The 12th round of the 2025 AFL season saw many highlights and lowlights, including Adelaide move into the top three, Fremantle enter the top-eight and the Collingwood Magpies demolish the Hawthorn Hawks.
Adelaide move into third with 90-point win
The Adelaide Crows have moved up the AFL ladder into third position, overtaking the Gold Coast Suns after demolishing the Sydney Swans by 90 points away from home at the prestigious Sydney Cricket Ground.
In good conditions, Adelaide never looked like they were going to lose the match as their goals were scored by 14 different players with Josh Rachele and Ben Keayes both kicking three and Alex Neal-Bullen leading the disposals count with 35
As the Crows celebrate the easy victory, it is another story for the Swans with coach Dean Cox labelling the effort by his time as “embarrassing” and “unacceptable”.
“It was unacceptable and embarrassing. Massive night for the footy club when you have a 20-year reunion,” Cox said after the match.
“For a team that played desperate, uncompromising, ruthless football, and that (Saturday’s performance) was far from it, so we need to strip it back and get to work real quick.
“We are going to fight our way through this, everyone that’s involved at the footy club, and there’s going to be no easy way through it.
“I said to them ‘expect some tough sessions’. That’ll happen.”
Get your votes in for Hingey's MOTY nom 🗳️
Vote here: https://t.co/8oBfytsQOk pic.twitter.com/GV5unB32uk
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) June 2, 2025
AFL leaders Collingwood demolish the Hawks
Collingwood have continued their sensational season with another big performance, this time against premiership contenders Hawthorn who are one loss away from falling out of the top-eight.
Sitting comfortably at the top of the AFL ladder, the Magpies managed to win by 51-points at the MCG on Friday night, while it was back to the drawing board for the Hawks.
Delivering a statement win, the thumping by the Magpies couldn’t have come at a better time for the side as the competition enters the second-half of the season and they will be filled with confidence.
Small-forward Jamie Elliott and Brody Mihocek kicked five goals and four goals a piece. Meanwhile Nick Daicos once again led the disposals count with 32, with veteran Steele Sidebottom playing a key piece in the win as well.
“I asked them, actually. Had a bit of discussion, let it all out, where are you at, where are we at and what do you think?” Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said.
“I think it was pretty clear to everyone who was here and everyone watching at home that we’re – at this point – miles off it.
“That Collingwood team are super sharp. We played Brisbane last week and they’re very good as well, but that was another level today. That’s what we need to aspire to and above to beat them when it matters. We’ve got plenty of work to do.
“Where do I think they’re at? We just got beaten by 10 goals. So that’s where they’re at.
“We know when players work hard, when we work hard as an organisation to improve, that’s given us a benchmark of what we’re aiming to get towards.
“We know we will improve if we put the work in, but that was a pretty big reality check of what the best look like at this stage of the season.”
Our star! 🌟
21-year-old midfielder Ed Allan is the Round 12 Telstra AFL Rising Star nominee.
Allan receives the nomination following a string of strong performances at AFL level including a career high 24-disposals versus North Melbourne last week. pic.twitter.com/CDod6pJbZw
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 2, 2025
Fremantle enter the top-eight
In wet and rainy conditions, the Fremantle Dockers have claimed their third straight victory and entered the top-eight after a strong win against the Gold Coast Suns away from home at People First Stadium.
Keeping their momentum going heading into the bye (which will occur shortly), the Dockers nearly came up short, but it was former Richmond Tigers player Shai Bolton who stole the show with three goals, 20 touches, four marks and six tackles.
However, the win nearly went the opposite way as the Suns had the chance to tie the game up with minutes to go – only for it to end up as a behind – and Jye Amiss kicked one on the siren, pushing it to an 11-point win.
clutch moments that win you games 💜
Shai + Jye, take a bow.#foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/1ZqBuq0o2L
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) May 31, 2025