Join The Roar
Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors.
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions
Login and get Roaring
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
Editor
Joined March 2012
1.73m
Views
579
Published
11k
Comments
Stirling Coates started out as an AFL crowd contributor, and is now one of The Roar's editors.
Published
Comments
The Wallabies have fought off a dogged challenge from a gallant Japan outfit, with debutant Connal McInerney coming off the bench to score the decisive late try in a 32-23.
He’s the unanimous presumptive number one pick in the upcoming AFL draft.
The 2021 AFL trade period comes to a close today, with the deadline closing at 7:30pm (AEDT) tonight. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action throughout the entire day.
There are just two days to go in the 2021 AFL trade period and there are still plenty of deals yet to be completed. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action of the penulimate day of action from 9am (AEDT).
The 2021 AFL trade period enters its final stretch, with a series of deals still to be confirmed. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action as the second week of the trade period begins from 9am (AEDT).
Action is starting to pick up in the 2021 AFL trade period, with the dominoes starting to fall. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 9am (AEDT).
It’s been slow going in the 2021 AFL trade period so far, but it resumes once more this morning. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 9am (AEDT).
The 2021 AFL trade period resumes this morning, after the first day proved somewhat slow. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 9am (AEDT).
The AFL season is over, but it’s not the end of the road for footy fans, with the 2021 trade period beginning today. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling coverage of the day’s news, rumours and action from 9am (AEDT).
South Africa have inflicted New Zealand’s first loss of the Rugby Championship, with an Elton Jantjies penalty goal after time had expired sealing a thrilling 31-29 win in an instant classic.
The Wallabies have closed out their Rugby Championship campaign in style, blitzing the Pumas either side of half time to set up an unassailable lead, before holding off a spirited late challenge to prevail 32-17.
The 2021 AFL free agency period finally kicks off today.
The football season may be behind us, but that just means it’s time to whip ourselves up into a frenzy over the upcoming player movement period.
The long night is over. Melbourne are finally AFL premiers once again – 57 years after they last tasted the ultimate glory.
It’s been another long, disrupted and entertaining season – but we’ve finally reached the end.
It’s set to be one of the most hotly-contested Brownlow medal nights in many years.
Not even the most one-eyed of Melbourne supporters could have predicted how their preliminary final against Geelong would go.
Not even the most one-eyed of Melbourne supporters could have predicted how their preliminary final against Geelong would go.
Just four teams remain in the hunt for this year’s premiership.
After one of the all-time classic semi-finals, the Bulldogs have come out one-point victors and are through to the preliminary final, while Brisbane have suffered their second straight-sets exit in three seasons.
That’s a very silly way of looking at it. The relative doesn’t need to just ‘take care’, they need to seriously compromise their way of life because others refuse to undergo a perfectly safe, short medical procedure for philosophical reasons.
The ‘freedom of choice’ mob are full of it because they only think about their own freedom. When told that their choices can severely impact the freedom of others, the only response you get is a shrug of the shoulders and a ‘that’s too bad’. It’s not about freedom, it’s about petty personal inconvenience.
‘Ethically wrong’: AFL star not keen on mandatory jabs
At the end of the day, we’re all cheering for jerseys. For every scumbag living it up in the NRL bubble, there are ten hard-working young men who’ve never put a foot wrong and would do anything for that opportunity (and the same can be said for most sporting leagues).
It’s time for some players to cop that reality check.
We must all do better to address rugby league's harmful treatment of women
In fairness, I think he’s the most recent coach to have been sacked immediately after their team played finals.
'Get serious': Ex-coach blasts St Kilda over repeated failures
The play-on for a backwards kick suggestion for a more entertaining game has been comprehensively debunked. I can’t remember who pointed it out, but it was shown that – at least in 2020 – the teams that kicked backwards the most were also the highest-scoring.
There was one notably terrible deliberate out of bounds decision, but otherwise the rule is adjudicated fine – it’s confused commentators who’ve never bothered to properly learn the rules that causes the furore.
Three changes to better the game from 2022
Without a doubt. If the Demons only go into three-quarter time with a seven-point lead it’s anyone’s game. I think I said in my talking points article that the last minute was a hull breach for the Doggies.
The rule that could have changed the AFL grand final
Couple of bits of individual brilliance (Harmes’ kick to Fritsch) got the ball rolling and then the Dogs were still trying to press ahead rather than defend.
The other big move was Luke Jackson replacing Max Gawn in the ruck. Stefan Martin simply didn’t have the legs to go with him so it essentially gave the Demons an extra midfielder at every centre bounce.
