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Jon RalphSports Reporter

Jon Ralph has covered sport with the Herald Sun, and now CODE Sports as well, for over two decades working primarily as a football journalist… (other fields)

@RalphyHeraldSun

Jon Ralph

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AFL

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Darcy Byrne-Jones of the Power clashes with Jack Sinclair of the Saints during the 2025 AFL Round 04 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the St Kilda Saints at Adelaide Oval on April 6, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Byrne-Jones, Baker banned as MRO dishes out fines for melee

Darcy Byrne-Jones and Oskar Baker will miss Gather Round through suspension, while seven Power and Saints players have been slapped with fines for a melee. Jon Ralph has the details.

AFL

The six words undermining footy’s life-saving illicit drugs policy

20 years after the AFL brought in an illicit drug code, the gains made to help troubled players are being tainted by a small handful. So does the AFL actually have a drug problem?

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Riley Mason of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2025 VFL Round 01 match between Collingwood and Sydney at Victoria Park on March 22, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Rob Lawson/AFL Photos)

Bush bolter surges into AFL mid-season draft calculations

A year after Jack Hutchinson made the jump from country football to Collingwood’s VFL team to the mid-season draft, another Magpie reserves player could be the next bush bolter.

AFL

West Coast's Oscar Allen leads out his side during the AFL Round 4 match between the GWS Giants and West Coast Eagles at Engie Stadium, Sydney on April 6, 2025. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only - NO ON SALES - copyright Phil Hillyard )

The dud deals that could deliver Allen on silver platter to Hawks

List managers are circling Oscar Allen as the Eagles refuse to put a long, expensive deal in front of their captain. Jon Ralph looks at the seven list bungles that have left West Coast gun shy.

AFL News

Dan Houston could be in trouble for this hit on Lachie Fogarty.

‘I didn’t realise’: Pies star hit with another ban for brutal bump

After finishing his career at Port Adelaide with a ban for a high bump, Dan Houston has been hit with another suspension for a similar incident. Here’s the latest.

AFL

Screen grabs of vision capturing the arrests of two men allegedly with guns at the MCG. Source: Tik Tok

Inside story: How guns were allegedly smuggled into MCG

How did two men allegedly smuggle loaded weapons into an AFL game? Jon Ralph has the inside story on a disturbing incident which has the AFL on edge.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 03: Ned Long and Lachie Schultz of the Magpies celebrate a goal during the round four AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on April 03, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Ralph: Unsung heroes fuelling Pies’ push for premiership history

Much has been made of Collingwood’s bold recruiting moves in recent years. But as Jon Ralph writes, it’s the bargain buys who are proving crucial to the Magpies’ hopes of a 17th premiership.

AFL

AFL says hi-tech screening worked, guards failed in MCG gun breach

The AFL says a hi-tech entry-screen system worked but security guards failed to carry out a search in a troubling MCG security breach, as footage of two men accused of smuggling loaded guns into the Collingwood-Carlton clash emerges.

AFL

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Malcolm Rosas of the Suns looks on after the round 18 AFL match between Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide Power at People First Stadium, on July 14, 2024, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Trade latest: Clubs prepare to raid Gold Coast for unloved Sun

The Suns’ hot start to 2025 has some great talent sitting on the sidelines, leaving rival clubs plotting to steal some young stars away from Damien Hardwick’s squad.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Sam Davidson of the Bulldogs celebrates kicking a goal during the round one AFL match between Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium, on March 15, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

‘They missed one there’: How Doc slid out of Tigers’, Dons’ clutches

Sam Davidson was running around last year in Richmond colours – and yet they let him slip. Jon Ralph and Paul Amy go behind the sliding doors moment which left ‘Doc’ a Dog.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/jon-ralph/page/15