By Gabriel Donaldson, Williamstown Media
The Williamstown Fixtures for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons have been announced by the AFL.
Full schedules, including times and venues, for Rounds 1-13 of the Smithy’s VFL and Rounds 1-9 of the rebel VFLW have been included with the fixture release.
Opponents for Rounds 14-21 and Rounds 10-14 have also been announced, with specifics to be confirmed after the corresponding rounds of the AFL fixture are confirmed later in the year.
All matches in both the VFL and VFLW competitions will be live streamed for free this season and can be accessed via the AFL Website, the Official AFL Live App and the VFL app. Live scores and stats will also be available via these platforms. Additional broadcast arrangements are to confirmed.
“The 2025 Smithy’s VFL campaign will see new chapters written in the storied history of the competition’s traditional rivalries,” said AFL Head of State League Competitions, Jennie Loughnan.
“Meanwhile, the new rebel VFLW season dates provide great new opportunities and possibilities for clubs and players.”
SMITHY’S VFL
The format for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL remains the same as it has for the last few seasons.
The same 21 teams will play 18 matches each in the home-and-away season, which will consist of 21 rounds. The first games are set to kick off on March 22-23.
Some of the key features of the 2025 Smithy’s VFL season include:
- 30 matches between two VFL standalone clubs, with all VFL standalones to play each other at least once. Werribee, Williamstown and Southport will play each other twice, while Port Melbourne, Frankston, Coburg and Northern Bullants will play each other twice.
- Competition bye scheduled for the 2025 AAMI State Game between the VFL and SANFL, which will be played at Tanunda Recreation Reserve on Saturday, April 12 during the AFL Gather Round.
- Five matches scheduled on Good Friday in Round 4.
- Two matches to be played on ANZAC Day Eve, along with a clash between Werribee and Williamstown on ANZAC Day during Round 5.
- Finals series to commence with Wildcard Finals on the weekend of August 23-24. The format for the Wildcard Finals remains unchanged, with the team that finishes in seventh place on the ladder to play against the team that finishes 10th, while eighth will take on ninth.
- Smithy’s VFL Grand Final to be played on the weekend of September 20-21.
rebel VFLW
Meanwhile, the rebel VFLW competitIon has altered its season window. Originally taking place between March and July, the campaign will now be played between April and August.
The rest of the VFLW format will remain the same.The competition will consist of a 14-round home and away season, beginning the weekend of April 18-20.
Some of the key features of the 2025 rebel VFLW season include:
- New season window, with the 2025 rebel VFLW campaign to be played from April to August.
- Inaugural rebel VFLW State Team to represent the ‘Big V’ in a clash with the SANFL Women’s State Team at Alberton Oval on Friday, April 11.
- Round 1 to be played the weekend of April 18-21, with the season to open on Good Friday with matches scheduled between North Melbourne and Carlton at Arden Street Oval and Port Melbourne and Essendon at ETU Stadium.
- Reigning premier North Melbourne to host Williamstown at Arden Street Oval on ANZAC Day during Round 2.
- Competition byes scheduled for the King’s Birthday weekend (June 7-8) and the weekend of July 26-27.
- The finals format will remain unchanged, with the top-six teams on the ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season to qualify for the 2025 rebel VFLW Finals Series.
- The finals series will be played across four weeks, commencing the weekend of August 9-10.
- The 2025 VFLW Grand Final is scheduled to be played on August 30-31.
Other information:
Entry to VFL matches are ticketed. Adults will be charged $10, concession holders will be charged $5 and kids under 15 will have free entry.
AFL ticketing prices apply for VFL matches played as curtain-raisers and curtain-closers to AFL matches.
Entry to VFLW games will be free. However, venues which host VFL and VFLW double-headers will apply entry fees after half time of the VFLW match if played first.
Additionally, after a long-standing rivalry between the Victorian Football League and South Australian National Football League, the two opposing leagues will clash during the AFL Gather Round.
Both sides will form a men’s and a woman’s representative team that will face off in South Australia. The women’s game will be played at Alberton Oval on Friday, April 11 whilst the men’s will take place at Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa on Saturday, April 12.
