Latest AFL news
Covering sport in 2015
Andrew Tate and Stathi Paxinos 4:57 PM Here's the sports news as seen through the covers of The Sunday Age in 2015
Giant upsets and groundbreakers: GWS' best
Daniel Cherny 3:04 PM When looking at the best wins of the AFL's newest clubs, the choices are literally limited to home and away games. But even though they haven't yet made the finals, Greater Western Sydney have already provided their small cohort of fans some very exciting moments. Here are the Giants' top five wins.
Dank to receive defamation payout
Rania Spooner and Mark Russell Stephen Dank will receive a defamation payout from the Herald Sun's publisher over a story that alleged he associated with bikies.
Courage and class: The Crows' best wins
Daniel Cherny While Adelaide's two flags remain their pieces de resistance, there have been no shortage of landmark home and away wins too. Here are five of Adelaide's best.
Queries over sentencing discounts for Bombers
Jake Niall It has emerged that the chairman hearing the World Anti-Doping Agency appeal into the Essendon supplements scandal questioned lawyers on why players had been presumed to be entitled to a 'no significant negligence discount', raising again the spectre of suspensions.
Hawthorn switched on for No.4: Hodge
Hawthorn are showing the hunger needed to improve as they prepare to seek a record-equalling fourth consecutive premiership, warns captain Luke Hodge.
Cream of Cats' winning crop
Rohan Connolly Geelong has won three flags and some big finals in the last eight years alone. But the Cats have also racked up some fine home and away wins over the modern football era. Here are their five best.
Rare finals miss hits Cats' bottom line
Matt Murnane Missing the finals for the first time since in nearly a decade has hit Geelong's bottom line, with declining crowds again exacerbating costs of nearly $4 million attached to the Simonds Stadium redevelopment.
Your club's best home-and-away wins since 1970
They are the wins you simply don't forget. This summer we've taken on the challenge of nominating your AFL club's best home-and-away victories. Sure, finals wins are special but these are the days that sometimes catch you by surprise.
Essendon supplements saga: mid-January decision looms
Jake Niall Court of Arbitration for Sport is set to hand down a judgment on the World Anti-Doping Agency appeal in mid-January.
Hurley endorses a Hird return
Matt Murnane All-Australian Bomber Michael Hurley says he wants to see James Hird welcomed back to football, endorsing his football knowledge as "second to none" as well as his credentials to be a "great coach".
Carlton president Mark LoGiudice upbeat despite heated AGM
Daniel Cherny Forced to deal with an onslaught from a handful of irate members, Carlton president Mark LoGiudice nevertheless remains upbeat about the club's future.
Guilty Bombers face five-week wait for health and safety penalty
Mark Russell, Tammy Mills The Essendon Football Club had been guilty of "a significant measure of disregard" for the safety of its payers when subjecting them to the controversial supplements program, a court has heard.
AFL still open to Geelong hosting finals
Daniel Cherny The AFL says it remains open to playing finals in Geelong, but not at the expense of its deal with the MCG.
Hawks' high five
Rohan Connolly Hawthorn have won plenty of finals over the years, but the Hawks have had some great home and away victories as well. Here's the Hawks' five best of the modern era.
Manager cleared in Treloar surgery investigation
Matt Murnane Peter Blucher, the manager of Collingwood midfielder Adam Treloar, has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the AFLPA after an investigation into the off-season surgery the former Giant had in Tasmania before he was traded.
Heppell happy to wait for captaincy
Ronny Lerner Emerging leader Dyson Heppell has described being named Essendon's vice-captain as a 'great honour' and harboured no feelings of disappointment at being overlooked for the top gig.
Bulldogs tackle the Great Ocean Road
Matt Murnane The Western Bulldogs know their journey back to the finals next year won't be straight forward.
We're not leaving Seaford: Saints president
Daniel Cherny Despite an announcement earlier in the month that the club would be heading away from Seaford, St Kilda president Peter Summers promises the Saints will not be abandoning the area.
Marvellous Magpie memories
Rohan Connolly Which games do you rate as Collingwood's five best home-and-away wins of the modern era? Here's our selection.
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick praises Paul Little
Daniel Cherny Despite having had an at-times testy relationship with the AFL - even taking the league to court - Paul Little has received praise from headquarters.
James Hird takes aim at 'power and greed' in sport administration
Jesse Hogan James Hird's icy relationship with the AFL shows no signs of thawing, with the former Essendon coach taking an oblique aim at the league for being intolerant.
AFL 2015: A year of achievement and tragedy
Rohan Connolly The 2015 AFL season was one of tremendous team and individual achievement, but also one of unthinkable tragedy.
St Kilda recruit Freeman in 'terrific spirits'
Larissa Nicholson St Kilda recruit Nathan Freeman is in terrific spirits despite suffering yet another hamstring injury, the club’s football manager says.
No AFL control: the lessons of 2015
Jake Niall In 2015, the AFL couldn't stop fans from booing Adam Goodes, or from expressing varying forms of racial prejudice.
Carlton ruckman is right where he wants to be
Matt Murnane Matthew Kreuzer might have been the only one at Carlton who didn't want 2015 to end.
On drugs, AFL's small world has to embrace the bigger issue
Tim Lane Although its final outcome is yet to be delivered, the Essendon supplements affair has surely clarified one important matter for footballers and fans alike.
Family dynasty emerges at Swans
David Sygall One grandfather was a club champion, the other a favourite of the great Bob Skilton. Now Tom Papley is setting out to make his own name.
Carlton star knows he has his knockers
Matt Murnane Dale Thomas knows he is an easy target nowadays.
Crows and NT in bid for women’s licence
Caroline Wilson Another twist has emerged in the clubs' push for places in the Australian Women's Football League, with the Adelaide Crows joining forces with the Northern Territory in a bid for a seventh licence.
Buckley: Get rid of prior opportunity
Rohan Connolly Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes the AFL should dispense with the "prior opportunity" qualification when it comes to the "holding the ball" rule.
Captain Watson still confident about CAS
Daniel Cherny Reinvigorated, ratified by the Essendon board and renewed as captain, Jobe Watson says he remains confident that he and his current and former teammates will soon be freed from the shackles of a looming drugs ban.
Swans record fifth successive profit
The Sydney Swans have announced a profit for a fifth successive year and are looking to top the 50,000-member mark for the 2016 AFL season.
AFL goes in hard on dangerous tackles
Daniel Cherny The AFL's focus on protecting the heads of players will ramp up in 2016, with stricter measures set to be enforced when dealing with dangerous tackles, both on the field, and at the match review panel.
Ben Cousins set for reality TV spot?
David Baker Fallen AFL and ex-West Coast Eagle star Ben Cousins is reportedly mulling over an offer of a spot on TV reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.