Costly venture tears at football's fabric

Tim Lane Oh for those gloriously uncomplicated days when football was simply about striving each week for the joy of victory and ultimately for the thrill of winning a Flag.

The club: It's a play ... right?

Tim Lane Hawthorn fans no doubt breathed a sigh of relief when Alastair Clarkson confirmed on Thursday he's 'going to be a Hawker' for some time yet.

AFL illicit drugs code: Push towards a more stringent code verges on immoral

Tim Lane The AFL Players Association might well be asking itself how it agreed to an Illicit drugs code so intrusive and open to capricious change in the first place.

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Grounds for concern: Can Princes Park shake off the blues to rise again?

Tim Lane Last Sunday's NAB Challenge match between Carlton and Essendon drew a crowd in excess of 18,000 to the Blues' old home. 

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson in great company

Tim Lane That Alastair Clarkson will be coaching Hawthorn for the next four years – reported in The Age during the week – appears likely to catapult the four-flag coach into football's...

Essendon CAS verdict: Decision gives cause for comfort

Tim Lane The AFL's long-cherished dream of global citizenry is at last a reality. Alas for the Australian game, its first serious appearance on the world stage hasn't occurred in the desired manner.

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.

Jake Carlisle case shows up illicit drugs issue

Tim Lane The degree of misjudgment that ever prompted a too meddlesome AFL and a too-compliant players' association to enact an illicit drugs code continues to emerge as the years pass.

Hawks 10 goals better than next best

Tim Lane The bad news for Hawthorn's opponents is that, just like last year, the Hawks were ultimately 10 goals better than the next best.

AFL grand final 2015: Hawthorn in clear air

Tim Lane Hawthorn epitomises the intersection of business and football in a heady cocktail of aphrodisiac proportions.

The Goodes, the bad and the ugly

Tim Lane It's the final indictment upon those who have harassed Adam Goodes that the question of him taking part in a formal farewell from football is problematic.

AFL finals 2015: Calling ball on undue pressure

Tim Lane Water has passed under the Punt Road and Sydney Harbour bridges over the past two evenings but there remains unfinished business from week one of the finals.

A ruckman for the Brownlow is a tall order

Tim Lane Despite its justified boast of being a game for players of all sizes, football was for decades slanted the way of the big boys.

Tim Lane: AFL match review panel secrecy leaves a lot to be desired

Tim Lane Last Monday's verdict on Nathan Fyfe probably won a rare tick of approval from the public for the match review panel.

How a local football competition became a national goldmine

Tim Lane The AFL's $2.5 billion television rights deal is a phenomenal one for the game, particularly so given that these aren't necessarily the best of times.

Facing up to a dilemma

Tim Lane A whole new language has been brought to football in recent years. On the field there are contested and uncontested possessions, stoppages, clearances, turnovers and so on.

Tim Lane: Hawks matchless in march to another flag

Tim Lane A Hawthorn past player of some repute said to me late last season he feared the current team was starting to look old.

Tackle rules must be enforced to protect players

Tim Lane The outcome of Jay Schulz's tackle on Ted Richards 10 days ago has served to again emphasise football's failure to adequately enforce its rules.

Another death rocks sporting community and a city

Tim Lane Early last week, in relation to another matter, I was pondering that occasional experience when the effect of sudden jolting news can for a moment be too much to grasp.

Tim Lane: the mind-boggling truth on the supplements scandal

Tim Lane How should sports administrators act when the specific interests of the organisation they serve clash with the broader interests, health, and modern ethics of sport?