Adelaide Crows’ 2025 AFL Season: A Tale of ‘What Could Have Been’ After Historic Minor Premiership
The Adelaide Crows entered the 2025 AFL finals as the toast of the league, clinching their first minor premiership since 2017 after a remarkable rise from 15th place the previous year. Yet, a straight-sets exit at the hands of Collingwood and Hawthorn left fans pondering missed opportunities, encapsulating a season defined by promise, momentum, and heartbreaking what-ifs.
A Rebuild That Delivered Early Success
Adelaide’s journey to the top began with a deliberate rebuild sparked by a pivotal 2019 meeting at West Lakes, where club leaders recognized the need to shed an aging list and cultural baggage from past scandals. Under coach Matthew Nicks, the Crows focused on youth development and strategic recruiting, adding key players like Alex Neal-Bullen and Tom Campbell during the off-season.
The home-and-away campaign showcased a suffocating defense that led the league in multiple metrics, frustrating opponents and propelling Adelaide to 17 wins and a percentage over 120. Standouts included captain Jordan Dawson’s leadership and contributions from Riley Thilthorpe and Izak Rankine up forward. By Round 24, a victory over North Melbourne sealed first place, igniting premiership dreams and positioning the Crows as saviors of a “dismal” AFL season.
This turnaround—from wooden spoon contenders in 2020 to minor premiers—highlighted Nicks’ faith in emerging talent and a cohesive game plan that emphasized contested possessions and ball movement.
Finals Heartbreak: Qualifying and Semi-Final Losses
The fairy tale unraveled in September. In the Qualifying Final against Collingwood, Adelaide faltered in a low-scoring affair, losing despite holding the Magpies to just 67 points. The Crows managed only 10.7 (67), with their inability to convert opportunities inside 50 proving costly.
Worse followed in the Semi-Final at Adelaide Oval, where an eighth-placed Hawthorn dismantled them 14.17 (101) to 10.7 (67)—a 34-point thrashing. The Hawks, led by Jack Gunston and Nick Watson, exploited turnovers and dominated the second half, becoming the first eighth seed to eliminate the minor premiers. Adelaide failed to win a single quarter across their two finals games, marking the first straight-sets exit for a top team since 1983.
Off-field distractions, including the “Izak Rankine affair,” reportedly derailed momentum, leaving the side “listless” under finals pressure.
Key Players and Turning Points
Jordan Dawson epitomized the season’s highs and lows, earning praise for his captaincy but admitting the pain of defeat would linger. Rory Laird and Taylor Walker provided veteran stability, while young guns like Thilthorpe (three goals in the semi) showed glimpses of stardom. Defenders Josh Worrell and Wayne Milera shone in losses, but the forward line’s inefficiency—evident in missed shots and poor conversion—haunted the Crows.
A controversial Round 23 win over Collingwood built hype, but back-to-back home finals defeats exposed finals inexperience. The delisting of Lachie Murphy and Karl Gallagher post-season signals a ruthless push for more depth.
Expert Opinions and Fan Reactions
Matthew Lloyd lambasted Adelaide’s finals approach as “playing not to lose,” urging a shift to aggressive winning. Nicks defended his systems but acknowledged the need for finals hardening, while Dawson spoke of pride mixed with regret.
Fans on Reddit and X vented frustration over the “what could have been,” with some ridiculing the straight-sets fade but others lauding the rebuild’s progress. Analysts like those at The Mongrel Punt see 2025 as a foundation, predicting growth in 2026 if key players like Rankine mature.
Impact on AFL Fans and Australian Sports Culture
For Australian sports enthusiasts, Adelaide’s season underscores the AFL’s unpredictability, where a minor premiership guarantees nothing— a lesson in finals pressure that resonates nationwide. Economically, the Crows’ success boosted Adelaide Oval attendance and merchandise sales, injecting millions into South Australia’s tourism and events sector amid a competitive league calendar.
Globally, it highlights the AFL’s growing appeal, with international broadcasts drawing U.S. and UK viewers to stories of redemption. For aspiring players, it emphasizes resilience, influencing youth programs and inspiring underdog tales in a code dominated by Victorian powerhouses.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned, Eyes on 2026
The 2025 season for the Adelaide Crows was a rollercoaster of triumph and tribulation, soaring to the minor premiership before crashing in straight sets—a classic case of ‘what could have been’. With a young core intact and lessons from finals etched in memory, Nicks’ side is primed for deeper runs ahead. As delistings reshape the list, the focus shifts to September glory in 2026, proving that in the AFL, rebuilds demand not just progress, but premiership polish.
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