AFL

Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood's Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas can return to the training track

Banned Magpies can return to training track

Banned Collingwood players Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas are allowed to return to training on Monday, two months before the end of their suspension for testing positive to clenbuterol.

Whitfield affair: GWS hearing postponed

Giants winger Lachie Whitfield.

Greater Western Sydney's defence against misconduct charges over the Lachie Whitfield affair has been postponed and is now likely to be heard just days before Christmas.

Walsh's return adds to the intrigue at Collingwood

Pragmatic Pies: Gary Pert and Geoff Walsh.

The extraordinary return of Geoff Walsh to Collingwood little more than three years after he walked out of the club, having said his piece to some board members and clearly at odds with the chief executive Gary Pert, again underlines that football is as forgiving as it is pragmatic.

Pies close on new head of footy

Collingwood boss Gary Pert said a replacement for the suspended Allan would be made well before Christmas.

Collingwood expect to appoint a new football director soon after this week's national draft with the club targeting an experienced senior football figure to replace Graeme Allan.