2025

AFLW Pre-Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Elimination Final | Semi Final | Preliminary Final

People of 2025

Coach: Mathew Buck
Captain: Abbie McKay
Vice-Captain: Mimi Hill
Leadership Group: Abbie McKay, Mimi Hill, Harriet Cordner and Tara Bohanna
Best and Fairest: Dayna Finn
Leading Goalkicker: Sophie McKay 18 goals (eq. 10th overall)

New Players for the 2025 AFLW Season (and guernsey numbers).

7 Poppy Scholz, 8 Eliza Wood, 13 Aisling Reidy, 14 Siofra O'Connell, 31 Maria Cannon, 32 Charlotte Brewer, 37 Maddison Torpey, 42 Tara Bohanna, 55 Sophie McKay.

Season Preview.

With new captain Abbie McKay leading for the first time, and some significant player movement it's clear that the Blues weren't satisfied with their 14th ladder position at the conclusion of season 2024. Finishing with a low percentage margin and only three wins on the board last year, the Blues will be looking to rebuild. With the exciting injection of sixth selection, Poppy Scholz (sister of Port Adelaide Rising Star winner Matilda), they will be a team to watch as they focus on getting the basics right to move forward. Injuries to Mimi Hill and Abbie McKay hit the side hard, and exposed a lack of depth in a young side, but with both fit and firing, and the injection of Tara Bohanna from the Gold Coast Suns, Carlton will be focused on their forward pressure and managing soft tissue injuries which affected them heavily last season.

The key to Carlton’s success comes in finding consistent attacking options, with the Blues having a merry-go-round of tall forwards and experienced veterans, but have not been able to reach the heights of their 2019 AFLW Grand Final appearance. The Blues head into 2025 with some fresh and highly talented youngsters, and realistically should be in the hunt to compete for a finals spot. After cementing herself as of the best rucks in the competition, Breann Harrington (nee Moody) spent time up forward as a target with her mobility and strength one-on-one really standing out. Without her sister Celine there, expect her to again spend more time in the ruck rotating with Jess Good up forward. Speaking of forwards, Mia Austin is on the verge of breaking out if she can find the consistency in her game. Her second season resulted in 11 goals from 10 games before being limited for opportunities last year and only kicking the five. One who has enormous upside just like top 10 draftee Poppy Scholz whp boasts elite athleticism and is a fantastic mark of the football. There needs to be a tipping point for the Blues where they go from showing promising signs, to delivering consistently, and it is hoped for Carlton fans’ sakes that 2025 is that year. On paper the Blues should be at least competing for a finals spot, and certainly no worse off than the top half of bottom nine. Add to the fact they only face one top nine team from last season interstate (Brisbane) among three trips, and somewhere between 7th-12th seems about right. - Zero Hanger.

Milestones

Debut: Sophie McKay, Poppy Scholz, Siofra O'Connell, Maddison Torpey, Aisling Reidy, Lou-Lou Field
Debut (Carlton): Tara Bohanna
50 Games: Mimi Hill, Keeley Sherar, Jess Good
50 Games (AFLW): Tara Bohanna
50 Goals (AFLW): Tara Bohanna

Honours

AFLW Rising Star Nominees: Sophie McKay, Poppy Scholz
All-Australian Squad: Erone Fitzpatrick, Dayna Finn, Harriet Cordner

Awards

Best and Fairest: Dayna Finn
Second place: Harriet Cordner
Third place: Erone Fitzpatrick
Equal Fourth place: Poppy Scholz & Madeline Hendrie
Rookie of the Year award: Poppy Scholz & Sophie McKay
Most Valuable Bluebagger: Erone Fitzpatrick
Coaches Award: Madeline Hendrie

AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year

Erone Fitzpatrick received 42 votes for the Blues, which placed her 14th overall in the tally count.

Erone Fitzpatrick - 42

Total Votes: TBA

Ladder

2025 AFLW Finals Series

Week 1
1st Elimination Final: Carlton 9.6.60 d West Coast Eagles 2.7.19
2nd Elimination Final:Adelaide 8.12.60 d St Kilda 2.4.16
1st Qualifying Final: North Melbourne 5.12.42 d Hawthorn 0.3.3
2nd Qualifying Final: Melbourne 6.7.43 d Brisbane 9.2.56

Week 2
1st Semi Final:Carlton 11.13.79 d Hawthorn 4.9.33
2nd Semi Final: Melbourne 9.6.60 d Adelaide 7.7.49

Week 3
1st Preliminary Final: North Melbourne 6.10.46 d Melbourne 5.6.36
2nd Preliminary Final: Brisbane 10.7.67 d Carlton 5.2.32

Week 4
Grand Final:North Melbourne 9.2.56 d Brisbane 2.4.16