September 2023
Indigenous stars launch racism class action against AFL
A landmark class action was lodged against the AFL on Friday, claiming the game failed to protect players from vile racial abuse on the field that resulted in life-altering damage.
- Patrick Durkin
May 2023
Medtech start-up BioEye sets out to solve sports’ concussion headache
A Sydney-based medical technology start-up, which has developed a smartphone app to detect concussion, has made inroads with investors and the AFL.
- Tess Bennett
Liberals forced into minority government in Tasmania
Two MPs announced they would quit over the state’s AFL stadium dispute, up-ending the party’s tight majority.
- Updated
- Adrian Black
March 2023
Microchipped balls: What sport will look like in the future
Galloping technological advances will make the Brisbane Olympics a very different experience to Sydney 2000, organisers say.
- Patrick Durkin
The big CEO call overshadowing AFL’s blockbuster season
AFL chairman Richard Goyder is primed for a record-breaking opener for the AFL season, despite mounting questions over CEO succession.
- Patrick Durkin
Jeff Kennett aims to spearhead juicy turnaround
The company which owns Australia’s No.3 juice brand, Original Juice Co, is in for a shake-up with the ex-Victorian Premier as chairman.
- Simon Evans
February 2023
Why this bank is taking a chance on a struggling AFL football club
Heritage Bank has paid up to win the naming rights of AFL expansion club Gold Coast Suns’ home stadium, which a sports rights expert has described as a coup.
- Gus McCubbing
January 2023
- Exclusive
- Business of sport
Rugby, unlike other sports, wants a guarantee it’s on free-to-air TV
Rugby Australia wants a promise that more Wallabies, Wallaroos, Super Rugby and Super W games are shown on broadcasters’ primary channels, in contrast with other sports.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
December 2022
‘Unfairly anticompetitive’: AFL, NRL, Tennis take aim at free TV law
Major sporting codes want to sell broadcast rights for as much as possible. A law giving free-to-air networks a first look at key sporting events is in the way.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Kennett’s era ended at Hawthorn AGM
Hawthorn premiership player Andy Gowers was expected to secure victory in the club’s bitterly contested presidential election, ousting outgoing president Jeff Kennett’s preferred successor, a club source said.
- Patrick Durkin
- Exclusive
- Victorian election
Former Victoria deputy premier sets sights on Kennett’s Hawks board
The architect of Daniel Andrews’ thumping election win James Merlino has put his hand up for the Hawthorn Football Club board.
- Patrick Durkin
November 2022
Ex-Crown director Andrew Demetriou advising bookie Betr
It’s been nine months since former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou resigned from the board of Crown Resorts.
- Michael Roddan
October 2022
Woodside won’t commit to sponsoring Fremantle Dockers beyond 2023
The CEO of Woodside Energy would not commit to extending the company’s sponsorship of the club beyond the 2023 season amid a bruising public relations battle.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Edmund Tadros
Thorburn warns workers face being cancelled over religion
Expelled Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn has warned that workers with religious beliefs are concerned about their jobs, as a workplace lawyer said he may have a claim against the club of up to $1 million.
- Updated
- Patrick Durkin
Andrew Thorburn cancelled as Essendon CEO after 24 hours
Former NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn has quit as Essendon chief just a day after being appointed following a backlash over the beliefs of the church he also chairs.
- Updated
- Patrick Durkin
Essendon turns to former NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn
The besieged Essendon Football Club has turned to former NAB chief executive and long-time Bombers supporter Andrew Thorburn to help turn its fortunes around.
- Patrick Durkin
‘We’re always negotiating’: The NRL approach to media deal-making
NRL chairman Peter V’landys says the code will take advantage of the AFL’s record-breaking media rights deal when it begins bargaining with broadcasters.
- Edmund Tadros and Mark Di Stefano
September 2022
Cooling company backed by the AFL boss debuts on ASX
Adrad, which makes radiators and cooling systems, had a solid introduction to the sharemarket. The company says the rise of electric vehicles won’t stop its growth.
- Simon Evans
The AFL wants McLachlan to stick around (for now)
Several major issues at the end of Gillon McLachlan’s eight-year run remain unresolved, and the game’s powerbrokers want them sorted before he sets off.
- Mark Di Stefano
AFL grand final a ratings bomb for Channel 7
900,000 fewer fans tuned into Geelong’s thrashing of Sydney than 2021’s grand final, renewing calls from the broadcaster for the AFL to shift the match to a twilight timeslot.
- Hannah Wootton