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The dangers of paying a premium for grand final tickets

Nadia Budihardjo 12:06 PM West Coast fans making last ditch attempts to scoop grand final tickets given stark warning about buying them at a premium - as the AFL could refuse entry to the MCG for those who do.

McLachlan confirms AFL integrity unit will examine Chick's claims

Ronny Lerner 11:44 AM AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has confirmed that the league's integrity department will investigate explosive fresh claims levelled at West Coast by former player Daniel Chick about their mid-2000s drugs culture.

What we really eat and drink on grand final day

Marissa Calligeros and Tom Cowie 11:39 AM It's not footy without a pie and a beer. Or is it?

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Editor defends decision to throw Chick 'hand grenade' in finals week

Emma Young 11:32 AM The editor of Melbourne tabloid the Herald Sun has defended his decision to print a front page headlined Eagles drug hell two days before the club plays in the Grand Final.

Infrequent testing fuelled Eagles drugs culture: Larkins

Ronny Lerner 10:46 AM West Coast's infamous drugs culture of the mid-2000s was allowed to fester because the AFL's drug-testing program at the time was not as strict as it is today, according to leading medico Dr Peter Larkins.

Will warm Melbourne weather favour Eagles v Hawks?

Nadia Budihardjo 10:29 AM West Coast Eagles fans will take a touch of Perth weather to Melbourne with them but sports science is split on whether the unusually warm Victorian conditions will give the Eagles a grand final advantage.

Former Eagles player reveals club's drug culture

Timna Jacks 9:16 AM Former West Coast player Daniel Chick has revealed a culture of prescription and illicit drug abuse at the club during the 2006 season.

Adam Shand's tips for West Coast fans heading to Melbourne

Adam Shand 8:17 AM Don't be fooled, hypothermia is a real possibility... as is a spray of vomit or a perfect stranger wanting to punch in the face!

Drug-induced psychosis raised in Phil Walsh case

Rick Goodman 6:22 AM Cy Walsh may have been experiencing a drug-induced psychosis when he allegedly murdered his father, Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh, a court has heard.

The post-Buddy dynasty

Jake Niall 6:12 AM Hawthorn wanted to keep Lance Franklin. In 2013, the Hawks offered Buddy a five year contract worth about $5m, a proposition that was rendered impotent by Sydney's doubling of that amount over nine years.

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Why rugby is again dwarfing AFL and NRL

Peter FitzSimons 4:22 AM A decade or so ago, it was clear to me that as sports became global – became televised around the planet – both Aussie Rules and rugby league would start to wither on the vine, while rugby union would soar to the stratosphere and beyond.

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Tigers and a Lyon chase the Sun

Michael Gleeson and Matt Murnane 1:15 AM Fremantle Ross Lyon says the race for Harley Bennell could come down to the West Australian clubs as the talented but troubled high draft picks eyes a move home.

Youngster's problems will 'go with him', Buckley says

Matt Murnane 9:31 PM Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has warned rival club St Kilda that Nathan Freeman's "problems" will follow him to the Saints if they trade for the former No.10 draft pick.

Dockers won't make top four next season: Brown

Matt Murnane 9:27 PM Pessimism about whether Fremantle can challenge for a flag again next year has already begun, with three-time premiership champion Jonathan Brown declaring Ross Lyon's team won't make the top four in 2016.

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AFL Grand Final: Nic Naitanui wants to bring the cup back to Perth for his mum

Brendan Foster 9:15 PM West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui says he's determined to bring the AFL Premiership Cup back to Perth in a tribute to his mum, who died suddenly last month in Fiji.

Football Women of the Year Award nominees 2015

Larissa Nicholson 8:34 PM As two teams of teenage girls ran onto the ground in their football guernseys, Emma Gibson nearly cried.

Premiership win this year would trump Hawks' 2014 achievement: president

Jesse Hogan 8:30 PM A Hawthorn premiership in 2015 would be a greater achievement than 2014, Andrew Newbold believes. But the president won't say whether he thinks a third consecutive flag would make the current Hawks the best line-up in their history.

AFL grand final: Hawthorn's defence vs West Coast's attack

Matt Murnane 8:15 PM Concluding our series breaking down the grand final from one end of the ground to the other, we look at Hawthorn's defence against West Coast's attack.

Luke Hodge set for spot after run

8:00 PM Luke Hodge is expected to play in Saturday's grand final, after he and Jack Gunston completed a low-key running session under the gaze of Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.

Last chapter in Hodge's year of living dangerously

Peter Hanlon 6:52 PM Hawthorn's captain will enter another grand final after a season tinged with regret.

Firrito set to play on with North

Jon Pierik 6:27 PM Having enjoyed another strong season, North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito appears all but to certain to play on next year.

Judd says 'isolated incidents' in Goodes saga tarnished Perth crowds

David Sygall 6:22 PM Chris Judd, who spent the first half of his career in Perth, says most fans recognise Adam Goodes as one of the greats.

Hawks need Schoenmakers in grand final: Dunstall

Matt Murnane 6:04 PM Hawthorn's greatest goal-kicker Jason Dunstall has urged his former club to play Ryan Schoenmakers as a key forward in the grand final, no matter what happens with the fitness of Jack Gunston.

Do West Coast have to tag Sam Mitchell?

Matt Murnane 6:02 PM Fremantle didn't bring in Ryan Crowley to do the job. What should West Coast do this Saturday?

The best grand final moments of all time

Rohan Connolly 6:01 PM Any game of football can turn or be decided on a single moment, a goal, a mark, a smother, a tackle. And when that moment comes in a grand final, it ensures a lasting place in history for the player involved.

Hawks focused on Eagles, not history: Clarkson

Jon Pierik 6:01 PM Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has banished talk his team is chasing history in Saturday's grand final, declaring the Hawks are only concerned with regaining the edge over an opponent they had lost to earlier in September.

Top Hawk would be 'thrilled' for grand-final winning Eagles

Jesse Hogan 6:00 PM Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold has more than two decades' experience as a lawyer and is making a great fist of sports administration, but he badly needs a crash course in trash talk.

Fremantle Dockers great Luke McPharlin retires

David Prestipino 5:58 PM Time has run out for injury-plauged Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin to win an AFL premiership.

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Neil Craig quits Essendon to join Carlton

Jon Pierik and Caroline Wilson 5:46 PM The rebuild of Carlton has taken another major step, with Essendon football boss Neil Craig quitting the Bombers to oversee Brendon Bolton's revamped young coaching team at Princes Park.

No priority picks for Carlton and Brisbane

Michael Gleeson 5:38 PM Being bad is not a good enough reason for Carlton and Brisbane to receive priority draft picks, the AFL Commission has ruled.

What our reporters are thinking ahead of Saturday

4:00 PM In the countdown to Saturday's AFL grand final, here's a chance to hear the (sometimes random) thoughts of six of our scribes.

Life after Fyfe: Eagles faith in Brad Sheppard finally paying off

Brendan Foster 3:53 PM In the 2009 AFL national draft the Eagles overlooked a rangy, skinny kid from Lake Grace at pick seven, in preference for East Fremantle product Brad Sheppard.

This year has been my toughest, admits Leppitsch

Jon Pierik 3:51 PM Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch has declared the 2015 campaign the toughest of his football career but says a review of the club will provide a springboard for a revival.