AFL 2024
Analysis
For subscribers
The future of the AFL: Here are the game’s top 20 young players
Ranking players is always fraught with danger and a very subjective exercise, but we have attempted to sort the AFL’s best young prospects, from Nick Daicos to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Mattaes Phillipou.
- by Marc McGowan
Latest
‘We have issues going on’: Gawn won’t hide from Dees’ problems, but winning finals is his goal
The Demons have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this off-season but Max Gawn says their main motivation is to redeem themselves for losing four straight finals.
- by Peter Ryan
‘There’s enough crash and bash’: Magpies, Cats guard against concussion
Premiership stars Darcy Moore and Patrick Dangerfield have revealed their clubs have changed their approaches to contact training in a bid to avoid concussion.
- by Jon Pierik, Marc McGowan, Michael Gleeson and Peter Ryan
Exclusive
For subscribers
Hardwick on why he left Tigers, feeling reinvigorated and the Sun with potential to be ‘special’
After more than a decade at Richmond, Damien Hardwick has begun a new chapter at Gold Coast. He talks to Michael Gleeson about being reinvigorated by his new club, the young Sun with a licence to do a “Dusty” and why he doesn’t regret being open about his family life to build connections.
- by Michael Gleeson
AFL briefing
Geelong Cats
Cats midfielder unlikely for round one; Harley Reid quiet in first West Coast outing
The Cats were looking forward to having underrated midfielder Cam Guthrie back on the field in 2024, but he’s in doubt for round one, while Harley Reid’s maiden outing for West Coast did not live up to the hype.
- by Peter Ryan
Analysis
For subscribers
Bringing the heat: The next step in the Blues’ quest for greatness
For Carlton to really make the September running this season, Michael Voss has indicated his team needs to make a statement through the home-and-away campaign, a point Harry McKay is keen to back up.
- by Jon Pierik
Match simulation
Western Bulldogs
‘Preferably four’: AFL urged to slap Port enforcer with hefty ban
Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper is facing a delayed start to the home-and-away season for a bump which left Adelaide’s Mark Keane concussed.
- by Andrew Wu and Jon Pierik
Erased and exiled: Tarryn Thomas mural in North Melbourne disappears
Standing proudly in front of a large mural of himself three years ago, Tarryn Thomas seemed to be at the forefront of North Melbourne’s rebuild and a player long-suffering Kangaroos supporters could embrace.
- by Oliver Caffrey
Updated
AFL off-field behaviour
How do the Demons fill the hole left by Angus Brayshaw’s retirement?
Melbourne’s once overflowing midfield cabinet has suddenly become disconcertingly shallow.
- by Jon Pierik and Andrew Wu
The director’s cut: Watching Collingwood’s historic grand final win with Scott Pendlebury
The Collingwood great sat in front of a projector screen and revealed his fears - that this would 2018 all over again - and the conversations with coaches, teammates and umpires behind a modern classic.
- by Jake Niall