Pendlebury would sit down to make a stand

In a week in which boxer Anthony Mundine has vowed to sit during the playing of the Australian national anthem, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury says AFL players would also consider sitting as a form of protest.

Giants look to have won the battle for Riverina

• EXCLUSIVE

Greater Western Sydney have scored another victory against the AFL and now look certain to retain their contentious Riverina academy zone and, specifically, Albury.

Where some traditions mean nothing, brave new world starts now

​The Australian Football League picked its most famous foes to boot it into a brave new world.

No signs that Eade is feeling Suns contract heat

Gold Coast co-captain Steven May says coach Rodney Eade is showing no signs of a man in the last year of his contract.

Carlton, Cripps scoff at Fremantle trade rumour

Carlton have poured cold water on speculation linking star West Australian Patrick Cripps with a return to his home state.

Wells was out of shape on arrival: Buckley

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says that high-profile recruit Daniel Wells was out of shape when he first arrived at the Holden Centre.

AFL players set to be under the pump in 2017

Off season? What off season? Everyone is under pressure in the AFL. But some players start the season under the pump more than others ...

Nat Fyfe on the move again as Dockers chase Patrick Cripps: Kane Cornes

The Fremantle Dockers are gearing up for life without Nat Fyfe and will throw "a bucket load of cash" at Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps to lure him back west, according to football commentator Kane Cornes.

Netball legend McMahon joins AFLW MRP

Former Australian netball captain Sharelle McMahon has joined the AFL Women's match review panel for its inaugural season, which starts on Friday night.

Giants well-placed for 2017 flag tilt: Davis

Greater Western Sydney co-captain Phil Davis believes his team is better placed than last year to have a tilt at a maiden premiership.

Premiership cup narrows the focus: Pearce

Amid all the uncertainty of what is about to happen, seeing the AFL Women's premiership cup was a potent reminder for Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce.

Pies won't take backwards step against Blues on Friday

It was only a practice match, but that didn't matter to Meg Hutchins.

Message to the doubters: Let the AFLW grow - it's important beyond the game

• COMMENT

The inaugural AFLW season begins on Friday, and I am pretty excited. But I'm also nervous, because there are people just waiting to tear this competition down.

AFL's secret trials have the potential to revolutionise the game

The AFL has conducted further secret trials in a bid to eradicate congestion, with 16-a-side being tested in club practice matches in a bold move that could revolutionise the game. 

AFLW: Bulldogs captain vows ankle injury won't keep her out

Katie Brennan, still pained by an ankle injury, is adamant she will not miss captaining the Western Bulldogs in their landmark first women's league game, even if she needs assistance to run out. 

Murphy to stay top Dog in 2017

Bob Murphy has confirmed that he will remain captain of the Western Bulldogs as the club follows up its inspirational premiership of last season.

Captains tip Bulldogs as AFLW winners

AFL Women's captains are tipping the Western Bulldogs to match their men's team by taking out the premiership, while Melbourne's Daisy Pearce is favoured to win the inaugural best and fairest.

Women's Fremantle Dockers team named favourites on eve of inaugural season

The Fremantle Dockers Women's AFL team have been named favourites to win the league's inaugural season which kicks off on Friday.

Women may have 'no name' medals for years

The most coveted prizes in the AFL women's league may remain unnamed for years with the code resolving trailblazer footballers in the new competition, starting Friday, should inform the major decisions by writing their own history.

Fremantle star Nat Fyfe training the house down... up forward

Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe has given no clear sign of a new contract but distinct evidence he will spend time as a goal-scoring forward as his Dockers rebuild finals hopes this year.

From a Wandiligong backyard to AFLW: Daisy Pearce's journey

• EXCLUSIVE

Fairfax Media columnist Daisy Pearce makes her writing debut ahead of the opening AFLW round.

Ablett to move forward, says Suns coach Eade

There will be more changes for Gary Ablett at the Gold Coast with the champion midfielder earmarked to spend more time as a forward.

Eagles lock in Darling and Barrass with contract extensions

Young bookends Jack Darling and Tom Barrass have re-confirmed their commitment to the club by signing contract extensions.

Essendon seek more games at the MCG

Essendon will look to rewrite their privileged-tenant contract with Etihad Stadium with a view to playing more home games at the MCG.

Ball it up: Female umpire gets nod for opener

If there was going to be a first bounce in Friday night's historic AFLW opening at Ikon Park, Annie Mirabile wouldn't want it.

AFL chairman to fly in for historic first women's league game

The historic first AFL women's league match will feature a countdown with Carlton and Collingwood footballers running through handpicked guards of honour before play starts.

We won't rush O'Meara: Hawks

Hawthorn say they'll continue to be patient with the physical process of Jaeger O'Meara, and remain steadfast in the view that he doesn't have to play in the pre-season games to be ready for round one.

Buckenara bolsters Frankston VFL revival bid

Frankston's bid for re-entry into the VFL next season has received a boost with the hiring of highly-respected Gary Buckenara as the club's general manager.

Watson a stand-out as Bombers enjoy a 'normal' pre-season

Essendon veteran David Zaharakis says Jobe Watson has again emerged as a stand-out leader through a pre-season the Bombers have enjoyed for the simple fact that it has been "normal".

Lyon opens up about depression, hurt, his relationship with Nicky Brownless

Garry Lyon has lamented his failure to rigorously seek professional help for depression when he had his first serious brush with it eight years ago, and said that he fell "into a hole" at the end of 2015.

Shoulder surgery sidelines North Jed Anderson for two months

North Melbourne small forward Jed Anderson could miss around two months of football after injuring his shoulder last week.

Blues confident of high scoring in AFLW

Carlton's female AFL stars are confident the competition will deliver enough fireworks to keep fans coming back for more.

Deledio is the Giants' missing key: Davis

The Achilles heel of the GWS Giants has been solved by the AFL leviathan that is Brett Deledio.

Secret trial: AFL uses Saints as zone guinea pigs

The AFL has secretly trialled the use of zones in a clandestine joint venture with St Kilda which took place last week at Seaford. 

Who got Lade? Port did

Brendon Lade is returning to Port Adelaide after seven years as an assistant coach at AFL rivals Richmond.

Dogs won't be hoodoo gurus

The Western Bulldogs won't look back at their painful history of preliminary final losses in the lead up to their Saturday night clash with GWS Giants.

Hogan departure won't be 'catastrophic': Schwarz

Melbourne great David Schwarz says the potential defection of Jesse Hogan would not be "as catastrophic" now as it would have been last year.

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.

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.