With the QAFL expanding to 13 clubs, the competition will see an extended home-and-away season, with teams playing 18 matches over 22 weeks.
“Fixturing has been fairly consistent in recent years, so the 2025 season will be a welcome change,” said Competition Manager, Adrian Richardson.
“Each week, a different team will have a bye, which will definitely shake things up, along with the other dynamics in play.”
The season will kick off on Saturday, March 29, with three rounds played before the Easter bye weekend. The expanded competition will also see the Grand Final pushed back by one week, with the 2025 premiership decider set for the weekend of September 20–21.
In another major change, AFL Queensland has confirmed that the QAFL finals series will expand to include a top-eight format, giving more teams the opportunity to compete for a spot in the September action.
“Moving to a top-eight structure adds fairness to the finals series in 2025, ensuring that more teams will experience the intensity of the business end of the season,” said Richardson.
For the Bond University QAFLW, the competition will grow with the addition of two new teams, bringing the total to 10. Clubs will play 16 matches each during the home-and-away season. The 2025 season will begin on Saturday, April 5, with the revised finals series featuring a top-six format. The premiership will be decided after a four-week finals series, culminating in the Grand Final on Sunday, September 7.
“We are thrilled to welcome Moreton Bay and Morningside into the competition next year. We believe both clubs will prove to be strong contenders at this level in time,” said Richardson. “The expanded finals structure will offer more opportunities for clubs to experience the pressure of finals football, and we can’t wait to see who rises to the occasion when the spotlight is on.”
The full fixtures for both the QAFL and Bond University QAFLW will be released in January.