Why the 2025 AFLW Season is ‘Easily the Most Competitive’ Outside of North Melbourne
The 2025 AFLW season has been hailed as the tightest and most unpredictable in the competition’s history—excluding the dominant North Melbourne Kangaroos—due to a fiercely contested ladder race, a string of historic upsets, and high-stakes drama heading into the final home-and-away round. With the Kangaroos locking in the minor premiership at 11-0 (44 points, 317.9% percentage), the remaining 17 teams are scrapping over just seven finals spots, creating a nail-biting finale that has experts buzzing about the league’s growing parity.
A Compressed Ladder Fueling the Chaos
At the end of Round 11, the AFLW ladder tells a story of remarkable closeness among the chasers. Only North Melbourne has secured its position, while 11 of the other 17 teams remain mathematically alive for finals. Here’s the current top 12 standings (all teams have played 11 games unless noted):
| Rank | Team | Wins-Losses | Points | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Melbourne | 11-0 | 44 | 317.9% |
| 2 | Hawthorn | 9-2 | 36 | 118.3% |
| 3 | Melbourne | 8-3 | 32 | 221.6% |
| 4 | Brisbane Lions | 8-3 | 32 | 161.7% |
| 5 | Carlton | 7-4 | 28 | 108.9% |
| 6 | St Kilda | 7-4 | 28 | 105.2% |
| 7 | West Coast | 7-4 | 28 | 102.1% |
| 8 | Adelaide | 7-4 | 28 | 101.5% |
| 9 | Sydney | 6-5 | 24 | 110.3% |
| 10 | Fremantle | 6-5 | 24 | 98.7% |
| 11 | Port Adelaide | 5-6 | 20 | 95.4% |
| 12 | Geelong | 4-7 | 16 | 92.8% |
The top eight is “all but certain to move,” but percentages and head-to-head results could shuffle everything from double-chance qualifying finals to elimination heartbreak. Hawthorn (2nd) risks dropping out of the top two after facing North Melbourne in Round 12, while Carlton (5th) could tumble despite recent wins over GWS and Geelong. St Kilda (6th) and West Coast (7th) are chasing maiden finals appearances, and even outsiders like Sydney and Fremantle lurk on percentage alone.
This compression—where just 12 points separate 2nd from 11th—marks a stark contrast to prior seasons, where mid-table gaps often widened early. Commentator Kate McCarthy captured it perfectly: “Going into round 12, this is easily for the most that has been on the line for so many clubs.”
Upsets and Breakthrough Wins Shaking the Status Quo
The season’s edge comes from underdogs rising and favorites stumbling, flipping the script on AFLW’s traditional hierarchy. Three-time premiers Adelaide (8th) are on the brink of missing finals entirely—a “massive upset” that would have seemed unthinkable pre-season. Meanwhile, Port Adelaide (11th) has stunned the league with back-to-back scalps: their first-ever wins over Hawthorn (3rd) and Adelaide (8th) in the last two weeks, injecting fresh unpredictability.
Other shocks include Carlton’s resurgence (winning four of their last five after a slow start) and West Coast’s gritty push despite a tough draw. These results aren’t isolated; they’ve created a web of “so many different scenarios and outcomes still to play out,” as McCarthy noted, building “excitement and anticipation” for a finals series that could span four weeks of edge-of-your-seat action.
Broader Trends: Parity Through Evolution
While game margins haven’t been uniformly tight—North’s blowouts skew the averages—the non-Kangaroo matches show growing balance. Aggregate scores have hit records (e.g., Port Adelaide vs. Hawthorn’s 23.15 (153) combined total), but the focus is on the ladder drama rather than blowouts elsewhere. This parity stems from AFLW’s maturation: expanded rosters, better facilities, and rule tweaks fostering skill and strategy. McCarthy summed it up: “This is easily the most competitive season, excluding of course North Melbourne… it also only supports how close this finals series is going to be.”
For fans, Round 12 (starting October 31, 2025) is must-watch: Hawthorn vs. North Melbourne could preview a qualifying final rematch, while Fremantle vs. Adelaide might seal the Crows’ fate. North’s dominance lifts all boats, but it’s the pack’s scrap that’s making 2025 unforgettable.