Dees criticise Watts commentary

Another week, another Melbourne team without Jack Watts.

Craig Kelly slams clubs' push for reduced coach payouts

Influential player manager Craig Kelly has taken a swipe at the growing trend among AFL clubs to push for reduced payout terms for sacked senior coaches.

Swans, Franklin, Parker fined for breaking drug rules

The AFL has fined Sydney and stars Lance Franklin and Luke Parker a total of $30,000 for breaches of the league's strict treatment rules.

Exhibition no more, AFLW is the new norm

Last Saturday night, for the first time ever, I felt a sense of normalcy as I pulled on the Melbourne jumper. Not in the form of complacency, but a familiarity in my single-mindedness.

Bombers boss says this one's for the fans

Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell has paid tribute to the club's fan base as the Bombers head towards a membership of more than 60,000 by the start of the 2017 season.

Hardwick plays Trump card: 'Let's make Richmond great again'

A jovial Damien Hardwick has channelled his inner Donald Trump attempting to drum up excitement around Richmond's prospects for season 2017.

Hardwick hopes special relationship will sway Martin

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is hopeful what he views as a mutually beneficial relationship between Dustin Martin and the Tigers will ultimately help sway the superstar in re-committing to the club.

Geelong skipper no Dangerwood fan

Dangerwood is dead - if it ever lived.

Dockers recruit Harley Bennell impatient to get on the field

​Controversial Fremantle recruit Harley Bennell is poised for another full scale escalation in training as the gifted midfielder continues to shrug off a devastating calf injury curse.

Port mulling Ryder's re-introduction to AFL

Port Adelaide are yet to make a call on the extent of star AFL ruckman Patrick Ryder's re-introduction to competition after his year-long doping ban.

West Coast Eagles push for access to academy recruits

Mounting division over Greater Western Sydney's recruiting benefits has prompted new fears that the game will face pressure to return to the bygone era of club talent zones.

Mitchell in Eagles leadership group as Hurn skippers another year

West Coast have elevated former Hawthorn champion and new recruit Sam Mitchell into the leadership group without even having played a game for the club.

The forgotten few: footballers making a quiet comeback in 2017

It's that time of the year again in footy, when clubs roll out their pre-season squads and begin their official warm-up matches ahead of round one.

Giants formidable, says Bulldogs captain Murphy

Greater Western Sydney CEO Dave Matthews claims other clubs "overrate" the Giants' academy prospects.

Lyon says Watts has been put on notice

Melbourne great Garry Lyon says that Jack Watts omission from the squad of 29 to play the Bulldogs on the weekend is a timely reminder that new coach Simon Goodwin is going to put his own stamp on the team. 

Kevin Bartlett backs the bounce

AFL legend Kevin Bartlett says the league should never have gotten rid of the umpires' bounce around the ground, and banning it altogether from the game would be wrong.

Mayne says he's got years to offer Magpies

At 28 and after nine years at Fremantle, Collingwood recruit believes he has up to six years of AFL football in him.

Kangaroos' Brown in AFL pre-season mix

North Melbourne are hoping to welcome back forward Ben Brown for their final AFL pre-season game next month.

Lennon has high hopes for new Tigers Prestia and Caddy

Ben Lennon, the Richmond player who considered leaving the club but stayed when he had no takers, says the arrival of Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy will help players like himself improve.

Giants hopeful AFL doesn't adjust recruitment zones

GWS are hopeful the AFL doesn't remove Albury and Murray from their recruitment zone.

New Cockburn home for Fremantle Dockers bolsters spirits for 2017

Fremantle defender Lee Spurr hopes the club's recent move to their new home in Cockburn will help them banish the demons of 2016 and reach the finals this season.

Barclay to miss one game for sling tackle

Giants enforcer Jacinda Barclay has been rubbed out of Saturday's AFLW clash with ladder leaders Brisbane.

Craig Bradley's son joins Northern Blues

Jake Bradley, the son of Carlton games record-holder Craig, will play for the club's VFL team, the Northern Blues, this year.

Giants hold on Riverina raises rival clubs' anger

The AFL is facing an angry backlash from its clubs following its proposed backflip over the controversial Greater Western Sydney Academy, which would allow the Giants to retain their rich recruiting zone along the Murray River.

Hairy business: illicit drug testing under way in AFLW

• EXCLUSIVE

AFLW players could face penalties for illicit drug use from next year.

Ellie Brush would reconsider AFLW future if W-League wages increase

Ellie Brush is juggling two football codes at the moment, but the chance to become professional would see her commit to one.

Myers maybe sidelined for two months after finger injury

David Myers' luckless run has continued with Essendon midfielder sidelined for up to eight weeks after injuring his finger at training on Tuesday. 

Centre bounce a tradition we can do without

• COMMENT

Sometimes traditions outlive their usefulness. It's time we did away with umpires bouncing the ball in the centre circle.

'Rare' hamstring injury grounds Roughead for eight weeks

Hobbled Bulldogs ruckman Jordan Roughead has suffered one of the rarest hamstring injuries in footy, according to former AFL doctor Rohan White.

Watts doesn't have an attitude problem: Gawn

Melbourne star Max Gawn has denied that much-improved teammate Jack Watts missed out on selection for the Demons' first practice match of the year due to an attitude problem.

Saints footy is back but Montagna sidelined with calf injury

Veteran St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna is expected to return from a calf strain in time for round one in a season when the term "Saints footy" has returned to the vernacular.

AFL umpires up pressure to get rid of centre bounce

• EXCLUSIVE

Push to ditch one of the game's unique features gains momentum as umpires worry about physical - and mental - strains.

Carlisle, Ryder set for AFL returns

St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle and Port Adelaide ruckman Patrick Ryder are in line to make their long-awaited returns to senior footy this week after being named in their respective clubs' practice match squads.

New Lion cops ban, AFL Tribunal won't sit

The AFL tribunal won't sit on Tuesday after Brisbane recruit Jack Frost accepted a one-match ban and four other players accepted fines.

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.