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AFL Sunday action is set to round out an exciting opening weekend of the 2025 season, with three big clashes to look forward to.
The Adelaide Crows will kick things off at Adelaide Oval against St Kilda, as both sides look to build early momentum. The Crows will be eager to make a strong start in front of their home crowd, while the Saints will be determined to show they can stay in a contest.
Later in the afternoon, the Melbourne Demons host the GWS Giants at the MCG. The Giants were outstanding in their win over Collingwood last week, and they’ll be keen to back it up against a Demons outfit with plenty to prove this season.
To cap off the day, the West Coast Eagles take on the Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium. The Eagles will be hoping to turn their home ground into a fortress again, while the Suns will be out to make a statement early in the year.
Three big matchups, plenty of storylines, and a perfect way to round out Round 1!
Here are some AFL Tips and AFL Predictions for Round 1, Sunday 16th March 2025.
Be sure to check back before each AFL Match for AFL Tips, AFL Predictions, AFL Picks, AFL Previews, AFL Tipping and AFL Quick Facts for each match of the 2025 AFL Season.
Adelaide vs St Kilda Prediction
Venue – Adelaide Oval
Bouncedown – 12.35pm EST
2024 Season Record
| Team | W-L-D | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 8-14-1 | 5-6-1 | 3-8 |
| St Kilda | 11-12-0 | 7-4 | 4-8 |
2024 Season Scoring
| Team | Pts | Opp Pts | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 82.3 | 83.6 | 165.9 |
| St Kilda | 76 | 76.4 | 152.4 |
Quick Game Facts
- Crows’ Dominance: Adelaide has had the upper hand against St Kilda, winning 13 of their last 15 encounters. Can they keep the streak alive?
- Macrae’s Round 1 Magic: Jack Macrae is a ball magnet in season openers, racking up 30+ disposals in eight of his last nine Round 1 games.
- Dawson Delivers: When Adelaide is favoured, Jordan Dawson steps up—he’s recorded 26+ disposals in each of their last seven games as favourites.
Prediction
The Adelaide Crows return to Adelaide Oval to face a Saints side featuring a makeshift forward line. St Kilda has struggled to hit the scoreboard at times, and with rain expected before the match, this could turn into a scrappy, congested contest. The Saints also enter Round 1 with plenty of fitness concerns, making it a tough task against a Crows outfit that should be too strong on their home deck.
Prediction – Adelaide Crows (Win) ✔
Melbourne Demons vs GWS Giants Prediction
Venue – MCG
Bouncedown – 3.20pm EST
2024 Season Record
| Team | W-L-D | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 11-12-0 | 6-5 | 5-7 |
| GWS | 15-10-0 | 9-2 | 6-6 |
2024 Season Scoring
| Team | Pts | Opp Pts | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 77.6 | 78.8 | 156.4 |
| GWS | 88.4 | 81 | 169.4 |
Quick Game Facts
- Points Galore at the ‘G! Each of GWS’s last five day games at the MCG have soared OVER the total match points line—expect another high-scoring clash!
- Giants Finish Strong! In six of GWS’s last eight matches, the fourth quarter has been the highest scoring—watch for a late surge from the Orange Tsunami!
- Toby Loves Taking on the Dees! Toby Greene has booted 3+ goals in three of his last four games against Melbourne.
Prediction
Rain is expected in this clash, and the Giants come in without a recognized ruckman, which could give the Demons a significant edge in the middle. However, GWS will be boosted by the return of gun midfielder Tom Green. This is a tough match to predict, with Melbourne fielding a stack of debutants, but the ruck advantage with Max Gawn might just be enough to get them over the line.
Prediction – Melbourne Demons (Win) ❌
West Coast vs Gold Coast Prediction
Venue – Optus Stadium
Bouncedown – 6.10pm EST
2024 Season Record
| Team | W-L-D | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast | 5-18-0 | 4-8 | 1-10 |
| Gold Coast | 11-12-0 | 9-3 | 2-9 |
2024 Season Scoring
| Team | Pts | Opp Pts | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast | 69.3 | 101.7 | 171 |
| Gold Coast | 83.7 | 84.5 | 168.2 |
Quick Game Facts
- Optus Stadium Upsets! The underdogs have claimed victory in each of the last four matches played at the venue. Will the trend continue?
- Anderson’s Midfield Mastery! Gold Coast star Noah Anderson has racked up 30+ disposals in each of his last three games when the Suns have started as favourites.
- Kelly Dominates the Suns! West Coast’s Tim Kelly has been a ball magnet against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium, recording 26+ disposals in all three of his previous matchups.
Prediction
The Eagles looked scrappy in their preseason clash against the Kangaroos but managed to grind out a win thanks to their improved pressure rating. The Suns, however, boast the more talented lineup and should have no trouble securing the victory out west.