The Sydney Morning Herald logo
The Sydney Morning Herald logo

AFL 2026

Advertisement
Suns coach Damien Hardwick vented his frustration after Friday night’s game.

Hardwick escapes fine for umpire criticism, Gold Coast still face sanction

Gold Coast coach Damian Hardwick has been put on notice about his criticism of umpires, but his club is still facing a fine over a separate incident arising from Friday night’s game.

  • Michael Gleeson

Latest

West Coast Eagle Jobe Shanahan turned his game around in the second half against the Kangaroos.

Young Eagles provide hope as West Coast lose another thriller

For the second week running, the Eagles were involved in a game decided by less than a kick, and for the second week running, they fell just short.

  • Paddy Sweeney
Former Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo could return to the Dons.

Why the return of this former Essendon official would be a smart move in coach search

His personal view of Solomon or Hird is unknown, but his work history would suggest he would want a thorough process.

  • Michael Gleeson
The battle with misinformation affecting the AFL.

AFL stars are being targeted by ‘AI slop’. There’s a sinister motive behind it

Often derided as “AI Slop”, misinformation is featuring increasingly on Facebook feeds. It’s often the game’s big names, usually with fanciful and wild claims attached to them, being used to pull you in.

  • Scott Spits
Liam Ryan had a day out for the Saints, following last week’s bag of five goals with another six on Sunday against GWS.
  • AFL briefing
  • AFL

Ryan, Nas star in Saints win; Roo Curtis offered ban; Lions’ miracle goal buries Tigers; Hardwick under fire

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Liam Ryan ignited St Kilda at Marvel Stadium; North Melbourne’s Paul Curtis faces another three-match suspension; the Lions prevail in Hobart; and, Damien Hardwick’s under fire.

  • Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
Angus Sheldrick and Chad Warner of the Swans celebrate a goal.

Swans superstar Heeney reveals Cox’s rev-up to their leaders before furious comeback

After Melbourne were a clear class above Essendon at the MCG, North Melbourne and Sydney survived interstate thrillers against West Coast and Port Adelaide respectively.

  • Danny Russell and Roy Ward
Advertisement
Dean Solomon has plenty of work to do as interim Essendon coach.

Solomon’s dire warning for the Bombers; player contact with an umpire could cost one club $50,000

Melbourne crushed a sorry Bombers outfit at the MCG, but Essendon’s interim coach insists they are not being affected by the spectre of James Hird.

  • Danny Russell and Andrew Wu
Collingwood rolled out their biggest gun in their pitch for Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters.

Dogs, Cats still the frontrunners, but Daicos joins Pies’ chase for Butters

The Magpies and Tigers – both viewed as trailing the Western Bulldogs and Geelong, in the race for Butters – have held face-to-face meetings with the Port Adelaide superstar.

  • Jake Niall
Craig McRae, Adam Kingsley, Chris Scott, Luke Beveridge and Chris Fagan all coach their AFL teams in different ways.

I’ve had coaches I’d run through walls for. These are the five questions Essendon, Carlton and Tassie should ask

Fans want hope. Boards want credibility. The media wants a headline. But the most important question any club looking for a new coach should ask is, what are their players looking for?

  • Libby Birch
Essendon fan Christopher Klose with his son Jordan outside the MCG.

We asked Essendon fans if James Hird should coach again. Everyone had the same answer

We quizzed about a dozen Essendon supporters outside the MCG if they wanted James Hird to return as coach. Their answers differed vastly to our poll findings.

  • Hannah Kennelly