Last Updated: December 25, 2013

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Melbourne's best 22

HERALD Sun football experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

Biggest AFL brain fades of 2013

EDDIE McGuire, Dustin Martin, Joel Selwood and Andrew Demetriou in running for year's biggest AFL brain explosion. See our Top 10.

New jumper numbers at your club

DAISY will wear No. 39 at Carlton, Buddy keeps 23 and Mav Weller is the new Milne. See all your club's new numbers for 2014.

Staff payouts cost Dees, Saints

Staff payouts cost Dees, Saints

MELBOURNE'S purge of senior staff cost the club more than $1.8 million, with the Dees racking up $3.1 million in losses.

Police slam silly Billie over car selfie

Police slam silly Billie over car selfie

UPDATE: POLICE have slammed Geelong Cats footballer Billie Smedts for taking a "selfie" while behind the wheel.

Bombers re-sign Myers

Bombers re-sign Myers

UP-AND-COMING midfielder David Myers says he is 'thrilled' to sign a contract extension to 2016 with Essendon.

League backs Demon pokies

League backs Demon pokies

THE Demons took $11.2m in gaming and social club revenue in 2013, with the AFL partly guaranteeing Melbourne's loan.

Menzel aims for 2014 finals

Menzel aims for 2014 finals

UNLUCKY Geelong player Daniel Menzel hopes to be back playing AFL in the lead up to the 2014 finals series.

Changing Jared Polec

Changing Jared Polec

A "SHOCKED" Jared Polec has already transformed his body at Port Adelaide as he tries to resurrect his AFL career.

From the backline Melbourne's best 22

Melbourne's b...

HERALD Sun football experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

Finances Saints lost more than $2.6m

Saints lost more than $2.6m

THE bad news continues for St Kilda, with the AFL club announcing a total financial loss of more than $2.6 million.

Contracts Hunter caps Dogs re-signing blitz

Hunter caps Dogs re-signing blitz

THE Western Bulldogs have delivered fans one final Christmas gift with promising forward Lachie Hunter re-signing.

$100 million AFL clubs can't break pokies habit

AFL clubs can't break pokie...

AFL clubs have ignored an offer to help them get out of poker machines, instead increasing their reliance on pokies cash.

Community benefits Pokies all take, little give

Pokies all take, little give

OF NINE Victorian clubs with pokies, the Bulldogs are the only club to spend money on helping problem gamblers.

2014 preview Port Adelaide's best 22

Port Adelaide's ...

PORT Adelaide has recruited with a specific deficiency in mind: speed, securing five players with pace to burn.

Bizarre moments Biggest AFL brain fades of 2013

Biggest AFL brain fades of 2013

EDDIE McGuire, Dustin Martin, Joel Selwood and Andrew Demetriou in running for year's biggest AFL brain explosion.

Ladder

P W D L % Pts
1 Hawthorn 22 19 0 3 135.72 76
2 Geelong 22 18 0 4 135.64 72
3 Fremantle 22 16 1 5 134.06 66
4 Sydney 22 15 1 6 132.47 62
5 Richmond 22 15 0 7 122.81 60
6 Collingwood 22 14 0 8 114.99 56
7 Port Adelaide 22 12 0 10 102.45 48
8 Carlton 22 11 0 11 106.68 44
9 Essendon 22 14 0 8 107.25 56
10 North Melbourne 22 10 0 12 119.53 40
11 Adelaide 22 10 0 12 108.12 40
12 Brisbane 22 10 0 12 89.65 40
13 West Coast 22 9 0 13 95.28 36
14 Gold Coast 22 8 0 14 91.73 32
15 Bulldogs 22 8 0 14 85.15 32
16 St Kilda 22 5 0 17 82.59 20
17 Melbourne 22 2 0 20 54.07 8
18 Greater Western Sydney 22 1 0 21 50.97 4

Club News

Finding the strongest Crow of all

ADELAIDE has sent its players on a Christmas break after finishing the year with a strongman competition at the Crows' West Lakes headquarters.

Lions ditch Paddle Pop logo

BRISBANE'S Paddlepop Lion will receive its last licking but the club look set for  tongue lashing over the Springfield move. Have your say

How the Blues will rise

MICK Malthouse has highlighted a 25 per cent player turnover as the key component in a ladder ascent for Carlton next year.

Cloke happy to play by the rules

POWER forward Travis Cloke has welcomed changes to rule interpretations in marking contests.

Bombers re-sign Myers

UP-AND-COMING midfielder David Myers says he is 'thrilled' to sign a contract extension to 2016 with Essendon.

The last piece of Pav

STAR forward Matthew Pavlich is uncertain whether next season will be the last of his glittering Fremantle career.

Menzel aims for 2014 finals

UNLUCKY Cat Daniel Menzel hopes to be back playing AFL in the lead up to the 2014 finals series.

