The moments which prove Blues haven’t given up yet
With its season over a staring a Demons comeback in the face, Carlton could have laid down and given up. Instead, the Blues stood up – Glenn McFarlane finds the moments that prove it.
AFL
Early Tackle: No malice, but May must be handed a holiday
Steven May didn’t line Francis Evans up when he collided with the Blues forward, but he still got him high – and in today’s footy that’s enough, writes Josh Barnes.
‘Payback’s deserved’: Ken, Ginni bury the hatchet
Jack Ginnivan had his head down and a cheeky grin on his face as he mimicked Ken Hinkley’s plane gesture — and with a wry smile Ken said the payback was “deserved”. See his full reply.
Blue beauty: Carlton snaps losing streak with gritty win
It may have felt like the Blues had forgotten how to win, but they stood tall despite a stern test from Melbourne – with Steven May likely to face heavy scrutiny over a big bump.
Tigers fly past Eagles in rebuilding battle
Seventeenth playing 18th was never going to be a blockbuster, but Tigers fans would have been buoyed to see their first-year rebuild fly past the Eagles’ fifth year trying to bounce back to the top.
From ex-Hawk to gun Pie: How a tech whiz made it back to the AFL
Ned Long not only went from a delisted Hawk to a gun midfielder for the Pies, he also still works in the tech industry. He opens up on his AFL journey and how wouldn’t change a thing.
Heeney, Grundy masterclasses extend Roos’ misery
Isaac Heeney had one of the best individual games this century to light up a dour affair between the Swans and Roos, with the Sydney superstar proving how far off the pace the Roos truly are.
Cheered after capitulation: The reaction that floored Blues insider
Former Blues fitness boss Andrew Russell will never forget Carlton’s 2023 run to the final four. Nor will he forget how it ended — and the reaction to a brutal defeat to Brisbane that left him stunned.
Stay or go? Verdict on Port’s 14 off-contract players
Will Travis Boak go on? Where does the future lie for Ryan Burton and Jeremy Finlayson? Matt Turner makes the call on every Power player coming out of contract. HAVE YOUR SAY.
Editor's Picks
Jay Clark’s Top 50: Big names snubbed in list of footy’s elite
Three clubs don’t have one of the 50 best players in the AFL according to Jay Clark. Which means some big names have been left on the outside looking in. Check out the full list and have your say.
Who is No.1? The AFL’s top 50 golfers revealed
Many AFL footballers spend a lot of time on the golf course. But who can actually play? Could anyone match it with the pros? We’ve got the definitive list by handicap – and the top 10 will surprise you.
‘Bigger than anyone expected’: How Hawks racism saga exploded
Former Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves remembers the phone call about Cyril Rioli which heralded the club’s racism saga. He reveals how it unfolded – and the crippling toll it took.
Malthouse: Old blood ‘potting from a distance’ holding Blues back
Mick Malthouse has been involved with six AFL clubs across his tenure in the league, but said the stranglehold on Carlton from former players and rich powerbrokers was something ‘different’.
SACKED: AFL
Some of the biggest names in AFL reveal the true stories of how they discovered their days were numbered and when the guillotine dropped.
The SuperCoach AFL Podcast
In this podcast, listen to AFL SuperCoach advice from our panel of experts every week to ensure you’re always ahead of the game.
The Herald Sun Footy Podcast
Join the Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood and the team as they talk through the big news of the week, and what’s set for the weekend of footy.
Grundy, Gawn, pray? How experts are tackling SuperCoach crisis
It’s been the most chaotic week in the SuperCoach season, and we’ve assembled the experts to see how they’re tackling injuries to Nic Martin, Jason Horne-Francis and a ban to Tristan Xerri.
Trade guide: How to save your side from Xerri, JHF, Martin chaos
When it rains in SuperCoach, it pours. And coaches are pulling on the gumboots to deal with the flood of injuries and suspensions this week. Here’s who might be able to save your team – and your sanity.
Horne-Francis’ season done while injury cloud looms on Rozee
Port Adelaide is expecting to be without Jason Horne-Francis for the rest of 2025 after the star midfielder had surgery on his foot, but Connor Rozee could still play this week.
SuperCoach AFL stats dossier for Round 18
Exclusive Champion Data match-up stats reveal the easiest and hardest opponents every round to help players shuffle their trades. Which teams can take advantage in round 19 and into the finals? Plus the top 10 movers in CBAs and kick-ins.
Inside story: Why Shiel said no to Blues after lavish Noosa trip
It’s the pitch the AFL industry still talks about – when Carlton’s heavy hitters pampered Dylan Shiel with crayfish and Grange on a private jet to Noosa. So, why did he still choose Essendon? Here’s the truth.
Revealed: The agent behind every AFL-listed player
In a Code Sports exclusive, the ultimate list of player-agent ties lifts the lid on the master negotiators behind your club’s biggest stars, their contract stories and their future. SEE EVERY NAME.
Pies’ draft bounty: South-African born prospect the latest to watch
There’s plenty going right at the Pies in 2025, and the future is looking bright too, with a South African-born draft prospect turning heads after his VFL performance.
