SYDNEY and Hawthorn will launch the 2025 season on Friday night after Tropical Cyclone Alfred forced a pair of Opening Round matches to be postponed. 

Brisbane was set to unfurl its premiership flag ahead of hosting Geelong on Thursday night before that match was called off as the cyclone threatens the Queensland and northern NSW coast, while the Gold Coast and Essendon encounter on Saturday has also been postponed.

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That turns the spotlight on the Friday night blockbuster as well as the clash between Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.

Here is who and what to look out for, as well as a tip for each match.

Sydney v Hawthorn, SCG
Friday, March 7, 7.40pm AEDT

Last time: Sydney 18.10 (118) d Hawthorn 5.12 (42), R7 2024

What it means

Two of the most exciting teams of last year will kickstart the 2025 campaign as reigning minor premier Sydney faces the resurgent Hawthorn. The Swans were the dominant side for much of the home and away season before falling back to the pack late and then being dismantled by the Lions in the decider, and will now be out to quickly rediscover their best under new coach Dean Cox. 

Hawthorn came from the clouds last season to fall less than a kick short of a shock preliminary final berth and has since bolstered its defence with the addition of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle. But the Hawks will now have to contend with being the hunted rather than the hunters, as expectations rise and opposition have a better idea of what to expect from their thrilling brand. 

Game shapers

Chad Warner will want to let his football do the talking as he faces a season under scrutiny for what his future may hold as much as what he delivers on the field. The midfielder's speed and power, as well as his goalkicking threat, have become key features in the way that the Swans play at their best and will be even more critical while Errol Gulden is sidelined with an ankle injury. 

Will Day was widely expected to lead the way for the Hawks through 2024 before his campaign was disrupted by injury. The Hawks were still able to reach the top eight and then make a big impression on the finals without the classy 23-year-old but can expect to have even more midfield weapons with Day returning to form and fitness. 

Early tip: Sydney by 22 points

Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood, Engie Stadium
Sunday, March 9, 3.20pm AEDT

Last time: Greater Western Sydney 18.6 (114) d Collingwood 11.16 (82), OR 2024

What it means

Greater Western Sydney put itself in with a shot of a breakthrough premiership with a top-four finish last year and has since added to its firepower with the addition of Jake Stringer, who is sidelined to begin the season. But the Giants will need to shake off a horror finals series after they gave up convincing leads in both of their matches to be bundled out in straight sets as they seek to quickly put themselves in a position to contend again.

Little went right for Collingwood in its premiership defence last year as it paid the price for a slow start before falling narrowly short of snatching a finals spot. But even with an ever-ageing list the Magpies can be expected to bounce back and challenge for the top four again especially with the recruitment of Dan Houston, who is suspended for Opening Round, Harry Perryman and Tim Membrey. 

Game shapers

Toby Greene too often failed to hit the soaring heights he had set himself in recent seasons yet still managed to boot 44 goals in 2024. Now in his third year as the Giants' sole skipper, Greene is the undisputed talisman of the team and will want to set the standard early as his side looks to put on and off-field troubles at the end of last season behind it with an early win over an old foe.

Harry Perryman gets an immediate opportunity to remind GWS of what it has lost as the versatile midfielder makes his Magpies debut against the side he played 129 matches with. The 26-year-old might have flown under the radar at times with the Giants but is set to become a household name with his neat and clever ball use on display for a Pies outfit hoping to rise again.

Early tip: Greater Western Sydney by nine points

HAWTHORN has landed the first blow of the season as it showed its rapid rise could be set to soar much, much higher this year with a 20-point victory over beaten Grand Finalist Sydney at the SCG.

The Hawks and Swans made sure the season start – delayed by 24 hours after a pair of Opening Round clashes in Queensland were postponed – was well worth the wait, with a pulsating clash that suggested both teams will be back at the pointy end come September. 

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But in the end, it was the Hawks that booted the only three goals of the final term to run away from the Swans and begin their campaign with a 14.12 (96) to 11.10 (76) triumph on Friday night.

There were familiar signs of the Hawks' exciting, precocious style that took the competition by storm last year even as they turned the clock back further with a classy heritage guernsey. 

The stylish Will Day was on track to have a night out as the Hawks' 2023 club champion was back to his brilliant best early after an injury-ravaged season, matching his total haul of three goals last year by half-time against the Swans.

