Bringing back the usual suspects smacks of desperation at West Coast
There's been a glaring chance missed to expose emerging young talent to the furnace of AFL confrontation and a worrying demonstration of just what future campaigns might offer.
Latest AFL News
Swan Johnson to return in NEAFL
Sydney defender Alex Johnson will make his long awaited comeback on Saturday, after recovering from a fifth knee reconstruction which has prevented him playing a senior game for 1736 days.
Tiger Maric to call time on career at end of season
Richmond fan-favourite Ivan Maric has announced he is retiring at the end of the season, after struggling to break into Richmond's senior side.
Is Viney becoming the new Selwood?
It may seem sacrilegious to compare Joel Selwood's attack on the contest with anyone in the league, but there is one young Melbourne bull more than heading in that direction.
Houli banned for four matches by AFL Appeal Board
Richmond's Bachar Houli has been handed a four-match ban at the AFL Appeal Board on Thursday night.
The selected teams for AFL round 15
The selected teams for AFL round 15, starting with the all-important clash between Mebourne and Sydney at the MCG.
AFL lifts ban on showing shot clock late in quarters
The AFL’s controversial shot clock will remain visible on scoreboards for the entire duration of quarters, the league reversing previous practices following last week’s incident involving North Melbourne’s Shaun Higgins.
Schofield one of four West Coast omissions for crunch game
Will Schofield may have beaten his striking charge at the AFL tribunal, but the Eagle could not overcome a hip injury in time to face the Western Bulldogs this Sunday.
Swans find extra edge with season on the line
While hardness at the ball and the ball-carrier have been part of Sydney's trademark in the 21st century, they have not been associated with less sociable aspects of the game. But desperate times call for desperate measures.
Three key Giants return for clash with Cats
Josh Kelly, Rory Lobb and Devon Smith have all been named for the Giants ahead of Saturday's clash with Geelong.
New contract for Blue who has found a good home
Matthew Wright wants to mix things up when Carlton come onto the ground.
Carey: 'Tis the season where finals experience counts for less
It is generally been accepted that you need to serve a finals apprenticeship before you can make a genuine tilt at the premiership. In September, the pressure is intense given the game becomes so much quicker and you have so much less time to use the footy.
Roos: Evenness and youth causing defensive capitulations
Premiership coach Paul Roos believes the unprecedented evenness of the competition and the proliferation of young players getting regular game time have led to an epidemic of teams failing to hang onto small leads late in games.
Elliott set to enliven Magpies' attack
High-flying Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott is set to return this Sunday against Hawthorn, in a clash coach Nathan Buckley says the Pies are "not even contemplating losing".
Suns to name Ablett for his 300th game
Gold Coast star Gary Ablett has completed training with the Suns on Thursday as he looks to shake off injury for his 300th AFL match this weekend.
Will Schofield's eagle-eyed mum helped to beat the tribunal
"Mum probably studied about eighteen hours of tape and there's about 20 seconds of vision so put that into your calculators!"
Queensland footy player charged over on-field punch
A Queensland footy player has been hit with a criminal charge after an on-field incident that left his opponent with a broken jaw.
Simpson to decide whether there is 'another kick' in LeCras
West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson is unable to guarantee that accomplished West Coast forward Mark LeCras will play on next season.
Matthews fears Goodes-like booing of Houli
Bachar Houli's perceived special treatment by the AFL tribunal could prompt booing of the Richmond star comparable to that which marred the late stages of Adam Goodes' career, according to Leigh Matthews.
AFL appeals Houli's 'manifestly inadequate' penalty
The AFL has taken the unprecedented step of appealing against its own tribunal's decision to give Bachar Houli a discounted two-match ban because of his impeccable character for the intentional strike that knocked out Carlton's Jed Lamb.
No ceiling for Bombers, says Worsfold
Essendon expect key position star Cale Hooker to return this Sunday against Brisbane, as coach John Worsfold refuses to put a limit on what the Bombers can achieve this season.
Lyon: Freo tried to turn Bennell into Superman
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon admits the club may have pushed Harley Bennell too hard earlier this season, saying they were trying to turn him into AFL's version of Superman.
Blues tagger out with bruised larynx
Adelaide star Rory Sloane's task of returning to form has been made easier after Carlton's No. 1 tagger was ruled out of the Blues' clash with the Crows on Saturday at the MCG.
The Staker incident: Hall sorry 'a thousand times over'
Barry Hall and Brent Staker admit they still feel uncomfortable watching footage of that infamous punch in 2008, which has cast long shadows on both men's AFL careers.
Swans ready for fierce test against injury hit Demons
Melbourne's dwindling forward stocks have left Sydney with a selection quandary heading into the crucial clash at the MCG.
Nat Fyfe says he's close to signing a new Dockers deal
Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has told 7 News Perth he's "pretty close" to signing a new deal with the Dockers, seemingly ending months of speculation over his future at the club.
Kevin Sheedy delivers a football half-century of distinction
In more than 1000 games and 50 years' involvement with league football, Kevin Sheedy has had a long roll call of memorable moments. For him, however, the most significant didn't even happen during a game.
Houli deserved longer ban - Johnson
Giants forward Steve Johnson believes Bachar Houli's two-match ban for striking Jed Lamb is not long enough.
It's absurd the PM's words helped get Houli's suspension cut
There's no question Houli is an outstanding character. But two weeks for deliberately hitting someone and knocking them out?
Watts, Garlett ruled out for Demons
In-form Melbourne will be without Jack Watts and Jeff Garlett as they fight for a spot in the top four against Sydney at the MCG on Friday night.
Stevie J ready for clash with Cats
Greater Western Sydney veteran Steve Johnson expects Geelong captain Joel Selwood will be fit for Saturday's crunch clash that will shape the AFL's top four.
Gold Coast's Gary Ablett is not the best player to ever play AFL: Hardie
There are some people in the industry saying Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett is the best 300-plus game player to ever play in the VFL/AFL.
Watts, Garlett ruled out for Demons
In-form Melbourne will be without Jack Watts and Jeff Garlett as they fight for a spot in the top four against Sydney at the MCG on Friday night.
Fyfe and Sandilands set to return for St Kilda clash on Sunday
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has baulked at a guarantee that rising young star Sean Darcy will hold his Dockers starting berth, with a return of champion ruckman Aaron Sandilands for Sunday's clash with St Kilda in Perth.
MRP's Nathan Burke unhappy with character discount for Houli
References from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Waleed Aly were a key part of the jury's penalty deliberations, much to the consternation of AFL match review panel member Nathan Burke.
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.