Overview
- The festival round in South Australia runs April 9–12, with Port Adelaide to face St Kilda in the Sunday night closer at Adelaide Oval.
- The AFL published match times and venues across Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Barossa Park for the full Round 5 slate.
- Collingwood versus Fremantle is set as the Friday April 10 marquee and stands as the only Gather Round game between 2025 top‑eight teams.
- Fremantle and West Coast will start their seasons interstate because Optus Stadium hosts a Women's Asian Cup semifinal days after round one.
- The Western Bulldogs confirmed Mars Stadium will not host games in 2026 due to redevelopment, with two Ballarat fixtures scheduled for 2027 and 2028.