Swans selection shock as Tippett dropped for Bombers clash

Kurt Tippett's wretched season has taken another turn for the worse after the big man was dumped from Sydney's team for the elimination final against Essendon.

When football is everything and Tigers dare to dream

Here we are again, but this is different. Friday night lights, a game of football beneath a waning moon, blessed by rain, and Richmond fans are half the story, but for their half of the crowd this two hours of football is everything.

Menzel axed, Caddy returns for qualifying final

Geelong have made a bold move and dropped ace goal-kicker Daniel Menzel for Friday night's qualifying final against Richmond at the MCG.

Hawks give Ceglar two-year extension

Having spent the year rehabilitating from a knee reconstruction, Hawthorn ruckman Jonathon Ceglar has been rewarded for his diligence with a two-year contract extension.

AFL Finals Live: Adelaide v GWS Giants

• Live

It's the first match of the 2017 AFL finals series - Adelaide v GWS Giants. There's so much on the line as the top-placed Crows host the Giants.

Reputations are built (and broken) in September

Any player who says they don't think about their past performances is delusional, particularly if those performances weren't great ones.

Gibbs happy with Blues but Crows set to circle

Bryce Gibbs has told Carlton he is happy and settled amid speculation the Adelaide Crows will again seek a trade.

Simpson says there's 'no free hit' for the Eagles against Port

Most pundits have already written off West Coast's hopes of progressing deep into September, but Simpson isn't treating the finals as merely a bonus. "There's no such thing as a free hit, is there?" Simpson said.

Final questions: Geelong v Richmond

We take a look at the burning questions facing Geelong and Richmond in Friday night's qualifying final at the MCG.

Cotchin, Tigers change their stripes – now for a new tale?

Trent Cotchin had spent much of his footy career trying to live up to an almost impossible ideal, of a man, a footballer, a captain. It was wearying. This season, he has learned to accept himself for who he is, and it has proved to be liberating.

Hannebery, Papley set for return against Essendon

Sydney vice-captain Luke Parker has confirmed injured teammates Dan Hannebery and Tom Papley will be fit for the club's elimination final against Essendon.

Crows back grieving ruckman in GWS final

Adelaide expect grieving ruckman Sam Jacobs to be galvanised by the death of his brother when he fronts Greater Western Sydney in their qualifying final on Thursday night.

Wellingham could make stunning return to Eagles outfit

Experienced West Coast utility Sharrod Wellingham could make a stunning return to an Eagles line- up for Saturday's elimination final showdown with Port Adelaide in Adelaide.

Stringer, Bulldogs have 'things to work through': Wallis

Jake Stringer needs to give a "full commitment" to the Western Bulldogs if he wants to stay at the club next season, according to teammate Mitch Wallis.

Richmond star Dustin Martin’s dad locked out of Australia by new law

A new law has been established which will keep Richmond star Dustin Martin's father from returning to Australia.

AFL has been very strong on racism: McLachlan

Chief executive Gillon McLachlan his hit back at allegations the AFL is "incompetent" at dealing with racism, saying recent responses have made it a "leader in the country".

Six burning questions ahead of Crows v Giants

We answer six key questions heading into Thursday night's qualifying final between Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney.

AFL has grounds for concern in Sydney

Gillon McLachlan has vowed to find football grounds in Sydney for junior players being turned away by local clubs due to a critical shortage of facilities.

AFL finals teams 2017: Week one

All the ins and outs for the first week of the 2017 AFL finals series.

'We're here to win it, we're not here to come second'

Cale Hooker is the least likely of Essendon's injured trio to play in Saturday's elimination final against Sydney after failing to train on Wednesday morning.

Saints defender Roberton recommits for four seasons

Just a couple of weeks after being named in the 40-man All-Australian squad, St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton has capped his impressive season by re-signing with the Saints for four years.

Giants bite the bullet with Stevie J

Steve Johnson's career hangs in the balance after Greater Western Sydney dropped the veteran forward for the qualifying final against Adelaide.

Sloane left out of Crows side for GWS final

Adelaide's premier onballer Rory Sloane will miss Thursday night's qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney.

Geelong's selection poser thanks to Selwood's return

The return of inspirational skipper Joel Selwood is undoubtedly welcomed, but it also means Geelong have a selection quandary with at least one team change required for Friday night's mouth-watering qualifying final clash with Richmond at the MCG.

Needles bent at 'right angles': The worst part of Deledio's football routine

Anyone who has ever suffered a cramp will know how uncomfortable it can be.

Eagles bank on Jetta X-factor for finals

Premiership wingman Lewis Jetta looms as West Coast's X-factor during the AFL finals series and teammate Luke Shuey is tipping the former Swan to fire on the big stage.

McLachlan happy with state of AFL in Sydney

Gillon McLachlan is satisfied with the current level of funding being used to promote the AFL in Sydney.

Geelong's defensive brotherhood could be telling against Richmond, says Ling

Former Geelong captain Cameron Ling believes an iron-clad culture of belief and trust among Cats defenders could be the telling difference in their bid to overcome Richmond in Friday night's qualifying final at the MCG.

Demons need Lever to clear finals hurdle

Melbourne supporters must be the most frustrated people in town right now.

Adam Simpson targets turnaround in key stats to upset Port Adelaide

West Coast will not get away with conceding critical indicators in Saturday's elimination final against Port Adelaide despite beating Power at their last Adelaide Oval confrontation, according to coach Adam Simpson.

McVeigh signs on for another year with Sydney

Sydney veteran Jarrad McVeigh has signed a one-year AFL contract extension, putting an end to speculation that he might end his playing career elsewhere.

Giants, Swans want better promotion in Sydney

Sydney and Greater Western Sydney will make formal submissions to push the AFL to better promote the game in their tough NRL market after pointing out that the competition has fallen short in capitalising upon their current success.

Caddy fit, ready to take on old side in blockbuster final

Jack Graham or Oleg Markov are likely to make way for Josh Caddy, who has declared he is fit for Richmond's qualifying final.

Heppell: Sydney game turned our season around

Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has described the last time his side played Sydney as the turning point of the Bombers' season.

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.