The 23-year-old could only add seven disposals to the 19 he gathered to the main break after having Swans minder James Jordon for company through the second half, but did more than enough to suggest he will be a key piece of the puzzle as the Hawks look to close the gap on the top four.

While Day added polish whether in the midfield or resting forward, his fellow onballers Jai Newcombe (19 disposals, one goal), Conor Nash (20, one) and James Worpel (11) more than matched their highly-fancied opponents. 

Their efforts were helped by Lloyd Meek (14, two) playing with a big-man presence against an underdone Brodie Grundy as the Hawks' ruck was influential around the contests and added a pair of goals. 

James Sicily brushed off any concerns over his role after the recruitment of key defenders Tom Barrass and Josh Battle as the Hawks captain regularly stopped Swans attacks in their tracks. It could hardly have been more fitting for Sicily to boot the sealer with the last goal of the game after switching forward for the final quarter. 

The Hawks pulled out to a 27-point lead early in the third term but were just as impressive for withstanding the inevitable rally from last year's minor premier, even with Worpel subbed out with an ankle injury.

The Swans fought back bravely but were unable to give new coach Dean Cox a taste of victory in his first match in charge as the Hawks held sway in the final term. 

Chad Warner did his best to lead the charge with a team-lifting goal that helped spark the Swans' third-term resurgence.

The powerful midfielder finished with 21 disposals and two goals but lacked enough support even with stand-in captain Isaac Heeney (21) battling hard and half-backs Nick Blakey (26, one goal) and Matt Roberts (26) adding dash from defence.

Amon puts on a show for Hollywood Hawks
Hawthorn enthralled the competition with a brash brand last year that matched their exhilarating style as much as it at times frustrated opponents. The Hawks were back and putting on a show in the first half as they piled on four straight goals after Karl Amon lit up the SCG. The versatile Hawks midfielder ran through the centre square, stepped around a pair of Swans opponents and juggled out a handball before receiving one back inside the forward 50. Amon then snapped the major under intense pressure to spark a Hawks flurry of goals that set up a strong lead heading into the main break.

Sydney's magnet moves a work in progress
Tom McCartin booted 28 goals in 48 matches across his first three AFL seasons but was yet to trouble the scorers with even a behind in his next 84 games over four years. That was until a change of coach meant a new role for the Sydney forward-turned-defender-turned-forward. The 25-year-old started deep in the Swans' forward half but found it difficult to work his way into the contest until a strong mark and goal that helped spark his side in the third term. While McCartin had mixed results in his return to attack, one-time small forward Sam Wicks was thrown into defence. Wicks finished with 18 disposals while adding more speed off half-back but Dean Cox will consider the magnet moves as works in progress.

Hawks' debut duo impress in surprise roles
Josh Battle and Tom Barrass arrived at Hawthorn during the off-season expected to stiffen up the defence as a pair of prized key backs. So it was a surprise to see the 193cm Battle spend much of the contest standing alongside the Swans' 177cm firebrand Tom Papley. Battle was able to find plenty of the ball as he gathered 13 disposals while helping to repel the Swans' attacks, but perhaps most importantly limited Papley's impact to one goal even as he threatened to get off the chain. Barrass is as renowned for intercepting the ball in defence as much as lockdown roles but did more of the latter against the Swans in an equally impressive club debut.

SYDNEY            4.3     6.4     11.5      11.10 (76)
HAWTHORN      5.3     9.6     11.10    14.12 (96)

GOALS
Sydney: Amartey 3, Warner 2, Adams, Papley, Rowbottom, McCartin, Hayward, Blakey
Hawthorn: Day 3, Moore 2, Meek 2, Newcombe, Amon, Chol, Maginness, Nash, Sicily, MacDonald

BEST 
Sydney: Warner, Blakey, Roberts, Heeney, Lloyd, Amartey
Hawthorn: Day, Sicily, Meek, Amon, Moore, Newcombe, Battle 

INJURIES 
Sydney: Adams (hamstring)
Hawthorn: Worpel (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Tom Hanily (replaced Angus Sheldrick in the third quarter)
Hawthorn: Sam Frost (replaced James Worpel at half-time)

Crowd: 40,310 at the SCG