Hawks intend to throw sparky Sicily forward when they need to

Hawthorn assistant coach Adem Yze expects James Sicily to play mostly in defence this season but the Hawks won't hesitate to throw him forward when they need some spark, he says.

McKernan puts his hand up as Dons swamped by Cats

Essendon are facing a ruck shortage ahead of their round one blockbuster against Hawthorn after big man Matthew Leuenberger hurt his hamstring on Sunday.

Giants await injury news on key pair

The Giants are sweating on the fitness of key men Stephen Coniglio and Aidan Corr ahead of round one.

Rookie fires as Port beat Hawthorn in AFL trial match

Mature-aged rookie Brett Eddy has kicked five goals to help Port Adelaide beat Hawthorn by 28 points in Sunday's AFL trial game.

How Adele could have an impact on round one of the AFL

The first and most problematic six-day turnaround of the AFL season will happen before the first ball is even bounced.

Magpies' Kate Sheahan hopes to play AFLW in 2018

Collingwood's Kate Sheahan will attempt a football comeback in 2018, after an knee injury cut short her season at less than a minute on the field.

Hope shines in Pies' first home-ground win

Under-pressure Collingwood marquee Moana Hope finally showed fans why she was held in such high regard pre-season, as she kicked two goals and set up a couple more in the Pies' big win over GWS on Sunday.

Pies set AFLW record score in big win over Giants

Collingwood's big guns fired in their emphatic win over Greater Western Sydney at Olympic Park Oval on Sunday.

Live AFLW: Collingwood v GWS

Follow live as the Pies host the Giants to close out the AFL Women's round.

Free is not always best way

If there was ever a moment to be bold for change, this is it. So let's hope the AFL is heaps bold.

Demons upset Crows by two points to keep AFLW grand final hopes alive

Melbourne recovered from a scoreless opening quarter to topple the league heavyweights in extremely humid Darwin conditions.

Jenkins pivotal as Crows down Lions

Spearhead Josh Jenkins was dominant as Adelaide's feted forward line clicked into gear in a 39-point victory against Brisbane in Saturday's AFL pre-season game.

Stars OK for round one, but questions remain for Pies, Tigers

Scott Pendlebury and Jack Riewoldt look like playing in round one but there are still questions surrounding the composition of both Collingwood and Richmond's teams for their respective season openers.

Riewoldt reported in Tigers' final pre-season match

Dual Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt looks in little danger of miss Richmond's round one clash against Carlton despite being reported for rough conduct on Saturday.

Longmire back in Swans' head coaching hot seat

John Longmire will take charge of the Swans on Sunday after another successful coach share this preseason.

Free-for-all with free agency

There are some intriguing names who will experience free agency later this season should they or their clubs opt to not deliver – or accept – an in-season offer.

Reid stars as Magpies hold off Tigers

Collingwood's win over Richmond should be made even more pleasing for Nathan Buckley because of the list of absentees. With Daniel Wells, Jamie Elliott, Jordan De Goey and Levi Greenwood already sidelined, the Pies team was made considerably weaker by dint of captain Scott Pendlebury's late withdrawal.

AFLW: Perfect Brisbane Lions claim their grand final spot

Once written off as wooden spoon favourites, the undefeated Brisbane Lions now have the inaugural AFLW flag in their sights after booking an historic grand final berth on Saturday.

AFLW: Demons edge out Crows to keep grand final hopes alive

• Live

It's round six of the AFL Women's competition, and there's plenty of action today.

Lyon keeping it cool after McCarthy's six-goal haul

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says it is too early to get carried away with Cam McCarthy's form despite the forward's six-goal haul in Friday night's 21-point win over Carlton at Domain Stadium.

Taranto's pre-season leaving strong impression for round one GWS debut

Tim Taranto is in the mix to play in his star-studded GWS team's opening round clash with Adelaide, according to coach Leon Cameron.

Critical for North to keep Waite fit: Scott

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott believes he now has the information to settle on his forward structure, but has stressed the importance of keeping spearhead Jarrad Waite fit.

Giants chase maiden win over Magpies

The Giants' women are chasing a second-straight AFLW triumph and a first ever footy win for the club over Collingwood.

Hawks send message by sending Hodge to the VFL

Hawthorn's new-look leadership group felt they needed to make a stand, even if meant three-time premiership captain Luke Hodge took to Ikon Park on Friday afternoon wearing the No. 62 jumper of Box Hill.

Ballantyne injured as Dockers beat Blues

Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne appears set to miss the start of the AFL season after injuring his hamstring in Friday night's 21-point win over Carlton at Domain Stadium.

Giants win big, but at heavy cost

Stephen Coniglio suffered a left ankle injury in the Giants' dominant preseason win over North Melbourne.

GWS Giants thrash North Melbourne in pre-season trial

The Giants finished their pre-season campaign with a few headaches after three players picked up injuries against North Melbourne.

Freo down Blues to notch maiden AFLW win

​Carlton's AFLW title hopes are over after suffering an upset 16-point loss to Fremantle in Friday's clash at Domain Stadium.

Howe Bucks' biggest fan became a Pie

Jeremy Howe used to wear a Collingwood jumper with 5 on the back long before he became a Collingwood player. He is still waiting for his moment to get the coach's autograph.

AFLW: Fremantle end Carlton's title hopes

• Live

Carlton's AFLW team travel west to take on Fremantle. They must keep winning to have any chance of finishing in the top two and playing in the grand final.

Jeremy Howe's family heartbreak

Collingwood recruit Jeremy Howe should have been on top of the world as he accepted a medal for a top-five finish at the Copeland Trophy in his first year at the club. But tragic events days earlier had changed his life forever.

St Kilda's home base gets a new name

A three-year, naming-rights deal worth more than $1 million struck by St Kilda will see Moorabbin renamed RSEA Park as the Saints put the finishing touches to fund their $30 million move back to the future.

Giant Manuka problem a good one to have

GWS chief executive Dave Matthews says solving issues with a full Manuka Oval is a good problem to have.

Saints finally look to recognise the men who saved club

The latest chapter in one of football's great unresolved fallouts unfolded this week as St Kilda hosted a small but heartfelt dinner to thank those supporters who have helped fund the historic move back to Moorabbin.

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.