Adelaide Crows

2024 finish: 4^th – 2025 prediction: 2nd

📈 2024 Recap & 2025 Outlook

Adelaide rediscovered dominance with Ebony Marinoff claiming Best and Fairest and again leading the competition in key stats. A strong finals tilt ended in preliminary heartbreak. They need to sharpen goalkicking for another flag push

🏆 Fantasy Studs

Ebony Marinoff (MID) is a must have in Gameday Squad fantasy for the 2025 season. Her elite ball winning ability, relentless tackling, and unmatched endurance make her the most dependable scorers in the competition. Week after week she racks up high disposal counts, applies constant pressure, and leads from the front in Adelaide’s midfield. In a format where consistency and ceiling are both crucial, Marinoff offers the perfect mix of reliability and explosive scoring. In 2024 she averaged nearly 40 more GameDay Squad points than the second-best player in the competition proving she is without a doubt the single most valuable player in any GDS sport.

Anne Hatchard (MID) often flies under the radar in Gameday Squad fantasy circles thanks to her high‑profile midfield teammate, but she more than earned her spot in 2024 as the eleventh highest scorer across the league. Averaging 24 disposals equally split between hand and foot, and around five tackles per game, she consistently piled on points with both accumulation and stoppage impact. While Marinoff draws the spotlight, Hatchard quietly delivered elite returns every week, especially in high‑stakes matches, making her one of the most undervalued gems of the season. Coaches who recognize her dependable ceiling and steady output will be rewarded, as she is exactly the kind of consistent scorer Gameday Squad revolves around.

With the 2025 position changes, Caitlin Gould (FWD) becomes the 3^rd highest averaging forward from the 2024 season.  It’s difficult to predict what our starting GDS forward lines will look like for round 1 but Gould should definitely be in the mix. A large percentage of her points came from goals which is a tad concerning but given Adelaide will likely have another dominant year, she will hopefully repeat her 2024 efforts.

💎 Breakout Watch

Hannah Ewings (FWD) is primed for a breakout AFLW season in 2025 after a stellar debut that saw her claim both the Rising Star and Port Adelaide best and fairest awards in Season Seven of 2022.  A strong bodied midfielder known for her silky kicking and advanced footy IQ, she led her club in clearances, inside 50s and finished equal top goal kicker. After opting out of the 2024 campaign for personal leave, she has since been traded to the Adelaide Crows where she has strong ties through her junior academy background. Her return has been met with positivity as she recently opened up about her mental health journey, showing resilience and determination to make a strong comeback. With her proven talent, inside midfield contests, her mentality strengthened by recent challenges and a fresh start at a club that already supports her, Ewings is well placed to make 2025 her best season yet.

🔄 New Faces, Draftees and Departures (As per AFLW website)

Ins: Kayleigh Cronin (Ireland), Hannah Ewings (Port Adelaide), Grace Kelly (St Kilda), Georgia McKee, India Rasheed (draft)

Outs: Deni Varnhagen (retired), Najwa Allen (Hawthorn), Taylah Levy (GWS), Tamara Henry, Jess Waterhouse (delisted)

🗓️ Fixture Analysis

First 3 games: St Kilda (Away), Geelong (Home), GWS (Away)

Lots of travelling but shouldn’t affect output given they are nice match ups. I wouldn’t have any concerns about starting Adelaide players early on.

Teams not played in 2025: Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs

💭 Final Thoughts

Marinoff should be the goal for everyone. She is simply a must start card. There will be plenty of other Adelaide players that come and go depending on the round but noff will be a set and forget (possible the least controversial statement anyone has ever made).

Brisbane Lions

2024 finish: 3rd – 2025 prediction: 3rd

📈 2024 Recap & 2025 Outlook

Brisbane had another strong season, returning to the grand final and proving their consistency at the top of the AFLW ladder. Despite falling short on the biggest stage, their defensive pressure and transition game remained elite throughout the year. Heading into 2025, they will be hungry to reclaim the premiership with one of the most balanced lists in the competition. Expect them to push deep again, with renewed focus on efficiency inside 50 and midfield clearance dominance.

🏆 Fantasy Studs

Ally Anderson (MID) is a top‑value pick for your 2025 Gameday Squad midfield. She capped off her 2024 season as Brisbane’s best‑and‑fairest for the second year running, averaging an impressive 26 disposals, 6.6 tackles, and 5.3 clearances per game. Her elite output peaked with a league record equaling 42 disposals in a single game, showing her ability to pile on points in a hurry. As a proven high‑ceiling performer, her blend of ball‑winning, stoppage presence, and defensive effort makes her one of the most reliable fantasy scorers in GameDay Squad. Coaches who lock her into their squad midfield will benefit from her consistent elite output and match‑winning upside every round.