The mega deal that could keep NWM off trade table
St Kilda has shown its hand in the chase for Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s signature, officially tabling a lucrative offer to convince the star playmaker to stay. Will it be enough?
AFLW keen on new Melbourne stadium, but won’t expand season
The AFL concedes its “breakneck-speed” expansion of the AFLW will slow – but insists there is a clear way forward for the competition.
Teenage running sensation dreams of athletics and AFLW success
A year on from becoming the first Warlpiri woman to compete at the Paralympics teenager Telaya Blacksmith is continuing her dream of competing at the top level with her sights now on the World Champs.
Superstar twins having to fight to live out women’s footy dream
Koonibba twins Kailee and Kaianne Colbung-Ware – both said to have AFLW potential – can’t play for their local club anymore. Instead, it’s a 800km round trip to keep their dream alive.
AFL spiritual home to be turned into ‘women’s only’ sport hub
A spiritual home of AFL powerhouse Hawthorn is undergoing a major multimillion-dollar facelift which will see it emerge as a massive sporting hub – but only for female players.
Bucks: Hawks need to break their Power curse
The Hawks haven’t beaten Port Adelaide since 2022, and it’s the curse they need to break. Plus, the Dees’ search for a winning formula continues. Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday.
‘Win them all’: Bevo declares finals race still alive for defeated Dogs
It was another case of so close, yet so far for the Western Bulldogs, but Luke Beveridge has declared finals are still in the picture, sending a stark message to his side.
Pass the remote: AFL killing prime time footy with smashed Bombers
Everyone could have predicted how the depleted Bombers taking on the high flying Giants was going to end, and the AFL’s fixturing is ‘killing’ its prime time spots.
‘Happiest he’d been’: Russell reveals shock over Rioli retirement
Andrew Russell was at Hawthorn for the entirety of Cyril Rioli’s career and says he’d never seen someone treated as well as Cyril was during his time at the Hawks. Then the bombshell came.
Bombers could turn to ex-Blues fitness boss to fix injury crisis
Essendon’s head of high performance will depart after the Bombers’ horror 2025 campaign — and his potential replacement has worked at the club before.
Teams: Pies lose 852 games of experience, veteran misses again
Collingwood have lost a number of key players for their clash with Fremantle on Sunday afternoon, but will welcome back some quality too. See all the teams here.
Remember the names: Dons tied duo, Port father-sons stun at U16 champs
Father-sons tied to Essendon and Port Adelaide have helped Vic Metro take out the under-16 championships, and another Dons linked talent also impressed. See all the scouting notes, stats and SuperCoach scores from the carnival.
What Blues are really getting in father-son coup
Part of Richmond’s next generation academy, Cody Walker had the choice between two clubs – but in a long-awaited win for Carlton, the son of 202-game Blue Andrew has made his call.
The Pies who may have exposed Jong’s secret tour
As Lin Jong entered Collingwood’s Olympic Park headquarters under the cover of darkness in 2016, his ‘stomach began to churn’. And he wasn’t prepared for the fallout from what happened next.
Richmond’s rebuild fears: Why the worst may be yet to come
The Tigers have exceeded expectations this, but should we be certain that their development path is linear? Mick McGuane writes, there’s probably plenty more pain coming.
Essendon’s mid-year recruits a silver lining after Giant bombing
The Dons may have suffered another night of misery on the main stage, but coach Brad Scott was able to find the silver lining.
Listeners shocked as Hutchy confirms sacking spree on-air
Just days after taking control of RSN, Craig Hutchison has shocked listeners, revealing two high-profile hosts have been dumped in a move the SEN boss says is ‘nothing personal’.
The two key men in Lions’ utter defiance to flag complacency
The Lions are on the verge of doing what the last two premiers couldn’t, make the finals when defending the crown. Garry Lyon writes, the fate of the premiership defence lies with two men.
‘Killing Thursday footy’: How Dons became unwatchable in 62 days
Two days after finalising its 2025 fixture, the AFL had a serious problems on its hands. The NFL would know what to do with the oversaturation of the Bombers, should the league follow suit?
Skipper re-signs – but key Crow still in hospital
Adelaide defender Jordon Butts remains in a Melbourne hospital, five days after suffering a punctured lung against the Bulldogs. Get the latest on his condition, plus Jordan Dawson’s new deal.
‘I just feel sorry for you’: Bevo’s Cornes quip as Jamarra returns
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is back on deck at Whitten Oval after a stint away from the Bulldogs due to personal reasons, while Luke Beveridge also snapped at Kane Cornes. Watch the video.
Watch: The TDK call – and what it means for the future
In an in-depth discussion, three experts in the player movement space look at the biggest issues facing clubs, including salary cap hacks, why players leave, secret meetings and the TDK question.
R19 tips: The one expert backing Pies to drop two straight games
The stakes are only getting higher as we get closer to September, and the Pies’ stranglehold on the AFL ladder’s top spot could soon be in danger if one of our experts is right this week.
Heeney’s jaw-dropping act stuns footy
Sydney have kept their improbable finals hopes alive and they had one man to thank after his extraordinary performance at the SCG.
Footy world says same thing on non-goal
Popular Hawthorn veteran Jack Gunston thought he’d kicked one of the greatest goals ever before the dreaded score review intervened.
Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl