Chris Judd: It's time to deny the top four clubs access to free agents

The thing that AFL fans love about the game is risk and the unknown outcome accompanying it: the risk players take when they commit to a physical contest, when they launch three deep in a pack to stand on someone's shoulders in a marking contest, when they have a shot from the boundary. All are weekly features on highlights reels. 

Preliminary Finals: The Five Geelong

Preliminary Finals: The Five Geelong 

Heeney ready for key role in prelim

Isaac Heeney's journey from Blacktown to a packed MCG is almost complete.

Football romance, or the road to the future?

There’s two very contrasting narratives developing heading into the penultimate weekend of the AFL season. And sentimentally, they’re at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Over and out: Crows need to develop a consistent ruthless streak to fulfil potential

The Adelaide Crows will be disappointed they didn't do better in the finals, but they have themselves to blame for losing games they should not have dropped in the home-and-away series.

The Last Word on finals week two

Despite a stink over Saturday's preliminary final venue, thrilling contests brought joy, and an end to Hawthorn ascendancy.

Tippett in line for return but McVeigh, Rohan unlikely

Sydney forward Gary Rohan is expected to be cleared of major structural damage to his knee but he and captain Jarrad McVeigh are unlikely to play in Friday night's preliminary final against Geelong.

All-Sydney grand final looms large

When the Sydney Swans recorded their best-ever opening term in their 84th final, smashing the Adelaide Crows with 61 handballs to 16 and winning from outside the packs, you could hear the murmurs sweep from the rest of the football nation. It couldn't happen, surely. Nobody would turn up.

Essendon still unclear on Watson's future

Essendon are no closer to knowing whether Jobe Watson intends to play on next season.

Demon knocked out in VFL prelim final

Melbourne youngster Christian Salem has been knocked out after having his head driven into the ground in a heavy tackle during Sunday's VFL preliminary final at North Port Oval.

Smith says he's staying at the Kennel

One of the AFL's feel-good stories is set to extend into 2017 with resilient Western Bulldogs midfielder Clay Smith indicating he will almost certainly be at the club next season.

AFL remains confident on Spotless Stadium call

The AFL is standing by its decision to allow Greater Western Sydney to host their preliminary final at Spotless Stadium despite fears Western Bulldogs fans will be left disappointed.

Giants say their time is now

Greater Western Sydney have spent their entire existence looking at tomorrow, but they say their time is now.

Breust's agent pours cold water on trade talk

Luke Breust's agent has quashed claims the classy forward could be traded from Hawthorn.

VFL preliminary: Scorpions outwit Seagulls in tactical battle

The Casey Scorpions have won through to their first VFL grand final since 1999, after dismantling reigning premier Williamstown by 42-points in a preliminary final at North Port Oval on Sunday.

Falcons are better than Hawks

Darebin Falcons have gone where Hawthorn could not. The dominant Victorian women's team has won its fourth successive flag.

Swans' ferocious win against Crows comes at a cost

The method was fierce, the result positive, but the cost could prove very expensive ahead of next weekend's preliminary final against Geelong.

AFL turns back the clock and squanders a chance to build the game

A crowd of 87,823 on Friday night – for a couple of late-starters to the competition who once played perennial catch-up – was a stunning result. Almost as stunning as the one posted on the MCG scoreboard by night's end.

Swans pair injured in win over Crows

Gary Rohan's season looks over and Jarrad McVeigh is in doubt for next weekend's preliminary final against Geelong after the Swans' bruising win over Adelaide on Saturday.

Cats v Swans: a long awaited heavyweight clash

D​espite their pre-eminence during the AFL era, Geelong and Sydney have played just one final against each other in the past 80 years, and it's a game neither club will ever forget.

Sting revealed as AFL Grand Final headline performer

Rock legend Sting will take the stage at at this year's AFL Grand Final, the league announced on Friday night.

Bulldogs provide depth where it counts

The Western Bulldogs have had the luxury of getting much-needed game time into their depth players in the lead up to next week's preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium.

Bulldogs make it a double

The Bulldogs are barking in September in both the AFL and VFL, after Footscray upset Collingwood by 119-points to win through to next Sunday's VFL grand final at Etihad Stadium.

Jong's message spurs on his replacement

On the second Thursday night of this month, Lin Jong sat in tears on the Domain Stadium bench, knowing that the collarbone he had just broken would almost certainly end his season.

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs: Five key moments

It was a night the empire ended, as the Western Bulldogs overcame a 23-point second quarter deficit to stun Hawthorn with 12 of the next 13 goals and send the three-time reigning premiers packing.

Live AFL finals: Swans v Crows

• Live

Follow all the action as the Crows and the Swans battle it out at the SCG.

Another young Giant on Blues' radar

Carlton are confident they can secure a deal for Caleb Marchbank, while the Blues are also interested in another Greater Western Sydney Giant who could help fill a goalkicking hole.

Giants and Bulldogs represent changing of guard

Few finals of the modern era have boasted the same sense of novelty as does Saturday night’s preliminary final between Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.

Henderson puts hand up to play for Cats

Important Geelong defender Lachie Henderson removed any lingering doubts over his fitness when he took part in a searching 90-minute training session on Saturday.

Bulldogs will be 'extremely disappointed' not to win flag

Being there isn't nearly enough for the Western Bulldogs, and coach Luke Beveridge says the AFL's Cinderella club will be "extremely disappointed" if they don't win the 2016 premiership.

Hawks' demise allows Lions to ramp up coach hunt

The Brisbane Lions are set to ramp up their search for a new coach this week, with Hawthorn's Chris Fagan free to pursue the role.

Dogs president wants fans to cause AFL headache

The Western Bulldogs fans are dreaming, and club president Peter Gordon says he wants the red, white and blue faithful to create a headache for the AFL by demanding more tickets than the league is expecting for next Saturday's preliminary final in Sydney.

Season in review: Is this the end for the Hawks?

The bid to become "four-thorn" is over, with dreams of a four-peat of flags destroyed in a qualifying-final thriller against Geelong and then in a semi-final against the run and gun of the Western Bulldogs. A straight-sets exit will sting the Hawks who, in a year where they won six matches by nine points or less, continued to be a premiership threat, when even those close to the club felt it may have been time for a step back. So, where to from here? Jon Pierik reports.

Dogs, Hawks a television ratings winner

It wasn't that long ago that the Western Bulldogs were considered a television turn-off, their stodgy efforts on the field meaning they were banished from the AFL's marquee timeslot - Friday night.