Tim Lane
AFL
Players fend off rants over drugs
Tim Lane The three-strikes policy upsets many despite the fact that the players gave up a lot in agreeing to it.
AFL
Standing by Hird is natural, but what if he were not one of us?
Tim Lane It has been impossible to miss the way Essendon's players and supporters have supported their coach.
AFL
AFL must bear growing pains
Tim Lane Football is spreading its wings and officials, players and fans must now commit to a bigger game.
AFL
Not so schooled in hard knocks
Tim Lane Concussion injuries are a big issue, and the AFL's rule enforcers need to get interpretations right.
AFL
Benchmark of 80 should appease even anti-cap brigade
Tim Lane Interchange was introduced to enable temporarily injured players to resume when recovered.
Sport in Crisis
Probe must be independent
Tim Lane Australian model of anti-doping authority is outdated and public confidence is wavering.
AFL
New man must knock heads
Tim Lane With plenty of issues facing the game, having no football operations manager is yet another one.
Cultural change, AFL gets Jeffed
Tim Lane Andrew Demetriou has overseen some momentous times at league HQ, but where to now?
Tim Lane
Drug code is a collective worry for all
Tim Lane All policy on illicit drugs has become lost amid a blur of conspiracy and confusion.
Sports science has its place
Tim Lane Independence and transparency is the key to ensuring that all sport's yardsticks are not tarnished.
Dark artists drop the ball
Tim Lane The tanking scandal and the Folau debacle show the dangers of tinkering with footy's natural order.
AFL follows bouncing ball
Tim Lane The league's continuous tinkering with the game's rules is like a dog chasing its tail.
Buddy flaws hurt Hawks
Tim Lane Lance Franklin can light up the modern game, but his inaccuracy holds back Hawthorn.
Tim Lane
Addiction to video reviews
Tim Lane Decision review systems in sport should come in unmarked packages carrying frightening health warnings in large print.
Tim Lane
Winning now not so foreign
Tim Lane Once again a Swans premiership has been made possible by their inspired trading.
The case for a new Brownlow
Tim Lane The highest honour needs a new voting system to beat the bias towards flashy midfielders.
Life of Mick, Blue messiah?
Tim Lane Carlton has a long history of bringing in outsiders to produce instant results - it's not always worked.
AFL needs less shuttlecockups
Tim Lane IT WILL be a relief to the AFL to know it isn't alone in facing the reality that its rules might, under certain circumstances, encourage manufactured under-performance; or 'tanking' in the vernacular.
Coach or player, respect is vital
Tim Lane The respective roles and personalities within football clubs are bound to highlight differences.
Tim Lane
Dissed and forever divided
Tim Lane In Tasmania, the AFL has eschewed the opportunity to be a healer and force for good.
