In what can only be described as a wild kickoff to the 2025 AFL season, contrast defined the first round of play, featuring both nail-biting finishes and stunning blowouts that left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. Just a year after a season filled with closely contested matches, this latest round has introduced a curious dynamic to the competition.
Last season proved just how tightly packed the competition can be, culminating in 216 games that saw at least 55 decided by less than ten points, along with three draws. Yet, as the new season unfurled, only some games stuck to that narrative while others deviated drastically. In fact, Brisbane and Greater Western Sydney squeezed wins out by less than a kick, while Richmond emerged victorious by a narrow couple of points in their matches.
However, not all games reflected this trend. Geelong disassembled Fremantle in a dominating performance, winning by a staggering 78 points at their home ground, commonly referred to as the Cattery. Meanwhile, Collingwood demonstrated their strength with a crushing 91-point victory over Port Adelaide at the MCG. Not to be outdone, Adelaide triumphed over St Kilda by 63 points, and Gold Coast celebrated its biggest win ever, beating West Coast by 87 points in Perth.
This unusual blend of results raised eyebrows around whether we could be seeing the beginning of a season where the disparity in skill and performance among teams would become more pronounced. With four games decided by less than 16 points and another four by ten goals or more, the contrast was stark. A simple question arises: Are we witnessing the layout of a divided ladder as the season progresses?
To call that too early would likely be a fair assessment, especially considering last year’s wooden spooner, Richmond. They opened their season by clawing back from a 41-point deficit against Carlton to secure a late victory. Similarly, perennial bottom-dweller North Melbourne managed to keep things competitive, pushing the Western Bulldogs to a mere 16-point loss.
Perhaps there’s a nuanced shift presenting itself: teams might start recognizing when the scoreboard results become untenable early in a match and instead opt to conserve energy for future contests. After all, with 24 rounds in the season, endurance becomes the name of the game.
Take the 2024 season as a reflective backdrop. The grand winner, Brisbane, stumbled initially, losing three of their first games and five out of seven overall. The runner-up, Sydney, had a tough stretch, losing five out of six before the finals. Not to mention Geelong, which kicked off the season with seven consecutive wins only to struggle thereafter, losing six of its following seven matches.
Were any of these outcomes predetermined? Absolutely not. Yet, it opens up discussions about the psychological aspects of sports. In an exciting match seen at Geelong, Fremantle, against the odds, momentarily crept back with a remarkable six-minute spell led by debutant Murphy Reid, who scored four goals and reduced the deficit to just 21 points at three-quarter time. They put up a fight in the early parts of the final term, but the excitement was short-lived. Geelong responded quickly, netting two rapid goals and extending the lead back to almost six goals. The Dockers seemed to throw in the towel after that, suffering a complete collapse that ultimately led to a final term featuring ten unanswered goals from the Cats — an extraordinary show not witnessed by any team in 2024.
Port Adelaide's defeat to Collingwood reveals a similar narrative; they seemed to concede their chance well before it was actually over, finishing the match with an embarrassing second half score of 12 goals to just two. Meanwhile, St Kilda faced an uphill battle against Adelaide from the get-go. Without key players like Max King, Mitch Owens, and Cooper Sharman, the Saints found themselves outclassed, conceding five goals straight in the first quarter and leaving them scrambling to regain equilibrium.
West Coast’s loss was emblematic of their struggles; they didn’t manage to seize a single quarter against Gold Coast. Interestingly enough, apart from the Eagles, the other major losses occurred on the road in highly charged venues, where the home crowd exerted undeniable pressure from the outset. Do athletes become more mentally worn when faced with such overwhelming odds? One could argue they might find it reasonable to accept a significant loss as merely “one of those days,” especially given they would know there are at least 22 additional opportunities for redemption on the horizon.
Can we draw comparisons to other sports? Consider tennis, where a player might find themselves down 0-40 against a particularly strong server. Do they play with the same fire when the outcome feels almost sealed? Most likely, their thoughts shift towards their next service game, moving strategically rather than emotionally. It’s a different approach — one that may seem like surrender at first glance but is ultimately about conserving both mental and physical energy for a more winnable scenario down the track.
Copping a heavy defeat in the inaugural round certainly isn’t an ideal image for any team. Yet, in professional sports like AFL, fighting smart could arguably cut down on wasted energy that might better position players for future victories. Just a thought, of course. But if we begin noticing a trend towards those lopsided scores, there might just be a deeper purpose wrapped in the apparent madness of this season’s opening.
