The leave-the-game-aloners will argue that tackling will soon be a lost art, but with the concussion rate still high, it is clear the AFL must continue its crackdown to protect the head, writes JON RALPH.
Hawthorn’s huge offer to lure Josh Battle from St Kilda isn’t just about shoring up its backline. As JON RALPH explains, there’s another key to why the Hawks could offer close to $1m a year.
Gone are the days of the traditional afternoon slots, here is the blockbuster-isation of football. JON RALPH ranks the AFL’s 15 best blockbuster fixtures in a new era of sports attendance.
Max Gawn arrived to the Dees when they were a mess and since, he’s lifted them to heights not seen for decades. JON RALPH lists the most influential people at every AFL club since 2000.
Get used to AFL stars attending the Grand Prix or red carpet events in a world where social media is a huge second income. So, what did Jack Ginnivan do wrong, asks JON RALPH.
The Magpies’ swarm led them to premiership glory in 2023 but this year, so far, they look old, soft and slow. So where has the dare and drive gone?
The writing is on the wall, according to JON RALPH: Tarryn Thomas and North Melbourne are through. The only question now is how he and the club go about parting ways.
The new AFL salary cap will have massive implications on the way AFL clubs and players do business, and seven sides who read the tea leaves are sitting on mammoth war chests. Who are they?
Both the AFL and its fans can’t get enough of footy, but how much is too much? JON RALPH analyses the marathon that awaits clubs in 2024.
Koby Stevens had 10-12 concussions in his career at three AFL clubs. Now, he has paired with some of sport and film’s biggest names to detail the harrowing impact of concussion and the lengths required to treat it.
Jeremy McGovern will be 32 next April. With a second flag at the Eagles out of the question, a Victorian club with finals ambition could swoop.
The AFL exchange period is almost here – and it’s an important time for the 10 clubs who missed finals. These are the moves, deals and list calls your team should make to bounce back.
The Blues’ run towards a possible finals berth has not been the smooth ride many expected at the start of 2023, but a change in ethos will hold them in good stead beyond this season alone.
Richmond gave up a lot to bring in two GWS midfielders on long-term deals at the end of last year. Was it worth it? Jon Ralph rates every player move.
Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/jon-ralph/page/2