly less, general perception was the Giants still overpaid. Looking like one of the competition’s best early, the critics may have got this one wrong.
JAIDEN SCIBERRAS
IT’S ALL ABOUT ‘HOLLYWOOD’ AT THE HAWKS
The on-field celebrations? Muted. The post-game selfies? Gone. The Hawks are 4-0 and sit atop the ladder, but less due to the flash, sizzle and good times vibe of 2024. Instead, it has been their robust defence and various mechanisms to wrest back momentum that has been their hallmark so far in 2025. In three of their four games they have been seriously challenged, but they have worked their way back by rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Last week against the GWS Giants was a perfect illustration, coming back from 35 points down late in the first term to take the lead and then staging a masterclass in defensive football to hold on.
ASHLEY BROWNE
MELBOURNE SHOULD HAVE TRADED CLAYTON OLIVER
Averaging 30.5 disposals and 7.8 clearances, it is fair to say Melbourne did the right thing in not trading Clayton Oliver in terms of his on-field performance. The star midfielder had an awful 12 months (both on and off the field) in 2024 but is back dominating in the midfield again. Despite results not going their way so far, the Demons have undoubtedly benefited with a fit and firing Oliver so far this season. And with more key players set to make their return in the next few weeks, his influence should help Melbourne get back to its winning ways sooner rather than later.
ZAC SHARPE
IT WILL BE ANOTHER REBUILDING SEASON FOR THE ROOS
Is the phoenix rising before our eyes? SEN’s David King felt the “the Kangas have arrived”, and although that may be a little premature, there is a lot to like at Arden St. The midfield unit is becoming formidable, the addition of veterans Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling was shrewd, and Alastair Clarkson’s vibrant game-plan is now bearing fruit. While they’ve still got a long way to go, the signs are bright. There still might be a few bumps along the way, but there could be something decent brewing at North.
ANDREW SLEVISON
THIS MIGHT BE THE END FOR TRAVIS BOAK
When Travis Boak earned a new contract for 2025 season it was widely assumed it would be his last for Port Adelaide. At 36 and heading into his 19th campaign, it looked like Boak would walk out the door with coach Ken Hinkley at the end of the season. Now, while Boak may still choose to retire, the Power shouldn’t necessarily be pushing him based on his start to the season, where he is averaging 24.7 disposals and playing some good footy as an outside midfielder.
LACHLAN GELEIT
THE TIGERS MIGHT NOT WIN A GAME
Richmond’s young outfit put that one to bed almost immediately, knocking off Carlton in round one. Port Adelaide was a reality check and St Kilda flat-out disappointing. Whether the Tigers win more games is unknown, but they’ve ticked off one and it feels like at the very least they’ve nailed their 2024 draft picks. Sam Lalor looks a star in the making, Harry Armstrong has the goods, and Luke Trainor has a bit of spunk about him. It’s likely you’ll be able to count the win column on one hand by season’s end, but as long as the kids keep growing, things will be all right.
ANDREW SLEVISON
ST KILDA WILL SLIDE INTO THE BOTTOM FOUR
It looked that way after a season-opening drubbing at the hands of Adelaide. But after the Crows reaffirmed their finals credentials against Essendon and the Saints toppled top-four fancy Geelong, Ross Lyon’s men seem to be further advanced than first thought with a 3-1 record. With the development of Tobie Travaglia alongside the eye-catching starts of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair, they should be clear of the lower reaches of the ladder when Max King and Dougal Howard return.
ETHAN CLARK
CHAD WARNER IS GOING HOME TO PERTH
When he bought a four-bedroom house halfway between Fremantle and West Coast’s training venues, many thought the budding superstar would return home to Western Australia at year’s end. While that is still a possibility given the mammoth offers from the west, Sydney’s re-signing of little brother Corey and the pair’s display of passion for the guernsey after the thrilling round two win over Fremantle in Perth now has those same pundits saying Warner is more likely stay in Sydney at least until he hits free agency in 2027.
BRENDAN RHODES
HARLEY REID WILL DOMINATE IN HIS SECOND YEAR
It’s been a sluggish start to the new season by 2023 No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid. Players such as Nick Daicos and Harry Sheezel backed up cracking coming-out campaigns with superb second seasons, but it’s been a struggle for Reid so far in 2025. He seems frustrated, lashing out at opponents and flipping the bird to rival supporters. Most of us expect him to bounce back at some point and become a star of the game, but even he would admit it’s been a shaky start to 2025.
ANDREW SLEVISON
THE DOGS WILL BE RUDDERLESS WITH A RAFT OF STARS UNAVAILABLE
The Bulldogs were smashed by injuries over the off-season with several stars going down. With Marcus Bontempelli (calf), Adam Treloar (calf), Liam Jones (hamstring) and Cody Weightman (knee) all on the sidelines, many expected the Bulldogs to stumble out of the blocks and be nowhere near it. But last Friday night’s slashing come-from-behind win over Carlton suggests their base level is strong enough that they may compete with the best teams again in 2025 once the cavalry returns.
LACHLAN GELEIT
