Peter Hanlon
Peter Hanlon has worked at The Age since 1995, initially as deputy sports editor, subsequently as editor of the Saturday and Sunday Age sports sections, and since 2007 as a senior sports writer. He writes extensively on the AFL, and has also covered the Beijing Olympics and Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Brendon Bolton gets down to business with the Blues
Peter Hanlon Carlton's new coach tones down the smiles and juts his jaw for the long journey ahead.
Love triumphs over hate for Essendon's Courtenay Dempsey
![Courtenay Dempsey at a training session on the Tiwi College Oval at Pickataramoor on Melville Island. Pic Glenn Campbell](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/10/24/6956215/Thumbnail1001856606gkhiyiimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gkh9i6.png1445672665743.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Essendon's veteran defender reflects on a frustrating year that he feared could be his last.
Courtenay Dempsey lands one-year lifeline with Bombers
![Back for more punishment: Courtenay Dempsey will front up again in 2016.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/10/23/6955151/Thumbnail1001855307gkh9k8image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gkh8i3.png1445587248852.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Essendon's 119-game veteran secures contract to play on in 2016
Essendon rookie Jake Long: my island home
![In the genes: Jake Long waves to family members at Tiwi College, on Melville Island.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/10/21/6947210/Thumbnail1001716553gkehbiimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gke9ft.png1445420191429.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon An off-season excursion provides a precious reconnection for Essendon's maturing rookie.
AFL grand final: Luke Hodge leads the charge yet again
![Pumped up: Luke Hodge celebrates the win.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/10/03/6898819/Thumbnail1001081741gk0od1image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gk0nm5.png1443868505289.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Hawthorn's inspirational captain emerges from a trying year in a familiar place.
AFL grand final 2015: Tagger – A sideways glance at the contest
![Peter Hanlon](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/10/02/6896688/Thumbnail10010571662tmqsimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gk04ni.png1443767907976.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon It's easier to pick the winner than explain to the kids what Bryan Adams is doing here.
The booing culture that does the game no good
![Booing](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/10/01/6893329/Thumbnail1001010282gir2h8image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjz4h6.png1443691958857.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Even without Adam Goodes as the target, the booing continues.
Last chapter in Luke Hodge's year of living dangerously
![x](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/30/6889937/hod-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Hawthorn's captain will enter another grand final after a season tinged with regret.
AFL grand final 2015: Umpires Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic, Jeff Dalgleish named
![Matt Stevic and Brett Rosebury, two of the three field umpires who will be officiating on Saturday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/29/6886941/Thumbnail1000919627gjx72ximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjx6iz.png1443531476858.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon After being overlooked last year, Brett Rosebury will return to umpire his seventh AFL grand final on Saturday.
The Age best grand final vote: No.5, 1970
![No.5 in The Age Best grand final series: 1970](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/27/6882216/Thumbnail1000858336gjvv60image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjvv8g.png1443403259185.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon The Age asked you for your favourite grand final of all time and we are counting down the top five in grand final week.
AFL finals 2015: Tiny Tagger’s view of West Coast v North Melbourne
![AFL Sherrin](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/25/6878366/Thumbnail100081531312190mimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjuy1d.png1442915631715.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon A sideways glance at the second preliminary final.
How The Great McCarthy came to life
![AFL Sherrin](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/25/6878392/Thumbnail100081474112190mimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjuxlh.png1442915631715.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon In his famous Australian novel, Barry Oakley saw football's future.
AFL finals 2015: Shaun Burgoyne reaps the benefit of September smarts
Peter Hanlon The veteran Hawk plays his 30th final on Friday night, more than all bar two players in the game's history.
AFL finals 2015: Tiny Tagger’s view of Fremantle v Hawthorn
Peter Hanlon A sideways glance at the first preliminary final.
AFL finals 2015: North Melbourne's Jarrad Waite finally fills in the blanks
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/22/6869931/Thumbnail1000702844gjsn1timage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjsj98.png1442983625397.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon The first-year Kangaroo is hitting the scoreboard but working harder than ever to ensure others do, too.
AFL finals 2015: Kangaroo Ben Jacobs is ready to take on best of the west
![Ben Jacobs](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/20/6863893/Thumbnail1000620030gjqsr1image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjqrcu.png1442736985141.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Kangaroos' tagger takes team confidence into his biggest test yet.
AFL finals 2015: Brad Scott's Kangaroos to fly west on a mission
![North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey feels the love from supporters after the game.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/19/6863428/Thumbnail1000611758gjql0limage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjqkz2.png1442673417905.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Kangaroos not satisfied with reaching a second consecutive preliminary final
AFL finals 2015: North's team attack brings down the pressure kings Sydney
![Ben Brown of the Kangaroos is tackled by Heath Grundy of the Swans.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/19/6863293/Thumbnail1000610749gjqkiximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjqk71.png1442698109269.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon Brad Scott's team makes amends for last year's preliminary final loss in style.
AFL finals 2015: Tiny Tagger’s view of Sydney v North Melbourne
![Kangaroos coach Brad Scott with his assistants during a training session on Thursday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20151112081051im_/http://images.watoday.com.au/2015/09/18/6861615/Thumbnail1000585417gjq8vmimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gjq0nd.png1442575323577.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Hanlon A sideways glance at the first semi-final.