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AFL overreactions: Reaction to Docherty and Gorringe has been over the top
Is the reaction to Sam Docherty's rant been over the top? Is this the beginning of the end for Geelong? In the AFL overreactions this week, we judge the biggest takeways as legitimate or irrational.
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Joly: Carlton showed the same 'issues' in Sydney loss
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TOP HEADLINES
'I LIVE AND BREATHE RED AND BLACK'
An 'authentic' new era: McGrath ready to embrace Dons captaincy challenge
His opportunity to lead the Bombers may have come about through unusual circumstances, but Andrew McGrath says he 'lives and breathes red and black' and is ready to usher in a new era.
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ROUND 1
OPENING ROUND IN REVIEW
AFL Stocks: Trac cooks the Cats; same old problems for Voss and the Blues
Christian Petracca pulled out an all-time performance, and the Bulldogs shocked the reigning premiers. But the hot seat got hotter for Michael Voss. Here's whose stocks are up and down after the AFL's Opening Round.
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Saints vs Magpies
Daicos stars with 41 as Magpies open season with tight win over Saints
Collingwood maestros Nick Daicos and Scott Pendlebury have orchestrated a stirring 12-point triumph over St Kilda in their AFL season-opener.
IWD: Fairer, safer and more equitable sporting culture for women? Not just yet
OPENING ROUND
Can 'perennial teases' the Western Bulldogs finally put it all together?
Top Headlines
- AFL Round 1: Teams, tips, news, and more
- 'Foolish mistake': Hawks spent night in US jail
- Brisbane Lions pair learn fate at AFL tribunal
- Voss keen to move past Carlton's off-field woes
- Lyon an outlier as most marvel at Pies great
- Beveridge: Upset win over Lions 'important to us'
- Trac dominates as ruthless Suns trounce Cats
- Ex-Blues boss' wife says he blamed her for scandal
- An extra 'safeguard': AFL tweaks concussion rules
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Expert tips, best tips for Round 1 of the AFL
Who should you be tipping in Round 1 of the 2026 AFL season? Our footy experts have put their heads together to help you out. So open your ESPN Footytips app, take notes, and get ahead of the game!
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Listen to the ESPN Footy Podcast
Join ESPN's footy team for some of the best AFL and AFLW analysis and insight on the ESPN Footy Podcast.
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The 50 best AFL players heading into season 2026
It's that time of year when ESPN's Jake Michaels counts down his 50 best players in the AFL. Spoiler alert: two-time Brownlow medalist Patrick Cripps has made the cut.
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Hold your horses: AFL's Origin revival was real, but its long-term future is not
AFL Origin's return was a clear success, but one brilliant night is not enough to prove it's truly back for good.
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Ranking every AFL after-the-siren winning goal since 2000
Since the turn of the millennium, there have been 32 after-the-siren goals kicked which have won the game. We've ranked them -- taking into account shot difficulty, context of the match, conditions, and more to determine which clutch kick rules them all.
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AFL player record holders, statistical leaders, and more
Who has played the most AFL games? Who has kicked the most AFL goals? Here are the league leaders in history for all the stats that matter.
