AFL 2024
Opinion
Opinion
Dockers give away three-quarter lead for fifth time this season
Having slid from third to sixth on the ladder, the Dockers are now desperately trying to hang on to a top eight spot.
- by Paddy Sweeney
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King pair: Horne-Francis mounts new challenge for Daicos’ crown
Jason Horne-Francis’ rise to stardom, Hawthorn’s stunning in-season revival, the Giants’ upset of Brisbane in another bonkers round, and Craig McRae’s post-match comments are all on the agenda in round 22’s key takeaways.
- by Marc McGowan
Four Points
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Where to now for the Magpies after an attack of the Colliwobbles?
Some of the competition’s big names dragged their teams over the line in performances that reminded everyone that the best players win flags, while the big four Victorian teams disappeared from centre stage and the Suns finally broke their hoodoo.
- by Peter Ryan
Blues sweat on Curnow as injury crisis worsens in Hawk hammering
Carlton face an uphill battle to qualify for September after they lost their position in the eight as four players, including star forward Charlie Curnow, suffered injuries in a heavy loss to Hawthorn, leaving coach Michael Voss with plenty to ponder.
- by Marc McGowan
‘He was pretty special, wasn’t he?’ How Isaac Heeney saved the Swans’ season
Working at both ends of the ground, Isaac Heeney showed that form is temporary and class is permanent in a final-quarter display for the ages.
- by Jonathan Drennan
AFL faces possibility of no finals in Melbourne on first weekend of September; Blues in damage control; Hawks surge; Bulldogs tumble
Michael Voss has vowed redemption after Carlton were left stunned by a 74-point loss to Hawthorn which has left their finals hopes hanging by a thread. The Saints, meanwhile, have crunched the Tigers, while the Western Bulldogs have gone down to Adelaide.
- by Jon Pierik, Marc McGowan, Daniel Brettig and Steve Barrett
Dockers blow it late against Cats, Eagles soar to clutch win over Roos
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir concedes his team’s late chokes have become a worry, while West Coast nailed a match-winning goal with 18 seconds left on the clock.
- by Justin Chadwick
The senior Bombers behind the Dons’ latest meltdown
The fateful chain of events that killed off another Bombers season without a finals victory were in motion long before Mac Andrew realised a boyhood dream with a towering pack mark and goal after the siren.
- by Andrew Wu
How did they lose? The stats that should have stopped a Bombers’ nightmare
Mac Andrew’s last-kick goal has robbed Essendon of a shot at the finals, while Port Adelaide grabbed second spot after a thrilling win over the brave Demons.
- by Danny Russell, Andrew Stafford, Marnie Vinall and Andrew Wu
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‘I didn’t know what high performance was’: What Judd taught Cripps
A mad Eagles supporter growing up in WA, Patrick Cripps was eager to learn from AFL great Chris Judd when he was drafted to Carlton. But the respect and admiration soon flowed both ways, as the pair told The Age.
- by Jake Niall
Brutal reality check: Four things learnt from Lions’ capitulation
They had all the running early. Across the opening quarter, it appeared the only thing they could do wrong was convert their chances. So where did it go wrong?
- by Nick Wright