David Mackay

Adelaide defender Daniel Talia was told he will not receive a new contract. An off-season knee injury that required surgery and a foot injury shortly after - also requiring surgery kept him sidelined for the entire season. He also suffered some setbacks during his rehabilitation.

Talia, 29, was drafted in 2009 and played 200 games. He won All-Australian selection twice and has been a stalwart in the Adelaide defense. Other honors are the Rising Star award in 2012, the club's best and fairest in 2014, and was a member of the leadership group.

The Swans have moved Robbie Fox and Sam Gray to the rookie list under the new AFL Rules. Both will be listed as Category A rookies for the 2021 season. Under the new rules, the club does not need to wait until the rookie draft period and the pair will be available for senior selection without having to be elevated back to the senior list. 

The GWS Giants have awoken from a form slump to stamp themselves as genuine contenders.  After consecutive losses to Sydney and West Coast, the Giants finished their three match tour of the Western Australian hub with a thumping victory over the Fremantle Dockers. The Giants were too big and too strong around the ball for the Dockers and up forward Jeremy Cameron shook off his indifferent form to boot four majors.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Ex-Richmond skipper Chris Newman plays his 230th game in Round 18. This will put him equal with Trevor Barker (StK) for most games without a Finals appearance. They are followed by Geoff Cunningham (224 games for StK), Gary Hardeman (219 games, MELB) and Steven Smith (203 games, MELB).

Other milestones being clebrated in Round 18 include:

200 games: Justin Koschitzke (StK)
150 games: Matt Maguire (BRIS)
100 games: David Mackay ADE)

Jamie Kloeden reporting for AFANA from Adelaide, Australia

All of Adelaide is a buzz at the moment with the hometown Crows exceeding all expectations in their first year with Brenton Sanderson at the helm. St Kilda is also having a solid start to the year under their own first year mentor but the Scott Watters led Saints faced a big challenge on the big stage of Friday Night Football in Round 12. When the two sides met last in 2011, St Kilda recorded a phenomenal 103 point victory with Neil Craig going on to relinquish his position as Adelaide coach in the days that followed. A lot has changed in that short time with the Crows looking like a totally different outfit in the first half of season 2012.