Ruck and rule changes help restore the game we knew

For all the hand-wringing over its abolition, the third man up at ruck contests has hardly been a cornerstone of AFL football.

Footy's top 10 people of 2016

Fairfax Media's top 10 people of the football year aren't necessarily the most popular, or the most successful, but each left a sizeable imprint on the game's landscape in the past 12 months.

Best of the best: The top 10 games of 2016

The 2016 AFL season saw great comebacks, neck and neck tussles, and several kicks to win games, one in a final no less. These, in our view, were the 10 best games of 2016.

Bryce Gibbs proud to be Blue, but hits out at suggestions his partner pushed for move

• EXCLUSIVE

His desire to move back to his native Adelaide was thwarted, but Carlton's Bryce Gibbs has reassured the Blues that with three years left on his contract, he's more than content to see out his AFL career at the one club.

Gibbs clears up 'misinformation' about his request for a trade home

The Carlton on-baller has plenty he wants to get off his chest. And in an exclusive interview with Fairfax Media, the first since the drama blew up, he does.

Carlton star Cripps right for round one

Sam Docherty confident Blues midfield powerhouse Patrick Cripps will be fit and firing in 2017.

Rohan Connolly's 2016 in review: Bulldogs best in show

Highs, lows, quotes, controversies, stories and stars - but the year's biggest news-makers were the premiership drought-breaking Western Bulldogs.

Cats' draft call goes all the way to Uganda

Geelong’s Sam Simpson found out he'd been taken by the Cats in the recent AFL rookie draft in pretty unusual circumstances

Life membership for star Tiger pair

Richmond stars Dustin Martin and Alex Rance have been honoured with life membership of their club.