The 2025 season marked an important step forward for the Blues. After a challenging period, the club responded with renewed commitment, steady improvement, and a strong belief in what we’re building together—belief in the club, in our teammates, and in the process resulting in a preliminary final appearance.
This year, we welcomed a fantastic group of new players this year, many of whom were completely new to Australian football. They threw themselves into the game with enthusiasm—embracing the chaos, picking up skills quickly, and bringing great energy to the squad.
That effort showed early, with the Blues the only club to score at least one goal in every match during the first half of the season. As the year progressed, the group continued to develop. Defensive pressure improved, reducing goals against us, chemistry strengthened, and a clearer game plan emerged. The team began linking marks and moving the ball with greater confidence down the field. With almost every round featuring a debut and several players finishing the season with fewer than ten games of experience, the squad was required to learn quickly and adapt repeatedly throughout 2025. Even so, the season laid a solid foundation to build greater success in 2026.
Season highlights
- Falcon and Dani became the club’s first mother–daughter duo
- Four Blues were named to the league’s Team of the Year (congrats Woz, Josephine, JC, and Katt) and Bruce awarded the league’s Umpire of the Year
- Eight players represented Ontario in a clash against Quebec
- 14 new players joined the club, including:
- Two Australians playing beyond Auskick for the first time
- Two players new to team sports altogether (how good!)
- Two long-time veterans reached the 25-game milestone, delayed due to injuries and what we consider a preemptive retirement
- Two veterans returned after six-year retirements (plus a cross-country appearance from LA) to lend a bit of experience to our emerging players
- One Blues baby arrived in February, with two more expected in 2026 (our long-term recruiting strategy remains strong!)
- The season featured road trips to Ottawa and Montreal (we also think heading down the 401 to Hamilton should also count with all the traffic coming back into the city)
- Several children discovering the love of footy with Auskick programming delivered through the winter and spring
Off the field, the Blues continued spreading the word about footy beyond the pitch:
- Two club members were quoted in a Toronto Star feature on Essendon’s Andrew McGrath
- Our recruiting posters caught the attention of an Aussie and were featured in an AFL subreddit post
- Canadian footy received a shout-out on the Footy with Broden Kelly podcast after a couple Blues attended his Toronto show in club gear (44:30 min mark)
- Club alum andcomedian Steph Tolev shared throwback photos from her playing days while promoting her upcoming Australian tour (and her Netflix special)
Thank yous and looking to our 20th anniversary celebration
A sincere thank you to everyone who supported the club this season—alumni and social members who kicked the footy at training, stepped in to goal umpire, ran water, helped on the sidelines, or packed cars to get players to Hamilton. The club runs on this kind of support, and we’re incredibly grateful for it.
We’d also like to acknowledge our sponsors, whose support helps the club grow and keeps participation as financially inclusive as possible by covering key operating costs.
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a special year as we celebrate the club’s 20th anniversary. With a strong group returning and plenty of new faces ready to get involved, we’re excited for what’s next.
Pre-season kicks off Saturday, January 10th, 11 am at Lamport—we can’t wait to see everyone back out there.
If you’re interested in becoming a Blue or want to learn more, get in touch at bluesafc@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @bluesafc.