How the top 10 picks might unfold at Saturday morning’s AFL national draft.

Ben Cousins’ hopes of an AFL comeback have received a major setback, with St Kilda becoming the latest club to decide against recruiting the fallen star.

Ben Cousins’ return to football, for which the AFL Commission paved the way on Tuesday, highlights the urgent need for the sport to make drastic changes to its drug-testing policy.

The teenager voted Ireland’s best young Gaelic footballer will train with St Kilda later this month as he weighs up a possible move to the AFL.

Adam Simpson is content and relieved he is not the last captain at AFL club North Melbourne. Simpson announced today he had stood down after five years in the role.

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.

Ireland survived a fierce final-quarter comeback from Australia to post a thrilling 45-44 victory in the series opening International Rules clash at Subiaco Oval last night.

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.

Australia Coach Mick Malthouse says Ireland’s band of amateurs are just as professional and better prepared than his professional AFL stars for the international rules series.

North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito, the man set to be handed the goalkeeping duties for Australia’s International Rules series with Ireland, says he is still keen for the role despite copping a rude awakening in last night’s practice match.

The Australian and Irish teams will seek to forge closer off-field ties in their efforts to rescue the International Rules series. On-field violence during the 2005 and 2006 series nearly killed off the concept, leading to a postponement last year.
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Harvey will captain Australia
Grant to jump straight into coaching

Before he is a permanent captain in the AFL, Brent Harvey will lead his country. The four-time All-Australian and four-time best and fairest winner at North Melbourne was the obvious choice to be made skipper of the young 25-man squad for this month’s International Rules series against Ireland.

Former North Melbourne champion Shannon Grant will jump straight into coaching just a month after retiring from the AFL.

A stagnant AFL trade week has prompted a renewed call from the players’ union for free agency to be introduced. The week-long exchange period produced only six completed deals, five of which occurred before yesterday’s 2pm deadline.
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How the AFL clubs fared in trade week
Prismall a long-term one for Bombers

It takes quite a bit to baffle former Kangaroo hardman Glenn Archer. The only things that seem to baffle the hardest man to ever play the game are being able to hold an opinion on something other than North Melbourne when on Footy Classified and understanding why most people put locks on the toilet doors [...]

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.

Australian coach Mick Malthouse will not ask his players to rein in their natural aggression despite the future of International Rules depending on their behaviour.
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Irish to meet with AFL over player poaching
Hawks close in on O’Keefe

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.

There is an urgent need for the AFL and the Tasmanian Government to work together and upgrade York Park in Launceston to hold at least 30,000 spectators, regardless of whether it continues to be Hawthorn’s part-time home or Tassie gets its own team.