Saad hitting his AFL highs during Ramadan

Gold Coast's Adam Saad is in career-best AFL form.

Simpson: LeCras still capable of 'best-on performances'

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says forward Josh Kennedy and ruckman Scott Lycett haven't recovered in time to face Geelong in Thursday night's AFL clash at Domain Stadium.

Bombers have lift off – but sky is the limit

Essendon mid season review:  B

Rance no certainty to get Franklin, says Hardwick

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers have all bases covered in quelling Sydney superstar Lance Franklin.

Would Kreuzer still be the No.1 pick of the 2007 draft?

Matthew Kreuzer's re-emergence in the past month as one of the league's best ruckmen has shown why the Blues coveted him with their priority pick in the 2007 national draft.

'Cheating' inference over runner tactics grossly unfair: GWS

Greater Western Sydney have emphatically denied accusations they are inappropriately using runner Nick Maxwell to influence matches.

Eagles need to rediscover their 'belief', says Vardy

West Coast big man Nathan Vardy says the Eagles are working hard to re-establish their belief heading into a crucial match against Geelong on Thursday night at Domain Stadium.

Give social media a rest: sports psychologists warn players

Social media has been a hot topic in the AFL.

Umpires are clogging the centre corridor: Goodwin

The AFL says it has seen some evidence of field umpires inadvertently disrupting play in the centre corridor and will discuss the issue with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is out of form: Brad Hardie

Forget the Dockers getting smashed against the Lions and Crows, the biggest major problem for the Dockers at the moment is Ross Lyon is a coach out of form.

Demons set to target Johannisen

Melbourne will look to the blueprint adopted by Sydney in a bid to physically unsettle dasher Jason Johannisen when they face the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

AFL mid-year report card: Lethal attack has Crows flying towards a flag

Adelaide's imposing collection of attacking weapons has given them the ability to blow teams out of the water.

No one could say they didn't see it coming

High-flyer Jeremy Howe keeps on delivering top marks for all fans

Geelong call on Stanley to fill big boots of Hawkins

Geelong big man Rhys Stanley plays just his fifth game for the year on Thursday night, replacing suspended Tom Hawkins.

Why Essendon tick all the boxes for the finals

In The Age Real Footy Podcast, our experts explain why Essendon are the total football package.

Swans rediscover trademarks in belated revival

Sydney's belated revival has coincided with a return to its trademark hard-nosed style of play and given the club a fighting chance of making the finals.

Could Ablett's shining form hamper a trade to the Cats?

• ANALYSIS

Gary Ablett's bid to return to Geelong this year could be hampered by his stellar form that has him well placed to make a run at a third Brownlow Medal.

Jones: Melbourne preparing for season-defining period

Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones is in no doubt that the Demons' next three matches will be a season-defining period.

Watts puts 'full stop' on Queen's Birthday infamy

Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones "loved" seeing former whipping boy Jack Watts come full circle in such emphatic fashion on Monday and finally put to bed those unwanted memories of his Queen's Birthday debut in 2009.

Pre-finals bye on coaches' menu at McLachlan dinner

The merits of the pre-finals bye are likely to again be a talking point when coaches meet this month.

Jeremy by Howe far? The pacesetters for 2017 mark of the year

Jeremy Howe's incredible grab is going to take some beating for the 2017 Mark Of The Year.

Giants runner Maxwell in strife with the AFL

Nick Maxwell might be in hot water as the AFL has another look at what club runners do on the field during matches.

Dockers giant Aaron Sandilands re-signs for next season

Fremantle have bolstered their ruck stocks for next season by re-signing giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands for another year and offering young big man Sean Darcy a two year contract extension.

Josh Kennedy in 'a race against time' to face Geelong

Champion West Coast forward Josh Kennedy has rated his chances of recovering from a calf injury in time to face Geelong in a Thursday night blockbuster at 60 per cent.

Nat Fyfe has been battling 'chest injury' for weeks

Fremantle superstar Nathan Fyfe has played the past month with a substantial chest injury that has required him to wear a protective vest to help him get through to the mid-season bye.

Magpies criticise Herald Sun journalist for Fasolo approach

Collingwood says Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson contacted Magpie Alex Fasolo directly for an interview about his depression despite the club asking him not to for medical reasons.

Richardson lashes Brereton over Montagna criticism

​St Kilda coach Alan Richardson has lashed out at Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton over his disrespectful treatment of Saints veteran Leigh Montagna.

Melbourne Demons beat Collingwood Magpies in Queen's Birthday classic

MELBOURNE 4.3 6.6 12.9 15.14 (104) COLLINGWOOD 3.2 10.5 12.8 15.10 (100)

Fire and ice, but the Demons survive

From the moment Andrew Gaze was first down the slide into the giant ice bath, a theme was estabished: there would be no comfort zones at the MCG this Queen's Birthday.

Goodwin says Gawn could be back next week as Demons jump to sixth

The Demons are in the eight and ruckman Max Gawn is a chance to return next week.

Queen's Birthday footy: Melbourne v Collingwood

• Live

It's the last game of round 12 as the Demons host the Magpies.

Hawthorn Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson fined $20,000 for umpire remarks

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was been slapped with a $20,000 fine by the AFL for his criticism of the umpires following the Hawks' loss to Gold Coast.

Son of a gun: Could another Rioli join the Tigers?

The famous Rioli football lineage could continue at Richmond, with Maurice Rioli junior taking to the field in the under-16 national championships.

Mid-season report card: How low will the Hawks tumble?

A bottom-four finish could be on the cards for the dominant club of the past decade.

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.