Sophie Conway (MID) isn’t a player that I would be chasing given the midfield quality available elsewhere, but she is definitely one you can start with confidence while you build your depth. Averaging more than a goal a game last season, Conway was on the more attacking end of the midfield pool. Rarely dropping below 100, Conway will be consistent without that high ceiling so look to play her in games Brisbane will dominate.

💎 Breakout Watch

Charlotte Mullins (FWD) is one who I think holds a lot of value. After a very slow start, Mullins shifted gears and went on to average 85 GDS points in the second half of the season which would be enough to be the second highest averaging 2025 forward. Keep an eye on them preseason and jump on before her value gets out of hand!

🔄 New Faces, Draftees and Departures (As per AFLW website)

Ins: Neasa Dooley (Ireland), Lilly Baker, Claudia Wright (draft)

Outs: Kate Lutkins, Jade Pregelj (retired), Luka Yoshida-Martin (delisted)

🗓️ Fixture Analysis

First 3 games: Hawthorn (Home), Fremantle (Away), Carlton (Home)

Another team with a lot of travel early. Hawthorn will be a tricky match up fantasy wise so maybe look to start your lions from round 2.

Teams not played: GWS, Geelong, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast

💭 Final Thoughts

Ally Anderson is the star of the lions in a GameDay Squad sense, but given the midfield options available, she isn’t necessarily a start every round. If you pick the right match up she will easily pass 200 points for you with her massive ceiling.

Carlton

2024 finish: 14^th – 2025 prediction: 16th

📈 2024 Recap & 2025 Outlook

Carlton had an up-and-down year, finishing mid-table with flashes in form but missing finals. A solid midfield core returns, while depth remains their key challenge.

🏆 Fantasy Studs

Keeley Sherar (MID) was the highest averaging player in a mostly GameDay Squad irrelevant side. An average of 111 seems pretty underwhelming but it was affected but a few early low scores in the first 4 rounds. She came home a bit stronger with an average of ~120 GDS points which is closer to what we’re searching for and given she is only 21, I think there’s a lot more to come this season.

Madeline Guerin (MID)has re‑established herself as a contested midfield force for Carlton in her return from three ACL injuries. In 2024 she averaged 18.5 disposals and 7.2 tackles across 11 games, showcasing strength at stoppages and defensive pressure. Her VFLW form was outstanding too, including a best‑on‑ground display with 23 disposals, five clearances and two goals. Keep an eye on her to see if she lifts further in 2025 but remember, after 3 ACL injuries, there is always the risk of missed games in the future.

💎 Breakout Watch

Yasmin Duursma (DEF) is a player who seems to have had a lot of interest over her career but hasn’t quite found her place. Moving to Victoria last season to be closer to her brothers, she only managed 3 starts for Carlton in a side that was struggling. What makes me interested in watching Duuresma is here 2025 gameday squad listing as a defender rather than in the midfield. Watch where she players in the two practice games and jump on her if she has a fantasy role.

🔄 New Faces, Draftees and Departures (As per AFLW website)

Ins: Aisling Reidy, Siofra O'Connell, Maria Cannon (Ireland), Tara Bohanna (Gold Coast), Lou-Lou Field, Abbie McKay, Poppy Scholz (draft), Eliza Wood (replacement player, Carlton VFLW), Madison Torpey (replacement player, Box Hill VFLW)

Outs: Jess Dal Pos, Celine Moody (retired), Marianna Anthony, Lulu Beatty, Jade Halfpenny, Gen Lawson-Tavan, Taylor Ortlepp, Tahlia Read (delisted), Kerryn Peterson (inactive, pregnancy), Tarni Brown (inactive, medical)

🗓️ Fixture Analysis

First 3 games: Collingwood (Home), Hawthorn (Away), Brisbane (Away)

Three punishing fixtures to start the season. It could be a good excuse to watch and wait on a lot of the Carlton players. Nobody jumps out as a must start so realistically it probably doesn’t matter too much who they are starting against.

Teams not played:Adelaide, Essendon, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond

💭 Final Thoughts

There aren’t any Carlton players you should be rushing to buy at this point. Keep an eye on any GameDay Squad forwards or defenders who get midfield minutes during the preseason games though. There is plenty of potential for break outs, its just too early to predict who.