I bet there are some of you that think we’re done for the year, right?
Oh, sweet summer children… The Mongrel never stops. Never.
Others may take their breaks and have a nice time in Bali, but HB and the crew continue working through. Trade, free agency, draft, historical articles… we keep pumping them out, and then we roll into the pre-season.
Before then, however, we have some things to wrap up from the 2025 season, and one of those is our last Winners and Losers column for the season. I know at least one person actually likes it – other than me, I mean.
So, without further ado, here are the big winners and losers from the 2025 AFL Grand Final.
THE WINNERS
HARRIS ANDREWS
If you’ve read my stuff for a while, you’d be well aware of the esteem I hold Harris Andrews in. He has won our Defensive Player of the Year Award twice, is the most consistent big man in the game, and when they start talking about great leaders, I am completely amazed that his name is often left out of the conversation.
Another brilliant outing, bringing his average intercepts per game in the finals to 9.75 per game. That is outstanding.
CHRIS FAGAN
It’s difficult to dislike Fages. At least, I think it is. I wouldn’t know – never tried.
Strikes me as the father figure/mentor/confidante/leader that every team dreams of having. Thoughtful, considerate, and genuine, even whilst being voraciously competitive.
Leading a group of young men is not an easy task. In many ways, young men are stupid – I know, I used to be one. However, Chris Fagan has worked wonders with this group of Lions, and you can see so much more than a coach/player relationship between him and his charges.
I would have loved to play for him.
CHARLIE CAMERON
There have been times this season when Charlie has looked cooked.
But he was the one doing the cooking in this one, as he completely reversed his Qualifying Final effort, and slammed through four goals against high-quality opposition, in Zach Guthrie.
“What are you grinning about,” asked Mrs Mongrel as Charlie slotted the first of the last quarter?
“I’m just happy for Charlie,” I responded. “I think he needed this game.”
DARCY GARDINER
People will forget, because Jeremy Cameron’s injured arm puts an asterisk on his performance, and the performance of the man playing on him, but prior to his injury, Gardiner was all over him, and Jez was forced up the ground to get involved.
Cameron had eight touches. Just two came inside 50. That is the result of Gardiner’s work.
KATE MCCARTHY
I have to admit, I didn’t like having someone on the sportsbet payroll on the Norm Smith voting panel – I reckon it sends the wrong message. Ditto for Luke Hodge and the TAB. However, given Kate voted Harris Andrews as best on ground, all is forgiven, as far as I am concerned. Go well, Kate.
SNOOP
Look, I didn’t know any more than two of his songs, but the bloke was smart. Immediately got the crowd up by using the teams to channel their noise, and it led into a pretty damn good Grand Final pre-show.
A lot of shit about his appearance led up to the event, but Snoop did a great job.
MAX HOLMES
Tried his guts out for the Cats, and finished leading them in disposals, marks, score involvements, and inside fifties, whilst sitting second in contested touches and clearances.
Can definitely hold his head up high
WILL ASHCROFT
21 years of age and the hair of a cartoon prince… with two Norm Smith Medals under his belt, he has already etched his name into finals folklore, and the scary thing is… he will only get better.
They need to build a statue to Mr and Mrs Ashcroft out the front of the Gabba – their bedroom efforts have set the Lions up for an extended period of contention.
OLLIE DEMPSEY
He may have cashed in during junk time, but he did his reputation no harm this finals series, with seven goals to his name to lead the Cats.
Perhaps the most goal-aware non-forward in the game.
DAYNE ZORKO
If every team had a player as confident in his abilities as Dayne Zorko is, the competition would be a lot closer.
Do not sleep on how potent his kicking was in the pivotal third quarter. His elite disposal broke the game open.
LAWSON HUMPRHIES
Perhaps the Cats’ best, as he worked hard from half-back to create for his team in a solid four-quarter effort.
He is one of those blokes that flies under the radar, and that is probably the case again this week, as with the loss, recognition is hard to come by. Still, some of his efforts to keep the Cats in touch in this one were brilliant.
THE LOSERS
CHRIS SCOTT AND THE GEELONG MEDICOS
Firstly, Chris Scott.
Decided on Rhys Stanley, who was as useful as tits on a bull. Then there was the way Oisin Mullin was rested, opening up opportunities for Hugh McCluggage to work into the game. Then, how about the decision not to sub Jeremy Cameron? And finally, brining up the sub rule as a reason for the non-substitution of Cameron… that was just nonsensical.
Scott has runs on the board, but this was not his best day. Hell, even Bradman made a duck.
As for the medicos… come on fellas, common sense dictates that sometimes, you have to step in and save a player from himself.
JACK MARTIN
Not his fault, at all, but can you imagine the team thinking a bloke with one arm is more valuable to the side then you, as you sit there waiting to be activated?
Same goes for Rhys Stanley. Able-bodied, the club opted tp keep a seriously injured Jeremy Cameron on the field, and took you off.
DANGER
From the penthouse one week, to the outhouse the next.
Paddy was nowhere near it in this one, and it opened him up to a slew of criticism for his Grand Final performances.
Maybe he was a bit banged up from his monstrous performance just a week before? He certainly looked like something was wrong.
Also, though he spoke well in the post-game, didn’t look like this loss hurt him anywhere near enough.
DAVID KING
Oh man, that clip doing the round of him wanting Chris Fagan gone from Brisbane… not a great look.
TYSON STENGLE
Attack the footy in Grand Finals, mate. You should know that.
CHANNEL SEVEN
After a season of watching the game on Fox Footy, tuning into the free to air coverage was an eye-opener. Not just for the commentary, but the ads after every goal, the lack of analysis, and the multitude of other sports they talk about in the pre-game…
… I am never completely happy to fork out the hard-earned for something that used to be free, but it rammed home the value of having Fox Footy available to me.
So, I’ve been thinking I should do a winners and losers of the season. What do you think? Surely I must get a guernsey in the losers section, right?
That aside, I am thinking of going back through the winners and losers columns and tallying up who had the most in each category. Combined with your input, I reckon we could compile a pretty comprehensive list.
So… who have been the winners and losers of the 2025 AFL season?