More than 700,000 Australians have a membership of an AFL club, and the code has a firm grip on the economy and society at large

A day after the NRL basked in its Mauboy moment, the AFL cries “look at me” and cranks out its new ‘Nothing Like it’ 2013 campaign. It might not have the same youthful twinkle as league’s latest facelift, but the AFL ad’s strength lies in the continuity of its message. It’s Still Australia’s Game Despite [...]

It seems the AFL decided a decade ago that the best way to market Aussie rules is to mute its physicality. Recent concussion concerns have warranted some worthy changes. But is today’s all round softer, stricter game more palatable and pleasing? Or has constant tinkering turned the rulebook and into a gluggy trifle; a layered mess of touchy technicalities that could turn fans off the AFL brand?

‘Nowhere does the myth acknowledge that at the time of the Gallipoli landing many Collingwood supporters would have been strongly against what they saw as the British imperialist war’

A secret deal between ASADA and Essendon Football Club has surfaced which would result in Essendon players escaping doping sanctions with zero penalties, while at the same time, would see those players under scrutiny at the Cronulla Sharks given a minimum six-month ban. However, formal protests from the lawyers acting for both ASADA and the Sharks have seen this deal abandoned.