The Sydney Morning Herald logo

Luke Hodge

Advertisement
Despite having the lowest membership in the AFL, Gold Coast’s round 18 game against Collingwood had a huge TV following.

Viewers loved the Suns v Pies. Here’s why that matters for footy on TV in 2026

Once upon a time, the biggest clubs dominated footy’s premium timeslots. But times, and viewing habits, are changing, and that will spark a new approach to the AFL fixture.

  • Jon Pierik

Latest

Jeremy Cameron, Gary Ablett jnr and Jack Riewoldt in their draft years before they became AFL stars.

From teens to titans: How 16 of the AFL’s biggest names looked in their draft year

Some are unrecognisable, others haven’t changed a bit. We revisited these stars to see what they looked like and what was said about them as AFL wannabes.

  • Greg Dundas
West Coast young gun Harley Reid.

Getting a read on Harley: What the Eagles ace can learn from a Hawks legend

Harley Reid looks like a man, and plays with the skill, power and talent that draws comparisons to Patty Dangerfield. The difference is he is still a kid, while Dangerfield has three kids.

  • Michael Gleeson
Max Gawn 14 years ago.

Max Gawn’s draft interview: Video shows teen ruck with all his flaws

Max Gawn’s draft interview in 2009 stood out from the pack for its candour and flashes of humour. In a new interview, the premiership skipper looks back at that scruffy teenager.

  • Jake Niall
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan - will he take them to the flag?

Coach of the year? Resilient Fagan has Lions in position for another crack at flag

Against the backdrop of the Hawthorn saga, Brisbane’s coach has kept his team in the premiership hunt, with his Lions joining the Cats with the most wins in the AFL in the past five years.

  • Caroline Wilson
Harry McKay reacts during the season-opening draw with Richmond.

Don’t let the Blues fool you, their wins have been ugly and cracks are showing

The Blues are unbeaten in the first three weeks of the season but there are cracks beneath the surface that show Carlton have a long way to go.

  • Kane Cornes
Advertisement
Collingwood’s Darcy Moore.

Why Darcy Moore should be next Collingwood skipper

While there are three or four senior players capable of leading Collingwood, Darcy Moore is the player best placed to replace the formidable Scott Pendlebury as captain of the game’s most visible team.

  • Jake Niall
g

AFL owes players $55 million, wants to transfer some to AFLW

The AFL has proposed handing a sizeable share of $55 million owed to men’s players to the AFLW cohort - a move that has incensed the players and been rejected by them in negotiations.

  • Jake Niall
Premiership teammates Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli.

‘Angry and frustrated’: Burgoyne breaks silence on Rioli

Hawthorn great Shaun Burgoyne says the club had erred in their handling of a racial incident at a 2013 end-of-season trip.

New leader of a young side: Sam Mitchell.

Fewer picks or remnants: Mitchell’s rebuild is harder than Clarkson’s

Sam Mitchell’s building blocks aren’t nearly as spectacular as those that Alastair Clarkson had in place by the time the Hawks took the field in 2005, the last time they were embarking upon a youth-led recovery under a first-time coach.

  • Jake Niall