Since the club was introduced to the AFL in 1869, the North Melbourne Kangaroos have become well known in Premiership circles for their ‘Shinboner’ spirit and its ability to win them games when their backs are up against the wall. The Kangaroos have won four AFL flags, with success coming in 1975 and 1977, then again in 1996 and 1999.
North Melbourne midfielder Ed Lower is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks after breaking his leg in an AFL practice match.
Lower, 22, fractured his fibula when his lower leg collided with an opponent’s knee as he was laying a tackle during Saturday’s win over Hawthorn in Ballarat.
The youngster said extreme weather in Melbourne over [...] Read article
Hawthorn’s No.1 ruckman Simon Taylor is out of action for four months after breaking his leg in the AFL practice match loss to North Melbourne.
It was a costly trip to Ballarat on Saturday for the Hawks – top midfielder Brad Sewell also suffered a broken collarbone.
Likewise, Melbourne are set to be without Daniel Bell and [...] Read article
Frontline Hawthorn players Brad Sewell and Simon Taylor had to go to hospital during a potentially-costly AFL practice match loss to North Melbourne.
Sewell’s right arm was in a sling after the 40-point loss at Ballarat and he has a suspected collarbone fracture.
The key midfielder left the field during the first quarter of the 12.11 (83) [...] Read article
For North Melbourne, it’s been an AFL extreme makeover. The falling-down players’ rooms and grandstand have been replaced by a state-of-the-art $15 million training facility at the club’s Arden Street headquarters.
The AFL’s youngest coach, two-time Brisbane premiership player Brad Scott, has taken the helm.
An exciting young group of players are fighting for positions.
Three years ago, [...] Read article
Six seconds away from a soul-destroying defeat, Fremantle instead salvaged a thrilling four-point victory over North Melbourne to set up a showdown with St Kilda in the AFL pre-season cup semi-final next weekend.
Dockers forward Ryan Murphy booted the winning goal in the dying seconds to seal a dramatic 1.12.13 (94) to 0.13.12 (90) quarter-final win [...] Read article
Two things are becoming increasingly clear about new coach Brad Scott’s philosophy at North Melbourne – play hard, and nothing comes easy.
Neither should surprise anyone who saw Scott play in the bruising manner he did during the Brisbane Lions’ glory days, but Kangaroos utility Michael Firrito says Scott’s focus has been well received after a [...] Read article
The AFL’s NAB Cup pre-season competition may provide nothing more than a chance to blow out the cobwebs for some teams, but for others it means more.
There may be no premiership points on the line, the best players may be taking a break, and the crowds may be small, but the competition is far from [...] Read article
North Melbourne’s wealth of young talent was outstanding as they opened the AFL NAB Cup with a shock 14-point win over Geelong.
The reigning pre-season and regular-season premiers trailled by 46 points midway through the third term on Sunday at Etihad Stadium and North then withstood their comeback to win 2.11.11 (95) to 2.10.3 (71).
Matt Campbell, [...] Read article
Michael Tuck medallist Barry Hall couldn’t have started life at the Western Bulldogs any better, prompting many pundits to believe the Dogs have solved their ‘power forward’ problem and are now 2010 Premiership favourites. But some maintain it’s a matter of time before ‘Big Bad Barry’ has another brain-snap.
The 33-year-old, who controversially ended his time [...]
Well there has been plenty of debate over what chance a World Cup bid has if the NRL and AFL will be left out of pocket. Is this the case though?
An ideal situation for the rugby league and AFL during a World Cup would be as follows.
Host 4 NRL rounds over 5 or 6 weeks [...]
AFL administrators face a crucial few months as they work to a tight deadline on their ambitious Greater Western Sydney expansion project.
The league want the Kevin Sheedy-coached “GWS” team to join the competition in 2012, a year after Gold Coast make their AFL debut, but first the 18th team needs a home stadium.
The AFL Commission [...]
Former AFL player Chris Bryan has joined one of the United States’ most famous sporting clubs, NFL’s Green Bay Packers, as a punter. Bryan had auditions lined up with scouts from several NFL clubs.
But after working out with the Packers, the first of those clubs, he has been snapped up on a three-year, non-guaranteed contract.
He [...]
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick says chief executive Andrew Demetriou deserves the $1.8 million he earned last year after delivering some major gains for the sport.
Demetriou’s salary – including superannuation and performance bonuses – was made public as part of a report into the league’s key achievements over the past year, released on Wednesday.
The other 10 [...]
Sydney star Adam Goodes is tipping the Swans new look forward line to stretch opposing defences and isn’t concerned about a lack of playing time for new spearhead Daniel Bradshaw in the lead up to their opening AFL clash with St Kilda.
Goodes, who has won Brownlow Medals as both a ruckman and midfielder, is part [...]
Like bourbon and milk, alcohol and the sporting elite just don’t mix. This is the latest bandwagon the media have swarmed onto.
Senior Lecturer in Health Sciences at the University of South Australia, Dr. Graham Dodd concurs: “role models for society, such as elite sports stars, are expected to reinforce the messages, and when they do [...]
In part two of my series, I look at who will make the top eight and declare who I think will win the 2010 AFL Premiership.
1. Geelong
Despite the loss of Harley and the drama of Stokes, Geelong remains formidable and still is the best side. Ablett, Bartel and Selwood will again dominate. While [...]
Gary Ablett’s contract is threatening to completely derail Geelong’s premiership defence. Make no mistake, this story will dominate the headlines every week until a decision is made: will he stay or will he go?
The rumour mills will be in overdrive as every media outlet endeavours to break the story before Ablett breaks his silence. [...]
Finally, the real stuff is next up. The NAB Cup undoubtedly provides important preparation for AFL teams and allows the chance for the game to reach community centres, but it deprives us of a better and fairer season.
Without a NAB Cup, and with the expansion of the season on the horizon as the [...]
