Ronny Lerner
Live AFL: Sydney Swans v North Melbourne
Ronny Lerner These two clubs met in a preliminary final last year. This time one of them will progress to the final four.
AFL finals 2015: Five things to look forward to in the semi-finals
![Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts booted 4.8 between them tonight.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/17/6858234/Thumbnail1000520353giugk5image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjomg1.png1442550485907.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner Will Hawthorn and Sydney avoid the ignominy of straight-sets finals exits? And can Adelaide and North Melbourne exact September revenge?
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is confident Hawks will prove the doubters wrong
![Not worried: Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/17/6856826/Thumbnail1000528197gjoumtimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjoshx.png1442462764869.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner Triple premiership coach Alastair Clarkson is paying little attention to the doomsayers who are already writing the epitaph for Hawthorn's glorious era of success and is bullish about his team's...
AFL umpires admit fault over not penalising Ben Cunnington for dropping the ball against Richmond
![Ben Cunnington should have had a free kick paid against him](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/15/6850220/Thumbnail1000446876gjn3n6image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjn1r0.png1442324275280.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner The AFL's umpiring department has admitted that umpire Brett Rosebury made a mistake in not penalising North Melbourne's Ben Cunnington for dropping the ball at a crucial stage of the elimination...
Western Bulldogs season review for 2015
![Robert Murphy was one of the shining lights for the Western Bulldogs in 2015.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/15/6849926/Thumbnail1000441631gjlisjimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjmxpb.png1442308589223.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner It didn't take long for the Bulldogs to win over their detractors following a summer of discontent with rookie coach Luke Beveridge transforming the struggling Dogs from also-rans into one of the...
Live AFL Finals: Western Bulldogs v Adelaide
![AFL Express](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/12/6842918/Thumbnail1000359109gif8tximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjl611.png1442056620820.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner The Western Bulldogs confront Adelaide in the first of the AFL's two elimination finals this weekend.
Live AFL Finals: Fremantle v Sydney
![AFL Express](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/12/6842322/Thumbnail1000352828gif8tximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjl16k.png1442045151638.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner It's the second of the 2015 AFL qualifying finals as top-placed Fremantle host fourth-placed Sydney.
The weekend agenda: Five things to look forward to in week one of the finals
![AFL Sherrin](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/10/6837234/Thumbnail100028078412190mimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjjhlc.png1441878649769.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner Will Richmond win a final for the first time since 2001? And who will win the battle of the fairy tales?
Geelong ruckman Mark Blicavs signs new contract with the Cats
Ronny Lerner Mark Blicavs has become the latest player to re-sign with Geelong after agreeing to a reported three-year contract extension.
Will Hawthorn's Isaac Smith play? It all comes down to Thursday training
![Isaac Smith of the Hawks.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/10/6835727/Thumbnail1000264930gjh74cimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjj5cy.png1441855021022.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner The final call on whether injured Hawthorn speedster Isaac Smith will play on Friday night will be made after training on Thursday afternoon.
AFL finals 2015: Western Bulldogs Jason Johannisen and Jordan Roughead will not play Adelaide Crows
![Jordan Roughead of the Bulldogs](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/08/6831082/Thumbnail1000200167gjathyimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjhrdz.png1441696287439.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner The Western Bulldogs have suffered a huge double blow in the lead up to their first final in five years with key players Jason Johannisen and Jordan Roughead ruled out due to injury.
AFL finals 2015: North Melbourne coach Brad Scott talks up Daniel Wells for Richmond final
![Kangaroos' Daniel Wells](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/08/6830303/Thumbnail1000188500gj93sximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjhidw.png1441702910131.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner He might not have played a senior game for five months but coach Brad Scott says Daniel Wells is a strong chance to make a shock return in North Melbourne's elimination final against Richmond at the...
Brad Scott's loyalty is to North Melbourne when it comes to resting players
![No contest: North Melbourne coach Brad Scott doesn't owe the AFL's broadcast partners anything..](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/08/6829628/Thumbnail1000180520ghdz4gimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjhc88.png1441714423233.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner Was Brad Scott's decision to rest almost half his best team for North Melbourne's round 23 clash with Richmond on Friday a coaching masterstroke or a tactic that will blow up in his face?
GWS review: Rating the Giants' 2015 season
![SMH SPORT
GWS Giants player Tom Scully. 13th May 2015
Photo Dallas Kilponen](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/06/6825535/Thumbnail1000024952gh1lk5image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gje06w.png1441661554592.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner The Giants looked set for a maiden finals berth after Round 10 as they sat in fifth spot on the ladder with a handsome 7-3 win-loss record. But then disaster struck in Round 11.
Round 23: AFL Saturday Live
![AFL Express](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/05/6823561/Thumbnail1000108330gif8tximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjfsiy.png1441450722211.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner The AFL home-and-away season comes to a conclusion this weekend. It's footy from start to finish on Saturday with six matches to be played - from Geelong, to Perth, to Melbourne and everything in...
The weekend agenda: five things to look forward to in round 23
![Steve Johnson walks out for his 250th game in round 20.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/04/6821993/Thumbnail1000033405gizxjhimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gje6pp.png1441346123412.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner After the week that was in footy land, it's time to check out five things to look forward to in round 23.
St Kilda veteran Sam Gilbert signs new two-year contract with Saints
![Injury has restricted Sam Gilbert in recent years.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/03/6817160/Thumbnail1000023052zqrxlimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjdyq4.png1441236078400.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner Sam Gilbert has turned his back on free agency and re-signed with St Kilda for another two years.
Hawthorn defender Grant Birchall not concerned at playing undermanned Carlton team before finals
![Grant Birchall of the Hawks says the club is not concerned by any potential downsides from playing an undermanned Carlton in the final round.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/01/6812741/Thumbnail999958640gjclgjimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjcl0w.png1441098311228.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner Hawthorn defender Grant Birchall is not concerned by the potentially negative impact playing a severely weakened Carlton outfit will have on his team heading into another finals campaign.
Gold Coast vice-captain Michael Rischitelli lays down law to Suns ahead of off-season
![Michael Rischitelli says the players have been reminded of the standard of behaviour required during the off-season.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/01/6812445/Thumbnail999952280gjcgscimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjcg48.png1441100072117.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner Gold Coast players were given a timely reminder on Tuesday of what their behavioural expectations were for the impending off-season, according to vice-captain Michael Rischitelli.
The tactics employed by some of the best AFL coaches
![The ploy almost paid off for Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150921083809im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/09/01/6812214/Thumbnail999944609gjcestimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjca75.png1441098634307.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Ronny Lerner So Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has declared he will rest 11 of his best players this weekend, but what canny strategies have other coaches tried through the years?