Suns deny Hunt will return to NRL

UPDATED: KARMICHAEL Hunt will stay with Gold Coast after the Brisbane Broncos failed to lure him back to rugby league.

Shaw keen to help young Giants

GWS recruit Heath Shaw is looking forward to rolling up his sleeves and helping the young Giants develop.

Hawthorn's best 22

HERALD Sun footy experts predict how Hawthorn's best line up could look next year.

Staff payouts cost Dees, Saints

MELBOURNE'S purge of senior staff cost the club more than $1.8 million, with the Dees racking up $3.1 million in losses.

Scott wary of rule changes

KANGAROOS coach Brad Scott says the AFL's decision to restrict clubs to one runner is unfair to those doing the right thing.

Changing Jared Polec

A "SHOCKED" Jared Polec has already transformed his body at Port Adelaide as he tries to resurrect his AFL career.

Tigers stung, now raring to go

IT'S full steam ahead at Punt Rd as Richmond looks to avenge its crushing elimination final loss to Carlton.

Staff payouts cost Dees, Saints

MELBOURNE'S purge of senior staff cost the club more than $1.8 million, with the Dees racking up $3.1 million in losses.

Sydney Swans' best 22

SYDNEY will have the most potent forward line in the AFL in 2014. And the Swans will get the footy in there fast.

Eagles undecided on leadership group

NEW West Coast coach Adam Simpson will reduce his senior leadership team as Darren Glass auditions to be top Eagle.

Hunter caps Dogs re-signing blitz

THE Western Bulldogs have delivered fans one final Christmas gift with promising forward Lachie Hunter re-signing.

Crows prepare for interchange cap

Crows prepare for interchange cap

ADELAIDE'S players have stripped weight off their upper bodies to be able to stay on the ground for longer.

Crows attack built to thrill

Crows attack built to thrill

BRENTON Sanderson says Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts and James Podsiadly can form one of the AFL's most exciting forward lines in 2014.

Paddlepop jumper gets a licking

Paddlepop jumper gets a licking

BRISBANE members will vote to ditch the "Paddlepop Lion" jumper and return to club's premiership AFL strip.

Beams catches Leppa's eye

Beams catches Leppa...

CLAYE Beams has been lighting up pre-season training raising the hopes of new Lions coach Justin Leppitsch.

Blue Duigan retires

Blue Duigan retires

CARLTON has been given permission to place Nick Duigan on its long-term injury list, paving the way for the defender's retirement.

Blues hit $20m pokies jackpot

Blues hit $20m pokies jackpot

CARLTON more than doubled its gaming-related revenue in 2013 to $19.7 million, the club's annual report reveals.

Shaw to lead young Giants

Shaw to lead young Giants

HEATH Shaw says he is a "perfect fit" for the GWS leadership group and can be a good role model for his young teammates.

Pies bank $600,000 interest

Pies bank $600,000 interest

COLLINGWOOD pocketed more than $600,000 in interest after banking a controversial $10 million federal government grant last year.

Bombers hunt for new footy boss

Bombers hunt for new footy boss

ESSENDON will search for a new football boss after Danny Corocoran told the club he will not return after his AFL ban ends in February.

Goddard in cotton wool

Goddard in cotton wool

BRENDON Goddard expects to return to full training after Christmas as the Essendon star recovers from a calf muscle injury.

Freo ties up Barlow

Freo ties up Barlow

FREMANTLE star Michael Barlow has capped off a brilliant 2013 by re-signing with the Dockers until the end of 2016.

14for14: Freo to win the flag

14for14: Freo to win the flag

FOURTEEN AFL predictions for the 2014 season, including our tip for the flag, the Coleman and Rising Star.

Silly Billie in 'selfie' strife

Silly Billie in 'self...

POLICE slam Geelong's Billie Smedts for his 'selfie' while driving, calling it "the kind of behaviour that costs lives".

Brown fights for footy future

Brown fights for footy future

MITCH Brown is powering through pre-season training as he embarks on a 2014 campaign in which he will fight for his footy life.

Suns refuse to release Hunt

Suns refuse to release Hunt

GOLD Coast Suns are refusing to release Karmichael Hunt from his contract as the AFL club clings to the final season of his foray into Aussie Rules.

Ablett still SuperCoach king

Ablett still SuperCoach king

2014 PRICES: GARY Ablett will start 2014 as the top-priced player in SuperCoach, Buddy is a bargain but top draft pick Tom Boyd won't come cheap.

Shaw to lead young Giants

Shaw to lead young Giants

HEATH Shaw says he is a "perfect fit" for the GWS leadership group and can be a good role model for his young teammates.

Giants go cold on Dids lifeline

Giants go cold on Dids lifeline

ALAN Didak's AFL career is all but over after GWS backed away from the prospect of providing him a lifeline.

