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Josh Barnes is an AFL and sport reporter with News Sport and CODE Sports, who has previously worked as the Geelong Advertiser’s Chief Footy Writer and with Leader Newspapers.

@Josh__Barnes

Josh Barnes

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AFL

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 04: Andrew Dillon speaks during the 2025 AFL Season Launch at Luna Park on March 04, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hanna Lassen/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

AFL’s Tassie focus puts Top End hopes on ice

The AFL remains uninterested in hearing pitches for the location of a 20th team as Darwin continues to provide frameworks of how a Top End big league side would look.

AFL

NCA. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. 13th March, 2025 . AFL Round 1. Richmond vs Carlton at the MCG. Sam Lalor leads the Tigers of the MCG after beating Carlton . Picture: Michael Klein

The one thing Richmond’s newest hero hasn’t nailed

It’s been a perfect start to the career of No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor and he is going so well one veteran teammate can’t find any faults, but the teen star has declared the one thing he can’t do.

AFL

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 24: Nathan Broad of the Tigers celebrates the win after the 2020 AFL Grand Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on October 24, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

The probing question which decided Broad’s Punt Rd legacy

Nathan Broad could have joined the Richmond exodus and earned more money to finish his AFL career at another club. But, his answer to one question ultimately decided Broad’s future for him.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 23: Darcy Cameron of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the round 24 AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on August 23, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Trade buzz: Premiership Pie’s spot on ruckman merry-go-round

Luke Jackson and Tom De Koning’s futures have been all the rage, but another star ruckman might be enticed to change clubs as he considers testing the market.

AFL

NRL chairman Peter V'landys, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and NRL CEO Andrew abdo in directors room at The Everest, Royal Randwick. 2024

‘Doesn’t stand up’: The truth about AFL-NRL TV ratings war

Peter V’landys raised some eyebrows when he claimed NRL is the most watched sport in the land as he goes to the negotiating table on broadcast rights. Is he right? Here’s what the numbers say.

Bulldogs

Team of the century: Lack of talls, plenty of smalls in Dogs’ best side

The Western Bulldogs have been flushed with midfield and small goalkicking talent over the last 25 years. But there’s only one tall forward in their team of the century so far. See it here.

AFL

Watson tackle furore: Is the Wizard judged differently?

Nick Watson appeared to be clearly taken high in a round 1 incident that the umpires called ‘play on’. We examine the issue and whether the Hawthorn forward is judged differently by umpires.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Brayden Maynard and Nick Daicos of the Magpies walk out onto the field during the round one AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Port Adelaide Power at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on March 15, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Pies star on the ‘scary’ car crash that ‘rattled’ him

Brayden Maynard has revealed his dog was nearly killed in a car crash which rocked him ahead of the Pies’ battle with Port Adelaide. He opens up to JOSH BARNES about the fallout.

AFL News

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Dan Houston of the Magpies celebrates after a win during the 2025 AFL Round 01 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 15, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Houston’s ‘telling’ comments prior to dismantling ex-club revealed

Dan Houston tore his former club apart on Saturday night. Magpies coach Craig McRae reveals what the ex-Power star said in front of the playing group before his terrific display.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Patrick Cripps of the Blues looks dejected after a loss during the 2025 AFL Round 01 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Inside Carlton’s meltdown: Big weaknesses, ‘silly errors’ haunt Blues

It was labelled “one of the darkest nights in Carlton’s history” by a club great and it doesn’t get any brighter for Blues fans as JOSH BARNES unpacks their nightmare loss to Richmond.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/josh-barnes/page/3