The 2025 AFL season will see the rivalry between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn reach new heights, with the two teams scheduled to meet at the climax of the AFL’s Gather Round. The match promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the festival of football, rekindling memories of their dramatic clash in the 2024 finals. That encounter, a nail-biting three-point victory for Port Adelaide, was not only memorable for its intense action on the field but also for the fiery altercation that followed between Power coach Ken Hinkley and Hawthorn captain James Sicily.
The tension boiled over after Port Adelaide’s victory, with Hinkley mocking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan in a post-match moment that escalated quickly. The incident saw Hinkley making an aeroplane gesture and taunting Ginnivan, referencing the young player’s controversial social media post leading up to the game. In response, the AFL handed Hinkley a hefty $20,000 fine for his unsportsmanlike behavior. However, the feud didn’t end there. While Hinkley later apologized for his actions, the post-game confrontation added an extra layer of drama to an already intense rivalry.
This explosive encounter has certainly captured the attention of AFL fans, and now, with the two teams set to meet again at Gather Round in April 2025, the anticipation is palpable. The rivalry’s renewal as the final game of the round promises to be a blockbuster event, ensuring that fans around Australia will be glued to their screens. The AFL has successfully capitalized on this rivalry, making it a central attraction for the festival, which is quickly becoming a highlight of the season.
Veteran sports journalist Gerard Whateley has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that the AFL should refund Ken Hinkley’s $20,000 fine. Whateley argued that, given the league’s decision to prominently feature the Port Adelaide-Hawthorn clash as a marquee event for Gather Round, it would be hypocritical to penalize Hinkley for the same conduct that is now being used to promote the game. Whateley likened the AFL’s marketing approach to that of the WWE, where rivalries and dramatic moments are harnessed to create high-profile matchups that attract attention. In his view, if the AFL is going to use the post-game drama to hype up the Gather Round finale, they should undo the fine they imposed on Hinkley.
The 2025 Gather Round will be a showcase of some of the best matchups in the AFL, and the Port Adelaide-Hawthorn clash is sure to be the crown jewel of the event. The AFL’s chief executive, Andrew Dillon, recently unveiled the full fixtures for the round, calling the event a “celebration of footy like no other.” With the fixture now set, the festival will kick off on April 10, 2025, and will feature games across multiple venues in South Australia, including the Adelaide Oval, Barossa Park, and Norwood Oval.
In addition to the Port Adelaide-Hawthorn clash, the round will also see some exciting encounters, such as Adelaide vs. Geelong, Collingwood vs. Sydney, and Carlton vs. West Coast. Fans will have plenty to look forward to, but it’s the heated rivalry between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn that is expected to be the highlight. As the AFL continues to promote its premier events, this intense matchup between two of the league’s most storied teams promises to deliver all the drama, passion, and excitement that fans crave.