While there’s still one round of pre-season hit-outs to come, many AFL players pushed their cases for selection early in 2024 across match simulation week.
In our first look at semi-competitive footy for the year, we saw the league's concussion crackdown put to an early test, North Melbourne unleash their new brand of attacking footy and some bright signs from draftees. Here are five quick hits from the weekend's match sims.
After more than a decade at Richmond, Damien Hardwick has begun a new chapter at Gold Coast. He talks to Michael Gleeson about being reinvigorated by his new club, the young Sun with a licence to do a “Dusty” and why he doesn’t regret being open about his family life to build connections.
Sam Powell-Pepper’s decision to bump Adelaide opponent Mark Keane instead of brace for inevitable contact is likely to see him handed at least a three-match suspension from the AFL.
The Cats were looking forward to having underrated midfielder Cam Guthrie back on the field in 2024, but he’s in doubt for round one, while Harley Reid’s maiden outing for West Coast did not live up to the hype.
AFLW superstar Chloe Molloy says it is time to blow up the state-based draft system and force teenagers to nominate for a national pool that could relocate them to the other side of the country.
For Carlton to really make the September running this season, Michael Voss has indicated his team needs to make a statement through the home-and-away campaign, a point Harry McKay is keen to back up.