Carlton Blues

Richmond ruckman Shaun Hampson has announced his retirement from AFL football, effective immediately. Hampson, 30, has not played a senior game in two seasons due to a chronic back condition. Although both he and the club's medical staff have worked hard to alleviate the condition, but it has not been successful, and Hampson decided to call it quits as he considered his long-term hearth and his family more important than getting out and playing footy again.

by Troy Thompson, reporting for AFANA from Melbourne

After five goals in the first eleven minutes of the match by Carlton, Richmond worked their way back into the match before blowing the Blues away in the final quarter, running out winners by 26 points.  It was a perfect night for football and the 90,151 fans saw a good contest with improvement by the Blues and a solid finish by the reigning premiers.

by Troy Thompson, reporting for AFANA from Melbourne

AFLX Round 2 kicked off this evening in Melbourne. The live testing and tweaking of the 7-a-side format continues with the AFL announcing today the will drop the novelty silver footballs used in all but the last three matches of Thursday night's Round 1 at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.  The remaining AFLX matches will use the more traditional yellow ball used for AFL matches played under lights.

Adelaide were crowned Round 1 premiers at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide on Thursday night.