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AFL 2026

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‘Messiah’ hopes for Wanganeen-Milera ‘not realistic’; Swans blow with Gulden out for months

St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has cautioned pundits to temper expectations on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. In tough news for the Sydney Swans, Errol Gulden needs surgery on his shoulder and will miss four months of football.

  • Peter Ryan, Jon Pierik, Jonathan Drennan, Scott Spits and Marc McGowan

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Sydney CEO Matthew Pavlich during the March 5 pre-game tribute to victims of the Bondi terror attack.

‘Error of judgment’: Swans admit to script change before pre-game Bondi tribute

Sydney have admitted to changing the script of a pre-game tribute to victims of the Bondi terror attack to remove reference to the Jewish community, saying the AFL was not involved.

  • Jonathan Drennan and Jon Pierik
Buddy Franklin appealing for a free kick during the Swans semi-final win over the Melbourne Demons in 2022.

AFL legend Buddy Franklin to return to his WA country football club

AFL legend Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin will return to competitive football in a one-off appearance for his former local club in Western Australia’s central Wheatbelt.

  • Shayne Hope
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera playing against Melbourne.

Reality check for Ross: The two decisions that show the Saints aren’t ready to compete with the best

St Kilda have not had the start to the season they hoped, but is it talent or decision-making under pressure that is letting them down?

  • Peter Ryan
Luke Jackson was a standout for the Dockers.

The Western Watercooler: Dockers dial up the pressure (but can they hold it?), and why we should check Eagles fans’ TVs

Welcome to the Western Watercooler, where we digest the talking points from the weekend’s games – and the highlights, frustrations and silver linings WA footy fans can cling to as the season progresses.

  • Paddy Sweeney
Justin Longmuir finally guided the Dockers into the finals last season, but their season ended in disappointing fashion. He needs to take them higher in 2026.

Any fixture changes should be primarily focused on fixing inequities, not creating new ones

The AFL coach didn’t raise the problem of the distortion and avoidable inequities that opening round creates, but he was clearly glad someone noticed there was an elephant sitting in the corner.

  • Michael Gleeson
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Scott Pendlebury has been offered a one-match ban.

Pendlebury facing first ban after 427 AFL matches; Petracca a force again for Suns

After an extraordinary 427 games, Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has been served a career-first, one-match suspension for an incident during Saturday night’s loss to Adelaide.

  • Hannah Kennelly and Scott Spits
Jarrod Witts of the Suns competes for the ball during the round one AFL match between Gold Coast Suns and West Coast Eagles.

Eagles show pluck to slow red-hot Suns

The Eagles, sparked by fiery first-gamer Milan Murdock, responded in a 20.11 (131) to 10.12 (72) loss that will have given coach Andrew McQualter plenty of encouragement.

  • Murray Wenzel
Spring in their step: Jacob van Rooyen and Max Gawn.

King-sized win: New-look Demons on song, edge St Kilda’s rich recruits

Melbourne’s Steven King era is off to a perfect start, consigning St Kilda and their band of rich recruits to a second consecutive defeat at the MCG on Sunday.

  • Marc McGowan
Alastair Clarkson was pleased to get North Melbourne’s season off to a winning start.

‘With these guys all the way’: Clarkson doesn’t want to miss out as Roos head north

After a summer of talk about it being time, North Melbourne delivered in their first match of a season, beating a pathetic Port Adelaide side by 46 points.

  • Peter Ryan