Former VFL tough guy dies after fall, aged 84

Rohan Connolly Members of football, boxing and entertainment worlds in mourning over Jeff Patterson's death.

AFL

Ball back in business for Pies, but Fasolo's season is over

Rohan Connolly While one door closes for Collingwood, another opens. Smart small forward Alex Fasolo's season is over, but that blow will be offset at least a little this week by the return of premiership onballer...

AFL

Bomber slow to take off but now he's flying high

Rohan Connolly So comfortable has Michael Hibberd looked at AFL level from the moment he stepped into the Essendon side three seasons ago that you'd think it had all come pretty easily to him.

Pies, Dons can dig deep

Rohan Connolly Already, 2013 is looking likely to be a premiership won by depth as much as class.

AFL

Oh! and 2

Rohan Connolly History suggests teams that are 0-2 now can't count on September glory.

AFL

Saad ordered to speed up his set shots

Rohan Connolly Promising St Kilda forward Ahmed Saad has been forced to change his goalkicking routine.

Keep faith, young gun told

Rohan Connolly and Matt Murnane Essendon veteran Nathan Lovett-Murray pleads with Dayle Garlett not to lose faith in the system.

The shock trooper

Rohan Connolly AFL life after 30 is looking good for Nathan Lovett-Murray, even if he continues to get more attention for his life off the football field.

AFL

Probe not on our radar, Neeld says

Rohan Connolly Melbourne coach Mark Neeld denies AFL's investigation into the Demons' alleged tanking will affect the club's preparations for next season.

Balance of trade

Rohan Connolly Players have moved from club to club for as long as football has been played.

Congestion's simple solution

Rohan Connolly The last time ''congestion'' was this big a football buzzword was just on 40 years ago.

Comments 56

Don't sell this heavyweight short

Rohan Connolly When Sydney steps on to the grand final stage on Saturday, it still won't be seen as anything like an AFL heavyweight. But perhaps now it should.

Comments 3

Rohan Connolly

From little things, big things grow

Rohan Connolly Since the early 1960s, Hawthorn have gone from a laughing stock to a powerhouse.

It's club rivalry that really matters

Rohan Connolly Two preliminary finals pitting a Victorian team against a side from over the border. Even a few years ago, that might have had the locals manning the barricades.

AFL

'He was a great mate who loved a beer and loved to be around his teammates.'

Rohan Connolly MERV Neagle played 147 games for Essendon over nine seasons, a fair innings yet not enough to put him among the all-time greats of the club in terms of service or status.

Rohan Connolly

Remembering a true Bombers favourite

Rohan Connolly For many Essendon fans of a middle age, Merv Neagle - who died yesterday - will always occupy a special place in their hearts and memories.

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AFL

Cats gain Vardy, lose Varcoe

Rohan Connolly Geelong ruckman Nathan Vardy will play his first game of AFL football for more than a year-and-a-half when he returns to the Cats' line-up for Saturday's crucial final round match against Sydney.

AFL

Footy masters' cracking battle caught on tape

Rohan Connolly North Melbourne coach Ron Barassi stands before his players, moments before they're to run out for the 1975 grand final against Hawthorn, desperate to win the club's first VFL premiership.

AFL

Vardy earns his Cats stripes

Rohan Connolly Geelong ruckman Nathan Vardy will play his first game of AFL football for more than a year when he returns to the Cats' line-up for tomorrow's crucial final-round match against Sydney.

The Connolly Report

Plenty of upside for Pies

Rohan Connolly Andrew Krakouer's return promises to give the Magpies a lift.