How the Tigers scored Townsend for nothing

Almost exactly two years ago – in round 23, 2015 – Jacob Townsend kicked a goal midway through the second quarter to give the Giants a five-point lead over Melbourne.

Scott likely to stay at North despite Suns interest

Brad Scott now looks certain to remain at the Kangaroos with the club having formalised a two-year contract extension offer to their coach of eight years.

Buck stops elsewhere in Pies' review

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Nathan Buckley's re-appointment at Collingwood is not unexpected yet paradoxically it is extraordinary if not unique.

Buckley: All decisions have a premiership in mind

Reappointed Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the Magpies must be in "flag" mode, declaring the next two trade and draft periods are crucial to building on a list he says boasts leadership depth.

Sheedy's word of warning to Giants doubters

Legendary coach Kevin Sheedy has warned sceptics not to write off Greater Western Sydney for the premiership.

Swans big man to make finals pitch in NEAFL

Sydney ruckman Sam Naismith is playing for his finals future this weekend as the Swans look to lock in the remaining piece of their September puzzle.

'It shouldn't be the end' of the season, says shocked Melbourne president

Melbourne president Glen Bartlett has described the collective "shock and disappointment" still reverberating around the club after missing out on the finals "after a season that promised so much."

Stadium snub: Cats won't make any 'noise'

Geelong has dominated Richmond on field for 11 years but the Tigers' finals fixture win may not be forgotten quickly. Geelong has dominated Richmond on field for 11 years but the Tigers' finals fixture win may not be forgotten quickly.

Having fun essential part of finals campaign

The AFL has given the players a weekend off to freshen up, and while it will be welcomed from a physical sense, being able to switch off the mind – so that there's a mental regeneration accompanying the physical – is a major challenge that all players will have to work through.

Nathan Buckley to stay Magpies coach

Nathan Buckley will stay on as Collingwood coach.

Hawk veteran Burgoyne re-signs for 2018

Evergreen Hawthorn utility Shaun Burgoyne has signed a one-year contract extension at the Hawks, which will take his glittering AFL career into a seventeenth season.

Fremantle snubbed by All-Australian selectors

The Fremantle Dockers have been snubbed by the All-Australian selectors with not one player named in the initial 40-man squad.

Who made the cut? Extended All-Australian squad named

Richmond's Trent Cotchin has missed out on selection in the extended All-Australian squad, which is dominated by minor premiers Adelaide with a league-high eight players.

AFL finals 2017: Your guide to an intriguing September

After 23 rounds, the AFL season hits its high point when the finals begin in September. Jon Pierik casts his eye over the intriguing match-ups that await.

Drew Petrie confirms AFL retirement

West Coast's finals campaign will be Drew Petrie's last as an AFL player.

4 Points: Richmond's recipe for September success

What Richmond do well, they do very well. They're top four for tackling, hard to score against and have evolved a small but effective forward line.

What a Dee-saster - Eagles pinch finals berth on dramatic day

Melbourne has fallen agonisingly short of ending an 11-year finals drought, unceremoniously dumped from the top eight in a stunning climax to the 2017 home-and-away season.

Swans expect Tippett to be fit for must-win final

Sydney is confident Kurt Tippett will be fit for the Swans' first final after re-injuring his troublesome ankle against Carlton.

Stevie J's career hanging by thread after poor night against Cats

Steve Johnson's vast September experience is shaping as the sole card he has left to avoid the axe for the start of Greater Western Sydney's finals campaign.

'Tougher' Tigers can shrug off Cats hoodoo: Hardwick

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said the Tigers would not shrink away from their atrocious recent record against Geelong, as the two teams prepared to face off in a qualifying final.

Bombers grind past Dockers to book finals spot

However you view the trials and tribulations of the Essendon Football Club over the past five years it's impossible to deny the torment their fans have endured.

Finals draw in a nutshell for Swans, GWS Giants

Who Sydney and Greater Western Sydney could face on the road to the grand final.

Eagles leave Demons on finals outer

West Coast broke the heart of every Melbourne player and supporter on Sunday by beating Adelaide by 29 points at Domain Stadium, and displacing the Demons from the top eight in the process.

Change agent: Fresh eyes for Dockers coach Ross Lyon over busy AFL summer

​Fremantle have limped to the line in another forgettable AFL season but coach Ross Lyon can see growth in his AFL side.

Tigers in top four, sad farewell for Saint Riewoldt

This match may well live on in football history as Nick Riewoldt's swansong, but in the context of this season it could well be remembered as the victory that set up Richmond's tilt at a flag.

Woosha lauds 'significant' breakthrough for Dons

Players, fans and staff praised for "significant achievement" of booking a finals spot in season after winning the wooden spoon.

Live: The race for the finals is still alive

• Live

Essendon and West Coast are playing for a place in the eight, Richmond are fighting for a top four finish, and the Coleman Medal race is well and truly alive - there's plenty on the line in a big Sunday afternoon of football.

Mason Cox staying mum on Collingwood future

Collingwood's American Pie, Mason Cox, isn't giving anything away on his AFL future, declining to commit to another season with the club.

Footy's retiring types ... no way

Please. Come on in, boys, come on in. Stand close. You must all be exhausted.

Hogan, Viney could be helped by pre-finals bye

Melbourne will be sweating on the results of scans to Jesse Hogan's injured hamstring, with the hope that he can play a part in the club's finals campaign should they qualify for post season football.

'Check your urine, mate': Lonergan's kind words to Greene

Greater Western Sydney forward Toby Greene might be the player rival fans love to hate but not so with Geelong's Tom Lonergan.

Saints secure veteran Gilbert for 2018

St Kilda veteran Sam Gilbert has ended speculation about his playing future by signing a one year contract extension with the Saints.

Port smash Suns to surge into top four

Port Adelaide gave themselves every chance to snatch a top-four spot by crushing the Gold Coast Suns by a record 115 points at Adelaide Oval tonight.

Cats greats to retire as sad end beckons for Stevie J

Geelong stalwarts Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan will retire at the end of this season, as a sad end looms for their longtime teammate Steve Johnson.

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.