Hawthorn FC and Essendon FC are set to lock horns on Friday, March 14 at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Round 1 of the 2025 AFL season.
Hawthorn had a rather average 2024 season, as they finished the 2024 season in seventh place on the ladder in the home-and-away season. They made their way into the semi-finals in the finals series but lost to Port Adelaide.
Essendon, on the other hand, had an even more average season as they finished the regular season in 11th with 11 wins, 11 losses and one draw in the regular season.
Both sides will now look to open their 2025 AFL season with a win as they look to avoid the perils that haunted them at the start of the last season.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, start time and the latest lineup news.
Hawthorn vs. Essendon free live stream, free-to-air channel
- Live Stream: Kayo, Fox Footy, 7plus
- TV Channel: Fox Sports
- Free-to-air: Channel 7
The Round 1 clash between Hawthorn and Essendon will be broadcast live across Australia, airing on Fox Footy and Kayo, as well as free-to-air TV channel on Channel 7 and available for streaming on 7Plus.
For those looking to livestream the match, Kayo offers the best option with a seven-day free trial. With no lock-in contracts or equipment fees, viewers can cancel anytime, making it a flexible and convenient choice.
Hawthorn vs. Essendon start time
- Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
- Start Time: 7:40 p.m. AEDT
- Venue & Location: MCG, Melbourne
The AFL premiership game between Hawthorn and Essendon will be played on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 7:40 p.m. AEDT.
It will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia.
Here's how that kick-off time translates to the various Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Sunday, March 14 | 7:40 p.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Sunday, March 14 | 7:10 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Sunday, March 14 | 4:40 p.m. |
AFL 2025 fixture schedule this week
| Date/Time (AEDT) | Fixture | Venue |
Thu Mar 13 7:30pm | Richmond vs. Carlton | MCG |
Fri Mar 14 7.40pm | Hawthorn vs. Essendon | MCG |
Sat Mar 15 1:20pm | Geelong vs. Fremantle | GMHBA Stadium |
Sat Mar 15 4:15pm | Sydney vs. Brisbane | SCG |
Sat Mar 15 7:35pm | Western Bulldogs vs. North Melbourne | Marvel Stadium |
Sat Mar 15 7:35pm | Collingwood vs. Port Adelaide | MCG |
Sun Mar 16 12:35pm | Adelaide vs. St Kilda | Adelaide Oval |
Sun Mar 16 3:20pm | Melbourne vs. GWS | MCG |
Sun Mar 16 6:10pm | West Coast vs. Gold Coast | Optus Stadium |
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