Hodge: Hawks in better shape

Hodge: Hawks in better shape

HAWTHORN captain Luke Hodge believes the Hawks are in much better shape to defend their title.

Hawks re-sign Gibson

Hawks re-sign Gibson

HAWTHORN has secured premiership defender Josh Gibson until the end of 2015.

League backs Demon pokies

League backs Demon pokies

THE Demons took $11.2m in gaming and social club revenue in 2013, with the AFL partly guaranteeing Melbourne's loan.

Melbourne's best 22

Melbourne's b...

HERALD Sun football experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

Roo a leader in the making

Roo a leader in the making

NICK Dal Santo says he will become a leader next season - regardless if he's invited into the official leadership group.

I'm here to teach: Brown

I'm here to teach:...

GAVIN Brown says he had enough of the "four points business" when North Melbourne came calling.

Port Adelaide's best 22

Port Adelaide's ...

PORT Adelaide has recruited with a specific deficiency in mind: speed, securing five players with pace to burn.

Teenager can Shaw up Power spot

Teenager can Shaw up Power spot

TEENAGE forward Mason Shaw is Port Adelaide's pre-season bolter, with leading goalkicker Jay Schulz predicting he could force his way into the Power side next season.

King snubs bikie ban, dodges sanction

King snubs bikie ban, dodges sanction

UPDATE: CONTROVERSIAL footballer Jake King will not be punished despite defying orders to end his association with former Bandidos boss Toby Mitchell.

Tiger bolster recruitment ranks

Tiger bolster recruitment ranks

RICHMOND has bolstered its recruiting team with the addition of former Geelong and Carlton talent expert Luke Williams.

Saints lost more than $2.6m

Saints lost more than $2.6m

THE bad news continues for St Kilda, with the AFL club announcing a total financial loss of more than $2.6 million.

St Kilda's best 22

St Kilda's b...

HERALD Sun football experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

Swans announce $600k profit

Swans announce $600k profit

RETIRING Sydney chairman Richard Colless has signed off early after announcing a profit of $646,745 for the financial year.

What Buddy wants, he gets

What Buddy wants, he gets

IT'S official. Sydney recruit Lance Franklin will keep his "lucky" no.23 when he steps out as a Swan next season.

No guarantee Naitanui ready for pre-season

No guarantee Naitanui ready for pre-season

WEST Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui is nearing full training and is expected to be approaching top fitness early next year.

Eagles trio extend contracts

Eagles trio extend contracts

WEST Coast has locked down three of its top performers from 2013, with Matt Priddis, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling all signing contract extensions.

Doggies ink Minson

Doggies ink Minson

WILL Minson has capped the best year of his career by signing a fresh contract with the Western Bulldogs.

The Western Bulldogs' best 22

The Western Bulldogs' b...

HERALD Sun football experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

Sneak peek Rookie tax hits SuperCoaches

Rookie tax hits SuperCoaches

NEXT season the top rookie talent in SuperCoach will have us reaching for our wallets. So who is worth the extra cash?

Fantasy SuperCoach: Good as Goldy

SuperCoach: Good as Goldy

WHO do you pick between Will Minson and Todd Goldstein? Can you fit both in your SuperCoach team?

Your Top Scorers from Last Round

AFL Supercoach Classic

AFL Supercoach Draft

AFL Super Tipping

Last punch from a lovable devil

CAMPBELL Brown was an angel and the devil, and it's not unreasonable to suggest the devil will be remembered most.

Mark Robinson David Evans must tell all

David Evans must tell all

DAVID Evans has some explaining to do as new claims emerge in the Essendon drug saga, says Mark Robinson.

Essendon scandal Shambles over Hird pay deal

Shambles over Hird pay deal

REVELATIONS James Hird is being paid a wage further undermine the credibility of the AFL process, says Mark Robinson.

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Odds

Odds Scanner

Death sentence for digger killer

Death sentence for digger killer

THE Afghan militant who opened fire on Australian troops in 2012, killing three and injuring two, has been given the death sentence by a court in Kabul.

Faulkner fails Barmy Army audition

Faulkner fails Barmy Army audition

JAMES Faulkner's fingers are in the news again, this time as he is taught how to play the trumpet by the Barmy Army.

Arsenio Hall crashes brand new Porsche

Arsenio Hall crashes brand new Porsche

LOS Angeles police say talk show host Arsenio Hall drove off a road in the San Fernando Valley but he's uninjured.

AFL

Staff payouts cost Dees, Saints

Staff payouts cost Dees, Saints

MELBOURNE'S purge of senior staff cost the club more than $1.8 million, with the Dees racking up $3.1 million in losses.

Festive fail: How to avoid Christmas Day fights

Festive fail: How to avoid Christmas Day fights

IT'S the one day of the year where we all eat too much and over indulge. 'Tis also the day things can turn from jolly to folly fast. Here's how to keep on Santa's good side today.