Russell Bennett

Hours before Melbourne’s clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday, the Demons’ biggest midfield star was just happy to be back “walking really fast” again on the Tan.

Brisbane Lions coach and former Hawthorn staffer Chris Fagan says he’d welcome the chance to tell his side of the story of the Hawks’ racism saga in court.

Collingwood have suffered a cruel injury setback to start the new year with luckless big man Nathan Kreuger forced to have a shoulder reconstruction after injuring his right arm at training prior to the holiday break.

The need to build a “unified internal culture” is among the four key themes that emerged from Essendon’s external review, of which the club confirmed it received the final draft report from Ernst & Young.

Brisbane Lions star Cam Rayner will miss his side’s elimination final against Richmond after the AFL tribunal upheld his ban for rough conduct.

Adelaide Crows chairman John Olsen and CEO Tim Silvers penned an open letter to the club’s members and fans.

From Dyson Heppell and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, to David Rodan and Beau Vernon, Bobbie Lee Blay’s influence has been felt by footballers at all levels.

A community umpire has described the anxiety she suffers stemming from vitriolic and sexist abuse from spectators over the boundary fence, as the AFL explained its decision not to release a report into the issue.

Melbourne have omitted premiership forward Tom McDonald for their Anzac Day eve clash with Richmond, favouring Ben Brown and Sam Weideman.

Former Essendon premiership player Blake Caracella will coach the Bombers against Adelaide, while the Magpies will be without Taylor Adams and Joel Smith will miss for Melbourne.

Essendon’s nightmare start to the season has only become more alarming as the club confirmed A-grade midfielder Zach Merrett will miss the next six to eight weeks with a dreaded syndesmosis injury.

Fox Sports presenter Megan Barnard has taken to social media to speak out about the sexist remarks made about her by a former colleague.

Essendon legend and former coach James Hird is back in the AFL, linking up with friend and former Bombers teammate Mark McVeigh at GWS.

In a move set to boost interest in South East Melbourne Phoenix throughout Asia, the franchise has signed Chinese star and former Houston Rocket Zhou Qi on a two-year deal.

Essendon veteran David Zaharakis won’t be offered a new deal by the club for next season but hopes to continue his AFL career elsewhere.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says Perth will host the grand final at Optus Stadium if it cannot be played at the MCG.

Melbourne favourite son Jack Viney is headed to the tribunal to answer a charge of serious misconduct over an ugly incident with Gold Coast opponent Sam Collins.

At the age of just 32, after stints at North Melbourne and Collingwood, Levi Greenwood has called time on his playing career to prioritise his health.

Brad Scott’s name is often raised in connection with coaching or football department vacancies, but he’s focusing on keeping kids in the game amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the great country Victorian footy clubs couldn’t have been better suited to two of the AFL’s most beloved figures - Bob Murphy and Jarryd Roughead - who became Sea Eagles for a day on Saturday.