FOOTY is just weeks away.
While the 2025 Toyota AFL premiership season doesn't begin until March 6, club v club action will start next weekend as teams ramp up their preparations for the season proper.
Before the AAMI Community Series of official practice matches between February 25 to March 2, all 18 clubs will have an additional hit-out between February 15-22, most of which are unofficial match simulation sessions.
The Western Bulldogs will begin the club's 100-year celebrations with a match simulation against Essendon at Mission Whitten Oval on Saturday, February 15 before Fremantle will play the Indigenous All Stars in Perth later that night.
>> SEE THE FULL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE BELOW
>> CHECK OUT THE FULL 2025 PREMIERSHIP FIXTURE HERE
Monday will see Geelong host Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium, while Liam Baker's first game in West Coast colours is set to come against his former club, with Richmond to travel to Perth to play the Eagles at Mineral Resources Park.
On Thursday February 20, Gold Coast will host both Brisbane and Collingwood at People First Stadium in a three-way hit-out that is set to see each club play the others for two quarters each.
On Friday morning, the two Sydney clubs will meet, with the Swans to host the Giants at Tramway Oval near the SCG. Adelaide will play Port Adelaide in Mount Barker that evening.
The match simulations will conclude on Saturday February 22, with North Melbourne to play Melbourne at Arden St and Carlton to host St Kilda at Ikon Park.
The rules and duration of club-arranged match simulations are up to the discretion of the clubs. Ticketing and broadcast details are also up to the clubs and will be communicated in the coming weeks.
The AAMI Community Series fixture, which was announced last year, will begin on Tuesday, February 25 with Geelong to play Essendon at GMHBA Stadium.
All AAMI Community Series matches are played under premiership rules - four 20-minute quarters plus time on - although there will be no interchange cap.
Every match of the AAMI Community Series will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo. Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday February 5.
Indigenous All Stars game
Saturday, Feb 15
Fremantle v Indigenous All Stars, Optus Stadium, 7.30pm AEDT (4.30pm local)
Unofficial match simulations
Saturday, Feb 15
Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Mission Whitten Oval, 2pm AEDT (streamed on Kayo, tickets subject to capacity)
Monday, Feb 17
West Coast v Richmond, Mineral Resources Park, 12.30pm AEDT (9.30am local)
Geelong v Hawthorn, GMHBA Stadium, 2pm AEDT
Thursday, Feb 20
Gold Coast v Brisbane v Collingwood, People First Stadium, 6pm AEDT (5pm local)
Friday, Feb 21
Sydney v Greater Western Sydney, Tramway Oval, 10am AEDT (broadcast on Fox/Kayo, free attendance)
Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Mount Barker, 5.30pm AEDT (5pm local) (streamed on Kayo, tickets subject to capacity)
Saturday, Feb 22
Carlton v St Kilda, Ikon Park, 11am AEDT (streamed on Kayo, tickets subject to capacity)
North Melbourne v Melbourne, Arden St, date and time TBC
* Ticket and broadcast details for match simulations will be communicated by home clubs
AAMI Community Series
Tuesday, Feb 25
Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, 7:10pm AEDT
Wednesday, Feb 26
Richmond v Collingwood, Ikon Park, 7:10pm AEDT
Thursday, Feb 27
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, UTAS Stadium, 5:20pm AEDT
Brisbane v Adelaide, Brighton Homes Arena, 8:10pm AEDT (7.10pm local)
Friday, Feb 28
Greater Western Sydney v Carlton, Manuka Oval, 5:20pm AEDT
Gold Coast v Sydney, People First Stadium, 8:10pm AEDT (7.10pm local)
Saturday, Mar 1
St Kilda v Port Adelaide, RSEA Park, 3:10pm AEDT
West Coast v North Melbourne, Hands Oval (Bunbury), 6:10pm (AEDT (3.10pm local)
Sunday, Mar 2
Fremantle v Melbourne, Rushton Park (Mandurah), 6:10pm AEDT (3.10pm local)
All AAMI Community Series matches broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo.
Tickets available on February 5 at midday AEDT for club members and 3pm for general public. Members and kids go free (except for Richmond v Collingwood)
Pre-season schedule: Cats face Bombers, WA clubs head south
December 10, 2024
GEELONG will face Essendon in the first official pre-season game of 2025, while the two Western Australian clubs will head to the regions for the annual AAMI Community Series.
The AFL has announced the nine-game schedule of official pre-season games for next year, with West Coast and North Melbourne to get an early look at Hands Oval in Bunbury before the two sides play there for premiership points in round 13.
>> SEE THE FULL AAMI COMMUNITY SERIES SCHEDULE BELOW
>> CHECK OUT THE FULL 2025 PREMIERSHIP FIXTURE HERE
The official pre-season games will be played from February 25 to March 2 and come after the optional, club-arranged match simulations, with details of those to be announced by the clubs.
The premiership season will start with Opening Round, beginning on March 6.
The Cats will play the Bombers at GMHBA Stadium to start the AAMI Community Series on Tuesday February 25, before Richmond takes on Collingwood at Ikon Park the following night.
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs in Launceston and Brisbane v Adelaide in Brisbane will be played on the Thursday before Greater Western Sydney plays Carlton in Canberra and Gold Coast hosts Sydney on the Friday.
The Eagles and Roos will clash on Sunday afternoon, after St Kilda plays Port Adelaide at RSEA Park.
The AAMI Community Series will conclude with Fremantle hosting Melbourne in Mandurah on Sunday, March 2. It will be the Dockers' second hitout of the pre-season, following their match against the Indigenous All-Stars on February 15 at Optus Stadium.
All AAMI Community Series matches will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo. Tickets will be available in February, with members and kids to go free.
While the rules and duration of club-arranged match simulations are up to the discretion of the clubs, AAMI Community Series games must be played in four 20-minute quarters plus time on, as is the case in the premiership season. However, there will be no interchange cap, with clubs able to name a squad of 30 players, including eight on the interchange and four emergencies. There can be only four players on the interchange bench at any time.
The schedule gives Sydney six days between their pre-season game on the Gold Coast and their premiership season-opener against Hawthorn at the SCG on March 7, while the Hawks will have a seven-day break after their pre-season game in Launceston.
After Opening Round on March 6-9, all 18 clubs will feature in round one from Thursday March 13 to Sunday March 16.
The eight clubs that take part in Opening Round will have their byes in either round two, three or four before all 18 clubs take part in Gather Round in round five.
AAMI Community Series
Tuesday, Feb 25
Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, 7:10pm AEDT
Wednesday, Feb 26
Richmond v Collingwood, Ikon Park, 7:10pm AEDT
Thursday, Feb 27
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, UTAS Stadium, 5:20pm AEDT
Brisbane v Adelaide, Brighton Homes Arena, 8:10pm AEDT (7.10pm local)
Friday, Feb 28
Greater Western Sydney v Carlton, Manuka Oval, 5:20pm AEDT
Gold Coast v Sydney, People First Stadium, 8:10pm AEDT (7.10pm local)
Saturday, Mar 1
St Kilda v Port Adelaide, RSEA Park, 3:10pm AEDT
West Coast v North Melbourne, Hands Oval (Bunbury), 6:10pm (AEDT (3.10pm local)
Sunday, Mar 2
Fremantle v Melbourne, Rushton Park (Mandurah), 6:10pm AEDT (3.10pm local)
All AAMI Community Series matches broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo.
Tickets available in February. Members and kids go free.
