Sport
AFL
‘I have to live up to the hype’: Dons draftees eye Hawks blockbuster
As Zach Merrett settles back into life at Essendon after his failed trade bid, the club’s boom draftees say they’re ready to help with the heavy lifting in 2026.
- byJon Pierik
Updated
AFLW
Ash Riddell was crowned AFLW’s best and fairest. But this moment had the audience gasping
- byHannah Kennelly
‘We can challenge anyone’: Brisbane Lions roar into AFLW grand final, set sights on undefeated Roos
- byRoy Ward andHannah Kennelly
Insight & Analysis
Sharp dealing: What was behind Essendon’s brave draft plan?
They held their nerve on preferring to draft, rather than pursuing the likes of Dan Houston. The 2025 draft might’ve been compromised, but the Bombers haven’t.
Jake Niall
Chief football writer, The Age
From Gold Coast’s golden academy, to the club that didn’t pick at all: Analysing every club’s 2025 draft
All up, 60 footballers found an AFL home in the most compromised national draft in history. We look at each club’s haul and hear from recruiting and list managers to explain their strategies.
Marc McGowan
Sports reporter
The moment the most unpredictable AFL draft went off script
Essendon, Melbourne and West Coast all made waves at the top end of this year’s draft, but a move from Richmond changed everything.
Marc McGowan
Sports reporter
Latest in AFL
Exclusive
Draft
Mitchell breaks silence on failed Merrett trade, leaves door ajar for another crack
In his first public comments since the Hawks’ attempt to snare the Essendon captain collapsed, Sam Mitchell admitted he was annoyed that the trade didn’t go through, stating Hawthorn’s offer was fair.
- bySam McClure
From the player who cried in his room thinking his dream was over, to sons and brothers of guns: Every pick of the AFL draft
The Cats have snared the younger brother of one of their stars. See all the picks from second night of the 2025 AFL Draft, and what the players had to say on the biggest night of their careers so far.
- byHannah Kennelly,Russell Bennett andRoy Ward
Duursma heads west with pick No.1 as the ‘bolter’ who had to be smuggled into Marvel steals the show
- byShelby Garlick,Hannah Kennelly,Jon Pierik andMarc McGowan
More news
AFL Briefing
AFL 2026
From the USA to Melbourne … and across the Nullarbor? Mason Cox could move west to extend AFL career
- byMichael Gleeson
Updated
AFL 2026
AFL fixture 2026: Magpies are the prime-time kings, but Bombers banished
- byHannah Kennelly