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Joined March 2012
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Stirling Coates started out as an AFL crowd contributor, and is now one of The Roar's editors.
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It’s the final day of the 2020 AFL trade period – and there are plenty of big names still up for grabs. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 10am (AEDT).
Day 6 of the AFL trade period gets underway, with just two days left to go. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 10am (AEDT).
Day 5 of the AFL trade period gets underway, with plenty of deals still to be done. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 10am (AEDT).
Day 4 of the AFL trade period gets underway, with plenty of deals still to be done. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 10am (AEDT).
Day 3 of the AFL trade period gets underway after a quiet second day. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 10am (AEDT).
Day 2 of the AFL trade period gets underway after a busy first day of action. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 10am (AEDT).
After weeks of speculation, the AFL trade period for 2020 finally gets underway today. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 9am (AEDT).
I’ll be honest with you, Roar readers – I’m dead tired.
This is what we play for – the 2020 AFL grand final between the Richmond Tigers and Geelong Cats gets underway, with the winner crowned premiers. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
On May 6, 2007, a new era of dominance in the AFL officially began.
The 2020 Brownlow Medal was won by Lachie Neale, who collected 31 votes to finish ten ahead of Travis Boak in second.
A spot in the grand final is up for grabs as the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats play in a preliminary final at The Gabba. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEDT).
The first preliminary final sees the Port Adelaide Power tackles the Richmond Tigers in what’s set to be a blockbuster at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
Their semi-final loss to Richmond may have been a hugely disappointing performance, but Brett Ratten’s first full year in charge of the Saints was a huge success.
An ancient finals rivalry writes another chapter as the Geelong Cats and Collingwood Magpies clash in a blockbuster semi-final at The Gabba. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEDT).
The Richmond Tigers need to win to keep their premiership defence alive, but they’ll go up against a St Kilda Saints side keen to surprise. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
Just three weeks to go this season, with every match from here on out being win or go home.
The West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs are good footy teams. They’re on the right path and should be thereabouts again next season. But – and there’s no two ways about this – they both failed in 2020.
Rodney Eade (358 games across 16.5 seasons with three clubs), John Northey (295 games across 13.5 seasons with five clubs) and Ross Lyon (285 games across 13 seasons with two clubs) are the three longest-tenured coaches to never win a flag, but they all made a grand final.
The longest-tenured coach to never reach a grand final was Bill Stephen (Fitzroy 1955-57, 1965-70, 1979-80, Essendon 1976-77), while the longest a coach ever lasted with one team without ever reaching a decider was none other than Brad Scott (North Melbourne 2010-2019). Hinkley is currently second.
Jock McHale’s last ten seasons at Collingwood also came without a grand final appearance, but he’d already won them seven flags at that point.
Hinkley earns two-year extension with Power
Copyright laws mean our videos can only work in Australia, sorry.
Kane Williamson decides to ruthlessly troll Pakistan after noticing a fielding change
Not quite. Two points for a win (of any kind), one point for an overtime or shootout loss and zero points for a regulation loss.
If two teams finish on the same number of points however, their number of non-shootout wins are used as the tiebreaker.
Fool's gold: The NRL must change its competition points
Good luck with everything going forward Josh. It’s been a pleasure to work with and learn from you over the journey.
2020 AFL draft: Club-by-club review, my take on every team
Since relocating, Sydney have lost the grand final every time they’ve won the minor premiership.
Minor premiers, major failures: Which ladder leaders have disappointed the most come finals time?
Fascinating piece, Thomas.
I can genuinely say I learned something new having read this – will follow the Suns with a bit more interest now.
Have Gold Coast's concessions actually been a hindrance?
Looks about right to me, but I’d swap Melbourne and Fremantle and I also reckon West Coast are a much bigger risk of missing the eight than people realise – could swap them with Carlton.
A speculative look at the next AFL season
You’re looking at 2019’s fixture champ.
How to watch the WBBL online or on TV: WBBL 2019 live stream, TV guide, start time
Playing a home game at an away venue against a team who plays their home game at that venue is unfair. I don’t really know why that needs explaining.
Getting the maximum crowd has been the priority, but that doesn’t mean it’s competitively fair. Imagine the Premier League told Fulham they had to play all their games against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge?
Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn or Richmond: Which dynasty has been the best?
2015 should’ve been Sam Mitchell. Cyril was great in the first quarter but did absolutely nothing afterwards.
My pick for 2016 is Josh Kennedy, but I’ll hear arguments for others. Johannisen, as you have noted, turned the ball over so many times I can’t fathom how he was even considered.
Bachar Houli should’ve got it in 2017.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Grand final
Don’t know how that happened, sorry. Should be fixed now.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Grand final
As far as we can tell, the Brownlow medal will not be available on WatchAFL.
2020 AFL Brownlow Medal live stream and TV guide
I think Hannebery and Jones are better on the outside, getting a bigger body in the middle is still a must.
St Kilda are on the right track, but how do they take the next step?
Can’t agree with you there Don. Yes, St Kilda missed their chances when they had the ascendancy, but they absolutely did not outplay Richmond at all.
St Kilda are on the right track, but how do they take the next step?
Nope. The only time a restricted free agent has been traded was Dangerfield in 2015 after the Crows declared they’d match whatever Geelong offered.
Daniher nominates Brisbane as new club for 2021
He’s a restricted free agent so, likely, nothing.
Daniher nominates Brisbane as new club for 2021
Could’ve had two first-rounders last year for Daniher but turned it down. Dodoro’s arrogance has to be his undoing and soon.
AFL Trades: Adam Saad's decision spells disaster for Essendon
It’s Port Adelaide over Gold Coast now, at 11 matches. Port haven’t lost to the Suns since famously becoming the first team to do so in 2011.
What hoodoo? Lions crack Richmond spell, progress to the prelims
I reckon Geelong’s bad finals record is a bit overblown. Every preliminary finalist they’ve lost to since 2011 either won the minor premiership or the premiership itself. Collingwood was the first team to beat them in a qualifying final but not reach the decider since North Melbourne in 1997.
I reckon they’ve been a very, very, very good – but not great – team for most of the decade and they’ve simply come up against better opposition. This year and last they’ve been good enough to win it so, unless they go out in straight sets, he should get another crack next season.
One question mark for each finalist ahead of Week 1
Love the decisiveness. I’ll check back in on Monday.
One question mark for each finalist ahead of Week 1
1. Start of a legitimate window, but there will be teething problems given the number of crucial players over 30.
2. OzLotto commercial huge.
3. No.
4. No, they’ll win in 2021 and then fall away.
5. Need to develop the killer instinct in some way.
6. I’m more worried about them opening up the chequebook again and doing a Brisbane 2010.
7. An older head in the midfield.
8. Yes.
One question mark for each finalist ahead of Week 1
Absolutely right about them butchering it by publicly revealing he’s finished at the club. In a year where Jeremy Cameron and Joe Daniher are on the market, they’ve moved their potential returns back one round in the draft.
Trading Ben Brown could make or break Rhyce Shaw's coaching career
I don’t drool all over Martin at all – I’ve got him as a forward rather than a midfielder anyway so it’s not like he’s taken Boak’s spot in the 18.
Probably a fair point to be made about Boak being centre over Dangerfield though.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: All Australian team
Only the AFL could make a home team choosing where to play their home final controversial.
AFL reveals first week of finals fixture; who plays who, where and when
Yes! That was one of the worst holding the ball decisions in history in that prelim and it cost Sydney a flag as Port were our bunnies in that era, we would’ve rolled them in the decider.
Hinkley earns two-year extension with Power