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Stirling Coates started out as an AFL crowd contributor, before serving as one of The Roar's editors until late 2021.
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After six years involved with The Roar - three as a member of the editorial team after three as a writer and intern -…
The Wallabies have fought off a dogged challenge from a gallant Japan outfit, with debutant Connal McInerney coming off the bench to score the…
He's the unanimous presumptive number one pick in the upcoming AFL draft. Jason Horne-Francis has been tearing it up for the South Adelaide Panthers…
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…
There are just two days to go in the 2021 AFL trade period and there are still plenty of deals yet to be completed.…
The 2021 AFL trade period enters its final stretch, with a series of deals still to be confirmed. Join The Roar for a live…
Action is starting to pick up in the 2021 AFL trade period, with the dominoes starting to fall. Join The Roar for a live…
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…
The 2021 AFL trade period resumes this morning, after the first day proved somewhat slow. Join The Roar for a live blog and rolling…
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…
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…
The Wallabies have closed out their Rugby Championship campaign in style, blitzing the Pumas either side of half time to set up an unassailable…
The 2021 AFL free agency period finally kicks off today. Barely a week after we crowned Melbourne premiers, the silly season is already upon…
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…
The long night is over. Melbourne are finally AFL premiers once again - 57 years after they last tasted the ultimate glory. It looked…
It's been another long, disrupted and entertaining season - but we've finally reached the end. Just Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs remain in contention…
It's set to be one of the most hotly-contested Brownlow medal nights in many years. Three favourites emerged over the course of the home-and-away…
Port Adelaide may have had home ground advantage, but it counted for nothing in an extremely one-sided preliminary final. After Melbourne lay down the…
Not even the most one-eyed of Melbourne supporters could have predicted how their preliminary final against Geelong would go. A truly unfathomable 83-point demolition…
Just four teams remain in the hunt for this year's premiership. Preliminary finals are tough to tip at the best of times, but these…
The Pies look totally cooked. I would’ve had them missing even without the trade period catastrophe.
Who's in danger of falling out of the top eight in 2021?
I probably came off as a bit more negative on the Dogs than I meant to – I reckon they’ll be very good. You’re right about Naughton being able to play down back again and Bontempelli being freed to play up forward even more.
They’ll be thrilling to watch either way.
Who's in danger of falling out of the top eight in 2021?
I feel like Brisbane could be up by 94 points at three-quarter time in the grand final and you’d still be biting your nails Paul.
Rayner missing the season is an absolute crying shame, but who would’ve thought the Dogs without Murphy or the Eagles without Gaff and Naitanui would win the flag when they did? I’m confident Brisbane will be thereabouts again.
Who's in danger of falling out of the top eight in 2021?
I’m having a hard time accepting that my reasoning is shallow and cliched when, earlier in this thread, you’ve said ‘last year wasn’t a real season’ to excuse the fact that one of a handful of teams who actually got to play at their home venue missed the top four.
Who's in danger of falling out of the top eight in 2021?
It’s suspiciously quiet so far – although I suppose it isn’t yet 7am in the West.
Who's in danger of falling out of the top eight in 2021?
Why did Fremantle finish 16th in scoring last season then?
Which non-finalists will crack into the top eight this year?
Hawthorn’s lack of appealing young talent is particularly concerning. I think they’re North’s biggest spoon rival.
Which bottom four side can make the biggest leap in 2021?
I like Heeney as a forward as well, but I can’t see him kicking 30+ without a proper key forward causing trouble on their own.
I’ll believe it when I see it re: Mills finally getting a run in the middle, but your other points seem fair.
Which bottom four side can make the biggest leap in 2021?
I can see Essendon falling away, but who else above them in the bottom ten will do the same?
Which bottom four side can make the biggest leap in 2021?
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
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?
Robert Walls had an extraordinary ability to get things completely wrong when he was on Ten’s commentary team.
If he publicly announced that my name was Stirling Coates, I’d be scrambling to find my birth certificate.
Who's in danger of falling out of the top eight in 2021?