Collingwood v Carlton: Blues hold sway, and hold their nerve

Rohan Connolly It's been baby steps for Carlton since the end of 2015 heralded a clean-out of players the likes of which the Blues had never seen and the appointment of another new coach, this one with a far more...

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Merged North-Fitzroy: history could well have written four flags

Rohan Connolly There are plenty of sliding doors moments in football. But few as obvious as the events of 20 years ago, when four AFL clubs were involved in two proposed mergers, both of which looked certain to...

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AFL 2016: The difference with the Dogs

Rohan Connolly Saturday night's Western Bulldogs-Adelaide clash shapes as a beauty. But it might play out very differently to their finals classic of last September.

AFL 2016: Is the final eight already done and dusted?

Rohan Connolly History shows that the top eight doesn't change much after seven rounds. And in 2016, it might not have even taken that long to sort the wheat from the chaff.

AFL season 2016: Rohan Connolly's last word from round six

Rohan Connolly How many unsatisfactory goalline reviews will it take for the AFL, the TV broadcasters and the various venues to get their act together and have the same technology available for every game?

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AFL 2016: They might be Giants

Rohan Connolly GWS may not be the traditionalists' cup of tea. But the Giants are coming, fast, and even the cynics are going to have little choice but to start paying attention.

Melbourne v St Kilda: Alan Richardson salutes young Saints

Rohan Connolly St Kilda coach Alan Richardson has praised the performance of his younger players in his team's 39-point defeat of Melbourne.

Melbourne v St Kilda: Saints yet again a nemesis for up-and-down Demons

Rohan Connolly Etihad Stadium has been a graveyard for Melbourne, whose previous appearance there produced the Demons' first win at the ground in 23 attempts.

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AFL season 2016: Essendon coach John Worsfold says starts are a major problem

Rohan Connolly Essendon coach John Worsfold has conceded his team's starts have become a major problem after the Bombers found themselves already 45 points down at quarter time and effectively out of the contest in...

AFL season 2016: No quarter given as Collingwood thrash Essendon on Anzac Day

Rohan Connolly There had been a sense of dread about the sort of contest which might be served up to a huge live and lounge-room audience on Anzac Day almost from the moment Essendon lost half their best team in...

AFL season 2016: Rohan Connolly's last word from round five

Rohan Connolly Carlton have plugged away over the first month of this season without a win.

AFL season 2016: Hawthorn no longer the hare, but is there a tortoise?

Rohan Connolly Hawthorn haven't necessarily got any better. But has the rest of the AFL competition improved enough to catch them?

AFL season 2016: Bulldogs lose Matt Suckling in win over Lions

Rohan Connolly The Western Bulldogs will be without another important running defender for Friday night's top-of-the-ladder clash against North Melbourne, with Matt Suckling injured in the win over Brisbane on...

AFL season 2016: Bulldogs cruise past Lions for big win

Rohan Connolly Brisbane scrapped pretty hard for much of the first half against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

AFL 2016: Adelaide well and truly alive post-Dangerfield

Rohan Connolly Adelaide aren't just surviving the loss of their brightest star Patrick Dangerfield, but thriving in his absence.

AFL 2016: Grand final replay losers ponder the 'what ifs'

Rohan Connolly We've seen our last AFL grand final replay. But what would have happened if the three grand final draws we did witness had an extra time provision?

AFL 2016: Crows, not Hawks, calling the forward-line shots

Rohan Connolly Adelaide's clash with Hawthorn at the MCG will be seen as a big test for the Crows. But there's one area of the ground in particular the visitors are entitled to feel like they have the upper hand.

AFL 2016: The pace of change takes a toll

Rohan Connolly The game looks more open, quicker and higher-scoring. But what toll will that take over the length of an AFL season? Already clubs are beginning to learn just how much.

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AFL season 2016: Essendon's Jayden Laverde to miss up to two months with shoulder injury

Rohan Connolly Essendon has lost highly-rated youngster Jayden Laverde for at least the next six weeks after he sustained a serious shoulder injury in Saturday's game against Geelong.