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Swans back on top of ladder after thrilling win over Roos
Isaac Heeney has played another starring role for Sydney as the AFL ladder leaders stretched their winning streak to six matches with an eight-point victory over North Melbourne.
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TOP HEADLINES
FRIDAY NIGHT ACTION
DOCKERS ON A ROLL
'Sterner stuff': This version of Freo is capable of winning the lot
If Fremantle ends up creating some history in 2026, you can't help but think a moment midway through the last quarter of their come-from-behind win over Hawthorn will be seen as pivotal.
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The AFL wanted more scoring, and 2026 is delivering
EVERY TEAM RANKED
AFL tiers: The four teams that have 'wildcard' written all over them
In the May tiers, there are three runaway flag favourites, but a couple of experienced sides lurking in the shadows. Plus, four sides have 'wildcard' written all over them.
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THE BIG TALKING POINTS
'Laughable': Blues have set unwanted history with insane stat
This week's Six Points feature the inexplainable stats behind the Blues, the reason Nick Daicos is in a class of one, why I wanted the Crows to lose Showdown 59, and a wild Tristan Xerri stat.
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Should Sydney share the SCG with the Giants?
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ARE WE OVERREACTING?
AFL overreactions: Scott Pendlebury deserves a statue at the MCG, ASAP!
There are plenty of talking points after Round 8 of the AFL, including whether Scott Pendlebury deserves a statue at the MCG -- soon! -- and if it's time to scrap draws from the regular season.
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Top Headlines
- 'A model that works': Voss on Gabba near miss
- 'You get used to it': Bevo on brilliant captain
- Freo flying, but skipper cut down by knee injury
- AFL Round 9: Everything you need to know
- Charges dropped for AFL champions May, Prestia
- Lions youngster given ban for using anti-gay slur
- Coach supports 'exploring' Giants name change
- McRae defends Pendles: 'Least selfish player'
- Lions' frosty response to whiteboard leak
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Keep up to date with the latest news from across the sporting world. Be it at home or abroad, we've got it covered in our weekly newsletters.
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Expert tips, best tips for Round 9 of the AFL
Who should you be tipping in Round 9 of the 2026 AFL season? Our footy experts have put their heads together to help you out. So open your ESPN Footytips app, take notes, and get ahead of the game!
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Listen to our AFL podcast - the ESPN Footy Podcast with Champion Data
Join ESPN's footy team for some of the best AFL analysis and insight on the ESPN Footy Podcast.
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ESPN's Brownlow Medal predictor and tracker - every vote for 2026
The Brownlow Medal is the highest individual honour in the AFL. In 2026, ESPN is giving you an advantage with our one-of-a-kind predictor.
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Who has played the most games in AFL history? How many has Scott Pendlebury played?
Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury is closing in on North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey's league games record. Will he break it in 2026?
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'It's a scam': What the AFL and city of Adelaide won't tell you about Gather Round
Everyone loves to rave about Gather Round. But unless you're in the financial 1%, this weekend-long football festival just isn't meant for you.
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We're misty-optically: Paying tribute to Dennis Cometti, a footy commentary icon
It's inevitably the witticisms which first spring first to mind when think of Dennis Cometti, but, more broadly, he was Australian football's greatest ever caller and will be sorely missed, writes Rohan Connolly.
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Hold your horses: AFL's Origin revival was real, but its long-term future is not
AFL Origin's return was a clear success, but one brilliant night is not enough to prove it's truly back for good.
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Ranking every AFL after-the-siren winning goal since 2000
Since the turn of the millennium, there have been 32 after-the-siren goals kicked which have won the game. We've ranked them -- taking into account shot difficulty, context of the match, conditions, and more to determine which clutch kick rules them all.
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AFL player record holders, statistical leaders, and more
Who has played the most AFL games? Who has kicked the most AFL goals? Here are the league leaders in history for all the stats that matter.
