The closest Ben Cousins came to the 2008 AFL national draft was his photo on a large banner hanging from the wall, recalling past glories.

Tom Hislop would want to make the most of this AFL second chance. The 20-year-old former Essendon midfielder was the first delisted player named on Saturday in the national draft.

Les Murray wrote: “Where in the world could we find an entire second division to the A-League when it is a struggle to identify one or two with the guaranteed security and viability to join it?”

Essendon have signed their first international AFL rookie, putting Irish teenager Michael Quinn on their list.

Essendon have put their injury-ruined season behind them and predicted an across-the-board lift in form in 2009. The Bombers were decimated by a raft of serious injuries which contributed to their 12th-place finish on the AFL ladder this year.

International Rules officials are at odds with coaches and players over plans to take one year off out of every three in the series schedule.

AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has revealed he considered running for the Essendon board before deciding on a return to Richmond.

How the 16 clubs fared in the 2009 AFL draw released today.

AFL heavyweights Collingwood and Carlton are big winners in the 2009 draw featuring three timeslots to be trialled with one eye on the league’s future expansion plans.

Former Essendon AFL coach Kevin Sheedy looks set to return to the club where he spent his playing days, Richmond, after 28 years away.

Sydney premiership star Ryan O’Keefe remains undecided about his AFL future, despite Carlton indicating they are unlikely to be able to recruit him.

With all the hubbub about drugs in sport, the AFL is seeking to reverse its current stance of mollycoddling drug abusers, which currently sees players given an astounding three warnings before any form of meaningful penalty is levied, by retrospectively removing the four points a club receives for a home and away victory.

Adelaide is a nice enough town and the Crows play finals regularly, but both were again unpopular in trade week. Recruiting manager Matt Rendell admitted there is a stigma over the city, making it tougher to attract players.

Essendon believe recruit Brent Prismall will be a 10-year player for the AFL club despite the talented midfielder facing a late start at his new home because of a serious knee injury.

AFL clubs and players faced anxious waits as the futures of Ryan O’Keefe, Robert Warnock and Brad Green remained up in the air heading into tomorrow’s final day of trade week.

AFL premiers Hawthorn are closing in on Sydney star forward Ryan O’Keefe after a positive reaction from the Swan to a meeting with Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.

Sydney want a first-round draft pick in exchange for AFL premiership forward Ryan O’Keefe, but they have not given up hope of holding onto him.
Exclusive: ‘Trade Week is meaningless!’

Chris Judd’s not available, but recruiting conservatism is. They’re the two compelling factors which should make clubs tread carefully in AFL trade week, which starts tomorrow.

Out-of-contract Sydney forward Ryan O’Keefe will reveal his intentions by the end of this weekend. The All-Australian half forward met with coach Paul Roos, who described their discussions as amicable.
Roos extends his Sydney commitment

Sydney forward Ryan O’Keefe’s desire to return to his home city of Melbourne is set to prompt a fierce recruiting contest between several Victorian clubs in next week’s AFL trade.