With the 2025 NRL and AFL seasons kicking off next week, excitement is building among footy fans! Which teams will dominate this year? Which transfers will prove the best move?
The bookies and pundits have made their predictions, with reigning AFL champions Brisbane Lions the odds-on favourite to repeat last year’s success. It’s a tight race though, with Hawthorn hot on their heels as another to make it top of the ladder, as well as Carlton, GWS Giants and 2024 runners-up Sydney Swans.
Hawthorn and Carlton have both signed defensive players for this year – Hawthorn have signed Tom Barrass and Josh Battle, while Carlton have nabbed ex-Giant Nick Haynes – meaning they’re ready to give last year’s top two a run for their money.
In the NRL, the Penrith Panthers continue to be the favourites after winning the Premiership four times in a row, but minor Premiers Melbourne Storm are slated to put themselves in the running to get their revenge this year, with a stronger and fitter line-up than last year – just as the Panthers have lost a few key players. The Cronulla Sharks and the Manly Sea Eagles are also predicted to do well this season, so keep any eye on them.
Current wooden-spooners the West Tigers should also have a season to watch (albeit probably not in Finals season contention), as they’ve spent big in the off-season. They’ve snagged Jerome Luai and Sunia Turuva off the Panthers, as well as props Royce Hunt and Terrell May off the Sharks and Roosters respectively. The pressure is now on the for Tigers to perform.
In 2025, a Foxtel Business subscription will allow your venue to show every game of every round of both the NRL and AFL live. In addition, Foxtel also has announced its historic Super Saturday Live coverage, which will make Fox Footy the exclusive home of Saturday AFL in Victoria and Tasmania, for the regular season, and for the first eight rounds nationally. Each Super Saturday match will be broadcast in 4K ad-free during play, and will include more analysis and new talent and programming.
Pubs and clubs across the country with die-hard AFL and NRL fans can make the most of all of the coverage of both codes – particularly on Saturdays through partnering with Foxtel.
Outside of the footy codes, there’s plenty of fantastic sporting action coming up on the Foxtel calendar, including:
- The NBA playoffs
- The Players Championship for golf fans
- The Suncorp Super Netball Pre-Season Cup
- The Australian Women’s ODI Tour of New Zealand
With the NRL and AFL seasons kicking off on 2 March and 6 March, now is the perfect time to sign your pub or club up to a Foxtel Business subscription, so as not to miss the opening games of the season. Visit www.foxtel.com.au/venues for more info.