The rule that could have changed the AFL grand final
I’ve come around to 6-6-6. The stand rule will be okay if they abolish the law that allows players to start their run up for goal from any angle. You can have either of those laws, but not both.
Third man up in the ruck needs to come back too. If you want to ease congestion, that’s the easy way to do it.
The rule that could have changed the AFL grand final
Unfortunately it looks like the Dogs had adopted an ‘offense is the best defense’ strategy in the midfield for most of the year. Why tag and body up your opponent when you can just win the ball yourself?
Given how incredibly talented their midfield is, you can’t blame them and it worked 99.5% of the time.
That last minute of the third quarter, however, proved that you have to respect your opponent will get a wave of momentum at some point in the game, so take your medicine and just defend. The Dogs didn’t do that, so one last-minute goal became three and the game was lost.
The rule that could have changed the AFL grand final
I’ll jump in for Doran here. He initially submitted this article with Dawson on the list but I told him it was redundant given the trade request and asked him to re-submit.
The five players your team can least afford to lose: Sydney Swans
Right at the very top of the article, above the headline.
Who will bring the carnage in the NRL grand final?
Not a free kick. Rioli wasn’t past the flight of the ball and is therefore entitled to protect that space in order to take what could’ve been a one-on-one mark. The fact Sheed floated across the pack to take the grab doesn’t retrospectively make Rioli’s action illegal.
If Rioli was shepherding Maynard when he was past the flight of the ball, it would’ve have been a block – but he wasn’t.
The ten greatest grand finals of the last 30 years
Can’t bring up Ashley Sampi being held without also bringing up Dean Cox shoving Darren Jolly in the back to take the mark that let him kick it back inside 50 in the first place.
If we’re playing that game, the grand final should have ended with the ball safely in Jolly’s hands on the half-back flank.
The top five 'what if' grand final moments
We’re having a data issue right now that means the NRL semi-finals aren’t available in our tipping comp just yet. We’re working hard to fix this as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Everything should be fixed now. Good luck tipping!
The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Semi-finals
It’s a still a fact. It’s been a long time since they’ve done it, yes, but to say that 9thmond is a ‘narrative’ that people ‘blindly adhere’ to seems to imply that there isn’t a strong element of truth to it. There is.
At least you weren’t ninth: Richmond's 2021 in review
It’s not blind adherence. While the last finish was in 2008, Richmond have finished ninth the most times in the AFL’s top-eight era.
At least you weren’t ninth: Richmond's 2021 in review
I recall that. I’m pretty sure Demetriou even went so far as to say the Swans wouldn’t win a flag kicking a score like 58, which is what they finished with in that St Kilda loss, before they won the decider 58-54.
The ten greatest preliminary finals of the last 30 years
Liam Salter made the good point the other day that, as the scoop came from a WA-based journo, sounds like a family member likely did.
'Unfinished business': Neale reveals why he's committing to Lions despite Dockers link
That was the first time I ever saw the Swans lose live and, as a young lad, was devastated on the way home.
A real old fella said ‘don’t worry mate, there’s always next year’ to me on the train home. I hope he got to see 2005.
The ten greatest preliminary finals of the last 30 years
Part of me would have liked to have seen what he could have done with Williams under the new regulations next season, but power to him.
At last! Mercedes sign Russell and look to the future
I still find myself watching highlights from Sydney’s last quarter against St Kilda in 2005 from time to time. Not a close finish in the end but such an amazing effort to find a new gear after the Geelong game the week before.
The ten greatest preliminary finals of the last 30 years
It’s because this year was the most expensive of Lance Franklin’s contract so just about anyone who’s re-signed in recent seasons had a backended deal that really kicks in from next year.
COVID-related cap freezes haven’t helped, but it sounds like they were always going to be in a bit of a pickle from 2022.
'Swans and Bombers fans can be satisfied': Elimination final losers pave the way to a brighter future
I think it’d be cheaper to just use Joel Amartey and/or Hayden McLean as ruck back-up if necessary and give Logan McDonald some more time in the seniors if we’re short a tall forward.
'Swans and Bombers fans can be satisfied': Elimination final losers pave the way to a brighter future
Forgetting 2016?
'Swans and Bombers fans can be satisfied': Elimination final losers pave the way to a brighter future
He was, but Grant Thomas was sacked after an EF loss in 2006.
'Get serious': Ex-coach blasts St Kilda over repeated failures