Money Talks
AFL 2023
Rival recruiters fuming over North’s push for top draft prospect
Enraged rival recruiters are railing against North Melbourne’s wish to gain pre-draft access to outstanding prospect Ryley Sanders, with some clubs putting together submissions to try to prevent the move.
- by Marc McGowan
Latest
An ‘automatic Legend’: Buddy’s fellow greats marvel at the one-of-a-kind forward
Lance Franklin’s peers, and the greats before him – from Wayne Carey to Dermott Brereton – believe the superstar forward will be recognised as an AFL Legend as soon as he is eligible.
- by Marc McGowan
‘Emotional and devastated’: The phone call that sealed Franklin’s retirement
Alastair Clarkson said Buddy Franklin is “an icon of the game” who had set a current-day watermark that, he believes, will be unsurpassed.
- by Jon Pierik, Marc McGowan, Jake Niall and Michael Gleeson
Analysis
AFL 2023
The race for the eight: analysing the contending teams’ run home
A crazy round of upsets only served to muddy the waters ahead of what promises to be a thrilling final month of the AFL season as teams jockey for top-eight spots.
- by Marc McGowan
Saints strengthen finals hopes, Roos stumble in Eagle-and-spoon race
The Saints put on a clinic in the first term, but Hawthorn came back hard before Ross Lyon’s team steadied in the last term to firm up their finals aspirations.
- by Marc McGowan
Updated
AFL 2023
‘I didn’t like some of them’: Weitering on how Carlton turned season around
Carlton were in the bottom four only a few weeks ago and went through some “tough days”, Voss said, but they are now up to fifth after upsetting top side Collingwood for their sixth victory in a row.
- by Marc McGowan and Jon Pierik
Blues surge to fifth with landmark win over flag favourites Collingwood
Carlton will start the weekend inside the top eight and within sight of a drought-busting finals berth after slaying great rival Collingwood at the MCG.
- by Marc McGowan
AFL Briefing
AFL 2023
De Koning rapt to stay at Carlton; Cripps misses training but ready for Pies clash; Richmond narrow search for coach
Patrick Cripps will lead Carlton in their blockbuster against Collingwood on Friday despite being a no-show at training, while applications for the Tigers coaching job are about to close.
- by Damien Ractliffe and Marc McGowan
Money Talks
AFL 2023
Cashed-up Bombers switch focus to free agent Parish
Mason Redman’s decision to resist the temptation of returning to South Australia and recommit at Essendon leaves fellow restricted free agent Darcy Parish as the Bombers’ top re-signing priority.
- by Marc McGowan
Analysis
AFL 2023
Some ‘brutal’ work ahead: Brownlow medallist explains Collingwood’s handling of Mitchell
Former champion Cat Jimmy Bartel believes fellow Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell was a “victim of circumstance” when he was subbed out on Saturday night and still has a big finals role to play.
- by Marc McGowan
Analysis
AFL 2023
The race for the eight: The run home for those in contention
It promises to be a thrilling race for the last few finals spots in the final five rounds, with only six points separating the fifth-placed Bulldogs from the 12th-ranked Sydney Swans.
- by Marc McGowan