Tigers see the Bulldogs and raise them one

Lightning struck twice in the same place, and even more incandescently than last year.

Why do we bother singing the anthem before sporting contests?

In his usual ham-fisted way – but such big fists, the biggest – Donald Trump has done the world a favour by highlighting the playing of national anthems at sporting contests.

Adelaide advance with grace and goals to spare

There has been no one team to beat this season, but there is now. This was one of those Adelaide nights, like Boogie Nights, but G-rated. And the Crows are in the grand final.

Cats conjure up a ninth life against the Swans

The Cats, down in estimation, confidence and personnel, summon up one of the great counter-intuitive finals wins against the Swans.

Swansong is a cruel tune for Bombers

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One minute, the Dons were basking in the glow of Joe Daniher's towering mark and opening goal and the vibe that created. The next, Sydney had kicked 10 in a row, then 10 in a quarter,

Yellow and back, don't you forget it

This was written before Friday night's mega final, but chances are that if you are not yet of a certain age and you don't have a dog in the finals race, you have woken up on Saturday morning either feeling warmly disposed towards Richmond in their newfound success, or at least thinking that there is still next week for them, without a hint of the schadenfreude you might direct towards another team.

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.

From the year of the Dog to a dog of a year

Much as the AFL celebrates a competition in which anyone can win on a given day, the damnable corollary is that anyone can lose. For that reason as much as any other, the Western Bulldogs Cinderella premiership will turn back into a pumpkin at midnight on Friday night, long before the 2017 ball even begins.

Pull plug on pokies: AFL chairman Goyder

AFL commision chairman Richard Goyder says he "hates" pokies, and will seek to wean clubs off them.