Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Watson's biggest shocks in football this season
Jaiden Sciberras • May 30th, 2025 8:50 am
What has been the biggest surprise in football this season?
From the rise and fall of a range of clubs, to a number of breakout performers, the AFL season so far has certainly been difficult to pick.
With that being said, Essendon legend and SEN Breakfast co-host Tim Watson has ranked his three biggest shocks within the AFL so far.
3 – Richmond’s win over Carlton
Round 1 certainly set the tone!
Richmond’s pre-season expectations had the young side in some fairly tough conversations, with predictions suggesting the Tigers may fail to win a single game across the entire 2025 season.
Entering with their annual opening fixture against the Blues, Richmond were hardly given a sniff, particularly considering Carlton’s top four ambitions matched by media and general expectations.
And when the Blues jumped out to a 41-point lead within the second term, suspicions seemed all but confirmed.
However, from the 16-minute mark of the second term, Richmond went on to land 12 goals to Carlton’s two, taking the lead in the final term and holding on to claim victory by 13 points.
2 – Bailey Smith
Watson: “So many people have been surprised by how good Bailey Smith is.”
Since making the move to Geelong, Bailey Smith has been unstoppable.
Seamlessly entering the Cats’ midfield, Smith has rapidly grown into one of the AFL’s premier players.
Sitting second in the AFLCA Coaches Votes thus far, Smith has been on a tear, averaging 31 disposals, five marks, six tackles and five clearances a game, anchoring an incredibly strong Geelong midfield.
This comes as a shock given the minimal haul Geelong were forced to hand over to the Bulldogs for Smith’s services.
Within the final minutes of the AFL Trade Period, a four-way deal was struck with the 24-year-old headed down the highway (along with Pick 45 which became Jacob Molier) in exchange for Pick 17 (Cooper Hynes, Western Bulldogs) and Pick 38 (Ben Camporeale, Carlton).
Joining the club off the back of an ACL injury that saw the midfielder miss the entire 2024 season, Smith has been a revelation.
1 – The form of veterans
Watson: “Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Max, Zorko, Danger.”
2025 has been the year of the veterans.
A number of the AFL’s most experienced players have hardly taken a step back with age, continuing to build on their already stellar careers at the top level.
Collingwood duo Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury have once again cemented themselves as two of the most important first-team players in the Magpies’ line-up, showing absolutely no signs of slowing down at 34 and 37 years old respectively.
Max Gawn has been absolutely crucial in Melbourne turning their form around, continuing to dominate as one of the competition’s best ruckman to arguably solidify his rank as the best in his position in the modern era.
Patrick Dangerfield looks to be at his most damaging, commanding in his new-found forward half role, while Dayne Zorko continues to present as one of the competition’s most consistent.
This season has proved that age is just a number.
