AFL

Inside the ARC: The experts have eyes on the action from all angles.

‘There are a couple of recidivists’: Inside the AFL’s review bunker

In a dark, windowless hub inside Marvel Stadium, scoring, umpiring, medical and match reviews take place. On Saturday night, The Age went inside the AFL Review Centre to see exactly how it works.

by Sam McClure

Nick Daicos has impressed in his first season with the Pies.

Analysis

AFL round 18 key takeouts and match review news

by Peter Ryan, Steve Barrett, Jon Pierik, Andrew Wu, Roy Ward, Marnie Vinall and Russell Bennett

AFL Briefing

Tigers stars to miss Dockers clash; St Kilda’s bitter blow; young AFLW gun suffers spinal injury

1 hour ago
by Nell Geraets, Marnie Vinall and Jake Niall

Michael Hurley, finally back in the thick of it in Essendon colours.

Hurley’s long haul: After more than 660 days sidelined, Bomber’s comeback takes a key step

by Marnie Vinall

ALICE SPRINGS, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: (L-R) Kysaiah Pickett, James Harmes and Toby Bedford of the Demons celebrate during the 2022 AFL Round 18 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Port Adelaide Power at TIO Traeger Park on July 17, 2022 in Alice Springs, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brilliant Pickett bags six as Demons switch off the Power in the Alice

by Justin Chadwick

Insight & Analysis

Four Points: Blicavs the utility, Blues’ hopes, battling Tigers, and the fast-rising Daicos

If footy cards still came with a stick of chewing gum and great exaggerated poses from players scooping up a ball one-handed or baulking a non-existent opponent then Mark Blicavs’ card would be appended with the position utility.

Michael Gleeson

Sports columnist

If not Clarkson, then North should consider a Lyon handover

If North can’t lure Alastair Clarkson, they should seriously consider appointing Ross Lyon for a short three-year stint, in the manner of Paul Roos at Melbourne, with the club identifying a younger coach for a handover in year two or three.

Jake Niall

Chief football writer, The Age

‘A little bit of a 2016 feel’: Can a team outside the top four challenge for the flag this year?

Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Sam McClure discuss how open the flag race is this season, Geelong showing their bona fides as contenders and the issues at Melbourne.