Recent news

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has told the AFL it must abandon its current drug policy. The agency believes the code "lacks transparency" and could take football down the same path as American baseball and its recent drug scandal.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

David Neitz (knee), Russell Robertson (knee) and Brock McLean (foot) returned to play this week for Melbourne, but Colin Sylvia (hamstring), Matthew Whelan (foot) and Ryan Ferguson (thumb) all missed.

After being ruled out for 3-4 weeks with a fractured eye socket, Matthew Richardson was a shock inclusion for the Tigers this week. Richardson suffered the facial fracture just last week. Also coming into the side this week was Jack Riewoldt for his senior debut. He is cousin to St. Kilda's Nick Riewoldt.

AFANA's photojournalists covered the Round 9 matches in Melbourne.  We have a great selection of photos from the matches available in our photo gallery:  Essendon v Richmond from the MCG,  Kangaroos v Melbourne from the MCG, and Carlton v Adelaide from the Telstra Dome .

by Janet Linn reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval

Round 9 of the AFL season is known as the Indigenous Round and coincides with the beginning of National Reconciliation Week in Australia. It is an acknowledgment of the unique contributions made to Australian Rules Football by indigenous footballers of whom there are currently 71 playing in the AFL (10% of the total player group). All matches this weekend began with Welcome to Country ceremonies; five games were preceded by curtain-raiser matches between indigenous teams.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:

Josh Carr (FRE), striking Geelong's Steve Johnson: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point), and body contact (one point), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has an existing poor record of three matches suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty 30%. He also has 25 demerits held over from the previous 12 months, further increasing his penalty to 187.50 demerits.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

ADELAIDE
Injury Update:
Trent Hentschel & Rhett Biglands, knee, season
Mark Ricciuto, back, ongoing assessment

By Frank Ienco reporting for AFANA

Sydney has again defied their critics and put their season back on track following a clinical 31 point disposal of competition leaders Port Adelaide at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon (AEST). The Swans played an exciting attacking brand of football for most of the day, and while the result was not completely assured until mid-way through the final term, the home side led from start to finish and always had the Power at arms length.