October
Abdo says NRL’s our ‘most watched’ sport. Is he right?
Sunday’s clash between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm had fewer viewers than the AFL the week before. In other ways, though, the NRL is winning.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
September
AFL grand final audience climbs to 4m
The clash between the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans was the most watched for the AFL since 2021.
- Zoe Samios
Albo keeps it in the family at the AFL commissioner’s lunch
You can’t buy a ticket to Aussie rules’ most exclusive grand final function, so there are few better tests of relevance than trying to score an invitation.
- Myriam Robin
Brisbane Lions thrash Sydney Swans to claim AFL flag
The Brisbane Lions have claimed their first AFL premiership in more than two decades with a 60-point thrashing of Sydney in the grand final.
- Updated
- Shayne Hope
How the AFL’s two grand final teams achieved sustained success
The two Andrews who run the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions say stability is the key to achieving an extended patch of sunshine in the AFL world.
- Gus McCubbing
The remarkable history in Heeney’s magic mark
Hard lessons learned through elite sporting administration taught these two Australian business partners invaluable lessons for navigating the corporate sector.
- Tom Rabe
Qantas says it won’t drop the ball as engineers strike
The airline says plans are in place to keep people moving over the AFL Grand Final weekend.
- Rachael Ward
Heading to Melbourne for the footy? It might pay to book a stop-over
Brisbane fans might choose a less-than-ideal path to save a few dollars in the pilgrimage to the MCG this weekend – booking a flight via Sydney or Canberra.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Cripps, again. But Brownlow standouts may not be who you think
Carlton’s Patrick Cripps blew the competition out of the water at AFL’s highest individual accolade. Here’s a closer look at the history of Australian rules’ highest honour reveals a startling fact about this year’s finalists.
- Zoe Samios
This billionaire has an AFL grand final ticket. Good luck to the rest
For the first time since 2006 two non-Victorian teams will contest the AFL Grand Final at the MCG, and flights and accommodation are as much of a battle as tickets.
- Patrick Durkin
October 2023
AFL’s succession drama approves a spin-off
An interview in the AFR has opened up a race to see who will replace Tony Shepherd as club president of the GWS Giants.
- Mark Di Stefano
- Opinion
- Opinion
Tragics proud of a club that doesn’t need to be hated
Why did everyone need to hate Collingwood? And why did we give them so many reasons to hate us? It didn’t make sense to me. That has all changed.
- Geoff Culbert
Embattled Richard Goyder farewells Gil McLachlan. Again
You know you’ve drawn a power crowd when not only doesn’t the prime minister get to speak, but his presence rates only a passing mention.
- Joe Aston and Myriam Robin
AFL grand final thriller trounced by Matildas in ratings
Collingwood’s epic four-point win over the Brisbane Lions was watched by more than 97 per cent of the TV audience in Melbourne, Seven says.
- Updated
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
September 2023
Collingwood win AFL thriller to claim 16th AFL flag
Collingwood have claimed a record-equalling 16th premiership with a thrilling four-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the AFL grand final.
- Shayne Hope
Lions tragic hops from Brisbane to Melbourne – via Paris
AFR Rich Lister and Brisbane Lions director Cathie Reid is dashing back from the French capital to watch her team in Saturday’s AFL grand final.
- Mark Ludlow
Bookmaker faces largest payout in sports gambling history
Sunday might be payday for tens of thousands of gamblers who have been sitting on potentially lucrative 100-1 bets on the Panthers for almost a year.
- Mark Di Stefano and Sam Buckingham-Jones
- Best Of 2023
- BOSS
This migrant went from Sydney’s west to two mansions in the east
Adrian Fonseca moved to Australia from India when he was 2. Now he GWS’ deputy chairman and has bought two properties in Sydney’s Bellevue Hill for $30 million.
- Sally Patten
Gold-mining Collingwood legend has more on his mind than a flag
Former Collingwood captain Peter Moore will spend grand final week mixing business and sport, as he prepares to watch son Darcy lead the Magpies into battle.
- Peter Ker and Gus McCubbing
Why the Curnow who may’ve saved Carlton’s AFL season is not Charlie
Two fiery events may hold the key to Carlton’s remarkable run to the AFL finals: a board member’s locker-room blow up, and a veteran player’s campfire chat.
- Phillip Coorey