SEN’s 2025 AFL predictions: Premiers, Brownlow, Coleman, breakout player, unexpected story & more

The 2025 AFL season is almost here and with that comes a whole host of predictions.

All the big names across the SEN network as well as the SEN.com.au digital team have forecast the year ahead and named their premiers, Brownlow and Coleman winners, unexpected storylines and more.

See all the season predictions below:

SEN1116/AFL Nation

Garry Lyon

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Sydney
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Nick Larkey (NM)
RISING STAR WINNER: Nate Caddy (ESS)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Nate Caddy (ESS)

Tim Watson

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Collingwood
RUNNER-UP: GWS
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Josh Treacy (FRE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Isaac Kako (ESS)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Jed Walter (GCS)

David King

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Fremantle
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Harry McKay (CAR)
RISING STAR WINNER: Leo Lombard (GCS)
WOODEN SPOON: West Coast
BIGGEST RISER: Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Players react warmly to Kane Cornes' comments
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Riley Thilthorpe (ADE)

Dwayne Russell

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Hawthorn
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sam Lalor (RIC)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: A team that hasn't won a flag before breaks through
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Sam Darcy (WB)

Andy Maher

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sid Draper (ADE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Chad Warner extends his Sydney contract.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Lachie Cowan (CAR)

Andrew Gaze

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Hawthorn
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Will Day & Jai Newcombe (HAW)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: North Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Western Bulldogs
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Jai Newcombe wins the Brownlow
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Cam Mackenzie (HAW)

Julian De Stoop

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Geelong
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sid Draper (ADE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Clayton Oliver finishes Top 3 in the Brownlow
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Ollie Henry (GEE)

John Donohoe

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Brisbane
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Caleb Serong (FRE)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Nick Larkey (NM)
RISING STAR WINNER: Finn O'Sullivan (NM)
WOODEN SPOON: West Coast
BIGGEST RISER: Collingwood
BIGGEST SLIDER: Hawthorn
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Return of the Max! King silences the doubters with career-best 60-goal season for Saints
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Nate Caddy (ESS) & Hugo Garcia (STK)

SEN WA

Paul Hasleby

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Hawthorn
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Isaac Kako (ESS)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Western Bulldogs
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Beveridge's time is up
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Jye Amiss (FRE)

Mark Duffield

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Sydney
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sam Lalor (RIC)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: North Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Western Bulldogs
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Longmire announced as Tassie Devils coach
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Sam Darcy (WB)

Peter Vlahos

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Fremantle
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Caleb Serong (FRE)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sam Lalor (RIC)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Sydney
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Harley puts off contract talk with Eagles
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Nathan O'Driscoll (FRE)

SEN SA

Mark Bickley

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Ben King (GCS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Joe Berry (PA)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Western Bulldogs
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: The discussion around Bevo. Will he go on next year? It will be a story
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Colby McKercher (NM)

Michelangelo Rucci

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Mark Ricciuto joins Josh Carr’s coaching panel
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Tom Powell (NM)

Kym Dillon

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Adelaide
RUNNER-UP: Brisbane
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Connor Rozee (PA)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Nick Larkey (NM)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sid Draper (ADE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Adelaide wins it as Hawks finish 12th
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Sid Draper (ADE)

Dan Menzel

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Sydney
RUNNER-UP: Fremantle
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Four of last year's top 8 don't play finals
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Trent Rivers (MEL)

David Wildy

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Brisbane
RUNNER-UP: GWS.
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sam Lalor (RIC)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Cripps gets his third Brownlow Medal
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Josh Treacy (FRE)

Jarrod Walsh

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Brisbane
RUNNER-UP: Fremantle
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Chad Warner (SYD)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Ben King (GCS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sam Lalor (RIC)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Sydney
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Riley Thilthorpe (ADE)

SENTrack

Gareth Hall

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Brisbane
RUNNER-UP: GWS
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Will Ashcroft (BRI)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Nick Larkey (NM)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: North Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Carlton
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Hinkley to coach Tassie
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Will Day (HAW)

Campbell Brown

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Ben King (GCS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Nate Caddy (ESS)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Western Bulldogs
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Josh Treacy leading Coleman mid-season
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Reuben Ginbey (WCE)

Miles Pfitzner

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Brisbane
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Collingwood
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: 2 coaches don't see out the season - 1 in SA, 1 in Vic
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Cam Mackenzie (HAW)

Cam Luke

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Fremantle
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Will Day (HAW)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Aaron Naughton (WB)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Brisbane replace Daniher in the exact way they did in 2020 when they got him
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Max Holmes (GEE - becomes a genuine AA star)

Josh Jenkins

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Brisbane
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Gold Coast
BIGGEST SLIDER: Sydney & Carlton
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Experts stop become mystified by mega contracts
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Izak Rankine (ADE - becomes AA player)

AFL Record

Ashley Browne

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Hawthorn
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Nate Caddy (ESS)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Channel Seven brings back the Saturday night replay
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK)

SEN Tassie

Brent Costelloe

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Brisbane
RUNNER-UP: GWS
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Nick Larkey (NM)
RISING STAR WINNER: Murphy Reid (FRE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: North Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Western Bulldogs
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Roos push for Top 8 spot
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Cam Mackenzie (HAW)

SEN.com.au

Andrew Slevison

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Collingwood
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Minimum of three coaches to be sacked/move on
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Aaron Cadman (GWS)

Nic Negrepontis

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Brisbane
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Ben King (Gold Coast)
RISING STAR WINNER: Nate Caddy (ESS)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Western Bulldogs
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Hawks miss the 8
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Riley Thilthorpe (ADE)

Lachlan Geleit

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sam Lalor (RIC)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Collingwood
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Shredded Stringer wins Norm Smith
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Ryley Sanders (WB)

Jack Makeham

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Geelong
RUNNER-UP: GWS
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Ben King (GCS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Dan Curtin (ADE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Crows disappoint again, Nicks sacked
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Tom Brown (RIC)

Ethan Clark

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Brisbane
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Christian Petracca (MEL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Charlie Curnow (CAR)
RISING STAR WINNER: Josh Smillie (RIC)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Melbourne
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Daicos fully fit, not in top 5 Brownlow
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Hugo Garcia (STK)

Terence Lattanzio

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Collingwood
RUNNER-UP: Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Dan Curtin (ADE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Collingwood
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Rising Suns make historic maiden finals appearance
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Jed Walter (GCS)

Simon Chapman

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Fremantle
RUNNER-UP: GWS
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Patrick Cripps (CAR)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Charlie Curnow (CAR)
RISING STAR WINNER: Dan Curtin (ADE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Essendon
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Bombers finish bottom 2
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Josh Treacy (FRE)

Zac Sharpe

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Geelong
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Caleb Serong (FRE)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Finn O'Sullivan (NM)
WOODEN SPOON: West Coast
BIGGEST RISER: Fremantle
BIGGEST SLIDER: Sydney
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Clarko steps down as North coach
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Josh Weddle (HAW)

Sam Watson

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
RISING STAR WINNER: Levi Ashcroft (BRI)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Collingwood
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: No major MRO controversies
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Ed Allan (COL)

Charles Goodsir

PREMIERSHIP WINNER: GWS
RUNNER-UP: Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDALLIST: Nick Daicos (COL)
COLEMAN MEDALLIST: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
RISING STAR WINNER: Sid Draper (ADE)
WOODEN SPOON: Richmond
BIGGEST RISER: Gold Coast
BIGGEST SLIDER: Port Adelaide
UNEXPECTED STORYLINE: Hawks fail to recapture HokBall heroics
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Finn Callaghan (GWS)