AFL Briefing
AFL 2025
Blues pokies revenue jumps by $350,000, legendary Collingwood recruiter departs
In today’s AFL briefing, a jump in pokies revenue at Carlton was offset by rising expenses in 2024. At Collingwood, Derek Hine’s departure continues a football department shake-up.
- by Jake Niall and Jon Pierik
Latest
Exclusive
AFL 2025
‘Twenty years of shortcuts’: Dons president faces board challenge, preaches stability
In an exclusive interview, president David Barham discusses Essendon’s history of “shortcuts”, the club’s shift to long-term list planning after a failed push for a flag, why he is the candidate to bring “alignment” to the club and more.
- by Jake Niall
Analysis
AFL 2025
Why John Longmire left, and why rival clubs will keep calling him
Longmire’s decision to quit with 12 months remaining on a contract worth more than $1 million is a measure of the pressures that AFL senior coaches endure.
- by Jake Niall
Updated
AFL 2025
Longmire quits as Swans coach. Next stop, Tasmania?
The Tasmania Devils do not enter the AFL competition until 2028, but the coaching job is an urgent appointment.
- by Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Dan Walsh
‘I thought, geez, this is a happy story’: Helen Garner on her footy book
The acclaimed writer spent a season watching her grandson play football. The result is a story of love in the face of time’s passing.
- by Jake Niall
Updated
AFL 2024
‘I’ll be judged by the members’: Defiant Don Scott bids to join Hawks board
The two-time premiership captain who helped save Hawthorn from a merger with Melbourne has nominated to run for the Hawks’ board – but he has not followed the club’s usual route for board nominees.
- by Jake Niall
Opinion
AFL 2024
The Hawks couldn’t win in the racism scandal. But they found an escape route
Heartfelt encounters between officials and players/partners at the Human Rights Commission over claims of racism left Hawthorn alone fighting in their corner.
- by Jake Niall
Updated
AFL 2024
Hawthorn settle Federal Court case with Indigenous players
The Hawks have settled their Federal Court case with Indigenous former players and their families, apologising for their experiences at the club and reaching a financial settlement.
- by Michael Gleeson and Jake Niall
‘Choice is a great thing’: Hudson and Whateley to call Friday night football on Fox
Viewers who subscribe to Foxtel will have a choice of callers for Friday night football in 2025 as the network announces its Friday night call team.
- by Jake Niall and Peter Ryan
Opinion
AFL 2025
The fix-ture is in: Why handicapping teams flies in the face of AFL’s integrity
The fixture should not be another lever for equalisation. The premiership race should be run at even weights, like the Derby – not weighted in the manner of the Melbourne Cup.
- by Jake Niall
Board challengers force Pies’ succession plan to a vote
Collingwood have four board vacancies and a succession plan. But two additional candidates have nominated, meaning the upcoming election will be contested.
- by Jake Niall